"whoever Does Not Pray To God, Prays To The Devil"

[LazyGun]

Seems the new Pope has a somewhat "scorched-earth" policy when it comes to them there pesky atheists, humanists and a.n.others who may not worship the catholic version of god..

Seems the new Pope has a fondness for raising the spectre of Satan - invoked the father of lies when talking about Argentina's plans to legalise same-sex marriage .....

What little respect I might have had for this new vicar of christ - his seeming frugality etc - is rapidly dissipating. I thought they would struggle to find a more fundamentalist pope than the last one - seems I was wrong..

http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2013/the-devil-and-pope-francis.html

[sara3]

but I don't believe in the devil!

[LazyGun]

@Sara He exist - lives in the detail :)

[chrisgel]

A fine example of religious logic.

[naomi24]

Oh dear. No progress there then. What a pity.

[paddywak]

There'll never be any changes. If a cardinal doesn't conform to the old ways he won't get the job.

[Old_Geezer]

It is a sad day when someone who can only see things in terms of black or white is put into a position of authority. Unsure tying it up with "worldliness" makes any difference.

[jomifl]

So to take this logic to it's inevitably absurd extreme...whenever the pope is not actually praying to god then he is by default praying to the devil. Now tell me that that is not what he meant, but who could possibly know?

[ludwig]

He's the pope. Saying stupid things comes with the job.

To be fair, he was quoting someone else when he said that, but he did go on to put it in his own words...

// When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil. //

When it comes down to it this is the position of religion of most religions - if you're not one of the good people, then you're one of the bad people.

[modeller]

If you believe in god do you automatically believe in the devil ?
How about the reverse?

[jomifl]

Modeller, I think that if you believe in the christian god you must believe the bible therefore you must believe in the devil or satan ..whatever.

[wildwood]

//"whoever Does Not Pray To God, Prays To The Devil"//

I would much prefer to pray to the Devil. I remember when he came down to Georgia ♪♫

[naomi24]

“Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil.” ….“When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil.”

That is actually quite evil. I wonder how many of the faithful believe him?

[Old_Geezer]

Religions, and in this case Christianity come if favours flavours. I'm unsure if the RC church demands belief in a devil, not ever having been in it, but for sure Christians can and do believe at various levels. Some think more is allegory whilst others take it all as "gospel". Devil belief being optional I think.

So you think it might be enticement to riot or something Naomi ?

[naomi24]

OG, no I don’t think it’s an incitement to riot, but I do know otherwise intelligent people who take the Devil very seriously indeed. This, coming from an alleged wise man of peace, encourages separation and suspicion, and does nothing to encourage trust or unity. I think it's quite shameful.

[douglas9401]

Please! In all of this don't forget that he gets the bus and pays his own hotel bill.
The important stuff often gets lost in thehype.

[naomi24]

Ahh, yes, Douglas. Silly me. Must concentrate on the important things in life. ;o)

[sandyRoe]

Does he mean that those who do not pray to God have actually erected shrines and altars to honour the Great Hornéd One?
Or could he mean that many of those who don't aspire to a better, decent, life will find themselves mired in a rat race where the prizes for the winners are transient and nugatory?

[coccinelle]

Don't you think he meant that those who don't pray to God are leaving the door open for the devil to step in. A bit like: get behind me Satan! Just a thought...