What do you think of this?

Question

This is how you know religion is going wayyyyyyyyyyyy too far... this is just ridiculous....


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070619/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_vatican_road;_ylt=AnxOOGP9cYXaA4gDaH_XNADtiBIF

everydaycatholic- First of all, if I need my church to tell me how to drive without flipping someone off or killing someone, I need alot more than faith. I live by my moral standards every single day of my life. But gee, I find it funny that you couldn't use some of those morals of yours to answer my question without taking a jab at me personally.

everydaycatholic- Ok, that was a double-edged sword. Why bother typing an apology? Here's my thing, the Catholic Church is EXTREMELY influential, so why make the religion look like a joke? The 10 Commandments for driving? Hey, if it works for people, that's great for them. But IN MY OPINION, as far as I knew, I was still allowed to have those, I think they should use their influential abilities for something that really matters as opposed to making up rules for Catholics who can't control their temper when driving.

First off, I was under the impression that the bible was written by men that were under the infulence of God. Assuming that is right, who has the write to takes some of those words and make a mockery of them? Because regardless of the intentions, that's exactly what happened. And what I find HILARIOUS is if an Atheist decided to make these "10 Commandments for Driving", even if they were written with the best of intentions, EVERYONE would be having a fit!

TO ALL: So call me stupid or proclaim that I don't understand, but I understand just fine. And if you are ok with people taking the bible that you all hold so dear and making a mockery of it, have fun. But don't get at me when I say that I can't read the bible with an open heart because this whole incident just proves to me that the bible that we have now, MAY VERY WELL have been written by someone full of "good intentions".

Answer 1

I think it is arrogant and wasteful. First for the Church to step in and tell me how to drive is ridiculous when they protect pedophiles and the Cardinals who protected them in USA...hello pot, kettle here....

Anyway next we will have the Catholic Church's 10 Commandments on how to cook chicken, the 10 commandments for politics, the 10 commandments for laundry.

It just seems cheap to me..I am mad at the Church. They take something as profound and great as the 10 Commandments and then they sully it with this crap just to get some PR. They took these timeless lessons to live a better life and then attached modern day frivolities.

Why make 10 official commandments when you could just reiterate the basic teaching of DO UNTO OTHERS, BE GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER...you know some good ol classic material that is PERFECTLY APPLICABLE to the situation..but oh no we gotta go for the cheap sound bit...I am very irritated

Answer 2

I'm an agnostic/atheist, I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Catholic faith. And I like it. It isn't taking itself too seriously, but it is picking a good opportunity to teach some useful lessons in life.

One of the things the Church should be doing, in my opinion, is giving advice to people on how to live a good life that makes the world a better place. This is just an opportunity to demonstrate that a part of our lives that we may not be that conscious of can remind us of a number of important lessons all at once.

Cars take on an iconic value in people's lives. People take them very seriously. This is a nice reminder to keep thinking at all times about how you want to live, how you should live. For instance, it's a method of transportation. It shouldn't be used overly much as a way of expressing vanity or displaying power. You should be a courteous driver and not turn off your sense of moral perspective just because you are behind the wheel of a car (or, they say, in the back seat of one.) The advice, when you read it through, looks pretty good. I'd much rather the Church spend its time doing this than telling people they can't use condums. It's good advice in a sort of playful form.

Answer 3

You think it is ridiculous that a church should instruct and guide its people on how to live a holy and moral life in every day activities such as driving a car?

Faith and morals are not something that you put on when you walk into the church on Sunday and then take off when you walk out.

Or is that how it is for you?

edit

Yes, it was uncharitable of me to take a jab at you. I should be more patient and kind when dealing with people who do not treat me and my church with kindness.

Please accept my apology.

I will now answer your question:

No, I do not think this is going too far. I do not think it is ridiculous for a church to guide and instruct its people on how to lead a kind and loving life in every day situations such as driving. It is what a church should be doing.

How people deal with their anger and frustration while driving IS something that really matters.

It is the news agencies that are making the Catholic Church look like a joke by calling this the 10 Commandments of the road (no surprise there).

The document addresses several different topics: pastoral outreach to frequent travelers and those who make their living in the field of transportation; considerations of road safety; ministry to women and children living on the streets; and care for the homeless.

Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, told reporters that "it is important to understand the factors that push ... women into prostitution." He added that the Church "has the pastoral responsibility to defend and promote the human dignity of those exploited by prostitution, and to work toward their liberation."

Regarding children who live on the streets, the archbishop cited said that the problem has reached "unimaginable proportions," with the International Labor Organization reporting that 150 million children worldwide fall into that category.

I suggest you go to http://volokh.com/posts/1182292113.shtml and click on the link for the document in their story.

I am sorry, but i do not see this as being mocking of the Bible. Calling something the "Ten Commandments" of Road Safety is telling people that these are rules or laws that a person should live by, similar to the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses.

I do not think you are stupid nor did I call you stupid..

Answer 4

Why would this be "going too far?" Why is it ridiculous?
I don't even understand what the problem is.
This is exactly what a church should do.
Plus it is kinda funny.
This is a guide and it is common sense and they are good things listed there. This is not an issue of doctrine or "you will be excommunicated if you flip someone off."
Either you don't understand the difference or you are looking for something to be negative about the Church.

Answer 5

Kristen,

Yes, That is going to far!

You're forgetting the obvious problem with this concept! If the Pope starts issuing traffic rules, when will the dogma of the church state that "THOU SHALT DRIVE ON THE RIGHT?" That would put me on the excommunication list for certain as I have been living in the Untied Kingdom for the past eighteen months where that would be dangerous.

Besides, who really needs an order from on high to be nice to others? I've been hearing it since I was a kid "Play nice, now, Don!" You probably have too. (Though I hope you corrected whoever it was that was calling you "Don"!

If that didn't help, then hearing it from the ex-Nazi in the funny hat probably won't either.

Answer 6

As an attempt to apply Biblical principles to real-life, I heartily applaud it! Sure, it's over the top, but that may help it garner attention that it deserves.

Answer 7

Religion has already gone too far...they can't make it much worse.

It is sad that people would need their church to tell them how to drive without endangering everyone on the road though.

Answer 8

That is Catholicism for ya.

Answer 9

I think its funny

Answer 10

LOL. It is 'dick culous'