Posted on 09/25/2006 4:16:51 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
September 25, 2006 - 07:01
If there's one person whose essence, whose very being, whose every fiber stands for the proposition that the Roman Catholic church is the one true religion, it is the Pope. The Church does define him as the Vicar of Christ, after all.
So you might forgive the Pope for advocating the notion that his religion is superior. But somehow that notion deeply offends Boston Globe columnist James Carroll. In his column of today, Pope Benedict's hierarchy of truth, faith, Carroll takes the Pope to task for asserting the superiority of his faith. Referencing the Pope's recent address that has caused a stir, Carroll writes:
"tThe pope's lecture reveals a deeper and insulting problem. Benedict properly affirms the rationality of faith, and the corollary that faith should be spread by reasoned argument and not by violent coercion. But he does so as a way of positing Christian superiority to other faiths."
Well, yeah. That is the Pope's job description, after all.
And later: "Benedict is defending a hierarchy of truth. Faith is superior to reason. Christian faith is superior to other faiths (especially Islam). Roman Catholicism is superior to other Christian faiths. And the pope is supreme among Catholics. He does not mean to insult when he defends this schema, yet seems ignorant of how inevitably insulting it is. Nor does the pope understand that, today, such narcissism of power comes attached to a fuse."
Carroll reveals a profound ignorance, perhaps grounded in hostility, about religion. If religion is just a quaint cultural relic, well then, there's no point in getting worked up over the supposed superiority of one's religion, or "faith tradition" as Al Gore so delicately preferred it in the 2000 campaign. Many pathways to God, let's all hold hands, sing Kumbaya and see you at the anti-war march next week. But what if you believe that your religion is not merely superior, but the one way in which man can achieve salvation and avoid eternal damnation? You might just be a tad more assertive in proclaiming that fact.
Carrroll clearly can't contemplate someone so old-fashioned as to believe that. His failure exemplifies MSM attitudes toward religion and faith.
Boston Globe/NewsBusters Pope ping to Today show list.
Will we ever see that same columnist denounce Islam for declaring itself superior?
I think not.
The title is sarcasm. The article itself is on-target.
Catholicism IS superior to Mohametanism.
Catholics feed the poor of ALL faiths, bringing medicine and hope and love ... just like Jesus.
Mohametans kill and maim and torture and murder and extort and rape ... just like their prophet.
When servants of Jesus are murdered, they die praying the LORD forgive their murderers.
When servants of Mohammet are accused, rightly, of their mayhem and malice, they whine that it's "open season on Muslims".
Yes, Catholicisim, or virtually any Christian faith, is VASTLY superior to the malignant death cult of the brigand and pirate Mohammet.
.
There.is that better,Mr Finklestein?
Perhaps. But I have been proudly posting without reading the article since 1999!
James Carroll is what the Irish call a "spoiled priest." There are few types of "men" more ridiculous or pathetic.
" Will we ever see that same columnist denounce Islam for declaring itself superior? "
Even garden slugs have some rudimentary sense of self-preservation -- we probably can give this columnist credit for at least that much instinct.
Of course he won't say a word about Islam.....
Perhaps. But I have been proudly posting without reading the article since 1999!
Why would anyone belong to a religion he believes is only partially true? I should hope that every person believes his religion is the only true faith and accord everyone else the right to believe the very same thing.
Argghh!!!! Have you read the disclaimer at #1???
Ah, James Carroll again -- how can we miss him if he won't go away? For those who may not know, James Carroll used to be a priest -- lucky for the Church he left!
LOL - I love that line.
Wow! You've moved up to posting without reading the post!
Judaism and Christianity are superior to head-chopping fanaticism.
An oldie but goodie! ;-)
Why are you talking about the utility of Possum farming? That has nothing to do with this article!
You have a keen insight into your audience :0)
LOL. And despite my best efforts to ward off confusion, have a look at #6, which, just as I feared, mistakenly blames me, Finkelstein, for what Carroll wrote!
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