tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post9172124097349253221..comments2023-09-24T07:53:50.826-05:00Comments on The Atheist Experience™: Media fawning over Papal claptrapUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-88315579906268735842010-11-25T19:59:54.588-06:002010-11-25T19:59:54.588-06:00Many people seem to be under the impression that t...Many people seem to be under the impression that the pope's comments signal a shift in the Vatican's thinking/policy. The thing is, ratface and co. hae made it explicitly clear that this is NOT the case:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2010/11/23/131548545/publisher-of-pope-s-book-weighs-in-on-condoms" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/2010/11/23/131548545/publisher-of-pope-s-book-weighs-in-on-condoms</a><br /><br /><a href="http://magx01.blogspot.com/2010/11/vatican-priest-sex-with-condom-is-like.html" rel="nofollow">http://magx01.blogspot.com/2010/11/vatican-priest-sex-with-condom-is-like.html</a>magx01https://www.blogger.com/profile/14831638782847911405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-32547580085690904282010-11-25T16:14:03.165-06:002010-11-25T16:14:03.165-06:00I have to agree @adamsan on Point 1, but otherwise...I have to agree @adamsan on Point 1, but otherwise I completely agree with Don here. I do agree with Matt that this does make the Pope slightly less evil, for whatever that is worth (which is probably not much, and I'm sure Matt would agree).<br /><br />I featured this article on my blog at http://advocatingreality.blogspot.com/2010/11/atheist-experience-blog-media-fawning.html.<br /><br />Thanks Don and the rest of the Atheist Experience crew. Keep up the great work!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09475153481285908194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-86420181108241941012010-11-24T23:36:19.280-06:002010-11-24T23:36:19.280-06:00I disagree with some of the points you made.
For ...I disagree with some of the points you made.<br /><br />For example:<br />"Condoms also have the very helpful benefit of not leaving DNA behind in the behinds of boys molested by priests." <br />Do you honestly think, priests who are abusing children really care, what the church has to say about condoms?<br />Some of my very earnest catholic friends use condoms. They rationalize it. That's what religious people do.<br /><br />"The Christian holy book is a genocide manual and loaded with atrocities and immoral teachings." Yes, it does. But as you guys use to say: It's the big book of Multiple Choices. I think, many Christians would disagree, that the bible endorses genocide. The Catholics are rarely literalists (at least here, in Hungary), so they can make a case for it.<br /><br />Anyway, I love the show. Keep up the good work!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14410487017372378900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-49424475952710987952010-11-24T21:35:58.100-06:002010-11-24T21:35:58.100-06:00I don't like the pope any more than you do, bu...I don't like the pope any more than you do, but I think you go too far when you say newspapers shouldn't publish his opinion. They're just responding to demand, this is no different to publishing an astrology column, or the interminably mundane events in the lives of football stars, glamour models and the Royal Family in the UK (I don't know what the tabloids find to whitter on endlessly about in the US, but I imagine there's something just as inane).<br /><br />All I'm saying is the media obsession with the pope is a symptom, not the cause, and the only way that will ever change is if an overwhelming majority of people lose interest. Frankly, I can't see that happening any time soon. It took about 15 years before we stopped hearing about the death of Princess Diana, and she was only one person. It's going to take a lot longer to displace an institution more than a thousand years old.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367287881748896827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-59842168855826693562010-11-24T17:45:49.929-06:002010-11-24T17:45:49.929-06:00Also am I the only one who read Papal as Paypal?
...<i>Also am I the only one who read Papal as Paypal?</i><br /><br />I wasn't going to mention it.JThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08881036419280903737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-43374655470395673622010-11-24T16:57:28.655-06:002010-11-24T16:57:28.655-06:00Martin said...
How many Catholics do you actually...<i><b>Martin said... </b><br />How many Catholics do you actually think pay attention to the Vatican's contraceptive ban anyway?</i><br />That's easy: go to a Catholic church and count the mini-vans outside. The answer is a suprisingly large number. :(<br /><br /><br />Also am I the only one who read <b>Papal</b> as <b>Paypal</b>?Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06557756040896374914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-26343532755835274812010-11-24T16:42:50.885-06:002010-11-24T16:42:50.885-06:00I remember in high school (catholic school), our s...I remember in high school (catholic school), our sex ed teacher couldn't bring up the topic of condoms (and birth control in general). She told us she COULD answer any questions we had on the matter but she was not allowed to proactively discuss birth control with us. (I wonder if she was even supposed to proactively bring up the fact that she couldnt proactively mention it or if it was her decision to point out that "something's missing here") <br /><br />I hope that this new position on condoms means it will at least get covered in sex ed classes in catholic schools. I wouldnt care if they had to teach that condoms should only be used in vatican approved situations. Kids arent stupid, they know condoms are a form of birth control so as long as they are taught HOW to use them properly, that's the important thing to me. <br /><br />Also, why is the vatican against condoms anyway? Sure it prevents pregnancy, but if that pregnancy is in god's will, cant he overcome a little peice of latex?Penny Costlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14100523251079925953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-74156940109559645672010-11-24T14:20:20.408-06:002010-11-24T14:20:20.408-06:00I like how abortion is also something Catholicism ...I like how abortion is also something Catholicism is generally against, so being against condoms is also counter-productive (pun!). <br />So, is trust-in-God a replacement for a condom? Like the bullet-proof glass on the Popemobile? I say, if people can't use protection, neither should he. See how long he keeps up the standards then. <br /><br />On the pedophilia point, I'd like to quote William McGonnagal. He's a poet and long dead-as well as being quite possibly the worst poet ever-and so has much expertise as the Vatican on health issues. <br /><br />He always took the Bible for his guide,<br />And he liked little boys to walk by his side;<br />He preferred their company more so than men,<br />Because he knew there was less guile in them.<br /><br />(from General Gordon, the Hero of Khartoum)<br /><br />I think the Vatican should spend more time on selling the ridiculous, gaudy amount of gold and jewels they have (it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, or something like that) and less time with altar boys and attacking condoms.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07977034531494339245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-54956808239561571742010-11-24T13:28:48.866-06:002010-11-24T13:28:48.866-06:00Giving the pope credit for this is like giving Hit...Giving the pope credit for this is like giving Hitler credit for not killing 10 million jews. The pope is a monster and anything he says or does is selfserving. Matt is usually brilliant in his comments about stuff but this time (on NonPro) I think he missed terribly.<br />Anyone hoping to see less evil coming from the vatican is far too optimistic.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03079914014716806915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-43526280279435073482010-11-24T13:03:41.140-06:002010-11-24T13:03:41.140-06:00Couldn't a condom be called a "Clap Trap&...Couldn't a condom be called a "Clap Trap" as well?<br /><br />OK, I'll stop.Mark Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12082856602483276803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-30333187524577203032010-11-24T10:43:18.223-06:002010-11-24T10:43:18.223-06:00felix: I get to them as I can. One has to be in aw...felix: I get to them as I can. One has to be in awe of the uselessness of the guy's life, that this is what he spends all day doing.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933545393470431585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-89188543983501021182010-11-24T09:47:27.708-06:002010-11-24T09:47:27.708-06:00I see you've banned a number of a certain pers...I see you've banned a number of a certain person's sock accounts.<br />Obviously, you've yet to appreciate the one labeled "Dalbert", above.felixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00749925395851545703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-9260825746279843192010-11-24T07:43:26.758-06:002010-11-24T07:43:26.758-06:00So, has anyone asked the Pope if this means that t...So, has anyone asked the Pope if this means that the previous Vatican policy was wrong?Lukashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01844177654412625852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-43930538568066833722010-11-24T04:29:03.149-06:002010-11-24T04:29:03.149-06:00This is probably even worse then people here make ...This is probably even worse then people here make it out. The use of condoms is STILL very much frowned upon and discouraged according to the pope but apparently it is OK for high risk groups like prostitutes. The pope went on to say that he still DOES NOT believe condom use prevents AIDS but insists that for the majority of people abstinence is still the only real way to battle AIDS. So actually the pope has not dramatically shifted his paradigm, he's now started to say that in the most extreme cases condoms may be used but are still sinfull. <br /><br />On the other hand I can understand the fact that there have been a lot of positive reactions. I guess that most people involved in battling against AIDS are desperate to clutch any straw that seems to indicate a shift within the catholic church. personally and on principle I agree with Don, but when you HAVE to work with the catholic church (which unfortunately is unavoidable sometimes since it has so much influence in Africa/ South America) I can understand why you would be happy with this apparent paradigm shift within the catholic church (even though I personally doubt it is an actual paradigm shift)Fritshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10283591813641507318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-81945929811802011722010-11-24T03:12:16.309-06:002010-11-24T03:12:16.309-06:00I personally think the Pope is unqualified to spea...<b>I personally think the Pope is unqualified to speak on moral issues. I'm sure most atheists would agree.</b><br /><br />Indeed. I'd go further and state that the Pope is unqualified to speak on <i>Christian</i> issues.George From NYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06158111795024631345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-21370759699283105412010-11-24T02:22:10.570-06:002010-11-24T02:22:10.570-06:00en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_for_evidence_...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_for_evidence_of_the_paranormal<br /><br />HOW NOSTRADAMUS WON ALL THE PARANORMAL PRIZES!<br /><br /><br />youtube.com/user/xviolatex?feature=mhumUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130045346460349843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-80642354561119530322010-11-24T02:10:05.341-06:002010-11-24T02:10:05.341-06:00The "sometimes" is a restriction to homo...The "sometimes" is a restriction to homosexual male prostitutes. Because the condom is an acknowledgment of the homosexual's immoral behavior. But I don't mind the pope being misreported, as the pope's real opinion is irrelevant.Dances_with_the_beasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12166734317886639473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-7531682641447052502010-11-24T01:55:54.512-06:002010-11-24T01:55:54.512-06:00Just wanted to add that the pope didn't make a...Just wanted to add that the pope didn't make a concession on condoms. He said that<br /><br />IF you are a gay prostitute<br />AND IF you are HIV positive<br />THEN using a condom, with the intent of reducing harm to others, may be a sign that you are reforming your moral character.<br /><br />It's not an endorsement of condoms, he goes on to say that the character reform should continue with the implication that it should continue until you sleep with a woman without condoms and have lots of babies, even with HIV.<br /><br />The pope is a twat. Most catholics have a little twatishness about them due to catholicism, the higher up the ranks, the more condensed.MyTherapy21https://www.blogger.com/profile/09813974416993003784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-13914619315507839322010-11-24T01:34:35.320-06:002010-11-24T01:34:35.320-06:00My prediction:
Step one: create an AIDs epidemic
S...My prediction:<br />Step one: create an AIDs epidemic<br />Step two: eliminate said epidemic<br />Step three: take credit for the change<br />Step four: use it to claim that religion is necessary for a good society<br /><br />What a joke!Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006028835831638046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-66661318040954900342010-11-24T00:07:28.912-06:002010-11-24T00:07:28.912-06:00I agree with every point but the one about it bein...I agree with every point but the one about it being reported. Like it or not, the guy is significant....and we need to know what crazy stuff he's telling people.Dave from canadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15504104993535302074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-73951222073641227642010-11-23T23:05:44.882-06:002010-11-23T23:05:44.882-06:00How about a greatest hits of the media Don? This ...How about a greatest hits of the media Don? This one will certainly make the cut. I mean what an amazing story, the Vatican gives out basic sex ed, what will we hear of next, Priests giving marriage advice!!<br /><br />Seriously though, how self serving is this? Sparrowhawk hit the nail on the head, how long until they take credit for a turn in the AIDS epidemic? <br /><br />Where is the media coverage about the Vatican's hand in creating some of the problem?MAtheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12489281535410681576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-37067147685202077122010-11-23T22:19:01.588-06:002010-11-23T22:19:01.588-06:00How many Catholics do you actually think pay atten...How many Catholics do you actually think pay attention to the Vatican's contraceptive ban anyway?<br /><br />I can see one reason they'd suddenly realize the value of condoms, though. When you take a little boy up the chute, it leaves less incriminating DNA behind.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933545393470431585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-91163732404527744482010-11-23T22:15:33.255-06:002010-11-23T22:15:33.255-06:00A good blog post, thanks Don.I basically agree wit...A good blog post, thanks Don.I basically agree with what Matt said on the Non-Prophets about how the pope is now slightly less evil, and should be given some credit for that. <br /><br />While I am certainly no fan of the Catholic church, the pope's announcement will probably mean that less people die unnecessarily, and that has to be a good thing.TDRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05626690700825096080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-1503644517938787932010-11-23T21:14:15.804-06:002010-11-23T21:14:15.804-06:00richard dawkins does not exist...
en.wikipedia.o...richard dawkins does not exist...<br /><br /><br />en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prizes_for_evidence_of_the_paranormal<br /><br />HOW NOSTRADAMUS WON ALL THE PARANORMAL PRIZES!<br /><br />en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostradamus<br /><br /><br />THE HIGH PRICE OF REVOLUTION<br /><br />youtube.com/user/xviolatex?feature=mhumUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06305438537702906437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33241741.post-15326539624814751562010-11-23T21:08:40.421-06:002010-11-23T21:08:40.421-06:00I'm not at all impressed by the Pope's &qu...I'm not at all impressed by the Pope's "concession."<br /><br />Wearing a condom helps prevent transmitting a whole host of diseases between men and women as well. Correct me if I am incorrect, but I don't recall hearing anything about protecting heterosexuals from disease being morally better than unprotected sex.dc1983https://www.blogger.com/profile/17225378137175602581noreply@blogger.com