[PLUG-TALK] Michael, On the subject of God.
Michael C. Robinson
michael at robinson-west.com
Sat Nov 15 03:20:28 UTC 2003
> Religion in this world has done more harm than good. There have been more
> deaths due to religion than any other cause. You asked me earlier if I wanted
> another civil war... How can you condone a religion that put people to death
> and did things like the Crusades?
Have you considered a contextual approach to the bible?
A lot of Catholics died in World War II along with Jews.
Afterwards in Russia, many more Catholics died as communism
swept in. Was it religion that caused WWII?
Germany was driven into a bad position by the allies at the
end of WWI leaving it vulnerable to Hitler. The pope had
to hide from the SS, he's lucky to be alive today. Remember
also, the church told Hitler he wasn't mentally fit for the
priesthood. John Paul II was outspoken in his home land in
the midst of World War II, quite brave considering the danger.
Despite that, look how he has reached out to do something as
if he had done nothing. Catholicism wouldn't have the crusades
turn out the way they did, it was individuals that turned
quests to the holy places into rape and pillage fiascos. If
you have been harmed by the church in any way by any member,
how are you doing now? Does your story need to get to someone
within the Catholic church who will assist you with medical
expenses, etc? Without guidance, how can you know what the
bible says? Look, it is not Catholic doctrine to go on a
rape and pillage crusade. The fundamental tenets of the
Catholic church don't allow for the abuses that the pope
asks the world to forgive. Also consider, this pope wasn't
alive when these abuses happened.
Religion aside, any human organization has individuals within
it at some level who do not uphold the ideals expected of them.
Despite this, the core beliefs of the Catholic church if you
can see beyond the abuses are 2000 years old. Atheistic communism
lasted 70 years for a reference point. When it ended, individual
Russians brought the bricks of one of their cathedrals out of
hiding ready to rebuild. They kept every single brick.
Not enough? There were many martyr's in Roman days where even
the Centurion who had the task of crucifying Christ became one
of his followers. Look beyond the bible some, there are historic
documents that there were cruxifictions and what they were like.
That guy who shot the pope was a muslim. Try reconsidering
if your anger over the crusades is anger against abuses that
are in the past. The man I understand was grateful for the
pope's forgiveness.
--
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Michael C. Robinson
Associates of General Studies
PCC March 2003.
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