Pope Compares Atheism to Nazism, Draws Fire

LONDON (Sept. 17) -- Pope Benedict XVI has been accused by secularists of making "a terrible libel" during his first papal visit to Britain, after he appeared to associate atheism with the crimes of the Nazi regime during World War II.

In a speech to Queen Elizabeth II and members of the Royal Family in Edinburgh, Scotland, the pope noted that the "Nazi tyranny that wished to eradicate God from society and denied our common humanity to many, especially the Jews," had resulted in the Holocaust. He then asked the increasingly non-believing British public to "reflect on the sobering lessons of atheist extremism of the 20th century" and urged "respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate."

Atheist organizations -- which are staging nationwide protests against the pope's visit -- condemned Benedict's remarks. "The notion that it was the atheism of Nazis (who were mostly not atheists in any case) that led to their extremist and hateful views or that somehow fuels intolerance in Britain today is a terrible libel against those who do not believe in God," Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said in a statement. He added that it was "surreal" that such a claim was being made by a "man whose organization ... [undermines] the human rights of women, children, gay people and many others."

LOL The Pope is "evil incarnate" - hardly. I personally believe he is a man who has a deep faith and I disagree with a great deal of his theology. You are much closer to being "evil incarnate" in my opinion.

BTW - The Pope needs to expand his social circle to include some atheists and he might stop making such silly statements.

evilution

My point is that even the devil believes in God.

No evilution isn't really a word, but i think that you get the idea.

This is why the vatican includes the acceptance of evilution, and alien life from other planets.

Poor ronnie....

It must suck to be a homo habilis in a homo sapien world.

Forced to join? I doubt it, and I believe that the Jesuits created Hitler.

That's ok Ronnie. We are all certain you are at least as ignorant as you seem to be.

The team of rational adults. You might want to join sometime.

MerryA, I sometimes doubt that you are really as ignorant as you seem to be.

MerrA, hell awaits your unrepentant soul.

MerrA, hell awaits your unrepentant soul.

Where's the love?

Ronnie, how about givng us a list of all the things you think a person must do/believe to make it into heaven?

Matthew 7:
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

There's only one thing that you must do to make it into heaven and that's to believe on Jesus Christ.

To believe of course means that you live your life accordingly.

I believe and I live my life accordingly. Seems by your own words you are wrong about me going to hell.

I don't know why it is so difficult for Ronnie & Paulwa to understand what their own words mean? Oh well...

... and think they mean a personal slam to you or another.

I see no other meaning to this:
"MerrA, hell awaits your unrepentant soul."

I believe that the word Christian means christlike. Jesus Christ certainly didn't have a problem telling anyone that they were in danger of hell fire.

You are not Jesus Christ and have no knowledge of another person's salvation.

I Jesus has been given the glory and has the keys of death. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Amen.

Christians are also told not to judge others, Ronnie. Aren't you risking being condemned to Hell yourself by violating that directive?

You also may recall a statement about only those without sin being permitted to cast stones. Are you so perfect and sinless that you feel you have the authority to speak for God?

I think you should think for yourself and let others think for themselves.

You don't understand the directive that Jesus gave for us to judge righteously. You see I don't do the judging, or the passing of sentences. The very Word of God itself will be a witness against those who don't believe and also against those of the faith who transgress. Amen.

And you apparently believe you have the authority to speak for him. Where is your humility, man?

You don't understand the directive that Jesus gave for us to judge righteously.

Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Maybe you don't understand it either?

What does this verse mean to you?

It means that I sometimes talk too much.

Ronnie I have a confession. Even if I didn't disagree with your theology (which I do) and even if you weren't so hateful (which you are) I still would have a problem with you because of your name.

There was a kid who lived down the street from us growing up who had your name. Big time brat and bully. My cousin Pam beat him up once for calling me "stick lady" (I walked with crutches.)

Hey, you aren't from Pine Castle are you? LOL

Ronnie, I was given a direct message from the creator. I choose to believe that rather than some words from an old book.

If you were me, wouldn't you do the same?

I know what I was told and I believe it. I don't want or expect anybody else to believe it and follow my lead, so go ahead and believe as you like.

So you are right and I'm wrong. Is that the idea?

So you are right and I'm wrong. Is that the idea?

Can you reveal what was said to you, Ghoti? Don't remember if ever heard any details of your conversation.
Thanks
Paul

it's not a question of WHO's right or wrong. why can't it just be that what you believe is "right" for you, and what ghoti believes is "right" for him? i mean, doesn't it all come down to individual personal experience?

IMO for a person to adopt a belief with any sincerity they have to honestly FEEL it within their hearts. if they don't, then no amount of hard selling is going to persuade anybody otherwise.

instead of constantly ramming your message down everybody's throats, why don't you share for us what you actually DO to follow your religious teaching. do you contribute to any charities or perform any "good works"? i think sharing about that would make for a more effective message, and a hell of a lot more interesting to boot.

hoping for a serious reply, in the interest of bridging the impasse.

There was a door in the wall behind him and it was open just a tiny bit. There was a warm glowing feeling coming through that's hard to describe but I felt myself very powerfully drawn toward it.

As much as our experiences mean to us I think we still have to consider that they may not be true but a deception.

Perhaps, but there has also been much hatred, intolerance, cruelty, death, and war all done by followers of the Bible over the ages.

Ronnie I have a confession. Even if I didn't disagree with your theology (which I do) and even if you weren't so hateful (which you are) I still would have a problem with you because of your name.

I know good people who don't believe in a diety, I know hateful people who are in church or temple every Sunday. One of the worse cussin' I ever got was from a church member just outside the nave! Just cause you go to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car.

Those tests have a bunch of questions like day is to night as hot is to -----? You have to decide which answer of 4 choices best fits, and it's called a logical analogy. That's all Merry was doing.

Besides, I think she meant it as a bit of a joke.

Those tests have a bunch of questions like day is to night as hot is to -----? You have to decide which answer of 4 choices best fits, and it's called a logical analogy. That's all Merry was doing.

Besides, I think she meant it as a bit of a joke.

Those tests have a bunch of questions like day is to night as hot is to -----? You have to decide which answer of 4 choices best fits, and it's called a logical analogy.

As much scripture as you know MerryA I find it hard to think you are not just guessing at your salvation also with your loose feelings of bible having error in it. Don't remember specifics of things you have said but what I come away with is that there are portions of the bible you think that might not be true. Is that right?
Paul

You are wrong - I don't take the Bible literally. The Bible is full of allegory and parables. Salvation is not based on taking every word of Scripture literally. Salvation is from grace through faith in God, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

As much scripture as you know MerryA I find it hard to think you are not just guessing at your salvation also with your loose feelings of bible having error in it.

the "works" thread was so we could talk about how our beliefs inspire us to reach out to others.

I think we are born with an inate sense of right and wrong - little children know what is "fair."

No they don't Merry...little children are sent to Kindergarden so they can learn how to play fair and share (square)...

No they don't Merry...little children are sent to Kindergarden so they can learn how to play fair and share (square)...

Right, it isn't necessary to have a religion in your life. Now why do you suppose that ronnie (wabi comes to mind) was asked so many times to explain his 'works'? Or why would anyone here be hounded to do that?

Now why do you suppose that ronnie (wabi comes to mind) was asked so many times to explain his 'works'? Or why would anyone here be hounded to do that?

*sigh* I suppose being gifted with the powers of observation is the curse I live with.

*sigh* I suppose being gifted with the powers of observation is the curse I live with.