I have never been a religious person. Good, honest, helpful, and respectful.

And I respect and support your right to be religious, (I think these Atheist lawsuits are c*) as I hope you respect my right not to be.

So take what I say and think about it.

I do mourn the loss of the Pope, I mourn the loss of any great person. Particularly someone who has done so much for this world.

What get's me is millions of people flood Rome to pay their respects.

If half of these people put half the effort, energy and ?? they did to visit and pay respects, towards helping someone "In his honor", doing something good for this world we might actually be able to make it a decent place to live. And in my opinion (or limited Religion) that would pay respect many times greater to his memory than spending 24 hours to walk by his remains.

Heck if half of the effort to host these people went towards helping those who need it ....

And I could elaborate based on comments from a close Uncle who was VERY religious, but made questions in line with above.

So
Sign me confused ??

__________________
KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

Being pretty presumptuous to conclude that paying respects to the Pope precludes helping someone or doing something good for this world, don't you think?

In my personal opinion, I always thought that you attend memorial services to pay your respects to the survivors. In the case of the Pope, this does not apply. So, I'm curious, in a general sense, of why people go to see the Pope after his passing.

I'll be presumptuous and suggest that they must feel better about themselves for doing so?

"presumptuous", OK that's an acceptable term.

Unfortunately they don't do other things. MANY DO, but many don't.

In simplest issue's, the world produces 30 % more food than needed (can produce close to 60%), yet 30% of the population is starving.
The problem is mostly logistics (I'll discount politics and greed for another thread) we just can't get the food to them.
Yet we can come up with the logistics to move, house (I know tents or where ever), feed and hopefully provide sanitation for millions for this.

I admit to wastin' my share of ??, but I admit to wastin' it on me.

__________________
KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

I'd be willing to bet that anyone willing to wait in a long line after sleeping on the street in the cold all night to pay their respects to the pope would probably be the kind of person that regularly commits acts of kindness to others already.

To pay respect to the dead is something that people of all societies and religions have done since the beginning of time. It's an acknowledgement of the accomplishments of the deceased. JP II had incredible impact on the world in his lifetime. It's only fitting that so many, touched by him, should pay their respects. I'd like to be there myself.

__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

Can you elaborate on this? Is it a belief that the Pope might be aware of the presence of the attendees? If so, then it makes some sense. But, if you conclude that he is not aware, the purpose of paying respects is?.............

Are you asking us to get naked with you because that seem to be the topic. I think you should have said "BEAR with me" not "Bare". If you want us to BEAR with you, fair enough. BARE with you, no thanx.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Catholics believe that there is an afterlife, so in that sense, he is aware of the presense of the attendees. I agree, it does serve a purpose of closure for those visiting him to see him lying in state and to pay their respects.

__________________

Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

Millions travel far and wide to pay respects to a talented, but long dead legendary rock and roll singer each year. Shall I name who?

I don't believe religion really plays a role here....except that the person in question was a devoted servant of God who happened to attain the highest rank in the Catholic Church...

..being world-renowned helps to drive what would be an ordinary ceremony to pay respects into a pilgrimage...

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

So does every person who believes in a superbeing. Does this mean the pope knows I am saying what I am saying? Oh crap! Best delete what I said.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

There are quite a few Catholics who don't think this Pope was so great. He silenced a number of creative theologians and encouraged revolutions in his home country against a repressive government but discouraged them if the governments were right wing. He re-affirmed irrational dogmas on reproductive practices and gave support to the old male domination themes of Catholicism.
There are and have been wonderful Catholics, but he doesn't make my list.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

You may be the first one to have JP II turn in his grave!!!! Shame on you!

Whether you pay respects to a dead rock and roll singer or pay respects to the Pope, you must have some belief that the persona of the dead are living on in the afterlife and will recognize your actions.

If you don't believe this, then you are not "paying your respects". You are gaining closure for an empty space in your own life. How this can occur with a dead rock and roll singer is beyond my comprehension.

[QUOTE=Brian Carlton]
You are gaining closure for an empty space in your own life.


I can relate with this quote from Brian. But, agnostic yes, atheist no! I can never really discount possibilities, so I remain skeptical yes, and I'm not going to empty my basket while I can never really be sure.

How much did any of us really feel about the pope before he died?

I always kinda thought of the pope as an old world tony soprano. The don of a huge crime ring.

He really blew it when the priests were caught molesting. He swept that under the rug so fast to protect the church.

This pope was about the equivalent of W.

__________________
1977 280 E
1994 C280
1992 190E (sold)

"Jump in the hatch and turn on the key, pop in the clutch and let the wheels roll free"

That's grossly unfair. The Pope had connected with many people and cultures throughout the world. He was profoundly loved and respected by most Catholics and non-Catholics for that matter.

You think W. is in this class? The man has alienated more than 2 Billion people in this world, and, other than the retards who voted for him, has no following and has gained no respect whatsoever.