Folks,

This is the Pope's statement from last year's Interreligious Assembly for peace in October.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/1999/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_28101999_interreligious-assembly_en.html

It is statements like this that generate my hostility towards the Pope. We all want peace, but there is only ONE WAY TO PEACE: that way is Jesus Christ. Why doesn't the Pope tell these religious leaders that? Why doesn't he tell them that they (and their flocks) are in danger of hell unless they repent and believe in the Gospel? He only mentions Jesus once, the same number of mentions he gives to Ghandhi (a Hindu),Mother Teresa (an apologist for Hinduism) & St. Francis.

In addition, he says: "There are some who claim that religion is part of the problem, blocking humanity's way to true peace and prosperity. As religious people, it is our duty to demonstrate that this is not the case. Any use of religion to support violence is an abuse of religion. Religion is not, and must not become a pretext for conflict, particularly when religious, cultural and ethnic identity coincide. Religion and peace go together: to wage war in the name of religion is a blatant contradiction (cf. Address to the Participants in the Sixth Assembly of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, 3 November 1994, 2). Religious leaders must clearly show that they are pledged to promote peace precisely because of their religious belief."

What about those religions -- like Islam -- which preach violence? Doesn't the Pope know what Islam teaches? By what right does he presume to lecture Moslems on their faith?

We do not need religion. We need Christianity.

-- Steve Jackson (SteveJ100@hotmail.com), August 06, 2000

Answers

Jmj
Dear Steve,
You are even more deeply troubled than I previously thought. It is long past time that you sought help elsewhere. Some of us have tried to help you, but what we say rolls off you like water off a duck's back. It seems that only God can work a miracle in your mind and soul.

You are making your visits here seem to be useless to us and to yourself. Nothing you say can change our love for the Church, the pope, and his message. I used to get angry at you, but now I only pity you, because you are descending deeper and deeper into anger and unreasonableness. You are not aware of the fact that you effectively contradict yourself. You are not aware that you show signs of giving only the most superficial thought to the subjects you raise.

Why did I say that you contradict yourself?

1. You are right to say that "We need Christianity." But part of being a Christian is the unwillingness to speak, as you did, of your "hostility towards the Pope." We must love, not be "hostile." I would venture to guess that some of the non-Christians at the conference were exhibiting more and deeper Christian virtues than you yourself exhibit. Realization of this should make you feel ashamed of yourself.

2. First you criticized the pope for not speaking certain words to non-Christians. You wrote: "We all want peace, but there is only ONE WAY TO PEACE: that way is Jesus Christ. Why doesn't the Pope tell these religious leaders that? Why doesn't he tell them that they (and their flocks) are in danger of hell unless they repent and believe in the Gospel? "
But then, after mentioning the pope's rejection of religion-mixed-with-violence, you astoundingly rebuffed him: "By what right does he presume to lecture Moslems on their faith?"

Why do I refer to "superficial" thought?

Because the pope (and almost everyone else) knew that he was speaking to highly educated non-Christian leaders -- men and women who are already familiar with this history of Christianity, the teachings of Jesus, etc.. (Similarly the pope was familiar with what these non-Christians believe.) These people did not need to lecture each other on their respective creeds. What you recommended be done would have been counter-productive. The best sermon and evangelization the pope could give to leaders like these was to show them respect, to exhibit Christian virtues, to do things that encourage them to have greater and more frequent contacts with Christians, and to reinforce moral principles that all religions should share. In short, what he should have done is what he is in fact did.

Please accept this recommendation, Steve. You will never regret it. Shut off your computer, drive over to the nearest Catholic church, sit down, and ask Jesus in the tabernacle to forgive and purge your hatred for the pope and Catholicism. You may never have a moment's true peace and happiness unless you do something like this.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), August 06, 2000.

Love your loving and sensible answer, John. Sean

-- Sean Cleary (sean_cleary@bigfoot.com), August 07, 2000.

Thanks, Sean. Please pray for both Steve and me. I long for the day on which he and I can rejoice together in agreement on many things.

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), August 07, 2000.

Let us consider the beginning.

Imagine endless empty space that goes on into infinity non-existence no awareness EVIL.

If we consider the old saying life finds away. GOD came into being by his own will to be, the awareness. Born out of the non-existence the EVIL.

Imagine an awareness hovering in endless space or Darkness as HE would see it.

After a time his thoughts become collective and he begins to think. He is aware of himself and begins to wonder if there were another. After searching for countless billions of years, the loneliness consumes him into obsession with finding another. But there is no other but him. He splits into two separate entities (schizoid only for real) that are equal and opposite in nature. Light - that which creates (Life - the future). Darkness(SHE : Spirit that inhabits the Darkness- The past) - Destroys makes desolate. Each has the same goal to end the loneliness only they have diametrically opposite positions on how to go about it. Chaos vs. Order, Light vs. Darkness, Life vs. Death, Existence vs. non-existence or Good vs. Evil. GOD is the awareness of being before the Darkness. We stand between the Darkness and the Light. Our true purpose is to Be. For that is the will of GOD - to be because HE is. Ja'El they said. When GOD comes again if he comes into Darkness the Earth will be cleansed with the fire of GOD (His true form). If GOD comes into the Light he will make the Earth a new with the Tree and the River of Life. All things are possible if we believe. The power of the Holy Spirit is promised to us by Jesus Christ.

That is why no one has seen GOD because he became separate from himself. The two have to be united into their new form. They want to come and live us,their children and the Angles of Light and Darkness. We are the key to setting them Free from the loneliness forever. Revelation chap 17 Behold the Beast that was (EVIL or non-existence reined in the beginning there was no awareness) and is not (Evil- the tendency towards non-existence cannot exist in pure form) and yet is (If we lose our sense of awareness the EVIL will return and nothing will exist)

The River of Life is man's final salvation. The fruit of Tree of Life is for the Fallen Angles Consummation, Turn from Darkness back to the awareness of GOD. The Leaves are for the Healing of the Nations. The sword of Power blocks our way to it and blinds us from The one who was (The True GOD, the past) The one who is (Man the children of GOD, the present) The one who will be (Christ - the son of man, the future). We will become like the others and they will become like us. The evolution.

The way is through Awareness - GOD's will to be. Understanding is Knowing the Truth Understanding is Accepting the Truth The Truth leads to Understanding which leads to Awareness which strengthens our will to Be.

The Truth is put before us but, they do everything they can to keep us from Understanding it.

We have to show them that we are not children anymore. That we have learned to Understand the Truth. And the Truth shall set us all Free. They are counting on us and we can't let them down. But it is ultimately up to them to change - Free will.

Mystery? Who are you? Man who stands between the Darkness and the Light. What do you want? Freedom Why are you here? To bring order to chaos. Where are you going? The Future

The End of Time - The New Beginning

-- Darian Borne (shadows@vmbc.net), December 01, 2000.

Friends,

If you wish to converse with Mr. Borne, please go to the thread he started (and to which I responded). It is called, "I'm looking for intelligent opinions not blind lashings Thank you."
He posted the same message to start that thread.
Please do not respond to him here.

SN

-- Slave Nolonger (free@long.last), December 02, 2000.