Pope says materialism pollutes Christmas spirit

today.reuters.co.uk ^ | Dec 11, 2005

[Conservative til I die]

Capitalism/trade/materialism in whatever form is the life blood of human civilization. Going against it is like going against humanity as a whole.

The purpose of life is not to make money and spend it. I worship God, not Benjamin Franklin's image on a green piece of paper.

I think someone lied to you.

[TAdams8591]

"and he IS right"

Absolutely.

[Conservative til I die]

I understand. I'm not slamming the Pope. It's only a minority of Xbox, err ipod or whatever the box-pod flavor of the month fools who rush in, trample each other that gets plastered over the media air waves thus implying everyone is a greedy self serving material junkie when the majority of genuine Christians have a real grasp of the true meaning of Christmas. The majority shouldn't be punished with guilt trips for the actions of a minority.

You're free to listen or not. And as what I would venture to say is a Protestant, you're not really under his "jurisdiction" so to speak.

However, if you're feeling guilty, maybe that's a sign the Pope is hitting the right chord.

[Conservative til I die]

Materialism, in the thread topic, is a form of capitialism. Well the thing about 'giving gifts' is that you have to buy said gifts, or buy the materials to make said gifts.

Yes, the Pope is against all forms of commerce. You nailed it.

Yeesh, some people really need to be hit over the head to get the point, don't they?

[Conservative til I die]

So there is a positive side to commerce, why then would the Pope be complaining about it?

I'm gonna play dumb here...uh, because there's a negative side to it as well? Call me crazy.

[DougJ]

I think the pope is certainly hitting the right chords. I guess I can see how bringing this up a few weeks after it was discovered he wore prada leather loafers might cause some posters to take a few pot shots at His Holiness. ;)

[Conservative til I die]

Troll elsewhere.

[SunnySide]

"However, if you're feeling guilty, maybe that's a sign the Pope is hitting the right chord." ... Honey, this is the only chord I play.

[amdgmary]

Thank you for posting this gorgeous image of the Nativity!

[lunarbicep]

Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the recitation of the midday Angelus.

On the Real Spirit of Christmas - Benedict XVI's recitation of the midday Angelus

[lastchance]

Nope I am not a Marxist. Far from it. ( you meant Karl, right? If you meant Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo yes I am a Marxist) And nope I don't think it is wrong that some people are rich. Good for them, I am sure they earned it. As for too many rights and freedoms. Well I think they should be balanced with personal responsibility. But I don't think we have too many of them.
I was simply pointing out that gifts should not be the primary focus of Christmas. It should be about Jesus.

[little jeremiah]

Moral Absolutes Ping.

I'm kind of back.... I'll be a-pinging regularly in a couple of days.

Right on, Pope Benedict! I am in total agreement. Better to have present giving on another day, like St. Nicholas' day (I think it's Dec. 5?)

Nothing wrong with small gifts, especially ones that help people in their faith path, but the disgusting display of greed that has come to be synomymous with the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ does nothing to venerate Jesus, and everything to take peoples' minds in the opposite direction from his message.

Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.

Merr Christmas!

[RunningWolf]

Welcome back, dont burn yourself out.

I hear you

[little jeremiah]

I just saved that beautiful picture.

[little jeremiah]

I figured if I'm dreaming about doing the ping list, might as well really do it and not waste dream time.

:-)

BTW, if you want on our Christmas Fudge list, freepmail/email me!

[Salvation]

**urged Christians to display a nativity crib in their houses as "a simple but effective way of showing their faith and conveying it to their children".**

Amen!

[Salvation]

Why are you Catholic Bashing?

[Salvation]

Some do.

Ever hear of the organization "Jews for Jesus"?

[Aussie Dasher]

Yes, I have. Confuses the shiites out of me!

[richmwill]

As someone who finished his Christmas shopping last week, only to receive a phone call from his dear mother tonight notifying me that "Your third-cousin is coming to our house on Christmas Eve, along with her mom (not my aunt... just my cousin's mother), so MAKE SURE you buy something for them!", all I can say is- The Pope is right!