Mar
13
2008
Well, the Vatican has, in an apparent attempt to give ‘moral and ethical behavior’ more significance in today’s times, announced seven new deadly sins.
They are - in no particular order of severity I guess: genetic modification, human experimentations, polluting the environment, social injustice, causing poverty, financial gluttony and taking drugs.
So why are these seven classified as ‘deadly’ I wonder? Surely the catholic church could be charged with causing untold counts of social injustice and causing poverty. Don’t get me started on financial gluttony!
Explaining the new sins, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary said that numbers have shown that less Catholics in Italy go to confession, with 60 percent no longer participating in what is considered one of the most important sacraments. Girotti also recognized the growing problems of abortion, pedophilia, and a widespread habit of “making do without God.”
I find it odd that he should lump ‘making do without god’ (I read that as no longer needing the primitive belief in a sky-god but taking responsibility for oneself) in with abortion & pedophilia. The latter is certainly a problem (and a crime) but the former is neither.
The catholic church’s ridiculous and criminal stance on birth control and condom use is a worse crime against humanity than any of the new ’sins’.
This church would have to be high on the list of outlawed/eradicated religions or cults - I wish in my lifetime, but I doubt it sadly.
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Dec
10
2007
Ok, enough videos for now. Time for some blogging.
I was watching a response to the ‘Blasphemy Challenge’ on a news show today (watch the Fox News channel one) and it struck me how christians really do love the idea that they are the only ones with altruistic attitudes and actions don’t they?
Sure, many are - and I’d have to say that it’s mostly what I call the ’soft’ christians that have the best attitudes - like the Sallie’s (Salvation Army) and St Vinnie’s (Saint Vincent de Paul) - no, I’m not joking. It’s an aussie thing this shortening of names, display an admirable caring for their fellow man that translates into reality. They just get on with it, with a lot of help of course from non-believers like myself who donate to them.
Human beings like to join groups and this is one of the reasons that organised religion is so successful - so why doesn’t a non-religious group start something similar that is completely non-secular? I would guess that we are going to need an alternative to ‘going to church’ or ‘doing the lord’s work’ for many people when eventually religion just fades away. No mistake, it is fading away - certainly in New Zealand. Don’t believe that? Here’s the documented proof of the fact from official census results.
Considering that NZ has a large polynesian population (who are avid church-goers) the results are surprising - especially if you believe what the crazy fundies like the ‘Destiny’ church will have you believe. Similar trends are occurring in most western countries including Australia. Note the 27.5% increase in the ‘no religion’ census answer! And as for the Poms, well over there religious belief is ‘falling faster than church attendance’. But I’ve gone off on a tangent again…
An alternative ’structure’ (for lack of a better word) that enables like-minded altruistic people to contribute back to society would be a good thing. We have secular groups like parent-teacher associations, volunteer organisations, Red Cross and the Hands On Network for example - do we need something more universal maybe?
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