web Pope gives atheists permission to think

[compl3x]

POPE Francis has allowed atheists to use their brains independently of God.

 

In a letter to an Italian newspaper, the Pontiff said that atheists could now decide for themselves what was right and wrong using something called a ?conscience?.Francis became the first Pope since the founding of the Catholic Church to grant non-believers some limited control over their own thoughts.

 

But he added: ?Don?t go crazy with it, because we all know what you?re like.?

 

Tom Logan, an atheist from Stevenage, said: ?Thanks Pope, that?s really nice of you.

 

?I have been struggling with whether or not to use my conscience in everyday life.

 

?I do tend to use it most days, but I don?t really trust it because it didn?t come from heaven.?

 

Logan added:  ?I promise I won?t go on a massive killing spree.?

 

Helen Archer, a non-believer since 1997, said: ?It?s good to know that thinking independently is something to which I can ?opt-in?.

 

?I plan to use it mostly at the weekends and for watching television.?

 

Theologian Professor Julian Cook, added: ?The last Pope wouldn?t have let you think for yourselves in a million years.

 

?You?re very lucky, you know.?

 

 

 

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/pope-gives-atheists-permission-to-think-2013091279377

[Growled Member]

Francis became the first Pope since the founding of the Catholic Church to grant non-believers some limited control over their own thoughts.

 

Isn't he sweet? /s

[Dick Montage]

Old news and somewhat twisted.  What the new pope actually said a few months back is along the lines of:

 

We should stop calling all atheists bad people.  They have a conscience like Christians, and this is what they use to guide them through choices.  There are good and bad atheists just like there are good and bad people.  Basically, we need to stop assuming anyone who doesn't believe our version of events is inherently bad.

 

He's also cool with gay folk too.

 

So, as much as I am not a fan of organised religion (I much prefer the disorganised kind), maybe we should cut the guy some slack because he's actually really moving the church forward!

[timster]

the way religion is, this could be passed off as a legit story and have so many people following it.

[Draconian Guppy]

Old news and somewhat twisted.  What the new pope actually said a few months back is along the lines of:

 

We should stop calling all atheists bad people.  They have a conscience like Christians, and this is what they use to guide them through choices.  There are good and bad atheists just like there are good and bad people.  Basically, we need to stop assuming anyone who doesn't believe our version of events is inherently bad.

 

He's also cool with gay folk too.

 

So, as much as I am not a fan of organised religion (I much prefer the disorganised kind), maybe we should cut the guy some slack because he's actually really moving the church forward!

Wow opinionated and unbiased reply! ftw!

[Sandor]

Old news and somewhat twisted.  What the new pope actually said a few months back is along the lines of:

 

We should stop calling all atheists bad people.  They have a conscience like Christians, and this is what they use to guide them through choices.  There are good and bad atheists just like there are good and bad people.  Basically, we need to stop assuming anyone who doesn't believe our version of events is inherently bad.

 

He's also cool with gay folk too.

 

So, as much as I am not a fan of organised religion (I much prefer the disorganised kind), maybe we should cut the guy some slack because he's actually really moving the church forward!

You know it's a p!ss take right?

[webeagle12]

Isn't he sweet? /s

[Cast Iron Leader]

We should stop calling all atheists bad people.  They have a conscience like Christians, and this is what they use to guide them through life.  There are good and bad atheists just like there are good and bad religious people.  Basically, we need to stop assuming anyone, who doesn't believe in a non existant deity, is inherently bad.

Fixed that for him.

[Dick Montage]

You know it's a p!ss take right?

 

Of course, I know the source.  But some people won't :(

[compl3x]

 

So, as much as I am not a fan of organised religion (I much prefer the disorganised kind), maybe we should cut the guy some slack because he's actually really moving the church forward!

 

 

About as naive as one can get. This article obviously a joke, but if you think the traditionalists and the conservatives in the church are happy about this then you are kidding yourself. When Francis first came out and said something partially positive about atheists his underlings came running out and assuring everyone that we all still went to hell.

[siah1214]

God what a horrible article.  Let's completely twist what he says to make him look like a jerk.  Who wrote this? Did /r/atheism crowdsource it?  

[compl3x]

^ That is what satire usually is.

 

Are people unaware this is the "joke" section?

[Dotdot]

Old news and somewhat twisted.  What the new pope actually said a few months back is along the lines of:

 

We should stop calling all atheists bad people.  They have a conscience like Christians, and this is what they use to guide them through choices.  There are good and bad atheists just like there are good and bad people.  Basically, we need to stop assuming anyone who doesn't believe our version of events is inherently bad.

 

He's also cool with gay folk too.

 

So, as much as I am not a fan of organised religion (I much prefer the disorganised kind), maybe we should cut the guy some slack because he's actually really moving the church forward!

Pretty much summed it up in one right, there. This Pope is v.much the peoples pope. Im still no fan of organised religion, but atleast he seem`s to be more modern in his views.

And I,ll try to not use that conscience tomorrow, as I take a brick to the forehead of that irritating man with the mega phone who keeps telling me I`m doomed and must repent, every morning on my way to work!! :p

[+Matthew S. Subscriber²]

Since when can the pope dictate whether or not an atheist (or even agonistic) can think?

[Albert]

good to know that the pope is a fan of The Onion.

[compl3x]

Since when can the pope dictate whether or not an atheist (or even agonistic) can think?

 

 

 

 

Are people unaware this is the "joke" section?

[leesmithg]

Wow that is nice of him.

 

Now Mr Pope prove to me that the bible isn't some made up story changed-up-changed down the generations.

 

Religion is a belief, not fact.

 

This prove another point about religious people.

 

They move to a country and try take it over by bugging people with their beliefs and try converting people.

 

Winter solstice is a pagan festival hijacked by xtians.

 

Britain was a pagan country, now it is classed as secular with the main religion being xtianity.

 

The Pope should thank atheists and pagans for allowing Catholicism to exist.

[Dick Montage]

About as naive as one can get. This article obviously a joke, but if you think the traditionalists and the conservatives in the church are happy about this then you are kidding yourself. When Francis first came out and said something partially positive about atheists his underlings came running out and assuring everyone that we all still went to hell.

 

Well thank you for calling me naive.  I know that he will have rattled some chains with his motions, but let me be honest - it's ridiculously naive of yourself to assume that his speeches are not cleared and that he's not more than just a puppet for how "The Church" want to move.

[srbeen]

I think as an athiest or someone who does not believe in one higher power/being, EVERYONE should be able to and be encouraged to think for themselves. I say this in the hope they would realize religion is mostly a farce.

 

Before people get upset with this statement, I'm not saying everything about religion is. There are people who can balance their life, love, work and religion but I have some very religious friends who constantly struggle with their science and mathematic findings which clearly oppose everything religion taught them.

 

The hypocritical narrow-sighted closed mind religious folks are the downright scary ones. I call these people bible thumpers, as they truly live and breath the bible all the time - yet never act as the bible teaches. These are the folks who say their 5 year old boy is 'naked' when swimming in just shorts, as thats what the bible says - but they'd be OK having their son 'dress for the sport' wearing only a speedo if they chose to be a professional swimmer. These folks are against war and fighting, but their xbox 360 game collection don't have any titles with a rating under 18+. These people also say stealing is wrong, but they don't pay for their cable TV or internet. These are the folks I see taking rolls of tape, bottles of loctite, and countless nuts and bolts from the supply crib at work without paying for them. These folks preach and ramble about their religion being superior to other religions, and trying to get people to 'become religious' or 'switch religions'. These people donate 20% of their wages to the church, then bitch their tax rebate wasn't more than what they contributed (also completely bypassing the fact that everyones tax dollars would actually be paying the church if they get back what they contrubted tax time). These are the people that make me truly hate everything about religion. Out of the 300 or so I work with, theres 2 that fit this bill. Just those 2 made me hate religion more in the past few years than I did my entire life.

[compl3x]

Well thank you for calling me naive.  I know that he will have rattled some chains with his motions, but let me be honest - it's ridiculously naive of yourself to assume that his speeches are not cleared and that he's not more than just a puppet for how "The Church" want to move.

 

 

That's the point: the things he says are probably things he believes and aren't just prepared speeches that the Vatican looks over before he delivers them. He probably believes these kinds of things, but his underlings come out after he says stuff to "clarify" what he meant.

 

 

Put simply, he might be making positive steps by showing a more tolerant attitude, but the organisation he works for/with/in seems to contradict him when he displays that tolerant attitude.

[Dick Montage]

That's the point: the things he says are probably things he believes and aren't just prepared speeches that the Vatican looks over before he delivers them. He probably believes these kinds of things, but his underlings come out after he says stuff to "clarify" what he meant.

 

An organisation as big as the Catholic Church doesn't allow it's "leader" (figurehead) to utter a word without prior consent.

[Arachno 1D]

And in return I give the Pope permission to think hes actually making a difference in the world

[+Raze Subscriber²]

Who does this man think he......hey wait a minute this is in the Jokes & Funny Stuff thread....never mind.  Carry on.

[compl3x]

An organisation as big as the Catholic Church doesn't allow it's "leader" (figurehead) to utter a word without prior consent.

 

 

And you're basing this on...? I know of at least two times this Pope has said something vaguely tolerant about atheism only to have his handlers/PR people come out and "clarify" his statements. Ignore the obvious problem with having to correct or clarify someone you believe to be infallible.

 

What makes this Pope a bit different is seems to want to speak his mind but the traditionalists and conservatives want to stop him from speaking so unpredictably. Do you think they were all that thrilled when he said "who am I to judge" regarding homosexuals? Or when the Pope implied that if atheists do good they might still get into heaven?

 

I hope this Pope continues to say unpredictable things and give his handlers/PR folk plenty of headaches.

[Arachno 1D]

Even Presidents and great ambassadors need things clarifying by underlings and I guess even unimportant people say a few things wrong sometimes even inadvertently overly assuming their importance to the populace.