Seriously, If he's such a sweetheart, nice guy holy man, why would people want to kill him? and if god is so great and powerful, why would he let anybody kill the pope? and if the pope has some kind of special connection to god, then he should be assured that even if he does die, he will go to heaven, so what is he afraid of?
2006-11-21 05:07:48 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think you've got some great argument there .......... if he truely believes in God's protection and salvation (and i won't judge if the Pope does or does not - i'm just watching this from a sidewalk, ok?) - then why indeed bulletproof vehicles? Maybe the Pope is not so submitted to His will afer all
Or is he afraid of being a martyr for his people? ......... beats me really :)
2006-11-21 06:23:04 · answer #1 · answered by Regina 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Are you talking about Pope Benedict? The last pope was shot! What you need to realize is that just because someone is a good person does not make them immune from the hatred of others. Nor does it mean God will give them a perfect life. There are no guarantees. It seems to me to be a rather stupid thing to not protect oneself when God has given you the intellect and means to do so. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert he said, "You shall not test the Lord your God."
Whether or not he goes to heaven is not the point. The pope, as any other spiritual leader, feels an obligation to be present to lead his/her people as long as possible-guiding, leading, etc.
If I were to follow your line of thinking, then it would be just fine for the Pope to play Russian roulette with a revolver since he has some kind of "special connection go God" and "even if he does die he will go to heaven." You also made the assumption, withouth any real evidence, that he is afraid of something.
Perhaps you should learn to present things more logically.
2006-11-21 05:13:44 · answer #2 · answered by Linda R 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Pope is the figurehead of the Roman Catholic church, which has over one billion members, worldwide. He is probably one of the most influencial people in the world. There is no accounting for the reasons behind assassination attempts upon his life, but to say that those people were against the ideology of the Catholic church.
Consider this: Jesus, too, was a nice guy. However, he was killed as well. The Pope's vehicle is bullet proof to protect the Pontiff from potential gunmen. Catholics believe that the Pope is God's representative on Earth.
2006-11-21 05:32:44 · answer #3 · answered by TransyMAJ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just because one person is loved by the masses, it doesn't mean that there isn't one or two or maybe three or more people who hate that one person for reasons of their own. It's said that God loves us all and yet, some of us die horrible deaths at the hands of others. That is called choice. It's said that God gives us the choice to go the right way or the wrong way. And for those who go the right way, their reward is peace and joy in the afterlife in Heaven.
The Pope is not the only one who has a special connection with God. We all do, but it is the Pope who leads the rest of us through example.
You have to try to understand that life as we know it is just a phase as is applied to life eternal. The body is just a vessel for the soul. Just as we might divest ourselves of our clothes, so shall we divest ourselves of our bodies, as they are the clothes that cover our souls. It's the soul that lives on and must be saved while we are clothed in flesh and blood.
I know it's difficult for some people to wrap their minds around this concept. Anything supernatural needs an open mind. It dispells the "seeing is believing" myth. The concept of God and religion is based on belief.
No living thing wanted to die. It is our nature to fight to survive. That's something that is ingrained--something we were born with. The fear of dying, bears the question of what will happen to us after.
2006-11-21 05:30:22 · answer #4 · answered by Call Me Babs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the pope is afraid to die I think people just want him around longer so he can do his job. Being realistic doesn't mean you don't have faith. God gives us all kinds of tools to use here on earth for our protection. It is okay to use them. People like to kill strong leaders in the world and the pope is one of them. It can be for many reasons that the pope is a target, but it is not because he is a bad man. The man wanting to kill the pope is the one with the issues.
2006-11-21 05:12:37 · answer #5 · answered by Glee 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If we love God, we want to make ourselves the most effective tools for His work. For me, that means taking care of myself, and not embarking on anything dangerous without a Godly purpose, especially if that danger can be mitigated. To put myself in danger when I could have been just as effective without that danger is irresponsible use of what God gave me. I wouldn't jump off a building unless I had an extremely good reason to do so (can't think of any right now). You'd just be testing God.
For the pope, there is a reality that some people want him dead (as history has shown). To flaunt danger wouldn't prove faith in God, it would show irresponsibility.
2006-11-21 05:13:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The crazies in this world (you are most likely very familiar with most of them) want to kill anybody who stands for peace and God's love. There is an old song, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition." Did you ever think that God had man develop bullet proof materials, just so the Pope (and others seeking peace) could be protected? God's ways don't have to be blatant, just loving.
2006-11-21 05:12:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I not being of the same faith as the Pope, think that maybe the reason the popemobile is bulletproof because of the evil in this world. Faith without works is dead. Those who help themselves are helped by God.
2006-11-21 05:10:56 · answer #8 · answered by nik 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
it particularly is not a question of religion, yet of loose will. The Pope has faith in the stable of people. besides the undeniable fact that his protection relies upon wisdom the capacity of loose Will over a guy or woman pushed to do a risky act. additionally there is the fact of Mob Mentality, the place one or 2 human beings appearing badly can effect a bigger group using freeing of inhabition. there is that loose will back. So NO, it does not in my opion coach a loss of religion It in basic terms highlights what a discomfort loose will could be.
2016-12-29 07:24:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Pope is a symbol and some people see the power in destruction of symbols.
The terrorists who flew airplanes in to the World Trade Center did so because the towers were symbols of the United States and not because they hated those buildings.
The Pope is just showing common sense. Just like when he looks both ways before crossing the street. "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
You might even say that the Pope is taking the temptation to sin (murder) away from some people.
With love in Christ.
2006-11-21 17:44:37 · answer #10 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋