The world has got a new pope... cardinal Ratzinger.

i can't stand this guy. stupid conservative f***
 
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Iron Horse Squad

Who dares wins!
TRP/PFC Eviscares/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR]

Now i gotta think of a nickname for him. Maybe eggs, or eggy.
 
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TRP/CPL Rema/VEA/VE [LoR][OPE] [AM-B][AM-S][AM-P][IH][SoA][CDS]
"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared."-Machiavelli

I'm a methodist, and I never go to church, so none of this bothers me except when I go to Shazam's house and he babbles on and on about his Catholic religion.  I'm not against it, I am just tired of hearing about it all the time.
 
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Jaden Khaar
Vast Empire
Nazgul Squadron

"No good deed goes unpunished" -Murphy

FL/SCRW Jaden/Nazgul 9/Phoenix Wing/mSSD AtrusVEN/VE (=A=) [VC:B]

We should actually start a post about who everyone's religion is, or we can start talking about it on here.

As I said, I am a methodist, and I was in confirmation last year.  I never went all the way through with it because everyone would rely on my to come to Choir in church, and be at every sermon from now until the day of my death.

Thats just the way my church is.
 
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Squall Lionheart
Lance Corporal
*DarkDragoons*
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +
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TRP/LCPL Squall/2SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [EWI]

I was halfway through with confirmation when I decided to stop with it too. It was mostly due to the fact that I didn't agree with the meaning of the priest anymore.

Concerning Dogma: In my opinion it is THE Film. I just love it!
 
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Iron Horse Squad

Who dares wins!
TRP/PFC Eviscares/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR]

Well, Pope Benedict XVI was (in my opinion) not a really good choice for a Pope. The Cardinals should have chosen a younger person to become Pope and suceed Pope John Paul II. I also thought that Cardinal Ratzinger should have chosen the name "Pope John Paul III." Then again, I don't really care, as I tend not to participate in Catholic life, despite being one myself.
 
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Revenge is what holds this galaxy together. Without it, the universe would be a boring place.

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Jack Nebulax, Imperial Navy, Vast Empire.
XO/FL/PO2 Jack Nebulax/Nazgul 5 (2-1)/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=) (=*SA*=) [VC:B]
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Jack Nebulax, Planetary Governor of Ullyr, Directorate Network (http://www.directorate.net/)
PG/MAG Jack Nebulax/Ullyr/Phare/Empyrean
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Jack "Zax" Nebulax, Commander of Nemesis Wing

It would be interesting if a pope could choose the name judas...
 
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Iron Horse Squad

Who dares wins!
TRP/PFC Eviscares/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR]

I am a catholic.  Have been all my life, and as I continue in my 'beleif' I tend to grow stronger in what we so commonly call faith.  So, although they've elected someone who might not be as liberal as you'd like, or as outgoing or maliable, chances are, he'll work things out in a way where those apparent downfalls will not be able to alter his better side.  And his rigid control may not be as hostile as we all assume.  Some things, such as abortion, are quite literally breaking a tradition, going against what we've beleived for years to be wrong and intolerable.  There is no way you can suddenly 'change' things without reprecussions, a sudden and dramatic effect will occur, and he's probably attempting to prevent anything that will 'change' the church.  I don't mean like, 'The end of the world begins' if gay marriage starts up, it more like the 'if you give a mouse a cookie' theory.  Slowly, but surely the church breaks itself apart, so, every once in a while, you need to step in and say," No..."  And I think that's what they're doing. 

Although, I must say, I find him to be dangerous to us as well as helpfully protecting our religous beleifs from the time of christ.  He could very well become 'too' strict, not allow for any loose interpretation, further declining our fight for peace.  I, personally, think he's going to be very stubborn, but as time goes on, he'll see a way around things and make it possible for what we want to make a preview without messing up whatever we have.  And that's about all I've got to say. 
 

(Just thought I'd add...  The pope doesn't control the faith, he doesn't make the rules...  He guides it.  We make the choices, he draws the line between right and wrong...  Truly, he is only a voice, but one that all catholics should follow, reguardless of other obligations.)

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*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

Yes listen to but not blindly obey.

For better or for worse the office of the Pope still carries a great deal of authority and influence.

I can give historical examples but I'd preffer not to as I am almost certain I'd offend a catholic.

My religion is mine.  I interprete that which I have faith in that I believe to be greater then myself for myself.

"How did the nobles become nobles in the first place?  They took it at the point of a sword!"-A Knight's Tale.

Don't get me wrong I think faith in something greater then oneself is very important, it's also something I feel everyone should find thier own answer for.
 
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Kuroishi Wraith VEA
Daishi Raptor VEN
Assistant Writer Why Project Copyright Infringment
Described as Psychoticly Depraved
Ich bin hessliche amerikaner.
Nehmen mir zu dein frauen von vernunftig preis tugendhafte.
"And the sound of many heads hitting many solid objects was heard throughout the land." me
Avatar by scientist computer graphics subdivision of Clan Wombat.
"It's not what I'm on it's what I'm NOT on."-far as I know me
"Now equiped with Swiss Army Lightsaber!"

I think Pope Benidict 16th was a good choice for the Church. I am a Catholic. I think we needed a Pope to stand as a rock for the church. We need a pope to not conform to the secular ways of liberals. I perosonally think if we conform, we will loose more people than if we don't. There are other sects of the Christian belief, why are people trying to get the Catholic religion that has last over 2000 to change?
 
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Jen Knight
Vast Empire Navy

I don't think most Catholics are calling for widesweeping changes to the Church.  Certainly many in the hierarchy of the Church are concerned about the significant centralization of the Church under the last Pope and Pope Benedict XVI has hinted that he will begin to decentralize the Church again and implement some of the Vatican II reforms.

For me at least, my major concerns are with allowing priests to marry and birth control.  In regards to the birth control issue.  Pope John Paul II very much promoted the idea that all life is sacred, and I respect him very much for his consistency on that issue.  He was against abortion, against the death penalty, against war, and against birth control.  The abortion issue is a touchy one which I really don't want to address in here nor do I advocate that the Church begin accepting abortion.  My own personal beliefs are that in cases of rape of the risk of death to the mother or baby then the abortion option should be there, however, it is a woman's body and her right to decide with her doctor without the state becoming involved in taking away that option or increasing the bureaucratic red tape or hardship for her.

But onto the subject I really want to address.  In regards to birth control, there are two serious issues I see right now.  The first issue is that there is a HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.  Africa also happens to be the only part of the world where the number of priests increased during Pope John Paul II's reign.  It is a rapidly growing Catholic region.  However, the late Pope and even those such as Cardinal Arinze who was from Africa advocated against the use of condoms.  Instead, they wanted to promote abstinence.  There is nothing wrong with promoting abstinence, but in a continent where millions are dying of this epidemic, I almost wonder that if the church really feels all life is sacred, perhaps in the name of stopping this epidemic, they would take a multi-pronged approach and state that in order to protect life, condom use is not a bad thing as it will stop the spread of this plague.

My second point is that birth control prevents unwanted pregnancies and subsequently, prevents unnecessary abortions.  Which does the Church deem worse, abortion, or contraception?  We need to look at realities, most people do not strictly follow the church doctrine so the church should at least take the practical steps to prevent what it sees as the greater evils, unnecessary abortions definitely being one of them.

My final point on contraception is that around the world, most catholics don't even heed this outdated preaching of the church.  You can by contraception a block away from the Vatican in the Catholic heartland of Italy.  Across the world the notion that birthcontrol shouldn't be used has been long overdated and as I said, it can reduce the number of abortions and condom use can help stop the incredible suffering and millions of people dying each year from HIV/AIDS.

In regards to priests being allowed to marry.  Around the world, 100,000 priests left the priesthood during the reign of the late Pope.  The average age of priests has also increased dramatically as the number of people signing up to be priests was dwindled everywhere except in Africa.  At one point in the time of the Catholic Church, priests were allowed to marry until one Pope claimed that because Christ was not married, those who spread his word should not marry either.  The irony of that decree was that in Christ's time, it would have been deemed very unusual for a man not to marry and Christ was still a young man when he died, there is nothing saying that those who follow him should not marry and indeed there is no guarantee that he would have not married.  In the Eastern Catholic Church, priests do marry and they have had stable numbers of priests.  I truly believe that if the Catholic Church wants new young priests, who are less likely to have addiction problems due to loneliness, who are less likely to have sex abuse scandals, perhaps they should take the step in once again allowing priests to marry.  They could make the stipulation that the Greek Orthodox church does in that a man must marry before taking his final vows as a priest or perhaps that married priests cannot become cardinals.  There can be compromise, but right now the status quo I do not believe is the course for the church.

One final point, the role of women in the church.  While taking the step to allow women to become priests is indeed seen as a radical one in the church and if these other reforms are made, perhaps not the best step at the moment as most change requires time, women should be allowed to become more involved in the church.  In I believe it is Paul's second letter to the Romans (I must look this up as I cannot remember but I think it was the second letter to the Romans), he makes reference to a female decon which indicates that at one time, women were allowed to be decons.  Perhaps this would be a slow moderate step forward to get women more involved the church.

Thats my two cents at least. 
 
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FM/ESN Corran "Arturus" Hargraves/Nazgul 1-2/Phoenix Wing/M-SSD Atrus/VE/VEN/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)[MC:1](x2)[SV][BRC][LSM][LoC]

I'm with Chipmunk. I am a CHRISTIAN, not a denomination created by man. I'm probably gonna piss a few people off here, so if you offend easily quit reading now. The pope is the leader of a sect who has done both good and evil in this world. Popes come and go. the new pope is just one of the bad ones to come in. Misguided or just dumb I don't know. I do know that he will bring a trend of friction against a scattered Islamic nation. Plus a POPE is unnessicary to salvation. We have a high priest that is Christ Jesus our Lord. Read Hebrews. It explains alot.

The birth control issue is one of resources and choice. The coice of trying to control having a baby isn't one of religion. It's one of can we support one and will there be and problems with one. Once one is started then only serious, and I do mean SERIOUS, complications should lead to an abortion. If the life of the mother is in jepordy or if the baby will suffer through some serious defect then abortion is an option.

Next is the problem with priest marring. Paul, yeah the christian killer, said in I Corinthians 7:9  "For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion." He wanted people to marry and not lust after things outside of marrige. In fact the Elders of the church, also known as BISHOPS, are required by the Bible to be married and have children. Same with decons. And I know from having four brothers that men cannot, ever in a million years, go a week without mastubating. Same wih many women. So it is better to marry.

Last is women in the clergy. This goes for any group following the Bible. Read the letters to the Thesselonians and to Timothy. You will see what the requirements are to be a leader in the Church. One is being MALE. Another is being a HUSBAND. And who can forget the verse I Corinthians 14:34, "The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says." We are not under the law, but under grace. Yet Christ said if you love me keep my commandments (aka the Law). Women were active in the church, but were not and can never be part of the leadership.

Now I know I have broken and flaunted the teachings of the Bible. I'm probably going to hell. Big deal. Just because I didn't learn doesn't mean someone else won't . All excepts are taken from the ESV. I'm not a hypocrite, just a sinner.
 
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Peace is a lie. There is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory my chains are broken.
-Code of the Sith

Jester Squad
TRP/PFC Blackstar/1SQD/2PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/Tadath/VEA/VE [LoR]

I have to find that letter from Paul because I know it does refer to at least one woman who was a deacon.  I'll search through my bible and get back to you on that one.

You also indirectly mentionned another interresting point.  The new Pope is distinctly Christ-centred in his doctrine, part of the new "evangelization" that the Church is undergoing, particularly with young people.  I am curious to see how this shift will go in the long run as this is really a particularly new phenomenon, most of the older leaders of the church are still very God-oriented in their approach.

Personally, I prefer the God-oriented approach primarily due to my very complex series of beliefsof my own faith. For all intensive purposed I am a combination of Catholic and First Nations in my beliefs, makes for some interresting conversations to say the least but at the end of the day, the most important person in my faith is God and not Christ.  In that sense I am very much a Catholic of the old doctrinal school and not the new evangelization.  Something this is quite ironic considering my very liberal views but hey, I am a very complicated person :P

Anyway, I have really enjoyed this conversation, I am glad that is both civil, informed, and informative.  It is good that we can discuss touchy issues such as religion in such a civil way.
 
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FM/ESN Corran "Arturus" Hargraves/Nazgul 1-2/Phoenix Wing/M-SSD Atrus/VE/VEN/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)(=JCPA=)(=SCPA=)[MC:1](x2)[SV][BRC][LSM][LoC]

I am with Shazam on this one I am Catholic they rule
 
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y think ur all that and a bag of chips. well i am all that and a bag of skittles so taste the rainbow biatch

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FM/CRW DJ234/Nazgul 8/Wing 1/mSSD Atrus/Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

Hold on Kiara, I'm not sure what you're agreeing with there. Born-Again is a denomination. We get our name from the belief that a person needs to be "born-again" in Christ. (Jesus said once that "a man must be born again" in faith) It's not much more than accepting God into your life and agreeing to submit your will to his.

When I started talking about librals and conservatives, that was more political than religious.

Hope that straighted out confusion.

But anyway, back to the topic. I've got a wierd combo of beliefs too, having been raised in an all Presbyterian church, then after we moved I joined a Bretheren in Christ (born-again) church. Which, by the way, is pretty cool. Our service is in the evening, not morning, the minister is almost like a comedian, and for music we have a band that plays contemporary Christian rock. I still miss the old pomp and ceremony from time to time, but I like both.

I believe very strongly that God has a plan for us all. Jeremiah 29-11 says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" I think many people probably misconstrue that, to think that God will grant all our wishes and make us wealthy. I disagree. I think that means that if we follow God's will, the "prosper" part is that we get to go to Heaven, though there will probably be a lot of sucky times along the way. I have no idea what God's plan for me might be. The best I can do is to do my best to follow him and hope that his will for me will be revealed as I go along.

[Added: Ah, I just thought of this. There are some people who don't understand the idea of "predestination." I myself was wary of it until it was explained to me. And since it sort of ties in with what I was saying above, I figure I might was well explain it here.

"Predestination" basically says that it's already determined who's going to go to Heaven and who isn't. I know that at first that sounds bad, but hold on a minute. It all has to do with US and OUR actions. See, since God is all-powerfull and all-knowing, he's able to look ahead and see everything that we're going to do in the future. So he already knows what choices we're going to make and what paths we're going to follow. It is our choices and our decisions that determine whether or not we will be admitted to Heaven, but God already knows who will follow him and who won't.]

I too am rather suprised that this has been kept civil, and appreciate it from all. I just wish Eviscares would be kind enough to edit out the insulting part of that first post...
 
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XO/FL/WO1 Chipmunk Man/Kaph 9/Phoenix/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE/(=A=)(=SA=)(=*MA*=)[LoC][MC:1]x3[LSM][VC:B]

"I know what you're thinking, punk. You're thinking, 'Did he fire six shots, or only five?' Well to tell you the truth, I've forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and will blow your head clean off, you need to ask youself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya? Punk!"
-"Dirty" Harry Callahan