May you have all the eggs and bunnies you desire.

Thanks, JK. HAPPY EASTER !

Pope Benedict XVI marked Easter Sunday in a rain-drenched appearance in which he renewed calls for peace in Iraq, Palestine and Tibet and denounced "selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence" between individuals and peoples.

... are eggs just a bonus ?

I hated that Pope address.

Cliches and truisms in an age where we need wisdom, guidance and decency.

Not a load of old bollocks from an 80 year old who is either out of touch or believes that meaningless repetition of tired slogans might bring about change.

I'm not a Catholic, but the Pope does have influence over quite a few million people. If repetition and cliche encourages even part of the world's population to pursue peace, then it does no harm. Non-Catholics might take no notice of him even if he was more direct.

He makes an effort, within the confines of his office, which is more than a great many world leaders do.

My personal visual Easter message...

The Cat wrote:
He makes an effort, within the confines of his office, which is more than a great many world leaders do.

You are right, Cat - in order to be understood by as many people as possible there has to be a common denominator.

Apologies to those of religious convictions, but nothing the Pope, or any other religious leader has to say is of any interest to me.

How many people in Africa have lost their lives due to the Papacy's insistence on condemning the use of condoms? I'd wager more than the entire list of casualties in Iraq, Palestine and Tibet combined.

Anthony wrote:
Apologies to those of religious convictions, but nothing the Pope, or any other religious leader has to say is of any interest to me.

How many people in Africa have lost their lives due to the Papacy's insistence on condemning the use of condoms? I'd wager more than the entire list of casualties in Iraq, Palestine and Tibet combined.

Anthony

How many people do you think would have been saved if the Pope had advocated condom use?

I have no figures, ITK, but why is AIDS a relatively rare cause of death in the UK, and has ravaged Africa like a plague? I know there is a major issue around access to expensive treatments in the West which Africa does not have, but, with an admitted lack of medical expertise, I still feel confident in assuming that the use of barrier contraceptives would have saved millions of lives.

Using unprovable religious beliefs to prevent this from happening is at best reckless and at worst an abomination.

Anthony wrote:
I have no figures, ITK, but why is AIDS a relatively rare cause of death in the UK, and has ravaged Africa like a plague? I know there is a major issue around access to expensive treatments in the West which Africa does not have, but, with an admitted lack of medical expertise, I still feel confident in assuming that the use of barrier contraceptives would have saved millions of lives.

Using unprovable religious beliefs to prevent this from happening is at best reckless and at worst an abomination.

My point, Anthony, is that even if the Pontiff ordered the use of condoms I doubt that many Africans would actually use them.

I also think the main reason why AIDS is so prevalent in Africa is because it originaed there.

Religion is always a useful thing to blame for man's reckless behaviour.

As a kid, I could not grasp the idea that Jesus had done all those things in the three months since he had been born until he died.
I raised this issue to a class mate at the time who pointed out that as he was the son of God, he looked about 30 but was of course only really 3 months old.

A miracle I believed until I was about 7.

Mart wrote:
As a kid, I could not grasp the idea that Jesus had done all those things in the three months since he had been born until he died.
I raised this issue to a class mate at the time who pointed out that as he was the son of God, he looked about 30 but was of course only really 3 months old.

A miracle I believed until I was about 7.

:D:D:D:D:D:D

Tops!

JC wrote:
Religion is always a useful thing to blame for man's reckless behaviour.
Maybe, but nothing has been so successful in channelling human frailties for its own ends as religion.

All religions are great off the shelf packages which do all their followers' thinking for them. They don't have to lift a finger. Maybe humankind will never learn to behave decently, but it won't even stand a chance whilst infected by the mind virus of religion.

Anthony wrote:

Maybe, but nothing has been so successful in channelling human frailties for its own ends as religion.

Worth a read -

'Africa's fatal sexual culture spreads Aids'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/jun/19/hearafrica05.aids

Interesting and sometimes horrifying article. It raises many issues about life in Africa, and the legacy we in the West have left them.

Of course there are many reasons why AIDS is so prevalent there, and with or without the beliefs of Christianity, millions would still be dying. I can see that, but the Church is still guilty of refusing to help because of their religious dogma, and this is a quote from this very article:-

"In Zambia, Sumaru witnessed preachers condemning the use of contraception. One priest told a room full of orphans: 'I do not support the use of condoms,' shouted the priest. 'Because that has been made by man. Man cannot protect this - it is only God.'"

Largely agreed Anthony - but remember it is NOT just Christianity which contributes to the problem, they have their own "religions" and beliefs too !