Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Huginn · 06-09-2003, 05:21 AM

My brother brought this to my attention. It's too funny to be true.

From CathNews:
Pope hits out against sarcasm

Cap'n Jack · 06-09-2003, 05:35 AM

Ah crap, now even the Pope is out to get me.

06-09-2003, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Pope John Paul II described sarcasm as a modern form of martyrdom, suggesting a sarcastic person delights in "isolating the righteous with mockery and irony".

"We know that the persecutor does not always assume the violent and macabre countenance of the oppressor," he told this week's Wednesday audience at the Vatican.

The Pope's comments on sarcasm were part of a series of catechetical talks on the Psalms and Canticles of the Old Testament.

He was reflecting on the attitude of the three young Israelites who sang in the fiery furnace, to which they were condemned by King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3).

"Despite the extreme danger, when the flames were already licking their bodies, they found the strength 'to praise, glorify and bless God,' certain that the Lord of the cosmos and history would not abandon them to death and nothingness," John Paul II said

I think it's a bit rich for the Pope to pass comment on "the violent and macabre countenance of the oppressor"

CV

Bill · 06-09-2003, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Huginn
My brother brought this to my attention. It's too funny to be true.

From CathNews:
Pope hits out against sarcasm

Well, the link given at the bottom of that page is to an authentic record of a papal audience which does seem to contain the quoted material, so my guess is that it is real, regardless of how funny it might seem to any of us.

== Bill

Thor Q. Mada · 06-09-2003, 07:28 PM

Obviously he has no clue that self mockery is a sign of intelligence. He also doesn't know that things that cannot be laughed with cannot be true.

NonHomogenized · 06-09-2003, 09:36 PM

Oh... my. I'm nearly in a state of shock. What could I possibly say that would make this any funnier than it already is?

Defiant Heretic · 06-10-2003, 04:51 AM

"This is that thing you call sarcasm isn't it?" - Ford Prefect

Paintballislife · 06-10-2003, 05:56 PM

you know that someone got really sarcastic and he got pissed off and was like, sarcasm in blasphemy!! wait, thats a good idea, i dont liek sarcastic pricks.... ill make it so no one wants be to be sarcastic cause i dont liek it. (whens he gonna die??)

PopeInTheWoods · 06-10-2003, 09:58 PM

I thought I'd mess with them, and sent the following to cathnews.com via their "Contact" page:

This site is sort of an anti-Catholic satire, similar to theonion.com or landoverbaptist.com, right? I mean, allowing the infertile to marry but refusing to sanction the marriage of a sexually potent couple that simply doesn't want children is encouraged? Claiming that the Pope opposes sarcasm? Even I (an atheist with a fairly warped sense of humor) couldn't make the Catholic Church look that bad if I tried.

I'm sorry that I had to ask, but sometimes Aussie humor doesn't translate well into the USA, and vice versa.

Andy

Monkeybot · 06-11-2003, 04:52 PM

I don't know if that site is real or not, but in 8th grade at Catholic school we really did get a huge lecture on how awful and contrary to the spirit of God sarcasm was. I still remember this matronly cow of a teacher telling us in hushed, awed tones that the word sarcasm was derived from the Greek for "to cut flesh."* So every time we said "Yeah, RIGHT" we were tearing flesh!

Of course, you can imagine how effective this lecture was on a pack of snarky, irreverent 13-year-olds

*I have no idea if it actually is or not, it's just what she said.

06-09-2003, 05:21 AM	#1
Huginn Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lincoln, England Posts: 1,499	Pope hits out against sarcasm My brother brought this to my attention. It's too funny to be true. From CathNews: Pope hits out against sarcasm

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06-09-2003, 05:35 AM	#2
Cap'n Jack Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 133	Ah crap, now even the Pope is out to get me.

06-09-2003, 07:28 PM	#5
Thor Q. Mada Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Asia Posts: 3,558	Obviously he has no clue that self mockery is a sign of intelligence. He also doesn't know that things that cannot be laughed with cannot be true.

06-09-2003, 09:36 PM	#6
NonHomogenized Veteran Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: no longer at IIDB Posts: 1,644	Oh... my. I'm nearly in a state of shock. What could I possibly say that would make this any funnier than it already is?

06-10-2003, 04:51 AM	#7
Defiant Heretic Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,288	"This is that thing you call sarcasm isn't it?" - Ford Prefect

06-10-2003, 05:56 PM	#8
Paintballislife Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Moorestown, NJ (sux stay away) Posts: 206	you know that someone got really sarcastic and he got pissed off and was like, sarcasm in blasphemy!! wait, thats a good idea, i dont liek sarcastic pricks.... ill make it so no one wants be to be sarcastic cause i dont liek it. (whens he gonna die??)

06-10-2003, 09:58 PM	#9
PopeInTheWoods Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Rochester NY USA Posts: 4,318	I thought I'd mess with them, and sent the following to cathnews.com via their "Contact" page: This site is sort of an anti-Catholic satire, similar to theonion.com or landoverbaptist.com, right? I mean, allowing the infertile to marry but refusing to sanction the marriage of a sexually potent couple that simply doesn't want children is encouraged? Claiming that the Pope opposes sarcasm? Even I (an atheist with a fairly warped sense of humor) couldn't make the Catholic Church look that bad if I tried. I'm sorry that I had to ask, but sometimes Aussie humor doesn't translate well into the USA, and vice versa. Andy

06-11-2003, 04:52 PM	#10
Monkeybot Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,102	I don't know if that site is real or not, but in 8th grade at Catholic school we really did get a huge lecture on how awful and contrary to the spirit of God sarcasm was. I still remember this matronly cow of a teacher telling us in hushed, awed tones that the word sarcasm was derived from the Greek for "to cut flesh."* So every time we said "Yeah, RIGHT" we were tearing flesh! Of course, you can imagine how effective this lecture was on a pack of snarky, irreverent 13-year-olds *I have no idea if it actually is or not, it's just what she said.

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