It’s quite funny that people say stop and smell the coffee a lot. This suggests that most people have the innate ability to spot things that are logically amiss. Ironically, most people just turn a blind eye when it comes to the mishaps that their church have done throughout the ages. While there are surely intelligent people who subscribe to the teachings of the roman catholic church, those same group of intellectuals have chosen to ignore the misgivings of the upper tier of the church’s leadership.

A belief in a god doesn’t really need to exist within the trappings of a religion or an organized religion - and definitely not within one that is corrupt and utterly hypocritical. The values that govern the idea of having a personal god, savior and creator is mutually exclusive from having a group of supposedly celibate men telling what the millions of followers have to do. It’s quite ironic that a religion that actually promotes discrimination based on cultural beliefs and sexual orientation would continue to be strong despite its strong internal contradictions. Unfortunately, this what religion calls for - the suspension of inquiry and logic. Religion would simply destroy itself with its own weak dogma when subjected to the acid test that is applied to most things in the real world. Religion and religious organizations are always hidden behind a veil of protection that always obscures their bad judgments throughout the history.

Churches were started for primarily on thing - control. Through pretending that they have some sort of mandate to dictate upon their congregation due to divine providence, they could easily push forth their advocacies. Though for the most part they’ve used it to promulgate the idea of charity and goodwill (though through meritocratic and non epistemological reasons for the most part), much of the control has translated to the reining of the people’s right to think for themselves.

Practically everyone has the right and most importantly, the ability, to think and process information before passing judgment or acting on specific. Instead of having this exercise of critical thinking, the church cuts corners by laying down the law and making a single stand the only acceptable stand. We’ve seen it happen repeatedly on issues regarding population management, family planning and now much more recently, sexually-deviant behavior. Instead of castigating those who have clearly maligned and damaged the privacy of a patient in a recent incident in a hospital in Cebu, a high-ranking church official has decided to go after the aggrieved party instead.

Granted, the patient had a nothing-short-of-disturbing fetish. It may have even been his fault, but then again, don’t you think he would’ve realized that by now? The humiliation that he got is probably enough for him to lay off that type of “unconventional activity” for the mean time at least.

Astonishingly, people who want to want to play both sides of the fence have been profusely apologizing/explaining in behalf of the church on top of saying that the real people at fault are those who made fun of the procedure and curtailed the patient’s right to privacy. Though it seems noble, it’s quite clear that they’re turning a blind eye to the fact that their church truly discriminates and labels certain people to be sinners outright just because of one or two things about the totality of their being.

Yes, it is outrageous, Gibbs. But what’s more outrageous is that people continue to make excuses in their behalf and stomach these bone-headed statements time after time as if they don’t come that often.

People are so scared to step out of the church for some reason. Stepping out of the church isn’t turning your back from that entity that you would like to think of as god - far from it. Leaving the corrupt, hypocritical and illogical church just affirms your commitment to a sensible belief - one that is truly based on harmony, righteousness and fairness.

Although I’m atheist, I think a believer’s loyalty should always be to one’s god - not to some stubborn, judgmental, bigoted and sexually-repressed aging men who insist on wearing skirts.

Reference: News Article

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Disclaimer: I’m not really into proselytizing when it comes to atheism. Not all people have the necessary intellectual mettle to understand the premises behind it so I’d just leave it at the reality that most people are not intelligent enough to get it. Yes, that is my easiest measure of intelligence and reasoning - if one understands atheism for what it is, he is an intelligent person regardless of his religion. I’ve met Jehova’s Witnesses, Iglesia ni Cristo members etc. who understand the concept without necessarily believing it themselves so I guess it’s not really that rare a breed.

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Comments ( 20 )

Hi there! Firstly, it was great to meet you at the spot.ph affair. Just to reintroduce myself, I’m that person involved in mining..you know, the one who consciously doesn’t engage in environmentally destructive activities.

I, somehow, share your views regarding the church. But not entirely, if I may add. I wouldn’t lump the blame on the entire church. Personally, my experience is really focused on the secular priests of the provinces where we work. I don’t want to make any presumptions regarding the educational background of these clerics but I definitely think that their opinions are still bordering on the archaic. I don’t want to speculate either about the reasons behind their moves (control? money?!?) but whatever they are, it isn’t helping both the locals and business.

For whatever misgivings I have for the Catholic Church, I still remain a Catholic though not as pious as I used to be. Sometimes it actually helps to see the wrongs of your belief system to make you realize what you should stand for and what you should believe in.

Kongkong622 added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 8:10 am

What that bishop said was totally stupid and irresponsible. Someboidy tell him that it’s 2008 already, and that the dark ages are already over for quite a few centuries.

Ade added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 2:14 pm

I think it’s often impossible to separate faith in a specific god from the associated religious infrastructure.

99% of all believers have never seen god or talked to him face to face (the other 1% are schizo, heh), so they have no choice but to rely on old men in skirts to describe their god to them. How else could they know what specific beliefs to hold? Who is god–Jesus, Vishnu, or Oprah? Which book contains god’s true words–the Bible, the Koran, or Harry Potter? Should one worship god through songs, cash offerings, or virgin sacrifices?

There’s nothing astonishing about believers defending their church despite possibly feeling uncomfortable about some of its teachings and actions. After all, it’s the only bridge between them and their god. Burn that bridge and they’d be well on their way to atheism or at least deism, which in practice isn’t all that different from atheism.

joyfulchicken added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 4:53 pm

indeed, the church is devoid of reason.

but i dont count the whole church. like what barny said, evil exists anywhere. the only problem with the church is it doesnt see evil within its ranks simply because its mind is closed.

J added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 9:30 pm

I’m a Catholic, and I can say that I practice my faith. However, I myself did not like what Bishop Dakay said regarding that Black Suede scandal. The incident was clearly immoral, to the extent that it directly “destroyed” the life of that patient and even the image of the Philippine Medical Field. And instead on practically not taking any side, that bishop did otherwise, his statements teaching the people to discriminate.

Atheistic side or not, that move by the bishop is wrong.

Dane added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 9:53 pm

That Bishop is so not cool!
We should always respect other people whatever race, color or gender they have.

umleo23 added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 10:28 pm

Well, I won’t be an apologist for Bishop Dakay because I found his opinions utterly disappointing. While I’m a Catholic, I don’t necessarily subscribe to every pronouncement any member of the clergy says.

Eugene added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 10:40 pm

I think what should be done is to suspend the license of the docs and nurse and send them to boot camp. Then canister should be recovered from the crime scene and shoved up Mr. Dakay’s ass.

KSW added these pithy words on Apr 28 08 at 11:05 pm

i thought this is a free country? why condemn what the bishop has said? it’s his own take on the issue. oh, i forgot. this is a free country.

aajao added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 6:30 am

“People are blaming the doctors for what they did, but I think they should blame the patient for what he did,” he said.- Achilles Dakay

Ugh. That’s just wrong. This kind of statements are real reflective of my displeasure on majority of the Catholic’s beliefs (and practices.) They sure like to condemn people for the most ridiculous reasons. And to think they are also the ones who’d most likely to reason the “Those who have not sinned cast the first stone” propaganda.

I’m theist. But I can’t totally say I’m Catholic anymore (except in forms.)I’ve long abandoned “my obligations.” It’s people like the holier-than-thou monsignor who’s made me stick to my god on my own without needing them to whisper bullshit in my ear. I’ve had enough of priests really, who in my experience, have done nothing anyway but violate their religion’s beloved tenets.

mitch added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 10:45 am

I’m not Catholic. But i respect what the bishop said, it’s his opinion.

mitch just a piece of unsolicited advice: don’t mind the people in the church. they won’t save you.

aajao added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 10:52 am

Aajao, he was representing the church.

And yes, it’s a free country so he better be ready for people’s reactions. I hate it when people invoke the “freedom of expression” shiite when people start criticizing someone. Those other people are also exercising their right to express so it’s fair game.

benj added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 11:56 am

Benj - be careful when you use the word “church”, it denotes the whole congregation, not just the administration. (learned that from high school) It might offend those who don’t necessarily share the opinion.

mai added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 4:42 pm

The people running the church = administration, right?

benj added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 5:44 pm

First of all, Dakay is not a bishop. And Dakay do not represent the church. He represents his local archdiocese, which is an independent body within the church.

But still, I think the point here is how the church’s stance on homosexuality made Dakay what it is.

I think its about time the church become a bit open-minded. Vatican II clearly wasn’t enough.

J added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 6:12 pm

J, the last time I checked, the church is still intolerant when it comes to homosexuality.

benj added these pithy words on Apr 29 08 at 10:30 pm

their stance in homosexuality is quite ridiculous.

the church thinks it’s ok to be gay as long as you don’t engage in gay sex.

kind of like saying its ok to be a vegetarian as long as you dont eat vegetables.

J added these pithy words on Apr 30 08 at 1:55 am

Those stupidbishops don’t have a lot of definition.

FINCH added these pithy words on Apr 30 08 at 1:59 am

…not to some stubborn, judgmental, bigoted and sexually-repressed aging men who insist on wearing skirts”

LOL, I call them crossdressers!

jake added these pithy words on Apr 30 08 at 5:18 am

The church’s stand on sexual deviancy has always puzzled me. What is it exactly that they find so morally devoid in it? I find it disturbing that you can be the most giving, kind, loving person in world who devotes his or her life to charity and good works, but if word gets out that you like to dress up in a gimp suit on the days you’re not building homes for the poor you’re going straight to hell for being immoral.

Also, an amusing aside. Remember that whole Desperate Housewives brouhaha? These doctors and nurses are proving their writers right.

Ryan added these pithy words on Apr 30 08 at 4:37 pm

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