Pope Francis on Christian Fundamentalism: "Not Healthy"

POPE FRANCIS ON CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM: IT'S NOT HEALTHY​

My Take​

I'm thoroughly liking this guy more and more. He's not afraid to tell the truth on matters like this and he continues to impress me more and more with his stances on what needs to be done.

I may not be Catholic, but I approve of this man and his words of wisdom. Sadly, the empty hearts would dismiss his statement as sheer slander and would prefer to revel in blissful ignorance.

 

Like I said, Pope Francis is a Samurai.

 

Humans tend to make God out to be a strict, dictatorial God with no love, or the opposite: A totally tolerant, boundary-less God. While God is love, he is also holy. He doesn't tolerate sin, but he loves the sinner. And that is how he calls followers of Christ to live. Too often, however, humans make God more tolerant than he has revealed himself to be. People who align themselves with the God revealed in the Bible are then labeled "haters" and "intolerant."

We need to stop confusing intolerance for behavior with hatred for the person. Just because we don't like or agree with something a person does, does not mean we dislike or hate the person as a whole.

It's also very easy to picture Jesus like an ancient day Mother Theresa. And indeed, He is compassionate, and He was meek in the face of hatred and actions taken against Him by the rulers of the day (because it was part of His Father's plan for His life). But He also took authority and addressed sin when confronted with it. Jesus was no simp. Again, balance.

A Christian is one who follows Christ. Imperfect beings. Which is why God sent us a Savior. We are not as adept as he is at balancing love and holiness. But that is what we are called to do: Hate the sin, but love the sinner. Unfortunately, sometimes the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater.

 

Did you read the old testament kid? Full of judgement hate and smiting.

 

Yup. Judgement against sin. But if you read it carefully, there is a story of great love woven all through the OT as well. The Hebrew people were God's chosen people, and he was exceedingly patient with them despite their stubborn and rebellious ways.

 

Pope Francis is exactly what the Catholic Church needed. He has been a beacon of light and hope for Catholics everywhere who felt ashamed by how the Church had conducted itself as of late.

And to get a confirmed Atheist to admit to liking him is quite the accomplishment indeed.

I think Pope Francie is a rock star. He's been so great for the Catholic Church. He sees things in a modern way and doesn't hold back his feelings as to how things should be done. He's trying to bring Catholicism into the 21st century and he's doing a damn good job of it.

My only gripe with this article is how it condemns all conservatives and even brings "right-wingers" into the mix. I'm tired of bigoted, racist fundamentalists being lumped into all things "right-wing". Those people are in a group all by themselves and shouldn't even carry the "right-wing" label, IMO.

Keep politics out of this type of article. There's no reason for it.

 

What would you describe as the average right winger to be like?

 

Most conservatives and "right-wingers" are actually normal people who happen to have conservative views yet don't shove their views down other peoples' throats, and who realize there are other views that people have that aren't like their own and are okay with it.

These "mythical" right-wingers are called moderates and they make up the majority of the "right-wingers". But for some reason that I can't fathom, they just go about their business and allow the bigoted, racist assholes to bring the entire "right-wing" side down to an unspeakable level.

 

Even here in NY I don't really come across moderate consevatives and that's a shame because I would welcome and endorse that. Unfortunately from what I've seen the party that use to be pro business and pro self reliance is now pro corporation anti American worker and sadly anti intellectual. If they were like Ron Paul minus the bs racism it would be awesome.

 

This is all too true, especially in the South. One only has to look at the recent pro-discrimination bills in states like Georgia and Tennessee to see just how bad it's gotten down here. Sadly, thanks to gerrymandering there really isn't much hope of any moderate Republicans taking control anytime soon. They'll call you a RINO in a heartbeat.

 

I blame the rise of talk radio for this because it replaces ideas with outrage and debates become less about who has the best ideas and more about who can shout Muslim or Communist the loudest and get more attention. They may rake in the money hand over fist but people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh do conservatism a lot more harm than good.

 

Of course you aren't going to hear much from Conservatives (moderate or otherwise) in places like NY or Chicago or LA or Hollywood. They're too busy trying not to be found out in those highly Democrat areas.

It's a shame that the moderates have been drowned out by the idiots and don't want to be associated with the outliers that call themselves Conservatives. The outliers have ruined it for everyone. The moderates really need to kick them out of the party or start their own party, as the Republican Party may forever be tainted.

I would agree with this.

It's a shame what has happened to the Republican Party thanks to a few. They've ruined a good party.

But this thread isn't about politics, it's about Pope Francis. :smt023

 

You're a better man than me I couldn't deal with that. It's being supported by a bunch of intolerant assholes

 

I like the Guy, with all the negativity you hear about the Catholic church now it's a breathe of fresh air.

they needed someone like him to lift up the faith into something that can be respected by normal people.

No aloof waving to the crowds from this man.

It's a shame he's so old(77), it would be nice to have him around making a difference for the next 30 yrs plus.


Anyway I found a funny little story/joke/paragraph ref Pope Francis, it made me chuckle.
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/how-do-you-solve-problem-pope-francis

 

I appreciate Pope Francis having such a broadminded view. It is amazing how those who are unschooled in religious theology can have these uninformed views on what they think the religion dictates, and how, without scientific knowledge, they are even farther off the mark. I think the Pope understands this, and is seeking a way to bring church teaching into line with the original, ascetic, conceptual framework of spirituality and get it out of the hands of the fanatics. I wish him luck.