Are Most Priests Hypocrites?

[WSpa]

Studies over a long period show that atheists statistically tend to be more intelligent than believers in a god - please find your own links.
Given that priests have to be intelligent to qualify in their profession does this show that many of them may be insincere con men or is this false logic, priests do not conform to the intelligence/non-belief pattern.

[douglas9401]

God only knows.

[barry1010]

Some very clever people are Christians, some are well respected scientists, like these https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christians_in_science_and_technology#:~:text=George%20Washington%20Carver%20(1864%E2%80%931943,integrated%20them%20into%20his%20life.

[andy-hughes]

Are most priests hypocrites? No, most are sincere and do their best.

But as in all walks of life, some have more sinister motives for leading the unnatural life that unmarried priests live.

[1ozzy]

Possibly, but some can't be trusted

[barry1010]

Not all priests are Roman Catholic, Andy. Anglican priests can marry

[andy-hughes]

WSpa - // Given that priests have to be intelligent ... //

That depends on how you define intelligence.

There are plenty of priests who are hugely educated in theology, but have absolutely no idea how the real world works, and are utterly useless in matters of relationships and anything outside their narrow remit of understanding their faith.

I believe that priests with families do a far better job - they are able to relate to people from personal experience, not gazing down from some faith-based ivory tower.

[barry1010]

Name any large group of people that doesn't have an untrustworthy/dodgy few.
Police, Parliament, NHS, local councils, education?
I can't think of one

[andy-hughes]

barry - //
Not all priests are Roman Catholic, Andy. Anglican priests can marry //

I am aware of that, but for the purposes of general debate, I think you'd agree that it is usual to refer to Catholic priests when the term 'priest' is used, unless it is qualified to mean Anglican clergy.

[barry1010]

No, Andy, priests today can be Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox, I don't assume a priest to mean RC.

Historically, priests existed long before these religions formed.

[andy-hughes]

barry - // No, Andy, priests today can be Catholic, Anglican or Orthodox, I don't assume a priest to mean RC. //

Then I think you may be in the minority in terms of general understanding of the term.

// Historically, priests existed long before these religions formed. //

I know that as well.

[naomi24]

//Then I think you may be in the minority in terms of general understanding of the term. //

Anglican priests are priests and are commonly known as priests. I don't think Barry in the minority in saying that, and neither is he wrong.

As for the question, I think most priests enter the profession in good faith, so to speak, but academic achievement is no measure of life experience or common sense and it's a mistake to assume it is. The vast majority of Catholic priests are unmarried but that doesn't mean they're oblivious to family life or life's trials. Practically all of them are members of someone's family, and have been raised with parents, grandparents. brothers, sisters, etc. They're not a breed apart. They're human beings who, like the rest of us, experience life in whatever society they happen to inhabit.

[andy-hughes]

We all understand being a child, because we have all been children.

We understand marriage and parenthood by being married and having children, and the majority of priests have zero experience of either.

I know what childbirth is, but I cannot empathise with someone who has experienced it because I never have and never will.

[douglas9401]

Nearly at the dog born in a stable point, early too.

[andy-hughes]

Douglas - that has nothing whatsoever to do with the point I made.

Yet again, you rush to make a negative point without stopping to think if it makes sense or not.

[barry1010]

I have met and known many people employed in various roles in different faiths and the vast majority have been good in the accepted sense of the phrase 'a good person'. Some have been better at their jobs than others but they are human, every one is different. Some were very intelligent and had high flying careers before entering a religious vocation later in life.
Every one seemed to be sincere in their faith.

I'm not so sure about American charismatic TV preachers, I gave up the opportunity to meet Billy Graham, that sort of evangelism doesn't appeal to me.

[MissTerious2]

I have no religion. I can't understand how people can believe in a god. I consider myself as being reasonable intelligent. Our closest friend is an ex headmaster, is deeply religious and a deacon and highly intelligent. We have been friends for over 50 years have long discussions about all sorts of things and never discussed religion.

[naomi24]

//We all understand being a child, because we have all been children. //

But they're not children when they enter the priesthood. They're adults and many of them have worked in jobs far removed from the life of a Catholic priest, and quite possibly had relationships too. The current pope was a bouncer in a bar, the one before him in the military, and his predecessor managed a restaurant and worked in a chemical factory and as a labourer in a quarry.

[MissTerious2]

What I do know is he's one of the most honest, trustworthy and kind people we know.

[douglas9401]

Sorry, I was forgetting your infallibility.

Please, carry on with your lecture.

[andy-hughes]

Douglas - If you want to rush to make yourself look foolish, don't let me stop you.