Pope Francis condemned the “very strong, organised, reactionary attitude” in the US church and said Catholic doctrine allows for change over time.

Pope Francis has blasted the “backwardness” of some conservatives in the US Catholic Church, saying they have replaced faith with ideology and that a correct understanding of Catholic doctrine allows for change over time.

Francis’ comments were an acknowledgment of the divisions in the US Catholic Church, which has been split between progressives and conservatives who long found support in the doctrinaire papacies of St John Paul II and Benedict XVI, particularly on issues of abortion and same-sex marriage.

  • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Because that would be boring.

    If we had all the answers, we’d be all knowing. If we were all knowing we wouldn’t be distinct beings, we’d just be part of some hive mind that is God. Like an appendage of God.

    Free will requires each of us to be beings that have knowledge and the capability to make decisions (even bad ones) outside God’s control.

    The old paradox, if God was so powerful could he make a Rock so big even he couldn’t move it? Basically what free will is. Something created by God that can’t be controlled by God. If it we were controlled by God it would destroy free will, which is something a Creator can’t do.

    • flerp@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      He could be very clear about the law and his expectations (or even the fact that he exists) and we would still have free will to choose to follow the law or not.

      Did the people in the bible who actually saw him not have free will? Did Adam and Eve not have free will? Do the people in heaven not have free will?

      It’s a commonly touted excuse, but it falls apart under a modicum of scrutiny.

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        I see your belief system is focused on nitpicking details to avoid the point. Commonly touted among people in the atheist belief system LOL.

        Next you’ll say I don’t actually believe in God unless I think the Bible is 100% literal, because that’s the argument you want to be having. But that’s a boring discussion, so good day to you sir.

        • flerp@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          What nitpicking details are you talking about? You mentioned that if we knew the truth about god and his law we would be a hive mind and not have free will. I was responding to that point, not avoiding it at all. And the rest of your comment is a straw man arguing against some atheist you have in your mind and never once addressed the points I made.

    • Redditiscancer789@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I don’t believe in that paradox because if God is all powerful he could indeed make a rock so big he couldn’t move it in that moment and at the same time could move it. Because that’s what omnipotence looks like.

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Yes but if moving the rock destroys the rock, then if God did that, God would become a destroyer. If God is defined as being a Creator, destroying the rock results in God no longer being a Creator and therefore no longer God.

        But a paradox doesn’t disprove the existence of God. Life is full of paradoxes. Like quantum physics, WTF is going on there? I don’t know, it’s a thing that exists even though it doesn’t make any sense.

        • Redditiscancer789@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Wtf are you babbling about god has destroyed plenty of things, like when they supposedly drowned all the world during the Noah’s ark arc, to the destruction of the cities of Sodom and gamorra.