Pope Francis Declares the Internet a 'Gift From God'
Source: Mashable
Pope Francis declared the Internet was a "gift from God" that can break barriers between different groups of people by giving them a platform to discuss their differences.
In a statement written for the Catholic Church's World Communication Day, the Pope called the Internet a breakthrough for humanity, not technology. He said the power of social media lies in having political, economic and religious dialogue among disparate peoples and that such conversation can lead to a more united "human family."
Francis acknowledged that people can use the web simply to seek out like-minded individuals and reinforce their own opinions. But, in a move that will likely ruffle the feathers of the religion's more conservative members, he called on Catholics to do just the opposite.
The Pope wants them to seek out interfaith dialogue, and said doing so "means to believe that the 'other' has something worthwhile to say." It doesn't mean you must renounce your own faith, just acknowledge your ideas are not the only valid ones.
-snip-
Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/01/23/pope-internet-gift-god/
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)Much to the chagrin of a pack of gibbering hyenas of a certain political affiliation, when one points it out.
Pterodactyl
(1,687 posts)Rozlee
(2,529 posts)Although, Al Gore can take a bow for introducing the High Performance Computing Act of 1991.
MsPithy
(809 posts)AtheistCrusader wins the internets, today!
DFW
(54,050 posts)He does stuff for DARPA
onehandle
(51,122 posts)Who knows what's next.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Do the convoys of people know where to travel to yet or will they have to google it
BootinUp
(46,924 posts)and I think it makes a lot of sense.
WhoWoodaKnew
(847 posts)Enrique
(27,461 posts)Let there be cat videos
Peace Patriot
(24,010 posts)nt
Cat videos and well, let's be honest, porn. But especially cat videos!
JackInGreen
(2,975 posts)your Lolscripture, hooman.
jsr
(7,712 posts)Gidney N Cloyd
(19,781 posts)jsr
(7,712 posts)TexasTowelie
(111,292 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)''Whatever is funny is subversive, every joke is ultimately a custard pie... a dirty joke is a sort of mental rebellion.'' ~George Orwell
Shoulders of Giants
(370 posts)phantom power
(25,966 posts)Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)...or he hasn't seen my browsing history.
AtheistCrusader
(33,982 posts)in a special tone of voice.
Botany
(70,289 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Utter nonsense. And anyone who disagrees with me on this is going to be immediately added to my Ignore list.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)just troll us?
olddad56
(5,732 posts)BodieTown
(147 posts)madrchsod
(58,162 posts)oh my, this guy is going to ruffle a lot of feathers with that statement.
onehandle
(51,122 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)LOL...
Of course, I did see jesus once many years ago next to the battery plant in a central office. To this day I still don't know WTF he was doing there
happyslug
(14,779 posts)The actaul wording is as follows:
In a world like this, media can help us to feel closer to one another, creating a sense of the unity of the human family which can in turn inspire solidarity and serious efforts to ensure a more dignified life for all. Good communication helps us to grow closer, to know one another better, and ultimately, to grow in unity. The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another. We need to resolve our differences through forms of dialogue which help us grow in understanding and mutual respect. A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive. Media can help us greatly in this, especially nowadays, when the networks of human communication have made unprecedented advances. The internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.
In simple terms it is NOT the internet that is the gift from God, it is the "immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity" that is the Gift from God.
http://www.news.va/en/news/popes-message-for-the-48th-world-day-of-social-com
Javaman
(62,439 posts)happyslug
(14,779 posts)Personally it is a fact I would like to forget now for I can live without ever knowing it. Thus I will try to forget the term "Griefer".
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)But, otherwise, the logic is flawless on this.
polynomial
(750 posts)or argument great minds like Newton, Leibniz, Gauss, Galileo, Huygens, Bernoulli many others made their comments about God too. But in time the printed word via a book was in an important way specifically stated from that time till now; one of the books considered the word of God. That being one of the first gifts of God, the word. The words still give me goose bumps John 1
New International Version (NIV) ;
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
Its interesting now that one of the most powerful persons in religion says the internet is a gift from God. From my view he is right.
Imagine as many think speak and feel alive here or anywhere on the internet God is with you. However there is more to the message from the Pope. As Dante Alighieri the poet wrote in the Divine Comedy Ah, Constantine how much evil was born from this conversion. A short snip from the dialog the first wealth received to a Pope from a gift that Constantine making conversion to Christianity. So the caveat Dantes Inferno explains more than the bible to obstruct the soul. Is that a religious right? No, but many think so...
freshwest
(53,661 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)And coming from a staunch Unitarian who believes in the eternal spiritual search and struggle, not easy, manufactured, answers written by people who lived millions of years ago before the age of science and discovery, it certainly proves that the internet can bring people with different views together.
notemason
(298 posts)Isn't the net responsible for the world turning more democratic as more and more curtains fall and major gaps appear in the propaganda machines? I, too think the Pope has a valid point. (I am concerned the elite will attempt serious control and wonder if the Net Neutrality ruling was the start.)
Enrique
(27,461 posts)PaPal!
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)like the rest of us.
Cha
(295,899 posts)another site! It a gift alright.. we love it!