General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,532 posts)

61. I am an atheist, and have been one since 1965.

Wed Mar 13, 2013, 04:03 PM

Mar 2013

By definition, I think all religious belief is superstition. However, I don't care what beliefs people hold, and don't belittle them for those beliefs.

As for the Roman Catholic Church, I do ridicule and have contempt for it. For the institution. It is a force for discrimination, inequality, and evil, in some cases, as with the sexual molestation and its cover-up.

I did not expect any changes to come from the election of a new Pope. His election is not a source of anything other than a shoulder shrug. The Church will maintain its discriminatory doctrines and will continue to push for things that harm people. I'll have none of it.

This pope opposes women's reproductive choice and equality for LGBT people. That is enough for me. I have nothing but contempt for those positions.

Individual Catholics I judge individually. The organized Roman Catholic Church, I judge as an institution.

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Why the announcement of a new Pope sparks contempt among some. [View all] MineralMan Mar 2013 OP

Everthing! Brainstormy Mar 2013 #1

GOTTA HAVE MORE Catholic STORM TROOPERS HowHasItComeToThis Mar 2013 #100

Anything about any highly organized and hierarchical religious system toddwv Mar 2013 #122

Everthing! AlbertCat Mar 2013 #132

I agree. In my mind I think RCC and I think pedophilia. I probably always will. OregonBlue Mar 2013 #2

and priests ripping off old people of money Whisp Mar 2013 #8

Well, that's not just the RC Church by a long shot. MH1 Mar 2013 #118

I think a lot of us feel that way, too. nt valerief Mar 2013 #103

The RCC would allow a woman with a medical emergency to die Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #3

Yes, I have not forgotten the case of that poor woman MineralMan Mar 2013 #5

And here is yet another atrocity committed by the RCC: the Magdalene laundries/asylums in Ireland Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #7

Thanks for adding the Magdaline Laundries..++++ ReRe Mar 2013 #111

And there's that whole slavery thing in Ireland (aka Magdalene Laundries.) n/t backscatter712 Mar 2013 #106

We're scolded to be "respectful" of the Church. Meanwhile, if you are a woman or gay Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #4

If a religious organization expects to get universal acceptance, MineralMan Mar 2013 #11

Exactly. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #12

hundreds and hundreds of posts over somebody writing "fuck the catholic church" snooper2 Mar 2013 #31

It is like grave dancing in reverse (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2013 #6

Don't we have enough of these threads? LittleBlue Mar 2013 #9

Yah, thanks for your reply. nt MineralMan Mar 2013 #14

My thought is this Puzzledtraveller Mar 2013 #18

Their club, their rules is fine, as long as they keep it in their "club", which they are not! madmom Mar 2013 #55

Exactly. As a former Catholic I weep for the RCC. Too many chances to do the right thing are firenewt Mar 2013 #131

DU does have a "trash this thread" function... JHB Mar 2013 #113

the RCC is the patriarchy made flesh. geek tragedy Mar 2013 #10

The Church's only sin is that it cloakes itself in infalibility baldguy Mar 2013 #13

Ahem... *only* sin??? gcomeau Mar 2013 #39

Name a major religion that doesn't and isn't. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #44

Precisely baldguy Mar 2013 #75

Quakers AnotherMcIntosh Mar 2013 #130

Quakers AlbertCat Mar 2013 #134

And a new pope is the only hope of changing most of that (nt) Recursion Mar 2013 #15

Mark my words. The new Pope will not change MineralMan Mar 2013 #17

Change is constant, time will tell. WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2013 #57

The Catholic Church probably will change with the times. Rozlee Mar 2013 #97

Here is the new Pope: MineralMan Mar 2013 #19

Just got done reading the wiki on him LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #23

Sure seems like it. nt SunSeeker Mar 2013 #105

Well, that hope is gone. The new guy is just as big of a rightwing nutbag as the rest of them. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #20

Yup. nt & no change. MineralMan Mar 2013 #24

What happens when a Pope attempts to change the church: Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #21

New Pope is a conservative asswipe - think another Scalia dbackjon Mar 2013 #25

Scalia doesn't believe in social welfare and he does Recursion Mar 2013 #27

Social welfare if you are straight, or male dbackjon Mar 2013 #29

No, social welfare for everybody, but limited reproductive and sexual freedom Recursion Mar 2013 #34

Why settle for a woman and gay hating prick? dbackjon Mar 2013 #36

Why are you asking a Protestant? (nt) Recursion Mar 2013 #37

you wrote "we take what we get" which implied you're Catholic (nt) magical thyme Mar 2013 #133

I could introduce you to any number of ELCA MineralMan Mar 2013 #86

Thank you from another Lutheran Freddie Mar 2013 #99

Although I am an atheist, many in my wife's MineralMan Mar 2013 #121

Actually, massive law suits for shielding pedophiles RainDog Mar 2013 #123

I think you're right about nothing changing with the new Pope... joeybee12 Mar 2013 #16

Meet the New Pope - Same as the Old Pope MineralMan Mar 2013 #22

All that plus, I have no use for this religion that brought us the Inquisition and the Crusades.n/t Liberal In Texas Mar 2013 #26

Griswold v. Connecticut was in 1965 hfojvt Mar 2013 #28

Yes. My state was one with many laws MineralMan Mar 2013 #30

As a fallen away Catholic ( I never believed in upaloopa Mar 2013 #32

Not an enlightened institution. earthside Mar 2013 #33

No, not that, for sure. A lot of people seemed to think MineralMan Mar 2013 #35

A Jesuit from the Global South will definitely be different in some ways (nt) Recursion Mar 2013 #38

Not in any substantial ways. MineralMan Mar 2013 #40

Interesting as Argentina and Jesuit Blue4Texas Mar 2013 #115

I stand by my hidden post by a jury about the pope. LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #41

This new creepy guy amuse bouche Mar 2013 #42

At least the Vatican isn't trying to cut Social Security and Medicare. WinkyDink Mar 2013 #43

Actually, the RCC has opposed "Obamacare" MineralMan Mar 2013 #45

If you don't care what they think about SS and Medicare Recursion Mar 2013 #46

I do not care what they think about those MineralMan Mar 2013 #49

They certainly do speak about those. This one has, in particular Recursion Mar 2013 #58

I understand the call for accountability but I get tired of the hatred liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #47

I don't hate the RCC. I simply oppose its doctrines and policies. MineralMan Mar 2013 #48

I'm not saying you hate the RCC, but some of the posts against the RCC liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #51

OK. People will express their feelings. MineralMan Mar 2013 #54

All churches should have their influence in politics stripped. LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #101

I am going to hate anything and anyone who Zoeisright Mar 2013 #68

the outright hatred of women and gays shown by the Catholic Church? Skittles Mar 2013 #120

Read your OP title, and then read your last sentence. JoePhilly Mar 2013 #50

Time will tell, way to early to judge, you're just guessing now. WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2013 #63

That's why those things are interesting. JoePhilly Mar 2013 #73

re-read your second quote. NOT EVERYONE is eagerly awaiting the announcement magical thyme Mar 2013 #136

Indeed Stuckinthebush Mar 2013 #52

I have no problem with people who are critical of the process and the Catholic Church. Drunken Irishman Mar 2013 #53

But even if you are liberal, and your priest is, you are supporting an anti-gay, anti-women agenda Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #59

I am an atheist, and have been one since 1965. MineralMan Mar 2013 #61

That's fine... Drunken Irishman Mar 2013 #64

The Church has had ample time to mend its ways. MineralMan Mar 2013 #67

Okay. I think I owe you a reply before I depart. Drunken Irishman Mar 2013 #78

You owe me nothing. MineralMan Mar 2013 #84

I really don't care what any here are WHEN CRABS ROAR Mar 2013 #80

I wonder who would be elected Pope if the followers got to vote LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #102

+++1000 CAG Mar 2013 #125

In many ways get the red out Mar 2013 #56

My idea of a great pope fadedrose Mar 2013 #60

Post removed Post removed Mar 2013 #62

Let me ask you this: MineralMan Mar 2013 #71

The Bible is bronze age mythology. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #72

One post and out. MineralMan Mar 2013 #74

+1,000,000 ... 000 HuckleB Mar 2013 #83

As a former drone raised within the catholic "faith"... Dryvinwhileblind Mar 2013 #65

Welcome to DU! Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #108

Cheers! Dryvinwhileblind Mar 2013 #116

Among "some"? Zoeisright Mar 2013 #66

It is more basic than that. This charlatan claims to have a hotline to God BlueStreak Mar 2013 #69

March 13 of 2013 has the triskaidekaphobians freaking too. Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #70

Would this be a factor too? LiberalFighter Mar 2013 #76

Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Dennis Kucinich, and the Kennedys are Roman Catholics. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #77

Why, yes they are. None are in the hierarchy of that church, MineralMan Mar 2013 #79

Yeah, not looking for the Catholic Church to become liberal AnnieK401 Mar 2013 #81

They also work to keep nuns quiet. HuckleB Mar 2013 #82

Former Catholic, who cannot officially leave HockeyMom Mar 2013 #85

You don't need to officialy leave, actually. MineralMan Mar 2013 #87

From another one baptized Catholic, who is not Catholic today, that is not a big deal ButterflyBlood Mar 2013 #128

Then there's the whole "Hiding a dictator's political prisoners" incident. jeff47 Mar 2013 #88

I've just heard about that. I'll be looking into it further. Thanks! MineralMan Mar 2013 #89

Interesting information. TinkerTot55 Mar 2013 #137

I agree amuse bouche Mar 2013 #90

I think it's a mixed bag, like most things union_maid Mar 2013 #91

Any organization that is against MineralMan Mar 2013 #93

So the Democratic Party before 2012 had passed beyond any support from you? Recursion Mar 2013 #96

How many people choose? union_maid Mar 2013 #114

The new Pope would dismiss my self-determination and free will. AtheistCrusader Mar 2013 #92

Yes, it would do exactly that. And, in so doing, MineralMan Mar 2013 #94

If people quit buying into it all, their power dimishes.. SoCalDem Mar 2013 #95

They say the Papa is for social justice, let's hope that extends to our LGBT brothers and sisters. alfredo Mar 2013 #98

What The Catholic Church needs most desperately, RIGHT NOW... nikto Mar 2013 #104

So why is Islam given a pass? Zax2me Mar 2013 #107

One factor is that Islam doesn't have that much influence in this country. Arugula Latte Mar 2013 #109

Yet They Still Have a Controlling Interest in the US Supreme Court AndyTiedye Mar 2013 #110

K&R ReRe Mar 2013 #112

oh but we need to "TONE IT DOWN" Skittles Mar 2013 #117

I think we need to discuss the positions of the RCC. MineralMan Mar 2013 #129

It is one of the allowed areas of bigotry whistler162 Mar 2013 #119

So, opposing a hierarchy that actively shielded pedophiles is bigotry? RainDog Mar 2013 #124

It's a voluntary association, just like being a Republican ButterflyBlood Mar 2013 #127

K&R. The Catholic church hierarchy is IMO just evil. I have known some great nuns... MotherPetrie Mar 2013 #126

One HUGE thing to remember is that RCC is not the people. Or rather no need to bash every person who uppityperson Mar 2013 #135

And I did not bash Catholics. I am talking about the organized church only. MineralMan Mar 2013 #138

It was clear, adding in for others who may have missed my point uppityperson Mar 2013 #139