Top Cleric rounds at Astrology

6th

From todays METRO newspaper (pg2):

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland has attacked astrology, horoscopes, clairvoyants and other new-age practices as among the most "disturbing" signs of our society.
Archbishop Seán Brady said reliance on them results from a fear of the future and insecurities that lurk behind the seeming confidence of modern culture and life.
Celebrating the Mass Of The Queenship Of Mary, closing the annual novena at Knock, Co. Mayo, he said: 'People who sepend money on these pursuits would have more influence on the future if they gave their money to those in need". He added that the "Land of Saints & Scholars" was now the "Land of Stocks & Shares".

In fairness I have to agree with him. I mean he's not saying that these things (clairvoyants etc) aren't genuine he's just saying that people have become dependent on them and that there are things that people can do themselves to make the world a better place. Obviously someone like myself has no problem with people going to readers but it can be addictive and used as a crutch by many people who can't seem to make any life choices without first seeking guidance from a deck of cards or a premium rate phone service.

Dave!

Oh the irony!

6th

DaveMcG wrote:

Oh the irony!

Oh I know and this could easily turn into a church bashing thread but putting aside who said it, it still has merit.

super_furry

Yes, instead we should all place our faith in some magic invisible guy who lives in the sky, but is actually everywhere, sees everything, knows everything but does.........well not much as far as I can see.

I think he may have stumbled across a point, but it's certainly not the one he intended to make.

6th

Well this guy is only saying that instead of throwing money at these things we should help those less fortunate.

stevenmu

People don't let this turn into a religion bashing thread.


I do agree with him in that some people do seem to develop a reliance on them. I don't think it's very fair to start bashing astrology over it, any more than it's fair to bash publicans/off licences over alcohol abuse. Altough to be fair to the bishop, in the quotes above and the ones I heard on the news last night, he doesn't seem to really be attacking astrology, just saying that people shouldn't become reliant on it. The whole 'attacking astrology' aspect seems to me to be a bit of spin by the media, unless someone has other quotes I haven't heard ?

6th

stevenmu wrote:

People don't let this turn into a religion bashing thread.

>_> waits for bashing the bishop commets >_>

stevenmu wrote:

he doesn't seem to really be attacking astrology, just saying that people shouldn't become reliant on it.

Unfortunately alot of people involved with Astrology etc wont see it that way.

stevenmu wrote:

The whole 'attacking astrology' aspect seems to me to be a bit of spin by the media, unless someone has other quotes I haven't heard ?

Ah the media :rolleyes:

the_syco

TBH, I'd have more belief in some dude who died a few thousand years ago, than what the tea leaves look like. And this is coming from someone who's banned from the Christianity forum.

Oryx

I opened this thread with a bias in my head against the guy, based purely on reading the opening paragraphs in the Sun newspaper (while queuing to buy the Indo, naturally ). It wouldnt be fair of him to take a wild sweep against all 'alternate' practices, but I can see why he would not want people to become dependant on unregulated and varying practitioners. Id like to see more regulation and approval to make it harder on charlatans, but then youre back to that old chestnut, how in the hell do you have a standardised testing system for such things as mediumship or astrology?

People have an inbuilt need to find meaning and answers outside themselves, and they do that through their religion of choice, or by other means. While this man is making a very fair point, that we should not be conned by or overly dependant on anyone - his own position as archbishop makes it hard to take what he is saying onboard. He is a representative of an organisation which has demanded singular, unquestioning devotion, obedience, and payment from its followers. Because of his position, its hard for me not to feel that he is saying that you should find that meaning within his church and nowhere else. His mention of spending money on 'those in need' would seem to me to be just spin, to make his standpoint appear less church oriented.

kshiel

I agree with this guy, (I am taking this guys opinion to be based from him and not just the church) becoming dependant on anyone thing for advice on how to view you life or deal with troubles cannot be good and I honestly feel that if a medium/reader or what ever has a person who constantly comes to them for every little wine and winge well I would think that at some point they should be telling these people to stop and refuse them that many readings.