The Pope's Passing Created 19 years ago2005-04-03 16:55:45 UTC by satchmo

Even though I am not religious, I have great respect for Pope John Paul II. And I am deeply saddened by his passing. It's a great loss for humanity.

I can't say I knew much about him. I'm sure many thousands, tens of thousands, have died in terrible circumstances since he, many before their time.

he was a great person, but it was his time and he went peacefully. may God bless him.

I know that I'm not a Catholic, but I still feel symapthy for his death. I understand he was a good person and wanted good for all.

I saw the news of his death yesterday and I felt sad for him. I too am not religious but he tried to make the World a better place!

About time i say

He was fortunate enough to die peacefully, unlike Terri Schiavo. No one intervened and stuffed tubes down his body to keep him alive unnecessarily.

I admire his tireless work to make the world a better place, even though I dont' always agree with his conservative religious doctrines. He's an incredible individual whose life inspired all and affected millions.

The man couldn't even speak for himself!!!

"gh..dygjg..mmuuu-uuh.ughguse.."

Saribous you are a stupid douche.

Now as for the Pope wouldn't that be the funny if his death was actually an April Fools joke? Don't get me wrong I respect the man greatly even though the Catholic Church is corrupt IMO. I just think that would be the greatest April Fools joke ever.

Quite devil worshipping gutter goblin!!

Lol saribous. Thats messed up yet its hilarious.

I just find it hard to believe that the man closest to God is is a man wearing diapers.

And the catholics are just child molesting bastards. And now it's one less child molesting bastard. It's as simple as that.

This is my opinion, not meant to offend any member that happens to be christian.

catholics conservative? i dont think so. although they may oppose birth control and gay marrage, everything esle about them is liberal.

I'm a catholic, and rarely molest children nowadays. However, as I already said, people have gone into Princess Diana mode again; pretending the deceased was always liked by them, when a few months before it was ok to laugh and point. Considering noone here particularly knew him, there is no reason to change (or worse, suddenly form) an elevated opinion. Yes, have respect for the dead, but its only because the media have put on a big show that anyone cares at all.

It affects my community as my family and most people around me are catholics, its not affecting any other community, so stop caring too much, your emotions are being affected by the current light shed on him, and they 24/7 tributes on TV; other people, you don't know telling you what they think.

If the death of Harold Shipman was covered in such a way, with people who knew him paying tributes on tv constantly, you'd soon have a tear in your eye for him too.

Personally I think he was a good man, but totally wrong on some things, and won't forget easily that he never met a single victim of the child sex abuse carried out by his own priests.

Think of what he did, or didn't do, not what people are saying about him. Form an opinion based on actions, and don't mimic or get caught up in the current tone.

[/2 Cents]

catholics conservative? i dont think so. although they may oppose birth control and gay marrage, everything esle about them is liberal.

Catholics are liberal, in the same sense that protestants are liberal; they just don't all follow their church leaders. In a sense, you're referring to bad catholics. I can assure you, the church is still pretty 'fire & brimstone' Jeremy.

Actually, I don't care too much. I myself think religion is quite silly but people are allowed to believe whatever they want.
He won't get any minute of silence from me.

SariBous has a point too. And besides, he didn't like marxism.

And, I bet all NAMBLA members are catholic (priests?).

Uuum, Pope did some good work against communism, but he was so conservative that it scares me. "Condoms improve chance of getting AIDS" .. Yeah right. What do you think that all the religious countries in Africa (Just example..) think 'bout that? AIDS is a huge problem there and pope didnt improve their condition with that comment. His opinions of abortion were also TOO conservative..

he was a good person but i think he should have retired cause his job probly killed him.

I don't think being Gods voice on earth is something you retire from, Goat. Unless theres an old pope's home in the vatican...

Well I guess it was God's will for him to be pope until the end.

SariBous, the pope was said to be the closest man to god...I doubt that, there are to many people that are far better christians than the pope, god rest his soul.

i dont think being a pope brings you any closer to God. it is only a position. i think what really brings someone close to God is how much love they have for him. i imagine the pope loved God very much, but perhaps some do even more than he did.

it is only a position

Only a position in which the man spent his life telling people what he thought was right, and spent the rest of the time praying. I haven't really heard of many other people doing that lately, have you?

that is cause he loved God so much. if he didnt he would not be willing to do all that. it is the person himself and not the position he is in.

agreed
But from his position, It was easier to tell the world what he thought.
I think that the expression should not be "The man who was closest to God", but "The man who brought God closer to people" in any case, right?

I had great respect for him, though im not religious, it just as his time.
And i admire him for bringing down the communism.

God doesn't exist, you fools.

God doesn't exist, you fools.

So True.

I concur, sadly.

SariBous, the pope was said to be the closest man to god...I doubt that, there are to many people that are far better christians than the pope, god rest his soul.

I am well aware of that.

God doesn't exist, you fools.

True

umm thats just ur opinion now isnt it?

God exists if you want him to be!

If you say he doesn't then he won't for you!

If you say he does then he does for you!

Yea, I am not religious in the slightest, I only know 4 of the 10 commandments...even still, a pity.

Did you know, Pope John Paul II was a honorary Harlem Globe Trotter.
Random fact #5733.

And I don't really quite see how people can believe God or any things of such nature exist.
Religion is just a safety blanket for insecure people who want to know that there is a place after death.

I am fine with other peoples beliefs, but I just can't think that way myself.

I have no idea how may religions you know, but they dont only talk about the afterlife... that'd be ancient Egypt

God did not create the world, human beings invented God from simple necessity.

In ancient times before science and technology, the world seems like a scary and unpredictable place. People felt out of control and there was a need to create a supreme omnipotent being to comfort ourselves. Otherwise, all the misery and chaos would just be too much to handle.

But now we understand a great deal more about the world around us. The need for God has arguably diminished. And I don't believe the humanity need religion to behave morally. I am a complete atheist, and yet I try to do the right thing and help people whenever I can because I want to do the right thing.

I don't need to be coerced out of fear by divine retribution to behave myself. And I know most people in the modern world would do the same.

In fact, I believe the world would be a much better and peaceful place currently if there were no religion.

But of course, that's a purely hypothetical thinking. The human brain has a natural inclination to invent a God when there isn't one.

Religion is just a safety blanket for insecure people who want to know that there is a place after death.

Exactly.

So see, satch., some people still need it. The rest become Goths, and cry. Well, obviously some don't, but hey.

I concur entirely with your post and couldn't put it better myself.

I believe the same thing Satchmo, however, this thread is a really tough area to post your response to the Pope passing away. So nobody take offence to eachothers believes! Anywho's ya like I was saying your perspective is very much the same as mine Satchmo, I just don't understand some of the story's in the bible (Noah's Ark) and why miracles seem to no longer exist in more civilized countries like Canada.
Why I am saying Canada in general, is because I've seen a lot of articles showing miracles, such as a god-fearing african whom caught a bullet with his teeth that was shot from an anti-christ's gun. Another, was about a couple of christians, whom smuggled bibles over the border to a town in which bibles where banded. The bibles sat stacked in the seat next to the diver, and yet, remained unnoticed, as the guards let them pass. There are many more others, I just can't think of.. but, does god really exist? And if so, why won't he perform yet another miracle, and end the Iraqi War, that a Peace Treaty was supposedly signed for.. but still continues. Where is god now!? In this time of need!
??

Religion works via the followers having faith, and by definition no one is suppose to question anything.

That's why I think religion could actually hamper technological progress at times. Scientific advancement would never have happened if no one questioned the world around them.

The Iraqi War and the Middle East struggle would not happen if there were no religion. There wouldn't be any Muslim fighting against the Christians. There still might be conflict, but more on a personal level instead of this global mess.

Well, I'm not sure one can entirely blame religion. Imagine there was no religion. Countries would likely fight over money, resources, etc.

If there was no religion, it would be something else... I guess you can't completly, blame religion, for Iraq.

Yeah, but there wouldn't be any reason for religious terrorists to kill innocent people that they don't even know (i.e. September 11th).

There would be a lot less reason to kill each other, put it that way. People usually don't kill for money/resources.

Well, maybe we'd notice more of that if there was more religion. Greed is pretty powerful :.

Well, what about the Kuwaiti Gold that caused the Iraqi war in 92', or even the oil...
Hussein could be like another Hitler...

Oh man, here this thread was about The Popes passing, now it's about religious beliefs/War.

Greed is pretty powerful

Fortunately (and hopefully), so is our conscience.

I would never harm another individual for financial gains. And I believe most would agree with me.

Absolutely.

I would never harm another individual for financial gains

But some people today are doing exactly THAT

You could never have the pope's death as an april fool. Too many people would get upset, and it could turn REALLY nasty.

I'm not religious, but I respect the pope and am glad that his death was peaceful. God bless the pope.

I am not religious either, but I admire the pope for what he did in his life.

He achieved more than anyone of us would ever accomplish in our life time.

Don't bet on it. Who knows, one of us could instigate a revolution against our opressive government when ID is required at every street corner...

<hides plans>

But some people today are doing exactly THAT

Yep. Saddening, eh?

Yeah, but there wouldn't be any reason for religious terrorists to kill innocent people that they don't even know (i.e. September 11th).

That didn't happen because of their religious beliefs.