a small but heartfelt rant
May. 23rd, 2013 09:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilmanAn old friend of mine, who happens to be a minister, posted the following link to her facebook page:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/pope-francis-good-atheists_n_3320757.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
"Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics"
Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists.
My friend, who is a genuinely good person, was pleased by this, as though it was a good thing. And yeah, compared to "all who are not devout Catholic are going to hell" I guess it is. Anything that cuts down on the justifications for abuse is a good thing. Far better behavior than his unlamented-by-many predecessor.
However...
Like the Mormons posthumously "baptizing" Jews and claiming them for their heaven, this strikes me as vaguely offensive chutzpah. He's saying "it doesn't matter what YOU believe, we're going to co-opt you anyway through OUR belief." And I'm not sure how that's supposed to make us feel better about our relations with the Church.
Dude. Try asking. If we want to convert, we will. if we don't, we've got our exit plan worked out already, thanks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/pope-francis-good-atheists_n_3320757.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
"Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics"
Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists.
My friend, who is a genuinely good person, was pleased by this, as though it was a good thing. And yeah, compared to "all who are not devout Catholic are going to hell" I guess it is. Anything that cuts down on the justifications for abuse is a good thing. Far better behavior than his unlamented-by-many predecessor.
However...
Like the Mormons posthumously "baptizing" Jews and claiming them for their heaven, this strikes me as vaguely offensive chutzpah. He's saying "it doesn't matter what YOU believe, we're going to co-opt you anyway through OUR belief." And I'm not sure how that's supposed to make us feel better about our relations with the Church.
Dude. Try asking. If we want to convert, we will. if we don't, we've got our exit plan worked out already, thanks.
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no subject
Date: 2013-05-23 04:36 pm (UTC)I've had a long standing annoyance at this kind of thinking. I know, genuinely, that it's most likely not meant to be offensive ... but the bit that gets me is that this kind of thing often misses how it IS offensive.
"But... " But nothing. It actually is annoying if you're not of the same faith. Whiiiiich is not "this annoys everyone". Just so I'm clear that I'm not speaking for anyone but myself.