Pope Bendedict Argues Catholic Church 'Purified' Indigenous Peoples

During his recent trip to Latin America, Pope Benedict XVI offended millions when he arrogantly suggested that Catholicism had purified indigenous populations, and called the resurgence of indigenous religions a step backward.

Sounds to me like his ego is getting bigger than his head. What are your thoughts?

AlterNet: Pope Bendedict Argues Catholic Church 'Purified' Indigenous Peoples

Duh, of course he is full of it. Most religions believe they are absolutely right, and only hide their ego for keeping-the-peace sake. Hopefully what he says is counterproductive for Christianity-counts there.
I do not really care what peoples' religious beliefs are,(except if i find them interesting) as long as their ethical opinions are not argued from the crap. (and often they are)

Being raised in the Lutheran church, I'd be happy to tell you what I think of the Roman Catholic church, but I think you've heard it all before.

Protestant Reformation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This would explain why their are so many denominations of Christians than.

Yes.

Kind of like the number of Linux distros, brands of cars, etc.

Freedom of choice is a good thing.

"Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

George Washington"

Yes, it's because the Bible says the time would come when they would not endure sound doctrine and heed false teachers. Jesus also said the kingdom of God was like a mustard seed that grew into the largest of trees inhabited by devils as a result of leaven (corruption).

Oh no! Not the atheists can not be moral thing again! It is just absurd.. Can only be moral if you are indoctrinated! Must indoctrinate all!
If George Washington says so does not make it so.
"because the Bible says ..blah..blah.." Not true, my daddy says so.

the roman catholic church is still the biggest kid on the block even considering all other religions.

Ya It's annoying, but we should all respect each other nonetheless of our differences.

@MRiGnS: Claiming i can not be moral, unless i subscribe to some set of beliefs is pointing me out as a threat, people tend to remove threats in their environment, so that makes those people a threat to me.
I can still try removing this state by discussion, but there will be a level of tension.

I was not really disrespectful it was also making analogies with the argument from authority that came to me. Here is a hint: arguments from authority do not work if the people it is presented to do not accept the authority.
The use of the word 'doctrine' was pretty much justified. Bvc effectively called every other belief a doctrine, so his belief pretty much sounds like a doctrine to me.
Only thing disrespectful was the "blah blah" thing.

BTW Also is respect not a moral thing?

I did not say that, did I, and neither does the quote? The principle I'm referring to is Romans 1. It's a principle from scripture making it a religious principle. Wow, imagine that! Yes, that quote has been abused and still is but do not assume all christians are smucks. Interestingly, the principle has nothing to do with a person having or not having any particular belief at all. The principle is that all men know right and wrong and are created with it. That would include atheists so there's no doubt they are, or can be, moral.

I did not claim you not having moral and of course respect is a moral thing.

What I was trying to say is that if he treats you this way you don't have to treat him the same. hell, I know it's hard ;P

"... reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." said George Washington at some point, apparently.
It may be that he meant in it only in the case of the US nation as he saw it. But it sure is suggests that it is true in general.

yes, well you have to remember he was christian, supposedly, and so were most, so you'd have to understand the scriptures of his beliefs to understand why he said what he did. That's why I said it has been abused, and sadly, mostly by professing christians that do not know the scriptures by which claim to stand.

Sounds about typical. "We're right, you're wrong, and if you say we're wrong, you're GOING BACKWARDS! Oh yeah, we still don't have any proof we're right, but we're right because WE SAY WE'RE RIGHT!"

If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.
-- Albert Einstein

I would not be surprised if he defended the Inquisition next, even though his predecessor apologized for it. I wonder if his visit with Bush had something to do with this.

If I recall correctly Christians were the one's that destroyed the Mayan Civilization, imagine if those people were still around.

@bvc: Perhaps next time explain quotes, then?
@MRiGnS: I do not think that quote from Einstein is supposed to be absolute in any way. It was probably said in some context. Also, what kind of facts? His theory of (special and general)relativity changed the then-considered fact of galilean transformation.

A friend of my mother is psychiatrist and told her that eyes of current pope resemble those of a maniac.
A friend of mine is a psychologist and told me that Padre Pio (a very famous saint here in Italy: his statues often bleed...) probably suffered from hysteria due to a cancer in its brain.

My friend has worked in a little town near my city and he has basically substituting the local exorcist.
In the past (and unfortunately in the present too) the church has controlled people fear: both by causing it ("YOU'LL BURN IN HELL") and by healing it (exorcists are an easy example).
Today fear is cause by TV too.

I guess modern people should be all adviced that those days should come to an end.
The problem, as always, is the money (in this case of the church and of TV owners).
Have you seen "the corporation" or "supersize me" ?
The situation is like the desperate mama which have to fight against multi millionaire corporations which want their babys buy a particular product.

And then we have the evolutionism problem.
Do I have to tolarate people who believe in creationism?
I guess don't have to.
You understand we are comparable to chimpanzee? Ok.
You don't understand it? You're an idiot.

If I ask: "is earth round or flat?" how many answers you have?