Beh. My general opinion on this pope is that he's kinda cool, for a pope, all popism considered, and that if he represents the direction where popes will be going, then it's an optimist sign on the world and stuff.

Guys, put your popes in perspective. This pope is an okayish pope. As popes go.

This pope is excellent, as popes go. Some antitheists are saddened by the fact, because they hoped the church would collapse under pope Palpatine and everyone would emerge from the ruins a perfectly ethical rationalist.

Which reminds me, it's high time to canonize de Molay. It's been 700 years, get on with it already, superpope.

This pope is a cool and clever man. But humanity should learn to put away mediators of all religions. Priest, imam or whatever thats called its all shit. If God exists doesn't need anyone like that. God sent his prophets and books thats all. We dont need anything else. All others are opportunists.

This is debatable and (IMAO) just as much as appeal to magic as the OP. Poor and uneducated people, in the absence of active government-directed propaganda, will always be susceptible to supernatural nuttery. An accountable organization dealing with the supernatural (not that the Catholic church is accountable) is better than thousands of completely unaccountable - but protected under the freedom of religion clauses - organizations which will unavoidably spring up (because people are social and will be sharing their thoughts on everything, including the supernatural). Hell, I'm in Russia, where the Orthodox church is being as evil and possible, and I'm still having more trouble from various unaffiliated cults than from the church (so far).

Yes thats true but believe me there is not much difference between cults and churches (or mosks?). And i believe churches are even more dangerous than cults becasue more people believe in them. People are defensless against them. They can tell all the lies they want, use people, harrass people, even kill people and do these in gods name (medieval church, and some islamic countries today). And people still believe in them because they think churches know what god wants. Believing nothing is even more true. At least u believe in your mind. Well you are right its better churches should exist but true believers should abandon it.

That exact loophole is one of the reasons its hard to take the Judeo-Christian faiths seriously.

Sure, you'll get a better reward for your faith and deeds, but I was also taught the 'reduced to brainless drooling in awe/eternal worship' version of heaven, rather than 'Golden Utopia'.

Another dumb aspect of it is that if you dont believe in him, you go to hell.

How is that making any sense? I mean, suppousedly god is merciful, but it is not true. Why?

He gave free will to humans, so first he creates them in a way, that it is possible not to believe in him, and then punishes people for it. To me, its cruel, a complete opposite of mercy.

I still see irony in him leading a child, when some catholic priests are doing a bit more than that...*cough*

If everything in the bible is true then god is definitely a dick.

I always figured that had gone without saying.

Thanks for reminding me...

I was referring to the Catholic Church being discussed here. I'm not sure what your experience with a nondenominational faith has to do with it.

The description of the "world flood issue" in the Bible was written in simple, metaphorical language of the time. Its purpose was to explain the covenant with Noah and God's People, not to provide a scientific report on the flood.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with the Church growing up. Bad people can be found in any position of authority among human beings, sadly including the Church. As far as change happening, many necessary changes to rid the Church of bad priests and provide a safer environment for children have already been made. What changes are you waiting to see?

So the Church should never change? What about when the Tridentine Mass was new? It was ok to change then? Who says you have to watch youtube? You can still find it said many places.

What's the current stance on condoms, by the way ?