Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Too Smart For Their Own God
Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, the Bishop of Lancaster in the UK, is preaching about the evils of being too educated. It seems that education causes one to question the Catholic Church and its teachings.
Huh. Imagine that! Education causing a person to become less religious. No wonder the Right Reverend is scared. :)
[Rev Patrick O'Donoghue] "What we have witnessed in Western societies since the end of the Second World War is the development of mass education on a scale unprecedented in human history - resulting in economic growth, scientific and technological advances, and the cultural and social enrichment of billions of people's lives," he said.
"However, every human endeavor has a dark side, due to original sin and concupiscence. In the case of education, we can see its distortion through the widespread dissemination of radical scepticism, positivism, utilitarianism and relativism.
"Taken together, these intellectual trends have resulted in a fragmented society that marginalizes God, with many people mistakenly thinking they can live happy and productive lives without him."
The number of priests in England and Wales has slumped by almost 1/4 in 20 years - going from 4,545 in 1985, to 3,643 in 2005. Studies done on lay attendance at Mass in the UK show that in 1991, 1.3 million attended. This represents a decline of 40 per cent since 1963. It fell even further in 2004 - to 960,000.
(Tip of the ballcap to Les!)
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Pet peeve alert!
It seems that education causes one to question the Catholic Church and it's teachings.
It also causes one to write: "It seems that education causes one to question the Catholic Church and its teachings."
Sorry, pet peeve...
- No More Mr. Nice Guy!
Raised On Roman Catholic Dogma
I was raised up in the Roman Catholic Church and I am now a Unitarian-Universalist. Trouble is the Roman Catholics teach kids they are the only true church. Of course many faiths preach this one way or another. If one leaves, there is generally a long deep, void and if you have other problems, you may really go off the deep end. Get to people who say they don't have the answers, but deeply understand the extent of your need and qwest. Unitarian-Universalists (many UUs don't believe in God, we are more diverse because we do not dictate belief)) are one option, but we are non-credal and do not seek members as such, so you have to put out some energy to engage, but you may be very surprised when you find people who vibe with you in your concerns, I felt like I had found home. Search with friends, the ride is far less bumpy and could save your life if not be more fun.
them!
That damn intelligent and educated segment of society--always causing trouble!
Concupiscence
I had to look up "concupiscence". It made me gag.
Big Words
Ya - for someone decrying too much education, he sure uses some big words.
Smart is OK, Educated isn't
Smart, *relatively* uneducated people can still make a good living, run successful businesses, etc. (generally while working their butts off and thus having little time to spend questioning religion), and tithe to the church while still trusting in the truth of every word that comes from the mouth of the likes of the Rev. O'D. Let 'em get ed-jee-kayt-ed, though, and it calibrates their BS detectors and inhibits their capacity for hierarchical thinking.
I think I now truly understand the concept of original sin. Original sin = having the gall to actually use the brain provided by the offended deity.
hmmm
It seems to me that some of the things he's decrying as the evils of education were actually needed survival traits back in earlier times. Not only that, but it seems to me that some of them could also be applied to the Jews in the old testament and many of the apostles in the new testament.
For someone claiming to be as educated as he does in that article, he sure has said some stupid things in it. Then again, he is saying that becoming educated is bad when it leads to less fear of his personal boogieman.
This O'Donoghue guy is
This O'Donoghue guy is failing in his mission to increase attendance at Mass. He knows as well as I do that free lap dances would pack 'em in on Sunday afternoons, but he just won't have it.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say "Thou shalt not get thee a lap dance."
mistaken?
I'm not really living a happy and productive life? Dammit, I knew SOMETHING was wrong!
(Oh well...at least I have "economic growth, scientific and technological advances," and "cultural and social enrichment"...that's gotta count for something!)
Or not.
Or, you know, not - because there is no such thing as original sin.
Sure gets harder to scare people with your mystical bullshit once they get themselves a little education, eh Rev. O'Donoghue?
Jim Downey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like Science Fiction? Read *or listen to* my novel, Communion of Dreams, for free.
Technically, one might stretch the definition of "Original Sin"
to include the physical union between the two adults who produced the individual who first introduced the entire concept of "Original Sin" in the first place...
Wouldn't that be where the whole thing got its rather ignoble start?
;)
That's at least . . .
. . . as good an explanation as the biblical one.
Jim Downey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Like Science Fiction? Read *or listen to* my novel, Communion of Dreams, for free.