Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)
Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
Rationalist1 has left a new comment on your post "How Religion Benefits Everyone: An Interview with ...":
ReplyDeleteI used to post on strangenotions.com but after the rather biased actions of the moderator (in my opinion) and the banning of one atheist posters their for reasons that were not justified almost all the non believing posters left en masse. (I was threatened with being blocked for quoting Abraham Lincoln - If you call a tail a leg, a dog still has 4 legs).
Anyways, since I refuse to post there, it's interesting to look at the recent list of the happiest countries ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22685260 ). With the exception of the US (in 6th) most are increasing non religious.
Does anyone think the role of a Catholic Priest is to defend Atheists ?
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression their role was to proclaim the Good News, the Gospel, and the Bible.
Just how wrong can I be? Times have changed so much the upside is the downside on the side of the other side. That makes sense also.Pat
Pat: Have so seen the article posted today on the Holy Post (National Post religion blog)? Evidently Pope Francis agrees with my approach. So, if I'm walking in step with the Pope, do you think I'm the one who's walking the wrong path... or is it you?
DeleteFr. Tim
Pat,
DeleteFr. Tim is not defending atheists. He has his opinions and beliefs and sticks to them. But if he occasionally posts responses to my or other atheists posts it's might be because he follows a Savior who hung around with tax collectors and sinners (Lk 15:1, Mk 2:5 and Matt 9:9). Maybe times haven't changed.
Now if you excuse me I'm starting a writing campaign against the Quebec Values Charter that, IMO, discriminates against religious freedom.
Pat
DeleteEven the Pope is supporting talking with atheists ( http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/11/pope-francis-tells-atheists-to-obey-their-conscience/ ) What he says is that we have to obey our conscience and what we all have to address every day, be we a believer or not, is what informs our conscience.
Cheers
Of course ! Now I get it. You are showing the Pope how to do it. Maybe you will show hime how to clean up the sex abuse by priests mess ! Pat
ReplyDeletePat: Again you have it backwards. The Pope is leading. I'm following his example. I consider it a tribute to my parents, parish priests, and seminary profs for the happy coincidence that I find myself close to the path being blazed by the Holy Father. My talents and skills have little to do with it.
DeleteFr. Tim