Why hasn't the Pope insulted us Atheists yet?

Question

He's called Buddism an auto-erotic religion.(wankers then)
He's accused the Jews of being bystanders to the holocaust.
(that's ironic as he was helping load the trains to the chambers)
He's called Islam an inherently violent and evil religion.
When's he gonna start on us?
Or is it alright to not believe as we're not a threat to the Catholic church?
He's not really helping Catholicism much.

Would you like to expand on that kissahog?
And stop shouting.
You have a forum for your opinions, now enlighten me or shut up.

Courtney: Considering what he has said, I'd say that is insulting. His opinions are not to be considered the truth, they are just the opinions of a man. I don't care if he is the Pope. His opinions should be more measured in his position.

Answer 1

Don't worry this Pope will get around to it as soon as he has insulted every religion in the World.

Famously, the then Cardinal Ratzinger once referred to Buddhism as a form of masturbation for the mind - a remark still repeated among deeply offended Buddhists more than a decade after he said it. Even his apology to Muslims at the weekend managed to bring Jews into the row.

No, the reaction of Muslims to The Pope shows us that this Pope is far from Infallible compared to his predecessor Pope John Paul.

I in no way condone the response of Muslim fanatics and hotheads - burning churches, and murdering Nuns. They just bring shame and discredit on their faith and themselves. Ironically - although it is lost on these fanatic hotheads - through their actions they help to reinforce stereotypes about the very thing they have taken offence at - namely saying that Islam is a violent and intolerant religion.

I understand the quote was taken out of context in Pope Benedict's speech. But never the less, I think it is shocking that a man who is the Spiritual head of a community of over 1 Billion souls, chose this clearly inflammatory passage, when he could have chosen something far more conciliatory, constructive and uncontroversial to make the same point about faith and reason, and the incompatibility of violence and religion without giving any excuse that he had insulted Islam. Something from the Bible for example.

I am sure Pope Benedict, a supposedly learned scholar - whose previous job until last year was in charge of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (the successor body to the Inquisition) when he was then known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - knew the quote was from a bogus "debate".

A man of Pope Benedict's experience must have known this quote was inflamatory when he chose to include it, and that one of the consequences would be to fuel a violent Muslim reaction. Any fool could have told him the same. Pope Benedict had the hindsight of the experience of the Danish Cartoons episode. I can only conclude he has been wilfully mischievous.

Pope Benedict has also now insulted the Jews, it has been reported. In another speech shortly after his infamous Regensburg Rally, he said "Christians worshipped the cross because of the folly of the Jews and ignorance of Pagans and Gentiles." In an address of March 16, 2006, Pope Benedict said Jews must Convert to Christianity in order to be Saved.

From The Guardian: "Even worse, in his Auschwitz address, he managed to argue in a long theological exposition that the real victims of the Holocaust were God and Christianity. As one commentator put it, he managed to claim that Jews were "themselves bit players - bystanders at their own extermination. The true victim was a metaphysical one." This theological treatise bears the same characteristics as last week's Regensburg lecture; put at its most charitable, they are too clever by half."

But don't worry Jews can take it. I promise you we will not burn down any churches or murder any nuns.

The Guardian says "In the perceived clash between the West and the Muslim world - the Pope seems to have abdicated his papal role of arbitrator, and taken up arms in a rerun of a medieval fantasy."

"An elderly Catholic nun has already been killed in Somalia, in retaliation for the Pope's remarks; churches have been attacked in the West Bank. How is this papal stupidity going to play out in countries such as Nigeria, where the tensions between Catholics and Muslims frequently flare into riots and death? Or other countries such as Pakistan, where Catholic communities are already beleaguered? Or the Muslim minorities in Catholic countries such as the Philippines - how comfortable do they feel this week?"

"Two lines of thought emerge from this mess. The first is that the Pope's personal authority has been irrevocably damaged; how now could he ever present himself as a figure of global moral authority and a peacemaker after this?"

"The second is a more disturbing possibility: namely, that the Catholic church could be failing - yet again - to deal with the challenge of modernity."

For a Spiritual leader, Pope Benedict appears to have intellectual knowledge without spiritual substance and wisdom. He has been irresponsible and insensitive, and looked foolish especially when people are killed as a result of his thoughtless actions and decisions. Not Infallible to me.

Pope John Paul tried to build bridges between faiths and peoples.

Pope Benedict, however, seems intent on burning them. Hasn't the world got enough hatred and troubles without further enflaming the fires in these violent times.

Answer 2

Yeshua stated that all of us be responsive to what form of tree that's by making use of the fruit that it bears (Matthew 12:33). it incredibly is a metaphor that provides education on the very concern which you're asking approximately now: the thank you to tell a real beleiver in God from a faux one. there is one pre-considered necessary for transforming into a Christian (John 3:18): faith interior the Lord Yeshua, the annointed one (GR: Jesus Christ). while that beleif has been found out, the recent beleiver, at that 2nd turns into indwelt by making use of the Holy Spirirt. no one has fellowship with God till he has the Spirit interior him. The Bible takes it even a step further by making use of giving us a particular checklist of the culmination that someone living interior the Spirit will undergo, in Galatians 5:22-23a. The 9 culmination are: 'love, exhilaration, peace, persistence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and potential of strategies.' which you will answer your question: a real Christian has to exhibit those traits. there is purely no way around it. whether, it must additionally be mentioned that Christians are actually not appropriate; that isn't possible. some Christians are closer to God than are others. this would relate directly to the quantities of those culmination that the guy will undergo. i be responsive to that a number of this would sound somewhat technical, and that i say sorry for that. I beleive whether, appropriate Biblical interpretation and awareness is a could while attempting to assist relate to others ideas that concern our Lord. besides, i wish that this has helped you in some way. Pray consistently, learn your Bible, and God will pour out each and all the know-how which you will manage upon you (James a million:5). :-) And try each and every thing! (a million Thessalonians 5:21)

Answer 3

Speaking the truth is not insulting.
Insult: To treat with gross insensitivity, insolence, or contemptuous rudeness.

By the by, this present Pope is not helping Catholicism much because he's not a true Catholic at heart. He's weak. Just like our President is weak.

And just to inform you, Catholics don't look on other religions as a "threat". How could you threaten us anyway? We Catholics who truly follow the beliefs of the Church worship as we do because we believe in it. You being atheist cannot hurt or harm us. So why would you think we'd consider you a threat?

Answer 4

So, in your estimation the Pope hasn't insulted you enough so you decide to insult him with your distorted imagination. Maybe you should go to St. Peters square and boo and heckle him. Be a man, stand up for your right to be insulted. I'll even help you get started. You are a bottom feeder and a moron. Was that a good start?

Answer 5

I think he'll get round to it in a few days, he has to come up with something good first! but since when should we take someone who thinks that the world was made in 7 days seriously?
and to contradict the last answer atheists are not "undecided" I have looked into all major religions, all minor religions, all cults, and anything I could come up with myself, and decided that it was all a bunch of phooey, and that the idea of a god or gods was barmy and ludicrous

Answer 6

because atheists are potential recruits since they are no religion ( like undecided voters)

other religious people are decided and unlikey to convert. So if the Pope hopes to expand his base of faithful, he must recruit the atheists. that is why he does not insult them.
eventually the world will begin to end and some atheists will change over when they get scared and desperate. that is when he hopes to make them catholics (there are no atheists in foxholes, or in bomb shelters, etc)this is justa theory of course.

Answer 7

He's getting there right after he collects his medals at the white house. Personally I think he should crawl back into his little hole in the vatican till he's gone the way of the dodo or they "help him on his way" i'm not a religious guy but he's definitly no promotor for catholicism.

Answer 8

Rarely do you see the flyweight boxing champion call out the heavyweight champ...why pick a fight you cannot win? At least the fight with the Muslims and Jews is a fair one--they're fighting over who's got the better fairy tale...

Answer 9

Atheists aren't organised. They all need to get together and form a hierarchy in the name of something, and then swear they're prepared to die for it. Then atheism will be a threat, and then it will get a mention.

The trick is to think of something to die for that isn't a god. It could be money, a lot of people have already died for that, theirs or someone else's.

A lot of people also die for power, but that's a bit abstract and trickier to define. If you can think of something that represents an abstract power that people will die for, you could be on to a winner.

Answer 10

I think it's because the Pope like most Christian certainly do not in any conceivable way, consider Atheists a threat at all. Most of us really do not feel sorry for you either, we really don't care either way which is probably why he nevers mentions you. Not important enough. Thanks for the question.