I try!



I believe you do. :)

CG have been following this thread you are one of the three.

Don't forget us free thinking Christians they call heretics.

Don't forget that this new Pope used to head a department called "The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." (A new name for what used to be called the Inquisition.) That worries me a bit. But I have heard commentators say that he is very intelligent, kind and good. Let us see what time brings forth. :angel:

And he is an ex-Nazi youth member. Claims he was forced into it and never fired the anti-aircraft gun he was posted to. Yeah, right!

And he is an ex-Nazi youth member. Claims he was forced into it and never fired the anti-aircraft gun he was posted to. Yeah, right!

Don't forget that sixty years ago joining the Hitler Youth was not voluntary. It was compulsory.

Don't forget that sixty years ago joining the Hitler Youth was not voluntary. It was compulsory.


I don't want to wander far from the thread's topic, but the Nazi Youth was popular culture as well. Many who joined, joined because they believed what Hitler was saying. Regardless of the compulsory enrollment, there were many who were more than willing to join. I'm not saying that Ratzinger was willing, but I doubt there are many Nazis alive today that would tell the truth even if they were first in line.

Where JPII was clearly a victim of the war, communism, poverty and strife, Benedict XVI was - willingly or not - on the side of the aggressors, invaders and perpetrators. His past job at the Vatican (as you pointed out, CG) is really a reorganization of the Inquisition. Did he bring his ethnic cleansing textbook from the Reich to the Vatican?

There are too many question marks surrounding this man. There is something in his eyes that makes me question whether he can be trusted to lead 1.1 billion people in the right direction, something I never felt about the kind-hearted John Paul II.

At least, being 78 years old, he won't be Pope as long as John Paul II. He tried to retire a number of times before, so perhaps he'll do so in time rather than stay in power until he passes on. He refers to himself as a transitional Pope, so perhaps the next conclave will bring a more modern and liberal Pope to the world.

a caveat: a leopard never changes his spots...

Again, I - a Buddhist - finds himself speaking for Christendom! Where are the Christians? Where are the Catholics? Perhaps they don't see this as worthy of their input. I hope not. :shaky:

I don't want to wander far from the thread's topic, but the Nazi Youth was popular culture as well. Many who joined, joined because they believed what Hitler was saying. Regardless of the compulsory enrollment, there were many who were more than willing to join. I'm not saying that Ratzinger was willing, but I doubt there are many Nazis alive today that would tell the truth even if they were first in line.
This is true! But in his defense, when I was young I was UBP that was all I knew! As I grew in age and wisdom, I realized that there was something wrong with that position. I believe that Benedict has more wisdom than I.

Where JPII was clearly a victim of the war, communism, poverty and strife, Benedict XVI was - willingly or not - on the side of the aggressors, invaders and perpetrators. His past job at the Vatican (as you pointed out, CG) is really a reorganization of the Inquisition. Did he bring his ethnic cleansing textbook from the Reich to the Vatican?
The Third Reich and the Inquisition are, to me, undistinguishable. The Inquisition is older! But the Church no longer "goes at it" with the same vigor.

There are too many question marks surrounding this man. There is something in his eyes that makes me question whether he can be trusted to lead 1.1 billion people in the right direction, something I never felt about the kind-hearted John Paul II.
My first comment here was that I had concerns about the new Pope. John Paul was kind hearted, so is the new one. Both were hard-liners. Both are kind, but firm in their beliefs.

At least, being 78 years old, he won't be Pope as long as John Paul II. He tried to retire a number of times before, so perhaps he'll do so in time rather than stay in power until he passes on. He refers to himself as a transitional Pope, so perhaps the next conclave will bring a more modern and liberal Pope to the world.
I don't think so! The new Pope is transitional in the sense that I think he feels he is holding on the job until the next man comes along. John Paul appointed Cardinals who were traditional Catholics. The new Pope, if he is in office long enough, will also appoint traditional Cardinals. They will vote for a traditional Pope when Benedicts life is over. Unless there are startling new developments we will see the same old, same old.

Again, I - a Buddhist - finds himself speaking for Christendom! Where are the Christians? Where are the Catholics? Perhaps they don't see this as worthy of their input. I hope not. :shaky:


Nope. Looks like we're the only ones with an opinion!

Nope. Looks like we're the only ones with an opinion!

O.K. A majority of two! I can live with that! :)

Again, I - a Buddhist - finds himself speaking for Christendom! Where are the Christians? Where are the Catholics? Perhaps they don't see this as worthy of their input. I hope not. :shaky:


This is true! But in his defense, when I was young I was UBP that was all I knew! As I grew in age and wisdom, I realized that there was something wrong with that position. I believe that Benedict has more wisdom than I.


The Third Reich and the Inquisition are, to me, undistinguishable. The Inquisition is older! But the Church no longer "goes at it" with the same vigor.


My first comment here was that I had concerns about the new Pope. John Paul was kind hearted, so is the new one. Both were hard-liners. Both are kind, but firm in their beliefs.


I don't think so! The new Pope is transitional in the sense that I think he feels he is holding on the job until the next man comes along. John Paul appointed Cardinals who were traditional Catholics. The new Pope, if he is in office long enough, will also appoint traditional Cardinals. They will vote for a traditional Pope when Benedicts life is over. Unless there are startling new developments we will see the same old, same old.

well said!

As someone said in an earlier post the majority of Bahamians are Baptists, so I guess that explains the lack of interest in the topic. :bored: I guess we should start a thread on Baptist doctrine.

As someone said in an earlier post the majority of Bahamians are Baptists, so I guess that explains the lack of interest in the topic. :bored: I guess we should start a thread on Baptist doctrine.

Well, we got 80+ replies. That is not too shabby?

One does not have to be Catholic, or even Christian to have a view - look at me! The Pope is a major player on the world stage, or at least the last one was. One cannot ignore that.

Black pope my foot.

As someone said in an earlier post the majority of Bahamians are Baptists, so I guess that explains the lack of interest in the topic. :bored: I guess we should start a thread on Baptist doctrine.

Is there such a thing as baptist history...
I find that we as baptist just exists, no beginning or end....

Is there such a thing as baptist history...
I find that we as baptist just exists, no beginning or end....

Yes there is! Poke around on this site http://www.mainstreambaptists.org/mbn1/baptist_history.htm
there is much history there. :)