Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Godless Sodomite · 01-28-2002, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elwoodblues:
"The primary reason the pope wants the internet regulated is because it "leads people to place more importance on facts than values." "

Did he actually say that? Can you get a cite?

He sure did say that. Here's the opening paragraph of point four in his pontification:

Quote:

4. There are nevertheless certain necessary, even obvious, questions which arise in using the Internet in the cause of evangelization. The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. The Internet offers extensive knowledge, but it does not teach values; and when values are disregarded, our very humanity is demeaned and man easily loses sight of his transcendent dignity. Despite its enormous potential for good, some of the degrading and damaging ways in which the Internet can be used are already obvious to all, and public authorities surely have a responsibility to guarantee that this marvellous instrument serves the common good and does not become a source of harm.

-Jerry

Anunnaki · 01-28-2002, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brighid:
Well, there is a “valid” reason to do so – it won’t be so easy to find out the truth about Christianity if the net is censored. The Internet is the main reason I am where I am in my belief structure today. There is no way I could find all this information in my local library, nor would I have the time to really research these topics. The Internet makes that research SOOO much easier and because I have access to a T1 – even faster than normal. The Catholic Church and other Christian Churches don’t want you knowing what happened in the past or to have the ability to make up your own mind and read opposing views or arguments.

If you’ve got nothing to hide – why censor or restrict access? Too bad our own Administration doesn’t adhere to that policy? I wonder what Cheney is hiding?

Brighid

EXACTLY!!!!!! I completely agree with you and I wouldn`t even know 1/10 of what I know about religion if it were not for the internet.

I was watching that stupid Christian cable station the other day and they were saying that the lies and misinformation on the internet was partly responsible for people turning their back on god.

Btw,Can anyone prove to me that Mother Angelica is NOT a puppet?

karlvonl · 01-28-2002, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chad:
The primary reason the pope wants the internet regulated is because it "leads people to place more importance on facts than values."

"Pffft, you can use facts to prove anything that's even *remotely* true." - Homer Simpson

MortalWombat · 01-29-2002, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brighid:
The Internet is the main reason I am where I am in my belief structure today.

Me too. I used to be skeptical only about other religions and paranormal stuff. I visited csicop.org and talkorigins.org a lot, but they had links to websites like this one, and the rest is history.

bonduca · 01-29-2002, 07:15 AM

"In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values."

LOL...yeah, that whole Galileo thing notwithstanding.

<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/horizon/sept98/galileo.htm" target="_blank">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/horizon/sept98/galileo.htm</a>

[ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]

Eudaimonist · 01-29-2002, 08:12 AM

JPII wrote: The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values.

[Does my Yoda impression]

Want to surf the net, do you?

On the net, there are facts.

And facts lead to thinking.

And thinking leads to questioning.

And questioning leads to non-belief.

Travel once down that path, and forever will it dominate your destiny!

sullster · 01-29-2002, 02:22 PM

Oh dear pope, do not you and your priests say that the stories about your jesus and all the saints and popes are all facts? A lot of us don't think those are facts, but your right to put them up as facts and have us dispute them is the most precious "value" of the internet.

Poor pope and his lackeys, the mass difussion of knowledge is out of his control. Maybe he and his church should relocate to China, where he could enjoy internet censorship. The vatican would fit nicely in the Forbidden City.

The Resistance · 01-29-2002, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Eudaimonia:

[Does my Yoda impression]

Hey! I did the Yoda impressions first.

World's Youngest Atheist · 01-29-2002, 10:13 PM

Quote:

"...leads people to place more importance on facts than values..."

So what he's basically saying is...Facts contradict Christianity.

Really....If a religion has got to the point where it has to restrict the distribution of facts in order for it to survive, then it really is time to call it a day.

And who says the internet doesnt teach values? Jeez, he makes it seem like the net is nothing but the Pedophile's International Library of Porn & Satanism. In fact, most...hell, ALL...of the non-believers i've met on the net seem pretty morally sound, (even without fairy tales and the threat of eternal punishment!).

Thor Q. Mada · 01-29-2002, 10:29 PM

This guy is a scandal. He is far beyond retirement age, and only good thing is that people start seeing him for what he really is: A silly old prelate in a women's dress in a time warp. (By the way isn't it strange that in the two almost exclusive male professions : priesthood and court of law, men dress up as women??)
On top of his age and his feeble mind , his physical condition is such that if they wouldn't turn him in the general direction of the public, he probably would be blessing the wall.
Pathetic.
He is personally responsible for the misery in the very catholic places, where is stance against birth control has caused millions of children to be born in abbysimal poverty. On top of that the same stance against birth control has caused thousands of people to contract aids. He will surely go to hell!!!
He just tries to preserve the pride and indolence of the clergy, keep ignorance and servility to the laity alive and well, and hold up superstition, and bigotry. This planet did not really deserve this, unless the catholic churh is an instrument of the devil???

01-29-2002, 07:15 AM	#15
bonduca Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: . Posts: 1,653	"In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values." LOL...yeah, that whole Galileo thing notwithstanding. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/horizon/sept98/galileo.htm" target="_blank">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/horizon/sept98/galileo.htm</a> [ January 29, 2002: Message edited by: bonduca ]</p>

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01-29-2002, 08:12 AM	#16
Eudaimonist Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Posts: 3,159	JPII wrote: The essence of the Internet in fact is that it provides an almost unending flood of information, much of which passes in a moment. In a culture which feeds on the ephemeral there can easily be a risk of believing that it is facts that matter, rather than values. [Does my Yoda impression] Want to surf the net, do you? On the net, there are facts. And facts lead to thinking. And thinking leads to questioning. And questioning leads to non-belief. Travel once down that path, and forever will it dominate your destiny!

01-29-2002, 02:22 PM	#17
sullster Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,392	Oh dear pope, do not you and your priests say that the stories about your jesus and all the saints and popes are all facts? A lot of us don't think those are facts, but your right to put them up as facts and have us dispute them is the most precious "value" of the internet. Poor pope and his lackeys, the mass difussion of knowledge is out of his control. Maybe he and his church should relocate to China, where he could enjoy internet censorship. The vatican would fit nicely in the Forbidden City.

01-29-2002, 10:29 PM	#20
Thor Q. Mada Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Asia Posts: 3,558	This guy is a scandal. He is far beyond retirement age, and only good thing is that people start seeing him for what he really is: A silly old prelate in a women's dress in a time warp. (By the way isn't it strange that in the two almost exclusive male professions : priesthood and court of law, men dress up as women??) On top of his age and his feeble mind , his physical condition is such that if they wouldn't turn him in the general direction of the public, he probably would be blessing the wall. Pathetic. He is personally responsible for the misery in the very catholic places, where is stance against birth control has caused millions of children to be born in abbysimal poverty. On top of that the same stance against birth control has caused thousands of people to contract aids. He will surely go to hell!!! He just tries to preserve the pride and indolence of the clergy, keep ignorance and servility to the laity alive and well, and hold up superstition, and bigotry. This planet did not really deserve this, unless the catholic churh is an instrument of the devil???

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