How can anyone be a Catholic is beyond reason…..

[Mike Cl]

But, Pope Francis has given us a new Testament.

Oh, wait...
http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/16/pope-francis-betrays-christianity-by-romanticizing-poverty/

Blessed are the cave people.

I found that interesting.  Yet the pope parades around in outfits that, if sold, could feed the poor of a small nation for quite some time.  He is almost clownish in his costuming--but not in a cheap way.  He says that jesus taught that poverty is good.  Why does he not experience it then????

[reasonist]

I found that interesting.  Yet the pope parades around in outfits that, if sold, could feed the poor of a small nation for quite some time.  He is almost clownish in his costuming--but not in a cheap way.  He says that jesus taught that poverty is good.  Why does he not experience it then????

Between 2 and 3 TRILLION dollars is the estimate of the RCC's worth! Could wipe out hunger and/or provide drinking water for the world. But maybe there is some legal tender in their afterlife and they are just planning ahead? A celestial casino?

[Mike Cl]

Between 2 and 3 TRILLION dollars is the estimate of the RCC's worth! Could wipe out hunger and/or provide drinking water for the world. But maybe there is some legal tender in their afterlife and they are just planning ahead? A celestial casino?

This is an issue I've noticed my entire life.  The meek shall inherit the earth.  Okay--what earth are we talking about?  The catholic church is not meek nor humble.  They use the humble card to make them seem more important--a suffering.  I have yet to see a pope that knows what poverty is.  Their history is steeped in the acquiring of power and wealth--and I have to admit they are good at it; not moral, just good.

[gentle_dissident]

Does a person make their poverty, or does poverty make the person?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVfdZevxf_o

[Draconic Aiur]

atleast Catholics are better than protestants

[gentle_dissident]

atleast Catholics are better than protestants

The Protestant’s Dilemma

If Protestantism is true, all are fallible. So the Protestant must rely on his own judgment above that of his church. And the orthodoxy of the church itself is judged against his interpretation of the Bible. Thus is becomes impossible to distinguish between what divine revelation actually is versus what a fallible human being thinks it is. This fact makes the Catholic Church, philosophically speaking, preferable to Protestantism, since God’s truth can be knownâ€"and known with certainty.

http://www.catholic.com/blog/devin-rose/why-catholicism-is-preferable-to-protestantism

[Baruch]

Does a person make their poverty, or does poverty make the person?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVfdZevxf_o

Trick question.  Per free will, it is up to you what your poverty means.  I suspect it is both, but Vulcans can't grok that.

[gentle_dissident]

I suspect it is both, but Vulcans can't grok that.

Are we learning more about you?

[Baruch]

Are we learning more about you?

There was a time when I was more Romulan ... but today I am more Bajoran.

[Baruch]

"The Protestant’s Dilemma

If Protestantism is true, all are fallible. So the Protestant must rely on his own judgment above that of his church. And the orthodoxy of the church itself is judged against his interpretation of the Bible. Thus is becomes impossible to distinguish between what divine revelation actually is versus what a fallible human being thinks it is. This fact makes the Catholic Church, philosophically speaking, preferable to Protestantism, since God’s truth can be knownâ€"and known with certainty."

As a personal preference ... I prefer to take responsibility, since I am an adult.  Children are not to be held responsible, their parents are.  But at some point that has to bifurcate.  That is the point of the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah.  Also Confirmation in traditional Christianity or public recitation of the Five Pillars of Islam.

I find it unacceptable if one is an adult ... to blame your parents or society ... either stand up for what you have done ... or apologize and do better next time.  So in religion, to rely overly much on institutional authority, whether human, or scripture, or tradition ... is a weak reed.  In any religion, you can have an adult understanding and practice ... and be responsible for yourself.

[gentle_dissident]

There was a time when I was more Romulan ... but today I am more Bejoran.

I find it unacceptable if one is an adult ... to blame your parents or society ... either stand up for what you have done ... or apologize and do better next time.  So in religion, to rely overly much on institutional authority, whether human, or scripture, or tradition ... is a weak reed.  In any religion, you can have an adult understanding and practice ... and be responsible for yourself.

Are you saying you've changed and are encouraging others to change?

[Baruch]

Are you saying you've changed and are encouraging others to change?

I have changed and will continue to change.  Everyone does.  But not everyone is meant to be Bajoran, and spend time in the worm hole with the Prophets ;-)

[gentle_dissident]

I have changed and will continue to change.  Everyone does.

So,what did you mean when you said that people don't reform?

[Baruch]

So,what did you mean when you said that people don't reform?

Good question.  Change and reform aren't the same.  Reform implies that you were doing something bad, have repented, and now have become a normal psychopath like the rest of us ;-).  Change doesn't moralize or criminalize.  Some people turn away from a life of crime (aka sin), others turn to it.  That is why the Catholics have that complicated penance system for non-mortal sins.  They don't want to turn a blind eye to bad behavior, yet they don't want to drive all the sinners out of the church either.

Religious practice ... as an individual ... is simple.  Anything that can't be counted out on your ten fingers is too complicated for people to deal with.

1. Pray ... this comes in many forms, often for me it is study.  The point of prayer isn't to communicate with G-d ... that is ridiculous.
2. Repent ... this means that an unexamined life isn't worth living.  You find out where you are doing poorly, and figure out how to do better.
3. Do Good Deeds ... this means that as a result of #1 & #2 ... you are going to try a better way.  Part of this is to remember this simple system.  Another part is to return to #1 and repeat the cycle.

None of this is different from what Socrates did ... he prayed to his pagan gods, he examined his life, he did good deeds (particularly emphasizing citizenship).  You don't have to be Abrahamic to do this.  Confucious would agree to the same system.  I just happen to take it from a Jewish perspective.

[gentle_dissident]

Sorry, that all looks like you're saying people can reform.