Don't be bad Christians, people may think atheism is better, pope says

[trotsky]

Stop the presses! I agree with the pope!

http://ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/dont-be-bad-christians-people-may-think-atheism-better-pope-says

The way Christians behave can either help and inspire others, or turn them away from ever following Jesus, Pope Francis said.

"How many times we've heard in our neighborhoods, 'Oh that person over there always goes to church, but he badmouths everyone, skins them alive.' What a bad example to badmouth other people. This is not Christian," the pope said at his weekly general audience Wednesday in St. Peter's Square.

Causing scandal and being a bad example turn people off, making them think, " 'Hey, if that is being Christian, I'll be an atheist.' That's because our witness is what makes people see what it is to be a Christian," he said.

Of course it's not quite that simple, people are often drawn to non-belief because it makes more sense with their observations and experiences. They aren't just rejecting your religion, popey. But certainly the horrible behavior by Christians, even some here on DU who acknowledge the pope as their spiritual leader, doesn't help. Perhaps they will heed his words on this.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. He definitely has a point.

While the nastiness of "bad" Christians might not be the single thing that makes many people reject religion altogether, it's a huge turnoff. It can definitely make people start asking questions, which can lead to them giving up on church membership and attendance, which in turn might lead to just forgetting the whole thing and becoming agnostics if not atheists. A lot of churches are losing members, especially younger people. Maybe if so many of their active members, most notably the evangelicals, weren't such hateful assholes they wouldn't have that problem.

[trotsky]

2. And the pope could take a look at his own church in this regard.

Despite his welcoming-sounding language toward homosexuals, his church still teaches they are "intrinsically disordered." And he himself has said that marriage equality is "from Satan" and that children must be raised with a mother and a father.

People are getting tired of the hate.

[rug]

3. Are you falling for the PR?

Meanwhile, this is the more pressing news.

Pope: Fighting for the poor doesn't make me Communist – it makes me Catholic

By Elise Harris

Vatican City, Oct 29, 2014 / 12:21 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis spoke out against oppression of the poor due to greed and warned again of the growing presence of a “globalization of indifference” – a warning, he said, which has wrongly type-casted him.

“It is not possible to tackle poverty by promoting containment strategies to merely reassure, rendering the poor 'domesticated,' harmless and passive,” the Pope told those gathered for his Oct. 28 encounter with leaders of various Church movements.

He called the basic needs for land, housing and work an “aspiration that should be within the reach of all but which we sadly see is increasingly unavailable to the majority.”

“It's strange, but if I talk about this, there are those who think that the Pope is Communist,” he said.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-fighting-for-the-poor-doesnt-make-me-communist-it-makes-me-catholic-99088/

[Fumesucker]

4. Don't tell me you're a Christian

Let me figure it out.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. He's right, but I wonder if the man has a mirror available to him?

He says fighting my rights is 'God's war, which we must fight'. Says marriage equality is a demonic plot and all gay people are inherently disordered. In short, he badmouths millions of people on a regular basis, using extremely nasty rhetoric. He built his career on such rhetoric. Before he was Pope, the President of Argentina called his anti gay verbiage 'Medieval and reminiscent of the Inquisition'.
I recall a story about a man who saw a speck in his brother's eye when he himself had a log in his own he could not see. I find it odd that the Pope has not heard that story.

[beam me up scottie]

7. Yes. If I believed in such things as "bad christians" he would be a serious contender.

The fact that he's a hypocrite and a liar and that millions of christians follow his lead when it comes to homophobia and misogyny should be enough proof for anyone.

[NeoGreen]

6. Ahhh yes, an old Barn Door/Horse scenario yet again (nt)

[Humanist_Activist]

8. So when is he going to stop acting like a "bad" Christian? n/t

[trotsky]

9. Great question! n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. He says nice things, but I don't think he's changing any doctrines or positions.

Sounds good, but still anti-gay, anti-women, anti-contraception, anti-lots of things.