Pope suggests it's better to be an atheist than a greedy Christian

[LAGC]

(CNN) Christians who exploit people, lead a double life and get involved in "dirty business," scandalize the church, Pope Francis said in a sermon Thursday in Rome. In fact, it might be better just to be an atheist.

"And so many Christians are like this, and these people scandalize others. How many times have we heard -- all of us, around the neighborhood and elsewhere -- 'but to be a Catholic like that, it's better to be an atheist.' It is that, scandal. You destroy. You beat down," Francis said, according to Vatican Radio.

Examples of such scandals abound, the Pope said, adding that they erode the church and the guilty Christian from within, by causing others to sin and lose faith.

Francis' sermon, as is customary, was an extended riff on Thursday's Mass readings, which include a passage from the Gospel on Mark in which Jesus says it is better to be drowned than to cause others to sin.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/23/world/pope-atheists-again/index.html

I'm not sure if I'm to take that as an insult, or as a compliment.

But just in case: "Thank you, Your Holiness."

[sammythecat]

1. I liked what he said here.

He talked about scandal and Christian hypocrisy and acknowledged the Church's own guilt.

I'm what' called a "strong" atheist and he is the Pope of the Catholic Church, so we'd obviously have some serious disagreements. I haven't made a study of the man, I don't know everything he's ever done or said, but from what I do know, he seems to be a very compassionate person and I very much like that about him. I think that might be the best quality a human can have. Sometimes it's like he's a judge forced to impose mandatory sentencing that, personally, he finds detestable. Although to the person sentenced to 30 years for stealing a bike it doesn't much matter whether the judge is compassionate or not, it's still better to have compassionate judges than the alternative.

[Act_of_Reparation]

2. In other words: Atheists are better than total assholes.

Great. We're moving up in the world.

[Angry Dragon]

3. It is good to move up

[pokerfan]

16. We're not the worst!

[brooklynite]

4. I think we still burn in hell...

[LAGC]

5. But maybe not quite at the lowest depths any more.

[Bretton Garcia]

6. I and the Pope, would like to welcome former Catholics and Protestants, to the atheist forum

: )

[trotsky]

7. Yeah, it's not a compliment for atheists.

The head of the largest and richest church in the world is telling certain members of it that they are so pathetic, they'd be better off being atheists.

Though there's a certain Catholic I don't encounter much anymore who certainly loves to destroy and beat down others. Maybe he'll take these words to heart and become a better person. Doubt it, though.

[Bretton Garcia]

8. But maybe we can convert the Pope to full atheism

The condemnation of "greed" is probably a reference to Trump. Elements of the Church have always condemned "capitalism." Particularly liberal Church ntellectuals have. Notably Jesuits from South America. Which is the pope's background.

If the Pope confesses his pederastical and other sins? I think we should allow him to blog here. Maybe we can help him. And make a better atheist out of him.

Sometimes even Rug seems mildly neutral on atheism. And if even Rug can do it? Then maybe the Pope too?

[rug]

11. "I think we should allow him to blog here"?

Your efforts are better spent on counseling your colleagues who can no longer blog here.

When you boil it down, there is no other rational response to atheism than neutrality. It's certainly nothing to rest a world view on, let alone make a career of.

[Bretton Garcia]

20. Many atheists agree

Many define atheism as a-theism. Not as having a belief. But as not having a belief.

[rug]

21. Yes. It's hard to build anything on a negative.

[Bretton Garcia]

22. But in science, negative findings are useful

Finding that something is 1) false, or 2) cannot be proved to be true, allows us to move on. It frees us up for more materially productive work.

[Goblinmonger]

24. He'd be banned if he posted here.

At least if he posted his stance on LGBTQ, choice, women's rights, etc.

[rug]

9. That's probably because you prefer facebook to DU with its standards.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015076548337&fref=ufi

[Heddi]

10. Why does this Trotsky person get all the love???

What did Chinchilla ever do to you???

[rug]

12. I see your facebook page is dying.

Tsk.

[Heddi]

13. Hey I said I had things to do

it's a busy world out there

[rug]

14. That explains your presence.

[Heddi]

15. Huh?

[hrmjustin]

17. Wow! That is is just something!

I thought he was over you and had you on ignore.

I think he still has me on ignore as well.

[rug]

18. "You know friend, this is a God damn bitch of an unsatisfactory situation."

[hrmjustin]

19. Ain't that some shit!

Well it is what it is. I kind of miss a few that are flagged for review.

[Lordquinton]

23. He's right

but for the wrong reasons.