I don’t mean to jump in late, but I’ve been a bit busy and haven’t been keeping up. Now then…
Reverend Blair said:
So it's better for people to die of AIDS.
You really are a humorless soul, aren’t you?
JorCON5 said:
PS don't you think it is wrong that the Popes, cardinals, other officials live in the lap of luxury while many of their followers are living in crushing poverty. I don't believe in God but do you think that that is his/her will.
The pope died without worldly possessions and was head of one of the more affluent religions in the world. Contrast that to Arafat who was leader to mostly the very poor, but died with millions in the bank.
Reverend Blair said:
That's the most twisted, uninformed interpretation of science that i've seen in almost a week, Jamie. Do you have any idea how the scientific method works?
Ya mean how scientists once proclaimed the earth as flat?
Reverend Blair said:
The AIDS programs in Africa that are allowed to promote the use of condoms do say that abstinence and avoiding blood and body fluids is the only 100% safe method, Jamie. The people there aren't stupid and they are given the facts. In places like Uganda it has made a huge difference.
The Pope went to Africa, one of the few places where the Catholic church is growing, and told people not to use condoms. That is completely indefensible.
You’re right about Uganda, Rev. Uganda has made a huge difference; one of the most successful in the world in combating AIDS. They use the ABC program:
Abstinence
Being faithful
Condoms
In that order. The most effective weapon against AIDS is not condom use, but Uganda's campaign to change behavior and to emphasize abstinence and fidelity - i.e., the Pope's position.
And what should the Catholic response be? Should they just buy into the “animals are going to rut anyway” principle? Would you not anticipate the head of the Catholic church asking his followers to rise to the expectation of the God and faith they believe in?
You paint a picture of the Pope running around Africa pointing fingers at sinners and screaming, “Thou shall not use a condom or thy God will smite you in vengeance! That’s a crock, Rev. What the Pope said was, "respect of the sacred value of life and formation about the correct practice of sexuality" is the church's position on the issue. In other words,
abstinence and faithfulness and not
rutting in wild with condoms is the Church’s position.
Let me understand your logic. The Pope expresses to Catholics the Church position on sex and condom use. He may have been communicating to everyone, but only Catholics would be interested in following his guidance. If one is not a Catholic, then one need not worry about sin by use of a condom.
Having sex outside of marriage is violate of the church position (a sin). Having sex with a condom is also violate of church position. So Joe Catholic is in the African bush and his safari guide is looking pretty hot one night. He then deduces it a wise thing to have unprotected sex out of wedlock because that is only one sin, not two.
He being Catholic, knows he can commit both sins, avoid AIDS and death then receive the Sacrament of Penance (confession) and get off the hook for both of them. But he chooses to forgo the condom and risk his life because Pope John Paul says it is a sin.
Got it. Yeah, you just keep reading that shit. Don’t think it out for yourself.
Reverend Blair said:
We promote legislation based on scientific and rational thought, tibear. You promote legislation based on book of myths. Many of those myths are repugnant, even harmful, in the modern world.
Human nature has not changed during its recorded history. The only difference between us (the modern world) and our ancestors of 4000 years ago is technology. We have cell phones, they had river baths. So I’d be curious to hear how myths of that time are harmful in the modern world.
By the way Rev, you haven’t blamed Bush for the death of the Pope yet. 189 replies to this thread. WTF is the matter with you? You slacking, Jack.
