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Why is the Pope special?

zyzygy said:
It was comparing the pope with Obama that sparked the question.
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I didn't compare the two. I simply explained that they are both special because of their positions.
 
polgara said:
Good morning, CJ. :2wave:

He seems to be stressing "redistribution of wealth," as BHO is also doing. I'm not clear exactly what they mean by that, and how it is to be accomplished. Most religions teach that we should help feed the hungry, help the widows and orphans, and do what we can to give aid to those in need. . .as individuals. I believe we do that, either directly or by donating to organizations like the Food Bank and various charities, which are usually manned by volunteers who receive no payment for their labor. As someone pointed out on here, no religion teaches that we are to give what we earn to the government to distribute as it sees fit, who of course then takes credit for being benevolent. Moreover, this requires paying a salary to those doing the necessary paperwork, so the poor aren't receiving all the money meant for them from the very beginning. Surely this can't be the best solution to this problem? As Vesper pointed out in her post, she can go to the store and spend her own money to buy groceries for a family that needs help, and they're going to receive it all.

It's 54 degrees here, so Fall is definitely on its way! :shock:
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Hi Lady P - hope all is well.

It's cooler in the mornings here too, but nice and mild as the day progresses. I love the weather this time of year. Unfortunately, I'm serving as a juror on a coroner's inquest into the death of a young man who shot himself while being arrested so I'm not going to get to enjoy being outside as much as I'd like.

Take care and have fun.
 
Your Star said:
I mean, he's just another dude. Always a dude, but that's another thread entirely. Anyways, he gets elected by a bunch of cardinals, and now he's the most holy person on Earth and completely infallible? How does this make any sense whatsoever?
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One of the many issues people had with Catholicism. Why do you think there is so many break off Christians?
 
CanadaJohn said:
Hi Lady P - hope all is well.

It's cooler in the mornings here too, but nice and mild as the day progresses. I love the weather this time of year. Unfortunately, I'm serving as a juror on a coroner's inquest into the death of a young man who shot himself while being arrested so I'm not going to get to enjoy being outside as much as I'd like.

Take care and have fun.
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I've wondered where you were - I've missed you! I can think of a dozen things I'd rather do than serve on that type of jury again. I did that once, and I hope never have to repeat it - one man kick-boxed another man, who could not defend himself because his hands were tied behind his back, to death while others watched and didn't intervene to help the victim, who weighed about half that of the killer. I still have nightmares when I remember the coroners photos that we were required to look at! We found the killer guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt - that was a given, but the injuries sure were excessively gruesome, and even the men on the jury questioned why we had to see them! :shock:
 
polgara said:
I've wondered where you were - I've missed you! I can think of a dozen things I'd rather do than serve on that type of jury again. I did that once, and I hope never have to repeat it - one man kick-boxed another man, who could not defend himself because his hands were tied behind his back, to death while others watched and didn't intervene to help the victim, who weighed about half that of the killer. I still have nightmares when I remember the coroners photos that we were required to look at! We found the killer guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt - that was a given, but the injuries sure were excessively gruesome, and even the men on the jury questioned why we had to see them! :shock:
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Was the Pope involved?
 
I could see how people could find him interesting and have a great deal of respect for him and what he's supposed to stand for, but I don't get it when people treat him as if they're actually meeting Jesus. He's just a human and 99.99% of the people in the world would have no idea who he is if the next guy in line to be pope got more votes.
 
Lovebug said:
iow, 1.25 Billion idol worshipers.
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Yes, indeed. But, never the less.. you have 1.25 billion people deferring to his opinion. That is a lot more than listen to me!
 
Your Star said:
I mean, he's just another dude. Always a dude, but that's another thread entirely. Anyways, he gets elected by a bunch of cardinals, and now he's the most holy person on Earth and completely infallible? How does this make any sense whatsoever?
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That's a common misconception. Catholic dogma does not claim that the pope is infallible, let alone "completely infallible". It teaches that, in some very rare situations having to do with a very narrow range of issues, the pope can make proclamations that are infallible. This has happened exactly twice before in Catholic history, the last time being 65 years ago. The last 6 popes never attempted to speak infallibly.
 
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zyzygy said:
The Bible says The Pope is the Antichrist
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I don't think the pope is THE antichrist... Maybe AN antichrist, but we have lots of anti-Christ people around these days.

I think the pope now is more likely to become the anti Christ right hand... If it comes to that... And most Catholics will bend a knee if / when that were to happen,
 
haymarket said:
Not virtuous by any means. And there are lots and lots of serial killers - some a whole lot worse than Manson who really was nothing special like the one of a kind Pope. I would grant you that Manson is very different but not special in the way that the Pope is special.
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So, elaborate on what exactly does makes the Pope so special please?
 
zyzygy said:
Some guys in dresses elect him and then he gets a hot line to god. How does that work?
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No not really.
He's just the leader of the The Holy See and Vatican City.(technically two separate entities)
It's often ceremonial, as the Papacy no longer has a significant state to lead anymore.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
No not really.
He's just the leader of the The Holy See and Vatican City.(technically two separate entities)
It's often ceremonial, as the Papacy no longer has a significant state to lead anymore.
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He can certainly influence a solid number of the billion plus Catholics.

His is a soft power, but he's still got a team of people,that are willing to kill or die for the man, at his side, pretty much anytime he leaves his "security perimeter".

He can permeate the types of messages through the ranks of the Catholic Church, the world over, that he desires...

It's a stateless power, by any means.

It's level of actual influence is debatable, but likely not insignificant.
 
BmanMcfly said:
He can certainly influence a solid number of the billion plus Catholics.

His is a soft power, but he's still got a team of people,that are willing to kill or die for the man, at his side, pretty much anytime he leaves his "security perimeter".

He can permeate the types of messages through the ranks of the Catholic Church, the world over, that he desires...

It's a stateless power, by any means.

It's level of actual influence is debatable, but likely not insignificant.
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Yea he still has soft power, but how much church doctrine actually influences Catholics, is arguable at best.
 
I propose that we all follow in the Pope's steps and establish a higher moral standard to bring technology under control.
 
Actually, a lot of guys dress like the Pope, we call them pimps.
 
Kelfuma said:
I propose that we all follow in the Pope's steps and establish a higher moral standard to bring technology under control.
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I reject your proposal.
 
Your Star said:
I mean, he's just another dude. Always a dude, but that's another thread entirely. Anyways, he gets elected by a bunch of cardinals, and now he's the most holy person on Earth and completely infallible? How does this make any sense whatsoever?
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Infallibility - that depends if the teaching is in agreement with the Scriptures. That holds true to anyone and everyone who claim to speak the Words of God.
It's God and His Scriptures that's infallible.

However, he's special because he's the head of the largest Christian denomination, and thus he holds great global influence.
 
BmanMcfly said:
I don't think the pope is THE antichrist... Maybe AN antichrist, but we have lots of anti-Christ people around these days.

I think the pope now is more likely to become the anti Christ right hand... If it comes to that... And most Catholics will bend a knee if / when that were to happen,
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To be fair, the goal is to fool as many as possible, and there are millions of Christians who aren't Catholic who may also be fooled.
 
Your Star said:
I mean, he's just another dude. Always a dude, but that's another thread entirely. Anyways, he gets elected by a bunch of cardinals, and now he's the most holy person on Earth and completely infallible? How does this make any sense whatsoever?
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The church says that he's special. Billy Graham thinks HE'S special. The dalai Lama thinks he's the reincarnation of the Buddha - so HE'S special.

It's just the hierarchy of religion. Everybody has to have someone to follow to heaven.
 
Your Star said:
I mean, he's just another dude. Always a dude, but that's another thread entirely. Anyways, he gets elected by a bunch of cardinals, and now he's the most holy person on Earth and completely infallible? How does this make any sense whatsoever?
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well not being Catholic, I really don't see him as all that important. But you could say the same thing about the President, the Prince of Wales, the Russian honcho Putin, etc.
 
I think the pope is special just because he is light years ahead of many in his ability to love, show tolerance and warmth and has a genuine caring for man kind.

I think anyone who has those attributes regardless of their belief system is special. They are rare individuals.
 
~SAL said:
I think the pope is special just because he is light years ahead of many in his ability to love, show tolerance and warmth and has a genuine caring for man kind.

I think anyone who has those attributes regardless of their belief system is special. They are rare individuals.
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He's planning on selling all the assets of the church and giving them to the poor then is he?
 
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