Tentmaker Forum

Here is an ABC news link to some interesting comments made recently by Pope Benedict XVI.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3935043

I found his address interesting on at least two fronts;

First, the RCC continues to hypocritically blame the world's most horrific ills on "modern" atheism.  While, "Godless" regimes of the past and present should share their portion of the blame for avoidable human suffering, the RCC, and in general, all of Christendom, seems completely oblivious to its own long and sorted trail of blood down through the ages. 

In my opinion, all Christians should make it their responsibility to educated themselves on the horrific blood-stained deeds of our "faith" and be quick to apologize, slow to accuse, long on forgiveness and constant in our ministry to those in need, both locally and throughout the entire world, without actively proselytizing indigenous populations.

Secondly, note this excerpt:

"..., Benedict also critically questioned modern Christianity, saying its focus on individual salvation had ignored Jesus' message that true Christian hope involves salvation for all."

Stating that our "True Christian" hope is related to "Jesus' Message of Salvation for All" sounds very UR to me.  I'm not quite sure what qualifications the Pope would add to this but it does sound like a step in the right direction.

What think ye?

Grace & Peace, John

 :cloud9: Playing devil's advocate here, but maybe he just means salvation is available to all, not that all will be saved? But who knows, anything is possible with God. Blessings to you......

Maybe this 2nd last pope ( until the next 2nd last is identified) before the the doom and gloom of the TT of ET and the Great Escape myth.....etc. has seen a light go on.  Maybe the hell doctrine they invented they can now see has some serious flaws.

Well if the RC goes UR we shall be in the majority but that will not make a huge difference, we will just be a bigger group of hairy ticks.

BIC

 :laughing7: Seeker, I'll have you know I resemble that remark...... :laughing7: :winkgrin:

Hey Cardinal:  Yep could be!

Yo Seeker: I like dem "Hairy Ticks", but if the Pope goes UR, do you think he will still wear those silly hats?

Seriously though, the Pope blames atheism, but this is misdirected as well as hypocritical.  The real problem is Totalitarianism where all aspects of one's life, both private and public, are controlled by the state.  The Pope seems to forget the RCC's unholy alliance with Governments and Monarchies which gave us the Crusades, Inquisitions, Witch Hunts, and the suppression of scientific discovery which generally characterized the Dark Ages.

Ready for some "Good Christian" Literature?  Try Googling The Witches Hammer, the Malleus Maleficarum authored by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger in 1486.  Though banned by the RCC in 1490, this work, written by Christian monks, nevertheless became the definitive handbook for church-sanctioned Witch-Hunters and Inquisitors in the 15th and 16th centuries. (Caution: This publication is absolutely vile!)

The bottom line appears to be this: No matter whether the state is god (ex: Marxism) or the "Church" is god, the results don't look appreciably different.  I am thankful that the founding fathers of this nation prohibited these intrinsic evils in the words of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. 

I don't know where God's Spirit was in the atrocities of the past and the sufferings of this present age, but I believe His hand was present in the formation of many modern nations and I pray that He will continue to guide the lives of those of us who continually seek His Heart. 

Meanwhile, I'm not throwing any rocks at my bother and sister atheists – even the ones I've caught.

Seeing Dimly, John :HeartThrob:

Quote from: jfraysse on December 02, 2007, 04:46:09 AM
Here is an ABC news link to some interesting comments made recently by Pope Benedict XVI.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3935043

I found his address interesting on at least two fronts;

First, the RCC continues to hypocritically blame the world's most horrific ills on "modern" atheism.  While, "Godless" regimes of the past and present should share their portion of the blame for avoidable human suffering, the RCC, and in general, all of Christendom, seems completely oblivious to its own long and sorted trail of blood down through the ages. 

In my opinion, all Christians should make it their responsibility to educated themselves on the horrific blood-stained deeds of our "faith" and be quick to apologize, slow to accuse, long on forgiveness and constant in our ministry to those in need, both locally and throughout the entire world, without actively proselytizing indigenous populations.

Secondly, note this excerpt:

"..., Benedict also critically questioned modern Christianity, saying its focus on individual salvation had ignored Jesus' message that true Christian hope involves salvation for all."

Stating that our "True Christian" hope is related to "Jesus' Message of Salvation for All" sounds very UR to me.  I'm not quite sure what qualifications the Pope would add to this but it does sound like a step in the right direction.

What think ye?

Grace & Peace, John

In the last year, Pope has praise Origen as a father of the Church even though not proclaiming him officially by the Church. He also has said unbaptized babies do not go to pergatory, they all go to heaven. He also stated that his hope is there hell is only purgatory and that it will one day be empty. One of his top cardinals is an open universalist.

Bro Craig:  Interesting and hopeful – thanks for sharing this.   Many of my close friends are RC but admittedly do not follow and agree with much of the Dogma.  Is there an "Inside the RC" tabloid or something?  Just curious.

Grace & Peace, John

QuoteYo Seeker: I like dem "Hairy Ticks", but if the Pope goes UR, do you think he will still wear those silly hats?

Well if he has a few mods like this one it will be KooL


[attachment deleted by admin]

Seeker:  Dude, you ain't right, man!  But, I love this picture – just too funny!  :laughing7: Thanks for sharing it, Bro!  :thumbsup: G&P,John

I am not sure Jfraysse, my aunt is a strict roman catholic, and surprisingly believes in reconciliation of all mankind and that Jesus will indeed save everyone. She said once you see the God of Love, you know quite well what His intentions are and that He has the power to complete it. Mother Theresa also preached Universal Salvation for all mankind and said that we are living in hell right now, administering to one another the leaves of healing.

Hi Craig:  Your aunt seems to be a wise woman and is likely sensitive to God's Spirit!  Now that you mention it, I think I remember that about Mother Theresa too!  Again, interesting and hopeful. Thanks!

G&P,John

 :cloud9: That is too funny! Love the hat. I didn't know that about Mother Teresa. That's interesting. Blessings to you......

Jfraysse,

Once I was aquainted with a practicing Catholic and we were talking about churches one day,

He told me he liked the Catholic Church but that he just doesn't like what the Pope does.

Never in years did I ever see the humor in what this man had said, until years latter, up until this present day the Pope is all rule and Authority in the Catholic Church, if it wasn't for the Papacy the Catholic Church with all of the religious rituals and ceremonial practices as we have known it would not exsist.

Peace,
Fire Walker

Howdy Fire Walker:  Yup, I agree!  In fact, I would say that Christianity itself would be very different in this age had it not been for the RCC.  I bet we would have avoided the Crusades, Inquisitions and Witch Hunts too.  What a mess!  But then, most of my RCC friends are great folks and seem to have filtered out most of the dark and/or stupid stuff, cleaving to that which is good.  Rom 12:9.  All this in spite of "his holiness"!

Grace & Peace, John :HeartThrob: