Habemus papam

[ik911]

Originally Posted by Brynn

I was wondering why he chose the name Benedictus, does anybody know what the previous pope B. or St. B. was famous for?

It was a logical choice. When you choose the name of a previous pope, you are automatically linked to him. The previous Benedictus was a pacifist and that's what Ratzinger wants to be linked to.

[Ripe]

I was wondering why he chose the name Benedictus, does anybody know what the previous pope B. or St. B. was famous for?

Yes, Benedict XV was a pacifist which was hard considering his "term" was from 1914-1922. He was also considered a concilator who calmed the disputes between modernist and traditionalist factions with the Church.

Interesting sidenote: Pope Benedict XVI was born on April 16th which is a feast of St. Benedict Joseph Labre in Catholic calendar.

[Dottie]

Just to make myself clear: I certainly didnt mean that I thought that the RCC should not change. I meant that a conservative route was probably not less popular than a liberal one. My own opinion however is that it is imoral and bigoted beyond belief to cling to those conservative beliefs, and that any criticsm of the RCC on that subject is definatly welcome.

I agree with Xandax that religion can not be seen as a personal matter when the effects are global and disastrous. If someone chooses to live a conservative life I would respect that, but if the same person pushes these values upon the rest of society my respect is all gone.

Also, to all who belive religion is static I must say I disagree. All religions have changed over time, and they will continue to do so. The fact that they sometimes changes slower than rest of society doesn't mean they don't change.

The large religions have also assimilated various beliefs and practices from other cultures while they were expanding.

Hi sweetie, how are you?

[Locke Da'averan]

as long as the pope stays away from my way, i'll stay away from his

and i agree with giles about the choosing of the pope..

atleast choose one that isn't born in the 1920's.. or in this case IMO maybe it's good that he's that old

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I don't care who they get as Pope, as long as I can get that Popemobile...that thing has style. *sigh*

[CM]

Not to spam but where the hell have you been? Damn i miss you slurrs

On topic: Dottie; Judaism and Islam as religions have never changed. Neither has Hinduism. The changes are the practices and traditions. But the beliefs and ideology behind all three religions has not changed. Same with Buddhism i think but i know too little about it to be certain.

[Luis Antonio]

I understand that religions are hard to change, specially those with holy books like the bible, for example, and leaders (voice of the holyness).

I'm far more independant regarding religion so what I say may offend someone. Excuse me.

Ratzinger is a mistake. The church needs to change to accomodate the wishes of the flock - but the high command was already all set up to keep the politics on the vatican just the same way they were with John Paul - neglective, and elitist.
"The church must turn to Africa" they say. Africa needs an effective policy versus disease (read aids), with good social support, not social revolutionism, as they often do here in Brasil.

I'll stop with this.

[ik911]

Originally Posted by Luis Antonio

Ratzinger is a mistake. The church needs to change to accomodate the wishes of the flock

Now, you're mistaking the Church with some commercial institute. However, I do agree that some of their views are terribly outdated and need to be revised weighing the cons and pros of life preservation. (read aids)

The RCC is becoming obsolete bit by bit. It has become like an umbrella on a sunny spring day. We can make it lighter or transparent, but it'll still be useless.

[Luis Antonio]

Originally Posted by ik911

Now, you're mistaking the Church with some commercial institute. However, I do agree that some of their views are terribly outdated and need to be revised weighing the cons and pros of life preservation. (read aids)

The institution church is a commercial entity. No matter what you say, all kinds of churches, from evangelists to new age, they garther money from donation/work/candle sellings and use it for many purposes, including garthering more people and growing the religion. So yes, the church is a commercial institute. The religion, however, is another thing, and you must be refering to the religious belief of the catholic, as I see.

[ik911]

Originally Posted by Luis Antonio

The institution church is a commercial entity. No matter what you say, all kinds of churches, from evangelists to new age, they garther money from donation/work/candle sellings and use it for many purposes, including garthering more people and growing the religion. So yes, the church is a commercial institute. The religion, however, is another thing, and you must be refering to the religious belief of the catholic, as I see.

Since the church embodies the belief and the belief forms the church or the other way around, the church pretty much IS it's belief. To sustain it's self (financialy) it must rely on commercial means (candlesales etc.) but religion should never be a product. That's just weird. Wasn't religion a goal once, or a resort and hope and strenght in times of need?

Maybe that is why people lose faith. The RCC was founded in times when people regarded themselves as products of God.

Yet, with a bit of imagination, a lot of characteristics of the commercial world can be found in the Church. You got salesmen (priests), a director/president (the pope), a complete hierarchy (Cardinals, Bishops...), a founder (J.C.), factories or distribution points (churches) and a headquarters (the Vatican), merchandize (candles, bibles).......

[Cuchulain82]

I think that a good indicator of the current Pope's conservativism is that he is the former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, an office of the church formerly known as the Holy Office of the Inquisition. I think this type of conservativism is out of sync with more Cathloics today, and I agree with Luis in thinking this choice for Pope may be a mistake.

Re: CM- religion doesn't have to be conservative necessarily, but usually the heads of religious institutions are conservative old men

[jopperm2]

@Brynn, It means "Blessed One" IIRC in case you were still wondering.