Should God sack the Pope?

[cienaños]

Uh . . . huh?

I don't know if I'm just getting older or if it has something to do with all of the drugs and alcohol I used in my past, but when I read some of the stuff you guys write (and, I must admit, even some of the stuff I have written) here I just hear the ocean.

If your defense of my criticism of the concept of atheism is that sometimes god(s) are used in a metaphoric sense I respond by saying it doesn't matter.

Really? Man, I awww-lllways have this problem. Been thinking about getting a brain reduction.

*shakes fist at bookshelf* damn you! damn you I say!

To answer your question. No, dude.

Let me put it another way and weave the OP back into this as we are quite adrift here my friend. Your response to the OP was:

David Henson post

Do you honestly think that God has anything to do with the Pope? Do you honestly think that the history of Popes would indicate anything other than that this one is far from the worst?

Yes, but you have it backwards. The pope has chosen to play along in this millennia-old farce with this central character called "god," only sprucing it up with some eau de catholette.

So yes, he has everything to do with it. There are others as well, and they come in different fragrances.

To your second question, no.

 

[Mirrorglass]

Thats funny because I've read a half dozen definitions from atheists here on this forum alone and all of them say simply that atheism is a disbelief in god(s) without the mental gymnastics you performed above.

The "mental gymnastics" are always implied. We just assume everyone knows it, so we don't bother to say it. If you don't believe me, then ask anyone. Why don't you start a thread with the following poll:

What does atheism mean?

1. Lack of belief in a deity (see wikipedia article)
2. Lack of belief in anything meant by the ancient Hebrew word "El" (mighty one)
3. Hate of God
4. Other
5. Planet X

I think you'll be surprised by the results.

Uh . . . huh?

I don't know if I'm just getting older or if it has something to do with all of the drugs and alcohol I used in my past, but when I read some of the stuff you guys write (and, I must admit, even some of the stuff I have written) here I just hear the ocean.

If your defense of my criticism of the concept of atheism is that sometimes god(s) are used in a metaphoric sense I respond by saying it doesn't matter.

Seriously, you're just messing with us, right? Nobody's this clichéd.

 

[hgc]

God didn't hire Ratzinger -- why should he be expected to fire him?

 

[fuelair]

Seems to be enough grounds to justify a sacking (or perhaps a stoning would sufice?).

Perhaps a good snorkeling would do it.

 

[ynot]

Do you honestly think that God has anything to do with the Pope? Do you honestly think that the history of Popes would indicate anything other than that this one is far from the worst?

But . . . but . . . doesn’t God have everything to do with everything? Suerly God pulls everyones strings and everything that ever has happended and everything that will happen is all part of God’s preordained plan?

 

[ynot]

The idea of atheism by definition is stupid. Poorly thought out.

Atheism isn’t an idea it’s the default condition of all humans including yourself. Everyone is born an atheist and it’s only when we develop the ability to have poor thoughts that some of us unfortunately develop a belief in theism.

 

[ynot]

God didn't hire Ratzinger -- why should he be expected to fire him?

According to believers, God hires and fires everyone (and does absolutely everything else to boot).

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

God didn't hire Ratzinger -- why should he be expected to fire him?

So Jesus got it wrong when he told Peter that he would be the rock on which He would build His Church?

 

[Darth Rotor]

So Jesus got it wrong when he told Peter that he would be the rock on which He would build His Church?

No, I think the point is the College of Cardinals voted for him, not that God appointed him. What is passed down from Peter, as I understand the succession bit (which means imperfectly) is that Jesus passed the authority to him, the keys, and that same authority has been passed down from one to the other for a very long time. The College of Cardinals is a relatively recent phenomenon, circa 1054, IIRC. Had to do with a weak/young king ascending a throne in the German areas and ... grr, can't recall the rest.

That said, if one gets down to brass tacks, God would most certainly be the firing authority were He to choose to intervene. Kind of like the guy from corporate coming to the office and cleaning house, even though the local boss does the routing hiring and firing.

Might be a good time for the corporate office to make a visit ... which would have the added benefit of making all of the rapture bunnies happy!

DR

 

[hgc]

No, I think the point is the College of Cardinals voted for him, not that God appointed him. What is passed down from Peter, as I understand the succession bit (which means imperfectly) is that Jesus passed the authority to him, the keys, and that same authority has been passed down from one to the other for a very long time. The College of Cardinals is a relatively recent phenomenon, circa 1054, IIRC. Had to do with a weak/young king ascending a throne in the German areas and ... grr, can't recall the rest.

That said, if one gets down to brass tacks, God would most certainly be the firing authority were He to choose to intervene. Kind of like the guy from corporate coming to the office and cleaning house, even though the local boss does the routing hiring and firing.

Might be a good time for the corporate office to make a visit ... which would have the added benefit of making all of the rapture bunnies happy!

DR

Thank you for the detailed and informative elaboration on my point.

Of course the corporate office has never made a visit before, except in unsubstantiated rumor. I expect that it'll be local management (Coll. of Cards.) to get the job done, or it'll not get done at all.