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...
I think this current Pope is trying to improve the image of the Catholic Church. It could be said that he is responding to a need at this time in history, which goes to prove that most or all pronouncements were driven by the culture or the empathy or feelings of the era.
ReplyDeleteThe Nicene Creed for example, the response to various heresies etc. This only proves that many decrees (dogmas) were an emotional response at the time. I am referring specifically to such decrees as "salvation can not be found outside the Catholic Church," and another key one "the fullness of truth exists in the Catholic Church".
If that is the case with Francis, then if emotion dictates, these old decrees need to be rescinded.
Cliff