"But it is a serious illness, this Christian ideology."

[Smackie Chan]

The faith becomes ideology and ideology frightens. Ideology chases away the people. It creates distances between people and it distances the Church from the people. But it is a serious illness, this ideology in Christians. It is an illness, but it is not new, eh?

Recruiting Canadians, I see.

[poptart]

The pope can speak for the catholic church if he wants to, but he does not speak for Christianity.

[Wolfman]

The pope can speak for the Roman Catholic church if he wants to, but he does not speak for Christianity.

Fixed that for you.

[poptart]

lol

Fair enough.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

lol

Fair enough.

Wow...you caved pretty easily on that one...

:o

Have you been reading Episcopalian pamphlets or something?
SPEAK TO ME 'TART!

[Smackie Chan]

To 88, tart, & Wolfie - Despite your stance on the Pope & the Catholic Church, do you disagree with the particular message Jsc posted? That rote recital of prayers without thought as to what is being said is preferable to personal, faith-based praying? That ideology based on the thoughts and mandates of others is preferable to personal faith derived from individual thought? As someone who was raised Catholic and now has no connection to or love for the church or the papacy, I don't see anything objectionable about what he said here. If you distance yourselves from the messenger and focus on the message, realizing he's limiting his comments to the faithful, with what do you disagree?

[poptart]

It is one thing to pray, and another thing to say prayers

- Pope


I agree with his point, Smackie.

"Mindless chanting" is nothing.



Luke 11: 1-4 -- the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, and He told them.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv/kjv ... te=4609530

[Wolfman]

"Mindless chanting" is nothing.

Like Jay Carney at a press conference?

[Smackie Chan]

The primary point he's trying to make is that it's important to maintain separation between faith & ideology, and that one shouldn't morph into the other? Do you agree?

[poptart]

"Mindless chanting" is nothing.

Like Jay Carney at a press conference?

LOL

Nice!

The primary point he's trying to make is that it's important to maintain separation between faith & ideology, and that one shouldn't morph into the other? Do you agree?

I'm not sure I know what he exactly means by "Christian ideology."

But my "fear" is that he is attempting to move Christian thought toward universalism -- an acceptance of "other" thought.
Subtly pimping a way where Jesus Christ may not necessarily be the only way.
A way where Christian rules and "accepted thought" needs to be broken down.

But I could be wrong about his intention.


Anyway...
I noted from Luke how Jesus told the disciples to pray.
He also told them not to worry about food, drink, clothing -- because God knows they need these things.
He said...


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


I think this should be the fundamental content of a Christian's prayer.
"God, since you've promised me everything I need, through my life, let Your Kingdom be established here."

However Christians (like all people) are given to establish their own standard of what is right, or what is righteous -- an "ideology," if you will -- and they often focus their prayer on such things, rather than focusing on what God simply wants, which is to have His kingdom established through us.

That's what I think.

[Terry in Crapchester]

The pope can speak for the catholic church if he wants to, but he does not speak for all of Christianity.

FTFY.

The Pope oversees one of the most corrupt organizations in the history of the world. Read Render Unto Rome and you will have a better picture of the depth of the corruption. That being said, Cathloics and Mormons and other religious folks tend to be OK in my book. Don't hate the soldiers. Hate the Generals. (A religious translation of "Don't hate the playa, hate the game.")

I don't disagree with the overwhelming majority of criticism of the Catholic Church, as an institution, which has been laid out both here and elsewhere. But I love (in a non-gay way) this Pope. If Pope Francis lives long enough, he will prove to be the best thing that has happened to the Church in my lifetime.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

But I love (in a non-gay way) this Pope.

That's probably a good thing, because you're about 50 years too old for him.

And rack 88.

[Terry in Crapchester]

But I love (in a non-gay way) this Pope.

That's probably a good thing, because you're about 50 years too old for him.

I hadn't even been conceived 50 years ago.

[Goober McTuber]

But I love (in a non-gay way) this Pope.

That's probably a good thing, because you're about 50 years too old for him.

I hadn't even been conceived 50 years ago.

Good times, good times.