Gone

[greatbear]

And so, the Pope has died.

I have mostly admired the man, even though I am a rather staunch atheist. My admiration comes from his earlier years, his work at bringing about change in a peaceful manner (as opposed to the drunken cowboy in charge of our country). It's only the most recent tirades against homosexuality and equating it with terrorism that kicked my respect for the man down quite a few notches, but I still wonder how much of this is done more from external influence than of his own convictions. Especially given his advancing age and medical conditions. The Church needs to evolve with societal and environmental change, and it mostly has, albeit on a very slow scale. Recent developments seem to have been more in keeping the church more in the past than being progressive.

Now comes the ancient rituals of bringing in his successor. It should be interesting to say the least, and I can't help but wonder how much of a role that pure backroom politics will play into this, and what sort of successor come about. I have a feeling this one will be a hardliner. That will make my life that much more difficult, as it will a lot of my friends. But I will soldier on.

Comments

[danthered.livejournal.com]

I beg your literal pardon, Phil, 'cause I know this is going to come out sounding like a personal attack, and that's not at all how I intend it.

I don't understand apologists for the pope—especially this pope.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I am not apologizing or excusing behavior. He's one of the most conservative of recent popes, and probably has kept the church more rooted in the past than moving it forward. At least the man did work towards helping those in poverty as well as reached out to other faiths, all in a peaceable manner. Like I mentioned before, his attacks on gay people made me want to go and slap the mitre off of his shaking head, but I am above that.

All of this being said, I can reiterate my personal opinion that organized religion has done far more damage to society as a whole that it ever has or ever will be a benefit. It is anything but progressive, and keeps people rooted in the dark ages at best. At it's worst, it causes pain and suffering on the grandest of scales. Terrorism should wish for such an influence.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clarifying. I misunderstood your post.

[champdaddy.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you make a distinction between his earlier work and the past few years. I don't personally know too many 80-yr old men in positions of power, but I suspect he was somewhat easily manipulated, the same as the cowboy president was.