Religion

The Velveteen Ocelot

(121,119 posts)

9. That 1800 years is probably one big reason why it's so resistant to self-improvement.

Mon Sep 3, 2018, 10:37 AM

Sep 2018

It's an old, hidebound, monolithic institution that's mostly stuck in the Middle Ages. Like many other large old institutions the instincts of its leaders are to protect the institution itself above the people it ostensibly serves (like college athletic programs with molesting coaches and doctors). Adding God to the mix means that the church leaders also believe that the church as an institution must be protected at all costs in order to serve God (which begs the question whether they believe God would just wither up and die if the church wasn't there to cheerlead, like Tinker Bell if the children didn't clap enough).

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The Roman Catholic Church Has Had 1800 Years [View all] MineralMan Sep 2018 OP

And here's that Act of Contrition in Latin, MineralMan Sep 2018 #1

They actually have made changes over the course of time marylandblue Sep 2018 #2

We shall see. MineralMan Sep 2018 #3

I'm amused by the calls for Bergoglio to resign. Pope George Ringo II Sep 2018 #4

Well, the RCC always promotes from within, so MineralMan Sep 2018 #5

When Catholic friends and relatives say to me, cyclonefence Sep 2018 #6

Well, most priests would never sexually molest a child. MineralMan Sep 2018 #7

Absolutely cyclonefence Sep 2018 #8

You raise an excellent point. MineralMan Sep 2018 #10

The Archbishop of Boston called out Pope Francis marylandblue Sep 2018 #14

5-7% apparently shanny Sep 2018 #12

Hmm... MineralMan Sep 2018 #13

Yes, it's a lot of priests shanny Sep 2018 #15

Organizations Are As They Do. MineralMan Sep 2018 #18

And do you expect perfection? guillaumeb Sep 2018 #20

I did not see that expectation of perfection at all MineralMan Sep 2018 #22

I asked a question, so my response to you is: guillaumeb Sep 2018 #47

Priests, who are called to their vocation *by god*, cyclonefence Sep 2018 #43

Predators go where there is prey. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #46

No kidding cyclonefence Sep 2018 #49

I fail to see how anyone could object to what you wrote. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #55

Priests are people qazplm135 Sep 2018 #27

Priests are people who take on their vocation cyclonefence Sep 2018 #44

same could be said about anyone qazplm135 Sep 2018 #50

No, it's the *job* that is special cyclonefence Sep 2018 #52

sure qazplm135 Sep 2018 #53

That 1800 years is probably one big reason why it's so resistant to self-improvement. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2018 #9

Well put. MineralMan Sep 2018 #11

it has however made itself filthy rich using the threat of eternal damnation nt msongs Sep 2018 #16

Prosperity Gospel. Give and Ye Shall Also Receive? MineralMan Sep 2018 #17

So you have discovered that imperfect humans are....... guillaumeb Sep 2018 #19

Yet another non sequitur? MineralMan Sep 2018 #21

Christians have known that the RCC has been Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #34

You demonstrated that you misread my observation. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #38

We are discussing sexual abuse of children Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #48

We are discussing admittedly imperfect humans, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #54

No really we are discussing the sexual abuse of children Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #56

Incorrect. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #57

And men in general have had at least six thousand years of recorded history thucythucy Sep 2018 #23

Yes, it is men who do the molesting in 90% of the cases. MineralMan Sep 2018 #24

And I don't disagree with your criticisms of the Catholic Church. thucythucy Sep 2018 #25

Thanks. I often despair at the behavior of men, too. MineralMan Sep 2018 #28

Now place what you said here into the context of my post about the RCC guillaumeb Sep 2018 #26

No, thanks, guillaumeb. I understood you just fine. MineralMan Sep 2018 #29

No, you clearly did not. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #30

Late to this conversation but trying to catch up. I also don't understand guillaumeb's erronis Sep 2018 #31

There are no "rationalizations" as you characterize them, simply observations. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #37

No disagreement here. Tribalism and various other biases are what make us. erronis Sep 2018 #40

The extent to which this specific institution has acted Voltaire2 Sep 2018 #33

Well, since it's probably the oldest patriarchal institution thucythucy Sep 2018 #39

Also evident in the great apes, other primates, and other religions. erronis Sep 2018 #41

It's depressing to think of rape happening in other species. thucythucy Sep 2018 #45

Perhaps there are lots of moving parts.. JHan Sep 2018 #58

Thank you for a very interesting read. thucythucy Sep 2018 #59

I think self-immolation is appropriate. bitterross Sep 2018 #32

Power and money. WhiteTara Sep 2018 #35

They may need to rethink all that pretty soon. MineralMan Sep 2018 #36

really. WhiteTara Sep 2018 #42

Absolute Power Corrupts... dlk Sep 2018 #51