The Paradox of Power....

[loganonekenobi]

Are you fucking kidding me?!
The catholic church rose to dominate because of guns, germs, and steel. Just ask the natives of the western hemisphere.

Please for the love of dog look at the history of the catholic church and then tell me with a straight face that it was "lovingly" given to the people of the world.

They "endured" at the expense of every one and anyone that would not give them everything they wanted.

in the first few centuries the christians were the persecuted then after about 350 AD once they became recognized and in power they quickly became the persecutors. They would still be that way today if it weren't for key events in history.

The church's hands are dripping with centuries of blood.

[Homeless Nutter]

Great article! [...]

Nope. Just plain old bollocks. 

Where was Papal Power when Ireland - a traditionally conservative catholic country - legalized gay marriage, despite protests from Vatican? At least Chinese politicians can still tell their subjects what to do. Catholic Church is quickly losing relevance and in a few generations it very well may be just a marginalized, symbolic remnant of history and a tourist attraction - like the Royal Family in UK.

[Whateverist]

Great article! Explained in an intelligent, practical manner.

The concept of soft power was interesting.

The obvious truth here is that the world aspires to spiritualism, and God.

I don't use the word spiritualism, but unpacked in the correct way I might agree people aspire to something beyond their basic needs .. at least once these are procured.

God? Understood psychologically I can agree. Projected out into the world and imagined as the designer of everything, the magic man with the omni-carrots and omni-stick? No.

But it also needs guidance.

A child needs guidance. Any institution which seeks to cap human aspirations by positing an eternal authority figure infantilizes humanity and provides the wrong guidance.

[brewer]

The current pope does make a nice talking puppet for the church. Soft spoken, always saying nice gentle kind things. He can certainly talk the talk. Can he (the church) walk the walk?

I don't see any significant changes being made by the church. It almost feels like the church power brokers said "hey, we're in trouble here, lets deflect the negative issues by putting a feel good guy in as pope, if this goes on long enough things will calm down and the people will forget". If the issues die down, the church never really has to change.

And Golden Rule my ass. The church power brokers only apply the "Do Unto Others" portion. They need to have the "Do Unto You" applied to them.

I don't believe that he has any real power. It's all a show.

[Believer21u]

Are you fucking kidding me?!
The catholic church rose to dominate because of guns, germs, and steel.  Just ask the natives of the western hemisphere.  

Please for the love of dog look at the history of the catholic church and then tell me with a straight face that it was "lovingly" given to the people of the world.

They "endured" at the expense of every one and anyone that would not give them everything they wanted.

in the first few centuries the christians were the persecuted then after about 350 AD once they became recognized and in power they quickly became the persecutors.  They would still be that way today if it weren't for key events in history.

The church's hands are dripping with centuries of blood.

With a straight face.I can tell you that this a load of rubbish and nothing more,The church did not kill anyone,except in the crusades due to the Muslims attack in holy land so for the defence of holy land.The Crusades were born from the violent aggression of Islam, which had conquered ancient Christian territory in the Holy Land and North Africa and established a large foothold in Europe within a century of Muhammad’s death in the early seventh century.Someone has told you a lie.

[TubbyTubby]

Are you fucking kidding me?!
The catholic church rose to dominate because of guns, germs, and steel. Just ask the natives of the western hemisphere.

Please for the love of dog look at the history of the catholic church and then tell me with a straight face that it was "lovingly" given to the people of the world.

They "endured" at the expense of every one and anyone that would not give them everything they wanted.

in the first few centuries the christians were the persecuted then after about 350 AD once they became recognized and in power they quickly became the persecutors. They would still be that way today if it weren't for key events in history.

The church's hands are dripping with centuries of blood.

with a straight face.I can tell you that this a load of rubbish and nothing more,The church did not kill anyone,someone has told you a lie.

Someone told you a whole book full of fucking lies and you still believe them.

[Believer21u]

with a straight face.I can tell you that this a load of rubbish and nothing more,The church did not kill anyone,someone has told you a lie.

Someone told you a whole book full of fucking lies and you still believe them.

prove it!

[TubbyTubby]

You prove it isn't.

[Homeless Nutter]

prove it!

I personally created the universe and everything in it - and there is no such thing as this "god", that you speak of. Your religion is false, just like all the thousands of other superstitions.

Now shut up and do your homework, or something...

[Believer21u]

You prove it isn't.

Nup,am not on the dark side mate,with you and Satan.

---

prove it!

I personally created the universe and everything in it - and there is no such thing as this "god", that you speak of. Your religion is false, just like all the thousands of other superstitions.

Now shut up and do your homework, or something...

This doesn't prove it.so prove it!