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[tennis_girl]

This thread is 272 pages of the same people having the same argument.

No one changes their minds and we all end up huffing and puffing.

[Mark]

[Mark]

A German bishops' decree which has just come into force says anyone failing to pay the tax - an extra 8% of their income tax bill - will no longer be considered a Catholic.

It's like a scene from an episode of South Park. Who put Eric Cartman in charge? But if they want to further hurt the reputation of Catholicism, I say let them go right ahead.

[tennis_girl]

Buttface.

[Mark]

[Fiverings]

A German bishops' decree which has just come into force says anyone failing to pay the tax - an extra 8% of their income tax bill - will no longer be considered a Catholic.

It's like a scene from an episode of South Park. Who put Eric Cartman in charge? But if they want to further hurt the reputation of Catholicism, I say let them go right ahead.

    A non-catholic friend of mine who is divorced has been told he must pay the church several hundred pounds if he wants to marry his catholic girifriend in church. I think this is appalling blackmail.

[Mark]

[MT]

Religion exists not for a need to explain humanity, nor for humanity's improvement.  What improvement is there in feeling the need to blow up or put a bullet through the head of another human being just because he or she does not hold the same beliefs as you? A firmly held religion is a very dangerous thing.  It blinds those who follow it and makes them feel 'right' in their dealings with life.  Life is not clear cut, nor is any religion.  I'm not sure what else it takes to make anyone with an ounce of sense to realise this as a fact.  Most religions exist to keep people in line.  I would hope that most of us with some intelligence can do that for ourselves.

I cant remember posting that quote but actually I do think it is right. What you are talking about with the guns, wars, intolerance etc. is not religion itself but man's response to religion affected by many other factors such as tribalism, fear, poverty and ignorance. There is nothing in the Christian faith which should lead anybody to fire a bullet nor I suspect is there in the teachings of Islam. It is compassion that will lead the world out of the mess it is in. I don't care if that is felt by a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or atheist but I do know that compassion forgiveness and tolerance are the paramount messages of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Some of the most vociferous secular commentators are also the most genuinely Christian- they just label it differently.