re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Calm down, dear ... he can't help where he's born. And I don't believe he represents the Argie government. Thankfully. Though no doubt it will suit that harridan in Buenos Aires nicely, to claim some sort of reflected glory or extra legitimacy.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Also Argentina is hardly the most hated country in the world. Almost every other country couldn't give a flying toss about the Falklands and even the Latin America governments that do express support for Argentina's claim don't really seem to be willing to get involved in any real political action over it.

---------- Post added at 19:58 ---------- Previous post was at 19:50 ----------

Also does it really matter what nationality the Pope is? Surely he is meant to transcend notions of nationality?

Either way I don't think we'll be seeing the Swiss Guard in the Falklands any time soon. ;). Besides if he is a problem we'll just start our own church!

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Anyhoo, he's not the Bishop of Buenos Aires any more, he's the Bishop of Rome. Good luck to him.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

my 2 pence

Think what I am hearing he is the right person to be pope at present climate the world face. I think alot are suprised at the choice but for me there was telling point. He lives modest lifestyle and a champion cause for under previlaged. I think it shows a sense sensibilty by the vatican in there choice.

It will be interesting times with pope francis. Apparantly he had big row with arginetine government over gay mariage. Shows he will play hard with establishments.

I think he been brought in to do job. Change way the church works and to influence those outside change there ways.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

I will be totally honest, although l am not a catholic but a Christian.

I found the the selection of the new Pope, totally gripping and tearful and watched it every time, l was waiting for the white smoke to come from the chimney, but my wife who is catholic wanted to watch Little House etc, and we missed it it.

But we stayed glued to the tv until the new pope was named and shown on TV.

It was awesome and tearful.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Catholics are Christians too

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Not according to some Christians.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Is there such thing as just a Christian or do you need to be part of a specific church?

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Church of England, but does that matter at this lovelly time

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

You do if you want to become Pope, I think. ;)

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

:wavey: How much detail do you want ... ? :D

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Any faith that believes Christ was the son of God and follows Christ's teachings is a Christian

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Not true. There is an apostolic creed which all orthodox Christian denominations agree to, whether Eastern, Roman or Protestant, which as you very well know stipulates the Triune nature of the Godhead - the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three distinct personalities yet indivisibly one God. The Watchtower Society, the Church of Latter Day Saints and a whole lot of less well-known crazy 19th century American cults are not Christian, because they are not in agreement with this key aspect of the creed.

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:27 ----------

Damian, there is no rule about membership of a specific church in order to be a Christian, but as so much of the teaching in the New Testament likens the Church to a human body, with each member a part of that body, it is pretty hard to escape the conclusion that following Jesus pretty much mandates doing so in association with other people.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Absolute rubbish. Christianity dates back before "orthodox" religions decided to put labels in it. You choose to believe in a version of the Bible translated in the Dark ages when the country was ruled by Rome translated it to favour good old King James. I choose to follow Christ's teachings and do not recognise your right to label me a non Christian just because I do not accept the trinity

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Whether you recognise my right to free speech or not is neither here nor there. And in point of fact I'm not labelling you as anything. I am aware of the Watchtower's peculiar spin on history by which it justifies its cultic beliefs and practices - what you do with regards to those teachings is entirely your own business. Just don't expect a free pass to avoid having those beliefs and practices criticised, especially in a thread about the Cathoic Pope who, be in absolutely no doubt at all, holds the same beliefs about the Trinity that I outlined above.

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Super, smashin', great...

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/at...3&d=1363210411

re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

I thought Mormon's believed the first two books of the bible, the Holy Trinity, and so on but then added a bunch of crazy American stuff.

It's almost as if South Park and musicals aren't a good way to learn about a religion. :D

Cool. There is no 'Christian' church as such then but a number of them. Christianity is just the aspects of faith that unites these different churches?

Re: [Updated] Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Lol I know all about the trinity and your beliefs in hell ( a word bte not mentioned in any version of the bible other than newer "English" versions.

The Romans Crucified Christ then a while later the Emperor took it on an there is the birth of the Roman Catholics. Likelyhood they are the on true faith? pretty slim
The there is Lutherans and the Protestants who broke from Rome. Again not likely imo
The Trinity well you can quote scriptures but I will just tell the story of John the Baptist where in one section ( if you believe in the Trinity) God came down and endowed himself with himself (holy spirit)which made him know he was himself and it did his head in so much he went off to the wild to talk to himself for 40 days. And then of course there is when he died and he looked up at the moment of death and said forgive them me they know not what they do

I do not practice JW I do not accept they are a cult and find the fact you do and your prejudice disgraceful after all I have done nothing until tonight but treat your faith with respect. Blessed are the meek after all

---------- Post added at 21:48 ---------- Previous post was at 21:47 ----------

Chris talks about these religions without any real knowledge on the subject I am afraid. I had teachings off both JW and Mormons as well as Born again Christians and Evangelists before I chose my path.

---------- Post added at 21:53 ---------- Previous post was at 21:48 ----------

Let me just say this. Catholics and Protestants have fought and died in many a war and followed a country's flag in doing so. In WWII JWs were interned in the same concentration camps and killed just like the Jews in Germany because they refused to go to war and refused to salute the countries flag . True believers in their faith they would rather face death than go back on what they believe

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

... and I've taken the trouble to talk to JWs and Mormons too. I'm not pre-judging anything, I'm quite happy with the decisions I've taken and the beliefs I hold.

You seem to be confusing "respect" for a belief with "agreement" with it. Whatever respect I hold for anyone who has bothered to think about life beyond the material, what possible reason could I have for *not* criticising a set of beliefs that are at odds with my own? The very nature of these things means we believe they have eternal significance.

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

no I am not confusing anything you are just trying to be clever. I accept your beliefs I do not believe in them but I accept them. You are prejudiced towards JWs as well as Mormons.

To me which is more to Christs teachings? My actions in accepting you or your prejudice towards my faith??

In my Faith Christ Died for Mans sins . JWs follow 100% by Christ's teaching and every prayer is given through Christ . Christ is all important to us and the memorial is soon the only date JWs celebrate and you say we can not be Christian well pah

---------- Post added at 22:01 ---------- Previous post was at 21:56 ----------

http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnes...es-christians/

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

There's really no point in you trying to frame the debate with the old wife-beater question Tiz, all it does is undermine your claim to be accepting. ;)

As I said, I've done my research and my settled view is that the Watchtower's teaching is bunk. So is the teaching of the Mormon church. I applaud anyone who goes against the materialistic tide of Western society by standing up for a faith, but I do not shrink from the fact that different faiths make different, mutually incompatible claims about where the truth lies.

You accept me, but you believe I'm trapped in an ancient deception that has corrupted the Bible and caused the whole world to fundamentally misunderstand who Jesus was supposed to be. You know what .... That's fine my me. I think the same of the organisation you belong to. I expect both the Watchtower and Christianity can survive our disagreement.

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

You know the funniest part . You are religious bigot just like I am. Only the religion I have a problem is is Islam as some want to do harm your is towards other Christian religions

I am sorry if I lost my cool but there is nothing more insulting you could have said than to deny my right to be called a Christian imagine how you would feel if someone did that to you

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

there's nowt for two in a bed

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

Believe me, they have ;)

Ultimately, though, if the worst that ever happens is that someone disses your faith on an Internet forum, you will have got off lightly compared to the ones that ended up in the Coliseum ...

Re: [Updated] Pope Benedict Resigns : Cardinal Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis I
 

arrr yes the first true disciples of the disciples