Would you be a Priest?

If I was somewhat religious, I'd probably consider it. I know a lot of religious people who are very intelligent, well-read people who read the Bible the way it should be read (not literally, basically), and as a result are very interesting people who have very thoughtful and considered opinions on important issues, are truly ethical and are very engaging conversationalists. I think a lot of these people would make wonderful priests (men and women). I'm not religious at all, but if I was I think I'd probably like to spend time really getting to know the Bible and developing good opinions on theological issues, which go further than mere arguments over the existence of God.

KeithAFC wrote: »

Faith without evidence. Why? You could have faith in a magic dragon being the god of the galaxy.

Ah, Keith. You never fail to amuse. And then you'll go on about being a 'proud Protestant'.:D

Freddie59 wrote: »

I really do feel sorry for you. I hope you will experience God some day. And the deep faith that only He brings.

Ah yes, that "deep faith" that "he" brings that leads to children being strapped with explosives and detonating them in public places, killing many innocent people and destroying the lives of many others. That "deep faith" religion brings that has religious fanatics hijack passenger aircraft and fly them into one of the most congested areas of the world in order to bring the wrath of their God to another nation. That "deep faith" that has fanatics trawling through the most uneducated and impoverished nations, telling them that condoms are evil, leading to them having children they can't support and aiding the spread of HIV/AIDS, all because they engaged in what is most natural to us.

That "deep faith" that has one nation as an enemy of another, killing innocent people merely because their god said they were entitled to a patch of land, whilst the other religion's god said that they were entitled to the same patch.

No, Freddie, you can keep your fanatical ignorance to yourself, thanks. If I experience anything unusual, I'll get it checked out by medical professionals, you know, the ones who use science and fact to provide conclusions? I'll leave you to your ignorant voodoo men and cult leaders.

Yes indeed parts of the Catholic Church are corrupt and evil No two ways about it.

Parts? What part are you referring to? The Vatican and heads of the Church, going back through history? Well yes, I certainly agree! And thanks to their "divine" control over their flock of ignorant sheep, they managed to spread their evil far and wide, so far that it reached right into the pants of little boys here in Ireland and scarred them for life.

But the good far outweighs the evil. By many, many multiples. The Church is not the Hierarchy or even the clergy. It is the people. Coupled with the presence of the Almighty God. Something conveniently overlooked by ignorant, blinkered critics.

I'm sorry, but I would suggest that you review the antics of the church from its inception and then say that the good outweighs the evil. It certainly does not. Even the bible, the very book by which you and the other fanatics live your life, is full of genocide, murder and rape, simply because people wouldn't conform to the cult of christianity. The evil has been present from the start and has directly cost the world the lives of more innocent people than anything else put together. Be it those slaughtered for merely not conforming to christianity, or those poor bastards who die of aids due to believing the tripe the church spreads.

If you're referring to the needs in people the church seems to give - the need to belong to something and a "reason" for their life, then no, that is not a positive. The group mentality it promotes has caused war, death and poverty...merely because those at the receiving end weren't part of that group.

Christianity is no different to any other religion dating back in history, from the sun gods in Egypt to the pagans right here in Ireland. Like those religions, it will eventually die out. Unlike those religions, however, it will leave a documented trail of destruction that will have our future generations in horror that so many people could be fooled by such nonsense, and slaughter so many poor, innocent people on the back of it.

I feel sorry for you Freddie, but not because you haven't had some "divine" experience that I have, but that your mind is closed to the wonderful experiences that I have had with life, nature and the universe at the hands of scientific discovery. You can keep your god and bible, I'll stick with the actual wonders of life.

quietriot wrote: »

Ah yes, that "deep faith" that "he" brings that leads to children being strapped with explosives and detonating them in public places, killing many innocent people and destroying the lives of many others. That "deep faith" religion brings that has religious fanatics hijack passenger aircraft and fly them into one of the most congested areas of the world in order to bring the wrath of their God to another nation. That "deep faith" that has fanatics trawling through the most uneducated and impoverished nations, telling them that condoms are evil, leading to them having children they can't support and aiding the spread of HIV/AIDS, all because they engaged in what is most natural to us.

That "deep faith" that has one nation as an enemy of another, killing innocent people merely because their god said they were entitled to a patch of land, whilst the other religion's god said that they were entitled to the same patch.

No, Freddie, you can keep your fanatical ignorance to yourself, thanks. If I experience anything unusual, I'll get it checked out by medical professionals, you know, the ones who use science and fact to provide conclusions? I'll leave you to your ignorant voodoo men and cult leaders.



Parts? What part are you referring to? The Vatican and heads of the Church, going back through history? Well yes, I certainly agree! And thanks to their "divine" control over their flock of ignorant sheep, they managed to spread their evil far and wide, so far that it reached right into the pants of little boys here in Ireland and scarred them for life.




I'm sorry, but I would suggest that you review the antics of the church from its inception and then say that the good outweighs the evil. It certainly does not. Even the bible, the very book by which you and the other fanatics live your life, is full of genocide, murder and rape, simply because people wouldn't conform to the cult of christianity. The evil has been present from the start and has directly cost the world the lives of more innocent people than anything else put together. Be it those slaughtered for merely not conforming to christianity, or those poor bastards who die of aids due to believing the tripe the church spreads.

If you're referring to the needs in people the church seems to give - the need to belong to something and a "reason" for their life, then no, that is not a positive. The group mentality it promotes has caused war, death and poverty...merely because those at the receiving end weren't part of that group.

Christianity is no different to any other religion dating back in history, from the sun gods in Egypt to the pagans right here in Ireland. Like those religions, it will eventually die out. Unlike those religions, however, it will leave a documented trail of destruction that will have our future generations in horror that so many people could be fooled by such nonsense, and slaughter so many poor, innocent people on the back of it.

I feel sorry for you Freddie, but not because you haven't had some "divine" experience that I have, but that your mind is closed to the wonderful experiences that I have had with life, nature and the universe at the hands of scientific discovery. You can keep your god and bible, I'll stick with the actual wonders of life.

Wow. Such anger and hatred. And you talk about the Bible? As I said, I hope that - one day - you let God into your life. All our lives are a far emptier place without Him.

Believe me, my friend, I too have had the experiences that you have had. With one difference. God by my side. Thankfully.:)

Fanatical ignorance. It would be very easy to turn that one back on you, but your problems seem great enough as it is.

God will never die out. He is omnipresent. And always will be. What's that saying? "Bidden or not bidden - God is present".

Much as you seem to wish Him away with your hatred.

Yes, Christianity may or may not survive. But the faithful will be around for a long time. Long after you are gone.

Freddie59 wrote: »

I would disagree. Many priests are very hardworking, honest men who give tremendous service to their community. Being the butt of crude, lewd schoolchild jokes are extremely disrespectful IMHO.

That's the whole point. Because of the church's own actions and their refusal to accept responsibility for said actions, they have lost the respect of many people. Why should I have any respect for an organistion which in the past abused children, locked up women and stole their babies, abused their position of authority in the community to intimidate people into accepting their absolute rule and in the present have turned their attention to fueling homophobia and still refuse to accept contraception?

They have a lot to answer for but they never will. Say nothing and wait for it all to blow over is their motto. For all the pain and suffering they have caused under the guise of spreading God's love, they can put up with a few jokes. I have known some good individual priests and nuns but that doesn't mean that I will ever respect the Church or stop laughing at jokes about them.

quietriot wrote: »

Yes, well, it comes easily when discussing an organisation behind the murder of countless numbers of innocent people and the rape and molestation of innocent children up until recently.


A book full of anger, hatred, racism, murder, rape and more, all done to innocent people for merely being different. If that book is how you live your life, I feel terrible for you.



Your life is/was, most peoples lives are enriched when they discard your religious nonsense and choose science and reason.



I know you're a man of blind faith, so have believe me when I say this: You haven't and you won't.



No, sorry.



That's what the egyptians said, and everything that came before and after them. Those "gods" did though, as will yours.



Oh, I don't need to wish any entity away, because that entity doesn't exist. I wish ignorant religion would disappear though so we could move forward as a species, instead of being held back by morons clutching to the cherry picked quotes from a book of evil holding us back.


It won't.



Perhaps the deluded, insecure people who rely on religion might find something else to worship, but it won't be the "god" you do. History has proven this.

Regardless, I get the feeling I'm being trolled as such sheer ignorance isn't something I come across in Ireland often. It's the kind of ignorance held by the Westboro Baptist Church, radical muslims and other fanatics. It's incredibly foreign, so if I'm right and it's trolling, well done

If not, I'm sorry but you're insane. I'm not going to discuss the matter further, instead of discussing points you just spout religious nonsense about a non-existent entity and your feelings on my lack of a relationship with it. Thankfully such fanaticism is dying out here and in Europe.

Ah, the "trolling" "argument". The refuge of the downtrodden.;):)

As I said, such vehement anger. One worries about the underlying issues to such.

Your personal attacks, believe me, make little or no difference to people with faith. It has gone on for Centuries, even in Ireland, where Catholics were forced to practice their faith on rocks by an oppressive occupation force. It didn't work.

God prevailed. As He always does, despite the best efforts of some. You and I will come and go - but God will always be. Something you and people like you cannot change. Ever.

Freddie59, hard at work

No. I think celibacy should be an option. I think the first two years should be compulsory and then optionally for up to ten years.

There is room for all types of priests, as with many comments here I too was interested in becoming a monk, I thought the celibacy thing a challenge and it was really cool.

Ultimately, as I got older it was a hurdle and I could not entertain the commitment, if it had been for a few years in the beginning, then I'd have probably gone to the Seminary.

quietriot wrote: »

Freddie59, hard at work

What a poor effort.:D As I said - the refuge of the beaten.:)

Freddie59 wrote: »

Ah, the "trolling" "argument". The refuge of the downtrodden.;):)

As I said, such vehement anger. One worries about the underlying issues to such.

Your personal attacks, believe me, make little or no difference to people with faith. It has gone on for Centuries, even in Ireland, where Catholics were forced to practice their faith on rocks by an oppressive occupation force. It didn't work.

God prevailed. As He always does, despite the best efforts of some. You and I will come and go - but God will always be. Something you and people like you cannot change. Ever.

Interesting that you refer to other posters as down trodden before embarking on the usual tirade regarding how persecuted the poor catholics are what with no longer having their special pleading pandered to any longer.:rolleyes: