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...
Position and rank don't always signify that much in he church. Pell is the Pope's main guy in Australia. Just like Chaput is the main guy in US. Dolan is higher but Chaput is the go to guy. Mahoney was very senior in Us for a long time and ran the very important LA chapter. Was always virtually ignored. Not a boy that JP or Benny ever warmed up to.
ReplyDeleteIn the early history of Australia the church was both powerful and patronizing to a populace largely disenfranchised, uneducated and searching to find a way and a coherent identity. I don't think the people of Australia are too enthused about the "teaching authority" of the church. They will always have a soft spot for the nuns and missionary fathers that helped them when things were hard and they were in bondage.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they mistake Pell and Pope Benny for the nuns and missionary fathers of the past. The people of Towoomba were very happy with their "Bishop Bill", who had led them for a generation. Look what the chirch did to poor Bill. Tsk Tsk.