Pope John Paul II dies

[aussie]

Oh, sorry Blade, I meant "part of the furniture" as "somebody who has always been around ever since I was a little kid".

I certainly do have a lot of respect for the pope too.

[Blade]

I'm not offended. I know what you meant. I just didn't like the words, that's all.

[Adamski]

The passing away of the Pope has no relevence to my life really, I guess there's just one less powerful person that holds strong prejudice around.

[Mr Flibble]

What annoys me is that the new Pope will be selected by God.
Well actually, he'll be selected by a council of Cardinals. And since Free Will came along, these Cardinals can choose a Pope that suits their own agenda.

I think the church gives out the wrong message to people, about a lot of things (for example, homosexuality) but the reason I can't stand church is the preachiness.

"God made you and loves you and wants you to join you in Heaven. But he also is SO much better and smarter than you that you could never understand so don't think about it just follow him blindly."

Even Jesus on the cross said "Father, why have you forsaken me." This, by the way, is removed from the Catholic Edition bibles I get in school.

[aussie]

"God made you and loves you and wants you to join you in Heaven. But he also is SO much better and smarter than you that you could never understand so don't think about it just follow him blindly."

I always thought if God "fitted" completely within my head, God wouldn't be worth believing in.

[Pumaman]

I really don't understand why the pope didn't abdicate a month or so ago when his health started badly failing, rather than suffering the indignity of having millions of people around the world speculating on whether and when he was going to die.

[Nacho]

Have you seen that chapter of Futurama when Bender is lost in Space and he becomes the God of a colony of space society? He pisses it off and all of them die. But he finally meets the "real God" and he says that most of the times the trick is to make the life go on without interfearing and making things that can't be easily noticed... I tend to think most of a God like that (who has nothing to see with "God", "Yahvee", "Buda" or "Allah").

And, anyway, if it exist or not doesn't  really care, if you believe in it and you use it as an example of good behaviour. Can you behave good without following "God"? perfect... Do you need its figure to use it as an example or as a lighthouse to see the path? Perfect for me, too...

[Mr Flibble]

This may seem strange, but its Organised Religion that I can't stand, not the concept of God existing.
Like that episode of Futurama. That God is what God would be like if he exists.

[Andail]

I think the Pope was pretty amusing. All his incomprehensible murmuring that his surrounding assistant cardinals had to interpret for the rest of the world. And how everybody was excited out of their minds as soon as he waved from that little chamber window to show the world he was still breathing.
I can't say I have any deeper respect for whatever he was doing or accomplishing, since that kind of religiousness seems extremely old fashioned to me.

[Haddas]

that kind of religiousness seems extremely old fashioned to me.

But then again, we all know the pope wasn't exactly up to the latest trends either. He was hip though, he had a tattoo.

[aussie]

I think the Pope was pretty amusing. All his incomprehensible murmuring that his surrounding assistant cardinals had to interpret for the rest of the world. And how everybody was excited out of their minds as soon as he waved from that little chamber window to show the world he was still breathing.

My own dad suffering from Parkinson, whenever I see somebody old or sick, I usually find it anything but amusing.

[Mr Flibble]

I highly doubt Andail found the pope amusing because he was sick and frail.

More likely the smiles came from the crowds of people outside his window who nearly creamed themselves just because Popey waved. And people assigning God-like (although I don't know how appropriate that similie is in this instance) to one who was as unwell as the Pope.

Now the Pope-Mobile. Thats funny.

[Andail]

Aussie, don't dramatize what I said; I find the machinery surrounding the pope and the archaic structure of catholicism entertaining in an absurd sort of way. His syndrome makes this even more prominent.

It's not like malady amuses me per see. There are people close to me who are ill as well, but I can still delight in some grim humour.

[aussie]

If you want to delight in that sort of humor, that's ok. You might find all that "machinery" funny, that's also ok: each is entitled to his own opinions.

But you can't expect everyone to follow on.

I hope you understand other people have different views on some things; and, in certain moments and circumstances, they might find some adjectives/jokes a tad offensive/out-of-place. That's all.

I myself said earlier in this thread that the pope was "part of the furniture" for me, and Blade said he didn't think that choice of words respectful enough. So I just went and apologized, no worries.

Perhaps I was a bit carried away by something very sensitive to me at the moment, but dramatizing was not my intention.


Now, the pope-mobile... that is funny. 

[InCreator]

Pope... yeh, too bad. If I should make a top-million list of things that I think about in one day, religion, God, Pope & co. would be at the very end of the list.
But the news like this are somehow important and it's even surprising how they caught my attention so much. Weird.

Then again, Pope was(I mean - was, is, and will be) extremely rare form of human being in our world. It's quite hard to imagine a man who raises hand and millions - if not billions of people look at him in ALL over the world, and their nationality, race, ethnics, etc - does not mean anything. Only the thing they believe in - counts. And the man doesn't need any weapons or anything like this. He's the Pope! Even if he's just for show, even if his title is just a formality -- if HE speaks, people will LISTEN to him talk. Also, John Paul II did alot in his life and moved much things around on this rock we call Earth. 

Power like this is extremely awesome IMO, it unites human race in some way. I admire this.

But people like this are very rare. This is why Nobel prize was invented...

A great man has died.

[Andail]

each is entitled to his own opinions.
But you can't expect everyone to follow on.

Hm, what have I done to deserve this preaching? Aren't we all just expressing our opinions? And I don't expect anybody to follow on anything; I just run my case.

[aussie]

Sorry Andail, I never meant to preach or seek confrontation. I just wanted to get my point across.

But I think we're digressing a bit now. Back on topic.

Then again, Pope was(I mean - was, is, and will be) extremely rare form of human being in our world. It's quite hard to imagine a man who raises hand and millions - if not billions of people look at him in ALL over the world, and their nationality, race, ethnics, etc - does not mean anything. Only the thing they believe in - counts. And the man doesn't need any weapons or anything like this. He's the Pope! Even if he's just for show, even if his title is just a formality -- if HE speaks, people will LISTEN to him talk. Also, John Paul II did alot in his life and moved much things around on this rock we call Earth.Ã, 

Power like this is extremely awesome IMO, it unites human race in some way. I admire this.

But people like this are very rare. This is why Nobel prize was invented...

A great man has died.

I wholeheartledly agree with you, InCreator.

[Mr Flibble]

I never really had any dealings with the Pope. I know he must have done a lot of stuff, but the only time I have ever heard about or seen him it has been in connection with his health.

The thing that saddens me more is the World Press turning his illness into a Dog and Pony show. Alright, so he can't stand for a long time under his own power. Give him some dignity and let him be. If you had a serious illness, how would you feel to have it thrashed through the papers. IMO People have a right to know but not like this.
You know tomorrow, in the UK, they're gonna televise Prince Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. I don't know whats worse, the invasion of privacy, or the fact that someone'll watch it.

[Nacho]

I talk for myself, but seeing the agony of a person dying (and I've been told 80 % of us will die in agony after a long disease, not just sleeping or something) has helped me to see the whole circle of life, how does it end.

It makes me appreciate the life more, and lately, and I in a "weird" attitude of seeing how the nice things in life are just impossible without its negative counterpart. So... Why hiding it?

[Kweepa]

Then again, Pope was(I mean - was, is, and will be) extremely rare form of human being in our world.

I bet another one will come along soon enough

It's quite hard to imagine a man who raises hand and millions - if not billions of people look at him in ALL over the world, and their nationality, race, ethnics, etc - does not mean anything. Only the thing they believe in - counts. And the man doesn't need any weapons or anything like this. He's the Pope! Even if he's just for show, even if his title is just a formality -- if HE speaks, people will LISTEN to him talk. Also, John Paul II did alot in his life and moved much things around on this rock we call Earth. 

I can't say I agree with this.
People look because he's "the pope", not because he's Karol Wojtyla. I'm sure he did good things to secure his election as pope. But I don't believe as pope he's furthered humanity greatly.

For example, the big news stories on the BBC web site about the pope's life are his election, his shooting, a plot to kill him, and his death.