Pope: Being an atheist is alright...
Discussion
...as long as you do good.
Link to article
Well, thanks very much, Frankie - at least I can sleep better at night with your "approval" (assuming I do good).
I guess it is progress from Benny's opinion of "atheist extremism", and he does seem a more chilled pope, but why does this article piss me off?
Link to article
Well, thanks very much, Frankie - at least I can sleep better at night with your "approval" (assuming I do good).
I guess it is progress from Benny's opinion of "atheist extremism", and he does seem a more chilled pope, but why does this article piss me off?
TheHeretic said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
going against direct bible teaching then
good deeds don't get you to heaven, only Jesus (says the bible, not me)
This. We will still burn in hell for eternity apparently, no matter how good we are... Which is nice.good deeds don't get you to heaven, only Jesus (says the bible, not me)
Condescending prick.
I hate the term 'atheist', because it implies that 'theism' is the norm. Here's a more coherent argument from author Sam Harris:
"In fact, 'atheism' is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a 'non-astrologer' or a 'non-alchemist.' We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs."
I hate the term 'atheist', because it implies that 'theism' is the norm. Here's a more coherent argument from author Sam Harris:
"In fact, 'atheism' is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a 'non-astrologer' or a 'non-alchemist.' We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs."
Halmyre said:
Condescending prick.
I hate the term 'atheist', because it implies that 'theism' is the norm. Here's a more coherent argument from author Sam Harris:
"In fact, 'atheism' is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a 'non-astrologer' or a 'non-alchemist.' We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs."
That's an interesting point, and one that I've not really considered. I hate the term 'atheist', because it implies that 'theism' is the norm. Here's a more coherent argument from author Sam Harris:
"In fact, 'atheism' is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a 'non-astrologer' or a 'non-alchemist.' We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs."
This pope has raised some interesting theological problems with this statement.
What about the really serious mortal sins, such as using birth control? Doing so cannot be classed as doing 'bad' as it is just something theological. There is nothing immoral in using birth control.
And taking their god's name in vain. The guy doesn't believe in a god so, one assumes, can take anyone's name in vain.
Believing Mary was a virgin when giving birth in 'of faith' so failing to believe in it is s serious no-no. It has to be taken into account that Mary only recently became a virgin, the 18thC I believe, so those before then would not have done anything wrong by not believing it but a modern atheist, I think, would.
All very difficult.
And did Jesus lie when he [reportedly] said: No one comes unto the father but by me?
What about the really serious mortal sins, such as using birth control? Doing so cannot be classed as doing 'bad' as it is just something theological. There is nothing immoral in using birth control.
And taking their god's name in vain. The guy doesn't believe in a god so, one assumes, can take anyone's name in vain.
Believing Mary was a virgin when giving birth in 'of faith' so failing to believe in it is s serious no-no. It has to be taken into account that Mary only recently became a virgin, the 18thC I believe, so those before then would not have done anything wrong by not believing it but a modern atheist, I think, would.
All very difficult.
And did Jesus lie when he [reportedly] said: No one comes unto the father but by me?
It's not that difficult to understand really. Being a good person is preferable to being a nasty b
d. That's not to say the nice person is going to heaven just because he hasn't done nasty things.
Plenty of nice people about, but are they going to heaven based on the beliefs of one faith or another (Christianity included)? I'd suggest not.
d. That's not to say the nice person is going to heaven just because he hasn't done nasty things. Plenty of nice people about, but are they going to heaven based on the beliefs of one faith or another (Christianity included)? I'd suggest not.
Hugo a Gogo said:
heaven sounds a bit rubbish too, lots of sitting around worshipping and praising god, for all eternity....
I'm still unsure whether it is possible to have free will in heaven. Am I 'I'', or am I a bleached out version? Do I hold the same views I have now, or does that change? Rovinghawk said:
As the bible says that slavery can be ok but poly-cotton clothing is an abomination, I wonder whether the selection criteria for heaven might tend to select the 'wrong' kind of people.
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