Who's corner is the Pope in?

[Jonny_B]

I just wondered for the first time who the Pope is rooting for in the struggle for power in the middle east. Any chance he's harbouring some deep rooted desire for the radical muslim clerics to come out on top and maintain their political power, despite the efforts of many to promote secular governments?

In case you're wondering where this came from, it was this sentence: "Two clerics at Islamabad's Red Mosque demanded her dismissal Sunday, two days after setting up a court to deliver Islamic justice in a bold challenge to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a U.S. ally who has promised to promote moderate Islam." from this article: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=347305&Category=24&subCategoryID=

Maybe he feels sympathy for the struggle between church and state now facing Islam, similar to the one that played out in Europe generations ago with the church ultimately losing the majority of its power.

[KNYTE]

I would imagine he's ultimately on ours, seeing as radical Islam would kill him just as quickly as they would us.

[fly]

The current pope is a straight racist against Islam. period.

I despise organized religion, but damn I miss JPII.

[Sarcasmo]

I hate Islam, so I'm all for the new Pope. Not that it matters, since I'm neither Catholic nor religious.

[SemperFly]

I would imagine he's ultimately on ours, seeing as radical Islam would kill him just as quickly as they would us.word

Jimmy the Dhimmi doesn't believe that, though!

The current pope is a straight racist against Islam. period.

I despise organized religion, but damn I miss JPII.

No doubt he's against Islam but Islam isn't really a race so I don't think racist is the right word there. :fly:

[KNYTE]

The current pope is a straight racist against Islam. period.

I despise organized religion, but damn I miss JPII.

JPII was a good man. I can honestly say that I mourned him.

[SemperFly]

JPII was a good man. I can honestly say that I mourned him.

he was. I regret that I never got a chance to meet him. I may not be a very good catholic but he was the best thing to happen to the catholic church in ages :(

[BeerAd]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS1SaBvDqq4

[SemperFly]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS1SaBvDqq4

lol that reminds me

protip: when visiting a foreign country you should ALWAYS know where the nearest american embassy is located :p

[Jonny_B]

lol that reminds me

protip: when visiting a foreign country you should ALWAYS know where your nearest embassy is located :p
edited for international.

[FlamingGlory]

The current pope is a straight racist against Islam. period.

I despise organized religion, but damn I miss JPII.

Uh... Islam isnt a race.

[SemperFly]

edited for international.

:thrawn: people in other countries don't leave their home nation. wtf do you think everyone has access to planes or something? :lol:

[dbzeag]

lol that reminds me

protip: when visiting a foreign country you should ALWAYS know where the nearest american embassy is located and pretend you are Canadian, that always works. :p

fixd and Eddie Izzard reference now satisfied

[SemperFly]

fixd and Eddie Izzard reference now satisfied

bring up shaggy and scoobie!

[fly]

Uh... Islam isnt a race.

Anti-semite

[Jonny_B]

So no one thinks there even the tiniest chance that he doesn't wish he help the sway the Muslim Clerics do? I guess it's different when you're the head of a whole religion rather than just one of many fractured sects.

[KNYTE]

So no one thinks there even the tiniest chance that he doesn't wish he help the sway the Muslim Clerics do? I guess it's different when you're the head of a whole religion rather than just one of many fractured sects.

Radical Islam is effectively an opposing force of the Catholic church man. Ever hear of the crusades?

[SemperFly]

So no one thinks there even the tiniest chance that he doesn't wish he help the sway the Muslim Clerics do? I guess it's different when you're the head of a whole religion rather than just one of many fractured sects.

:confused: he does have the sway of muslim clerics. in fact I'd say the pope is one of the most powerful men on the planet and if he truly wanted to use that power to wipe islam from the earth he'd have no problem doing so. but unlike islam, christianity - even catholicism - has generally evolved and matured past the point of using religion to justify mass homicide. it's still done here and there but on a relatively minute scale compared to the numerous atrocities of the radical muslims

as usual a few bad eggs give the rest a bad name

[FlamingGlory]

Radical Islam is effectively an opposing force of the Catholic church man. Ever hear of the crusades?

Yar, if anything the pope would bankroll a middle east excursion.

[Jonny_B]

:confused: he does have the sway of muslim clerics. in fact I'd say the pope is one of the most powerful men on the planet and if he truly wanted to use that power to wipe islam from the earth he'd have no problem doing so. but unlike islam, christianity - even catholicism - has generally evolved and matured past the point of using religion to justify mass homicide. it's still done here and there but on a relatively minute scale compared to the numerous atrocities of the radical muslims

as usual a few bad eggs give the rest a bad name
It didn't "evolve past it", power was wrest from the church by various kings.

and I know that Christianity and Islam are opposed to each other, but oppsing religious leaders still have more in common with each other than with their subjects. I can imagine Castro seeing what happened to Saddam and thinking "thank god they weren't hard up for beachfront property"

[Jonny_B]

I doubt the pope could raise an army anymore. Look at birth control. The laws of the state overrule the laws of the church. That's one of many power struggles going on in the mideast right now.

[FlamingGlory]

It didn't "evolve past it", power was wrest from the church by various kings.

and I know that Christianity and Islam are opposed to each other, but oppsing religious leaders still have more in common with each other than with their subjects. I can imagine Castro seeing what happened to Saddam and thinking "thank god they weren't hard up for beachfront property"
I dont think you've read enough history...

As for the analogy; the only things Castro and Saddam had in common were the US doesnt particularly like them. Just because we put them both into the same category doesnt mean they have anything in common, much less have any chance of aligning.

The Catholic church has more power than you probably think as well. Not everything is overt. Do you really think birth control is their number one priority? It is essentially what's left of the Roman Empire. They likely have connections that we couldnt even imagine.

[Jonny_B]

I dont think you've read enough history...

As for the analogy; the only things Castro and Saddam had in common were the US doesnt particularly like them. Just because we put them both into the same category doesnt mean they have anything in common, much less have any chance of aligning.

The Catholic church has more power than you probably think as well. Not everything is overt. Do you really think birth control is their number one priority? It is essentially what's left of the Roman Empire. They likely have connections that we couldnt even imagine.
it doesn't matter if it is their number one priority. they're clearly against it, and it's clearly still available in most countries. if the church still set law like it does in some islamic countries it wouldn't be available.

What Saddam and Castro had in common is they are/were dictators with directly frosty relations with the US. That's a pretty big deal. I know they had nothing idealistically in common, and would never consider aligning with one another (as the pope would never align with a muslim cleric) but they would be foolish not to at least consider the position of the other and study their tactics. It's entirely possible they could have a (very private) feeling of "nice move, well played".

[Dharma1521]

fixd and Eddie Izzard reference now satisfied

kekekek

[KNYTE]

It's entirely possible they could have a (very private) feeling of "nice move, well played".

Nah, they really do just think the other side in insane and should be wiped out.

[Jonny_B]

Nah, they really do just think the other side in insane and should be wiped out.
that's unfortunate. I like to think of them as real people who can get out of their own head and look around a bit. For example: If I were ever president (or prime minister as allowed by law) I'm sure that every now and then I'd be like "fuck yeah! I'm the PM!! Who would have thought?"

I'm certain Clinton had moments like that.

[Sarcasmo]

Funny how Eddie Izzard references are always from the same single standup routine. I guess his other shows weren't any good.

[KNYTE]

Funny how Eddie Izzard references are always from the same single standup routine. I guess his other shows weren't any good.

Which STILL will not stop Mencia from stealing them.

[BeerAd]

Which STILL will not stop Mencia from stealing them.

:fly: I used to love Mencia until I saw that Joe Rogan thing, now I hate him :(

[SemperFly]

Funny how Eddie Izzard references are always from the same single standup routine. I guess his other shows weren't any good.

I think it's just that few people have seen the others. Glorious remains my favorite, Definite Article is pretty good but Dressed to Kill is really the only one most Americans have seen. :o

[Dharma1521]

I think it's just that few people have seen the others. Glorious remains my favorite, Definite Article is pretty good but Dressed to Kill is really the only one most Americans have seen. :o

I have Glorious on DVD :heart: I think that Dressed to Kill was the only one played on HBO, so maybe thats part of it. I want to get more of his DVD's, in case anyone wants to get me one for my birthday its only five months away!

[SemperFly]

I have Glorious on DVD :heart: I think that Dressed to Kill was the only one played on HBO, so maybe thats part of it. I want to get more of his DVD's, in case anyone wants to get me one for my birthday its only five months away!

I don't have any of the DVDs but I've downloaded the ones I mentioned plus Sexie and Circle. I'm pretty sure Glorious was my favorite but it may have been Definite Article...whichever one has Sean Connery as Moses wanting to build a shpeedboat. :lol:

[Sarcasmo]

Oh and The Riches is good. His show on FX.

[Dharma1521]

Oh and The Riches is good. His show on FX.

I agree.