NYOB,

Religion is very similar to politics. Logic and reason are normally ignored
when discussing either. ; )

I sometimes question the benefit of the de-centralized Religions, such as
the Presbyterian Church I am affiliated with, or the centralized religions,
such as the Catholic Church. They both have their benefits and faults.

In my opinion, the two major mistakes the Catholic Church has made in the
last 100 yrs is: their handling of the Nazi's during and immediately after
WW II, and the illegal and uninformed manner in which they handled
pedophiles priest. Pope John Paul II apologized to the Jews in reference to
the Nazi's, and has instituted a system that is designed to quickly remove
and inform the police if a priest is accused of any illegal activity.

I don't know of any other leader in this century, (religious or otherwise)
whose legacy will be as positive and as long lasting as Pope JP II.

You and other Catholics should be proud of the Catholic Church
contribution's to society, both Catholics and non Catholics..


"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

"John H" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 17:00:25 GMT, "Doug Kanter"

wrote:


"NOYB" wrote in message
thlink.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

"NOYB" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
"NOYB" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
I have no problem with them doing that. However, I can still
question
their judgement, not just for standing in line for so long to see
a
dead body, but also in contributing their time, attention, spirits
and
money to an organization (the Catholic church)

I wouldn't do it.

which, as any educated person knows, has a reputation that's
dubious,
at best.

I'd clarify that to say "dubious, at worst". Then I might agree
with
you. The Catholic church has done far more good than bad in the
last
couple of centuries.

Yeah...as long as you weren't a native of a country that already
had a
perfectly fine spiritual tradition to begin with.

Example?



Don't be an asshole. You went to school. You're aware of examples.

I just want you to give me examples of what *you* consider to be
"perfectly fine spiritual traditions". Sacrificial virgins?
Cannibalism?
Polygamy?




Sorry, tooth-boy, but this discussion has apparently become one which,
like
many employment opportunities, assumes a certain level of education.
Better
luck next time.


No Doug. This discussion has become one which made an ass of Doug
Kanter. You
and DSK are great at flinging **** by the buckets full, but when it
comes down
to a fact or two, you're quick to start the personal attacks.

Perhaps the two of you can put your heads together and get the research
done more quickly. Then, come back and rejoin the discussion. But, in
fact, research is not what's needed. NOYB is pretending not to know of
cultures which were nicely civilized, sans cannibalism, and were
destroyed by visits from priests and other scourges.

But: Since it's such a nice day, I'm going to do two things at once - do
you a favor, and also pull an ace out of my sleeve. Ask one of the kids
you know where you might find the nearest library or bookstore. Find a
book called "A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies", by
Bartolomé De Las Casas. It was written in 1552, and dedicated by the
author to Prince Philip of Spain.

Geez. Perhaps I didn't make myself clear when I said "the Catholic church
has done far more good than bad in the last couple of centuries". A
couple of centuries means the last 200 years. What terrible acts has the
Catholic church committed in the last 200 years...and how does that
compare to the amount of good that the church has done?