VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Mankind, which has reached other planets and decoded the genetic instructions for life, should not presume it can live without God, Pope Benedict said in his Christmas message on Monday.
In an age of unbridled consumerism it was shameful many remained deaf to the "heart-rending cry" of those dying of hunger, thirst, disease, poverty, war and terrorism, he said.
thats what i found on yahoooooooo tonight when i got home from a night out with my loving family after fantastic cristmas day
in this modern world of consumerism, is what the pope said a load of old bollocks, or anything any good????????
2006-12-25 12:57:09 · 20 answers · asked by Creef 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well of course we shouldn't ignore those dying through 'hunger, thirst, disease, poverty, war and terrorism'. But that's not a Christian message, it's a human one. If the pope cared that much about human suffering he wouldn't preach against abortion and contraception in third world countries.
His argument actually says nothing about consumerism, or what he thinks that means. No one thinks rampant consumerism is a good thing, but that doesn't mean we need a god.
2006-12-25 20:07:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a wise statement. I think that technology doesn't preclude spirituality.
Consumerism, not technology, is the real problem. The United States consumes the largest portion of the world's resources. We place personal satisfaction over the world's health. We have undeniable signs that we are causing great harm to our environment, yet we fail to act. We hinder renewable sources of energy and support the use of oil and automobiles.
How many more available resources, including financial, would there be if those who were able would use a bicycle or walk if they needed to travel, say less than two miles, around town? That simple act would save a great deal of fossil fuel, reducing foreign dependence. It would save wear and tear on automobiles. It would reduce this constant need to widen and maintain streets. It would increase the health of those walking or biking. It would reduce health care costs for everyone. It would increase the overall mental health of society as exercise promotes better mental health. Would we do it? I doubt so.
2006-12-25 13:17:52 · answer #2 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think mankind has proven that it can live quite well without a god or gods. It's all well and good for the Pope to speak about rampant consumerism, while it sits on untold millions of dollars worth of art treasures and gold relics that could easily be liquidated and used to feed the starving masses. What's more, a good deal of the strife caused in the world today is a direct result of religious conflict, of which the catholic church continues to play a role.
The pope is doddering old nazi who looks like Emperor Palpatine. He should either STFU or DIAF.
2006-12-25 13:06:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Not sure what is up with those sort of broadcasters... implying that you have to 'believe' in order to be good (and therefore all believers must be good ?).
Truth is the ones with the strongest belief are more likely to be the biggest wrongdoers.
It was a good moral speech though, if you discount the hypocrisy in the city from whence it came.
Happy winter break.
2006-12-26 01:06:53 · answer #4 · answered by Jon H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good Q but it depends on your view of what is God. I think of God as the Laws of Nature so he is right.
He and his Church are completely wrong about Divinity & Holiness though. What's with the burning of people who opposed the Church and the copying of Pagan religions and encorporating them into Christianity any way. Making Christianity compulsary in the Roman Empire which ruled much of the world at the time explains why it is so widespread today but does not lend itself to credability
2006-12-25 13:13:20 · answer #5 · answered by Knobby Knobville 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Technlogy ,Astrotrogy , Medicine and all scientific sciences are all nothing in front of the God(Allah) . God (Allah)created skies and the earth and all creatures and Humans . He gave ppl a mind which can help them to proove and dicvoer anything. So when we reach these all sciences that don't mean He wasn't being before. Man"s knowledge is limited but God's knowledge is unlimited .
All discovers and every science which you or scientists know is like a dot in a sea infront the knowledge of God ( Allah).
SO our God (Allah)gave us life and a mind which can help us to discover all sciences which can lead us to happy and comfortable life . So we both need the religion and mind . They cannot be separated .
Knowledge , science and practising the knowlege in the right way will lead us to proove the existance of God (Allah).
All religions should be respected and all sciences and views should also be respected unless they don't attack God .
Finally we should say that we need first God( Allah) who created us to use our mind which help us to discover technologies and sciences .
The french philospher said " I do think therefore I am existed " . But I say :" I do exist therefore I think . " God ( Allah)created me before then I could use my mind to think , and I can't use my mind to think before have been created by GOD (Allah ) .
Poverty , thirst , hunger ,diseaseswar are terrorists are created by hand of ppl themself and by there selfish wills and wrong politicies of governments and UN .
May GOD PROTECT US
2006-12-25 23:33:22 · answer #6 · answered by montathra 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The problem is the west does send money. It sends a lot of money. It should be more than enough. But it all gets stolen by the governments of the people it is supposed to help.
Unless you expect us to go to war every place there is a corrupt government, there is going to continue to be hunger and poverty. We can't fight everyone's battles, and we would be demonized if we tried.
2006-12-25 13:03:00 · answer #7 · answered by Alex 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I mean to a certain extent but if you allow both sides to live peacefully that is the best situation - you must appreciate God and what people have made from what God has put on each; it's the sensible way.
2006-12-25 12:59:55 · answer #8 · answered by Almana 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Without the god myth to threaten gullible people with, the church would not be able to pay their pedophilia lawsuits. Just any god story won't do. In order to keep the cash coming in it has to be a god story that scares people. The sad thing is the church doesn't care about their extortion victims who go to bed at night fearing they will burn in hell because they didn't give enough.
2006-12-25 13:13:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Technology is, but, even if you throw out religion, one should not be totally dependant on it.
The Pope makes some sense here.
2006-12-25 13:02:48 · answer #10 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋