The global financial crisis is proof that the pursuit of money and success is pointless, Pope Benedict XVI has told a meeting of bishops in Rome.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church said that the disappearance of money as banks collapsed showed that wealth meant "nothing".
The Pope said that people should instead base their lives on God's word.
Those who think that "concrete things we can touch are the surest reality" are deceiving themselves, he said.
Now I can not agree with his alternative. You are not going to find the ol progligo going that far.
But this is interesting -
When he opened the Synod on Sunday, the Pope attacked modern culture, saying that "nations once rich in faith and vocations are losing their own identity under the harmful and destructive influence of a certain modern culture".
I wonder who that refers to?
6 comments:
Haven't you said before that family, friends and that sort of thing are a whole lot more important to your happiness then financial wealth? That is basically what Benedict is saying here, with of course an added component of religious faith.
Absolutely, Dave, and that is still the case. The promotion of religion as the alternative (which is Benedict's job after all) is the part that I can not accept.
So, apart from the religion, I agree with him. Particularly in the last para...
Well, Benedict would say that religion is part of a well centered life with a greater focus on people then material things.
Basically, if I understand you, you promote a basic 'spirituality' but not organized religion. Benedict would say that organized religion, particularly his, is the means of obtaining that spirituality.
While there is some disagreement about the method, it seems to me that you and he are pretty much in agreement as to the destination.
"...a basic 'spirituality'..."
Quite frankly, Dave I don't think so.
You should know that I have no belief in any form of "after-life". And that desire for "after-life" is the genesis of all of the "spirituality" theories.
I am here now - I won't be when I die.
Perhaps spirituality isn't the right term, although I don't agree that all spirituality relates to an afterlife.
I'm talking about looking at the ocean a feeling a sense of majesty, finding purpose in non-tangible emotional things rather then material possessions, valuation of beauty, art and poetry.
Back to your final question, it wasn't me.
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