Originally Posted by Slimland

Nope, just speaking the truth. And it seems I stuck a chord, eh?

No sir, I stand on my statements. History shows, and I am not referring to history from the Catholic point of view wither, that after the reformation when "protestants" merged their religious philosophies with government, many Catholics and others who did not agree with the "reformationists" were hung, and burned at the stake. I fear that you have access to a rather "slanted" version of the encyclopedia.

Ahhh, now the "condescention" begins. Care to list the "encyclopedia and other history books you have" on the subject? Are they linked to your religion?

No sir. You have been the apparent victim of propaganda and leaping to conclusions. While I will admit, as will any Catholic that there have been "wrongdoings" by some persons within the Church, the system itself is not broken, nor is it corrupt...it is a few people. No-one on this planet is more disgusted, angered or reactive to this than Catholics themselves. That a very small minority committed the sins and the crimes is an invalid reason to condemn either the system or the people who belong to it.

I will without hesitation "pull your posts apart", especially if and when I even begin to sense you are about to start hatemongering and bashing another religion....in a balderdash attempt to justify your beliefs. I have not criticised your beliefs, and probably never will. In as much as I was raised Catholic, though I am not a fully practicing Catholic, I will tell you that we as a group are pretty ambivalent to the beliefs of others, and for that reason I can say that I care little about others beliefs where they are different than mine. In fact, I don't care if you worship rocks or stumps, as its your choice. However, when I sense the preamble to attacks on another religion...I will tend to react. Deal with it, or keep your thoughts to yourself.

No, I think I understood more of what you are saying than you think. You are probably an "Evangelical", and your post alluded to that. You drop a couple of the standard "hack lines". You wouldn't happen to have an assortment of "Chick tracts" laying around the house, and a few in your pockets ready to leave in phone booths and in rest rooms now would you?

In that sentence alone...you proved your ignorance. Unless you are a Catholic who has fallen away from the Church, and embraced another opposing theology.... you cannot be a heretic. The word heretic is a word indigenous to the Catholic faith and Church. Just as is Anathema.... which incidentally is a word often bandied about as a twisted justification by Catholic haters as a twisted justification for their hatred and bashing. And sadly they have zero knowledge of either the meaning or application of the word.

If you would care to, or prefer to call it "bearing false witness", fine with me. But in any event...your statements were disingenuous and wrong. I also noticed that you completed evaded the fact that numerous clergy members of other religions have been caught and prosecuted for the very same crimes...... Curious, no?

I have little interest in reading about "religious mumbo jumbo". What I saw and read were words that related to the Catholic Church being full of protected pedophiles, and the home of the Antichrist. Now I may have made a minor error in venturing the guess that you were an evangelical, since the references could have as well been made by a Lutheran of a certain bent. I am well aware that it is a statement of their beliefs that the Pope is the anti-christ, which in and of itself is pure garbage.

Luther was a pissed off Catholic monk who had a bone to pick with the Bishops and disliked the Pope....and who was suspected of being alittle more than "unbalanced mentally"...which is documented historically. So the validity of the "reformation" is questionable...especially in light of the subsequent and significant disputes on theology between Luther and Calvin.

That statement on my part is one of pure and simple truth, born out by facts, not fiction. Would you like proof?

They "keyword" in that statement is "opinion", and while it is generally accepted that we are all entitled to at least one, you have yours, however....since it is merely your "opinion", it has no basis in fact...other than your opinion and apparent misinterpretation of scriptures or your blatant attempt to read something into scriptures. I have a more than adequate "understanding of scriptures". And being fully cognizant of the fact that I do in fact possess "free will"...I am able to discern the meanings of words, even in context, and the correct one at that. I have heard the line of balderdash you are referring to before, and its little more than opinionated conjecture, with absolutely no basis in fact.

No, I think I did not describe myself. I do not fear you, or any other person of a different religion. I honestly could care less what you believe. Nor do I spend time thinking or worrying about it. I have my beliefs and my faith. Thats all that matters, plain and simple. But while that was a "nice try" at tossing guilt, it was very immature and amatuerish.


Gladly. If you go down the wrong street, you may end up getting an education that could in fact cause you to rethink your beliefs. That is unless you are one of those highly indoctrinated junior neo-fascist religious wacko's who's been totally brainwashed.

I'll give you a tip though to save you some trouble though. Stay away from "bashing and hatemongering" with regards to Catholicism or any other religion, and things will be just peachy. And before you try to ping me for my comments about Islam.....do some study on the subject and you will most likely agree, and also agree that it is really a religion and a government wrapped up in one nasty package.

So, if you wanna play, lets play.

Have a nice day!