The Pope

[pete]

It would seem from today's news that the Pope is against equality. For once I agree with him.

Seems to me we should all consider very carefully whether we should allow in positions of authourity those who believe in any of the Abrahamic gods.

Do you want a pilot who, on hearing a voice in his head telling him to crash the plane as a test of his faith, is going to do anything other than check himself into the nearest hospital?

There could be more examples, bus drivers who hear a voice telling them to mow down the queue rather than stop in front of it...

So yes, equality legislation has gone too far your Papalness. If you believe the world was created by a big beardy man in the sky who left us a big book to inspire us and live our lives by; filled with tales of incest and genocide then you shouldn't be allowed to hold positions of responsibilities.
Or driving licences for that matter.
Or bear arms.
Or know the secret of man's red fire.




Pete

[graeme]

I'm more worried about religious politicians and teachers than pilots. A theist teacher with 30 impressionable young minds can do far more damage than a pilot with 300 passengers.

[pete]

I'm more worried about religious politicians and teachers than pilots. A theist teacher with 30 impressionable young minds can do far more damage than a pilot with 300 passengers.

So we'll add them to the list.

Teach.
Lead us.

[BiggestNizzy]

I am an Athiest and know fine and well that even talking about religion is a dangerous activity.

So

Natural law, is that like evoloution or planet earth orbiting the sun .... ? no Natural law as laid down by Saint Thomas Aquinas HE was condemed by the church because "God's absolute power transcended any principles of logic " apparently although 50 years after his death however he was canonized.

As for the catholics churchs own record of deviancy.... I will leave it there.

The pope is just doing his job, plus the extra bit of controversy should help things when he comes "on tour" he's just doinghis celeb bit.

I personally don't care what religion your are. you fall into 1 of 2 catagory's in this life "good guy" and "wank" religion doesn't come into it.

You wouldn't let peado's watch kids you wouldn't let fundamentalists rabiting on about how they are going to get there 70 virgins or how they are going gods work (any god) fly a plane.

Do you only let aethiests or agnostics fly ? I find it best to ignore it and it will just go away.

Don't get me started on religious schools though.

I really should draft these a few times to get a coheriant argument but I ma workingand it's dopne on the fly.

[mac]

I don't think any good comes out of discussions of faith on public forums.

Mac

[Rich H]

Sorry family guy flashback...

[BigD]

I don't think any good comes out of discussions of faith on public forums.

Mac

And as a regular churchgoer I find what you say, Pete, as downright insulting.

Abrahamic Gods includes Christianity, Judaism and Islam so I don't really know where you are coming from. I haven't read what the Pope said so can't comment on that.

[Corranga]

I personally don't care what religion your are. you fall into 1 of 2 catagory's in this life "good guy" and "wank" religion doesn't come into it.

Either someone is suitable to do a job or they are not.

Being able to do it doesn't necessarily make you suitable, some common sense has to prevail.

Which religion / faith etc they follow make no difference to me.

Chris

[mwmackenzie]

I don't think any good comes out of discussions of faith on public forums.

Mac

And as a regular churchgoer I find what you say, Pete, as downright insulting.

Abrahamic Gods includes Christianity, Judaism and Islam so I don't really know where you are coming from. I haven't read what the Pope said so can't comment on that.

on both counts! Faith is a very personal thing and not worth arguing over, everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. Live and let live

[graeme]

I find it sad when people tip-toe around religious debate. We have no issues discussing our politics, but as soon as religion comes up everyone is instantly terrified of causing offence. Why are we afraid to discuss the manifesto of Christianity any more than, say, New Labour'? We all have to pick a side and hopefully have some idea of how we got there. I for one have a LOT to say on the subject... some of it is crystal clear in my mind, some isn't. It's a topic I enjoy because I've invested a lot of personal time and brainpower in figuring out for myself exactly where I stand. I find it hugely frustrating that people just don't want to talk about it. I don't want to attack your beliefs; I just want to discuss how you arrived at them and how I arrived at mine and all the things neither of us have arrived at a conclusion on yet. It's the biggest awesomest mind-blowing topic in the world, and there are so many bloody fence-sitters!

Oh, while I'm here: http://www.secularism.org.uk/petition-the-pm.html

Graeme

[Scotty C]

There is only one God and he doesn't wear shoes

[mwmackenzie]

I find it sad when people tip-toe around religious debate. We have no issues discussing our politics, but as soon as religion comes up everyone is instantly terrified of causing offence. Why are we afraid to discuss the manifesto of Christianity any more than, say, New Labour'? We all have to pick a side and hopefully have some idea of how we got there. I for one have a LOT to say on the subject... some of it is crystal clear in my mind, some isn't. It's a topic I enjoy because I've invested a lot of personal time and brainpower in figuring out for myself exactly where I stand. I find it hugely frustrating that people just don't want to talk about it. I don't want to attack your beliefs; I just want to discuss how you arrived at them and how I arrived at mine and all the things neither of us have arrived at a conclusion on yet. It's the biggest awesomest mind-blowing topic in the world, and there are so many bloody fence-sitters!

Oh, while I'm here: http://www.secularism.org.uk/petition-the-pm.html

Graeme

TBH I'd not discuss new labour or any politics on a public forum either so like I said, Live and let live! Each to their own, I don't try and force my beliefs on anyone and don't expect anyone to force their religeous or political views on me especially on a Lotus forum. If that's what I was into I'd join a religeous or political forum for such debating.

[graeme]

Fair enough Mark. Feel free to ignore my ramblings. Hopefully somebody is up for it, but I've tried this enough times in enough places to know that the majority are definitely not likely to want to. I can't understand why, but there are lots of things I don't get...that's why I keep asking.

[DDtB]

Fair enough Mark. Feel free to ignore my ramblings. Hopefully somebody is up for it, but I've tried this enough times in enough places to know that the majority are definitely not likely to want to. I can't understand why, but there are lots of things I don't get...that's why I keep asking.

I'm always up for a debate......

hows about this one.... the majority of people only believe in their 'faith', because their parents did and told them to as well, and not because they've actually thought about it or looked at other options. If they'd been adopted at birth and sent to a different part of the world, chances are they'd have a different faith now.....

[pete]

The pope waded publicly into a debate about equality, specifically that some organisations may be forced to stop excluding people on the basis of their sexuality. That would seem to me to be a very reasonable law.

It would seem to me a very reasonable subject to discuss on a public forum, after all a leader of a foreign state went very public with his opinion on one of our pending laws. Someone whose opinion carrys very little sway with me because of his other beliefs which in my opinion are at best extremely harmful and probably indirectly responsible for much suffering.

As for the position that "people's faith" shouldn't be taken into account when giving them a job well I'm not sure that holds water. I agree their colour, sexuality or sex shouldn't be a factor.
But if someone believes that women are inferior to men then I don't want them teaching my daughter.
If they believe that the world is only a few thousand years old then again I think I'll try and get my child educated elsewhere.
If they think that God may speak to them and get them to do stuff to "test their faith" (qv Old Testament) - well it becomes a worry doesn't it?

Do you really not think that there are some religious beliefs that may exclude someone from suitability from certain jobs?

I bet you do really...


Pete