Original Sin?

Quote: FrGamble

Even for the Church's most heinous actions I want to try to understand

What's to understand. The Church, then
as now, was run by selfish greedy men
who wanted power and control and used
religion to get it. Go back and read that
hugely long article I sent you about how
the Church gained it's tremendous
wealth. God has little to do with what
the Church is all about. God is their
excuse to whatever they want to do.

Quote: Evenbob

What's to understand. The Church, then
as now, was run by selfish greedy men
who wanted power

So what you are saying is that the Church is no different than any other human institution?

Quote: Evenbob

The Church, then
as now, was run by selfish greedy men
who wanted power and control and used
religion to get it.

The Church of the FSM asks for no money, ever. We reject tithing.

However, if you wish to be ordained, as I am, you have to cough up $25 for the certificate.

We also reject greed and power. I don't even know who is charge or has any power.

Quote: FrGamble

So what you are saying is that the Church is no different than any other human institution?

In many ways it's far worse. They get away
with crimes because they supposedly
represent a god. Do you think GM or
Comcast would just move a pedophile
around in it's corporate structure instead
of firing him or having him prosecuted?
Hell no. The Church just covers it up and
lets the guy continue to ruin kids lives.

God has always been a useful tool for getting
away with bloody murder.

I don't think you are thinking clearly. Believing in God isn't what allowed these evil men to abuse children. It was preying on the trust and confidence that the Church and good priests over centuries had built up. These horrible priests destroyed the lives of little ones, who Jesus called the greatest in the Kingdom, and at the same time they destroyed the well earned reputation of the Church's ministers.

Also do you really in your heart of hearts think that CEOs of big companies would not do anything if they thought it was protecting their brand or company?

Quote: FrGamble

I don't think you are thinking clearly. Believing in God isn't what allowed these evil men to abuse children. It was preying on the trust and confidence that the Church and good priests over centuries had built up. These horrible priests destroyed the lives of little ones, who Jesus called the greatest in the Kingdom, and at the same time they destroyed the well earned reputation of the Church's ministers.

Also do you really in your heart of hearts think that CEOs of big companies would not do anything if they thought it was protecting their brand or company?

The pope sentencing a pedo cardinal to a life of prayer and penance for years of engaging in sex with children, doesn't seem like an adequate deterrent.

Quote: FrGamble

Believing in God isn't what allowed?

God has nothing to do with anything,
there is no god. The Church hoodwinked
people into thinking there was, and that
they were gods instruments on earth.
This gave them the power to do just about
anything. The trust was built up partly
because of the cult of secrecy that
exists to this day. Nobody knew what
went on in the shadows and the bedrooms.

I like how you justify the Church's actions by
saying all big corporations do cover up's.
They don't have spirits and ghosts running
things like you do, what good are you if
you're Church is no better than the sleaziest
most cut throat corporation.

Quote: Evenbob

I like how you justify the Church's actions by
saying all big corporations do cover up's.
They don't have spirits and ghosts running
things like you do, what good are you if
you're Church is no better than the sleaziest
most cut throat corporation.

I am not justifying the Church's actions I am condemning them! Just like you said what good is it if the Church runs like any government or corporation. We are called to be higher and better than them. You don't get to exist for over 2000 years and outlast every worldly government and human institution on Earth just by being like everyone else. The Church should be (and believe me it is) ashamed of being compared to what a big corporation or government would do.

Quote: FrGamble

You don't get to exist for over 2000 years and outlast every worldly government and human institution on Earth just by being like everyone else. .

You do it by being sleazier and more
cut throat than all of your competitors.
You effectively got rid of the competition
early on and ruled with an iron fist. It
wasn't till it got so bloated with crime
and sleeze, that the schism happened
and it's been downhill for your Church
ever since Martin Luthor..

Quote: FrGamble

You don't get to exist for over 2000 years and outlast every worldly government and human institution on Earth just by being like everyone else.

Like the emporers of japan (est 650 BCE), Buddhism (est 6th century BCE) or Judaism (est 3500 BCE) or Hinduism (even older)

But yeah, other than those.

https://classroom.synonym.com/religions-that-predate-christianity-12085921.html