Hello Steve,

>SA>The RCC bishops observe the protocol (and probably Anglicans, Assembly
>SA>of God, Baptist etc do also), but the Orthodox have factions which get
>SA>a bit passionate at times, especially if a bishop of the wrong faction
>SA>arrives in Oz uninvited. It doesn't happen all that often, but it does
>SA>happen.

>LL>It's called protecting one's turf.  :)

>SA>That is literally true, of course. In its extremes, the dominant
>SA>church / religion causes the government to enact laws outlawing
>SA>or restricting other churches / factions / religions to prevent
>SA>proselytising.

>LL>Proselytising is always seen as being a big no-no.  A very big
>LL>no-no. :)

SA>On the other hand, forced conversion, at the point of a sword or
SA>a pile of burning wood is officially sanctioned, from time to time. :)

"Convert, or die!" has been the motto of religionists (whether
Christian, Muslim, or Jew) at different times in different places.

>LL>Even the pope, who is the bishop of Rome, would not show up in
>LL>another diocese uninvited.  Even though most RCC bishops would love
>LL>for him to visit.  :)

>SA>His visit certainly wouldn't go unnoticed! :)

>LL>Maybe an exception would be to make a speech at the United Nations,
>LL>which is located in New York City.  And any religious leader who
>LL>did that would be sure to get worldwide attention.  ;)

>SA>It may happen sooner rather than later (that B16 addresses the UN in NY).

>LL>JPII addressed the UN on two separate occasions.  Will B16 address
>LL>the UN?  Only time will tell...

SA>My very rough guess would be around October, based on "chatter" that
SA>I am trying to confirm. Again, time will tell.

The only confirmed papal trip outside of Rome is World Youth Day
in Cologne, Germany.  But it does seem likely B16 would seek to address
the UN at some time in the near future.

>LL>As well as better relations with other Christians,

>LL>JPII was a theological conservative.  Benedict XVI appears to also
>LL>be a theological conservative, following in the footsteps of the
>LL>late JPII. But JPII was definitely NOT a political conservative.

>SA>I guess it depends on how one views a theological conservative; to me,
>SA>the notion of seeking Christian and wider religious unity, as expounded
>SA>in B 16's inaugural outdoor mas, smacks of rejection of the biblical
>SA>concept of separation, and plays into the hands of the "god of this
>SA>world" (Satan) and his false Messiah, the Beast 666.

>LL>If the pope were to be making a case for wider religious unity
>LL>based on religious freedom, it would be an error.  IOW, all
>LL>religions are not the same.  Arguing that all religions are the
>LL>same, or more or less the same, is a defined heresy, that of
>LL>indifferentism.  What the pope is referring to is freedom of
>LL>conscience, which is based on the dignity of the human person, NOT
>LL>on the basis of religious freedom.

>SA>I think I will just have to "watch this space" very
carefully to get a
>SA>feel for what B 16 is saying, and what he means, re unity of Christians,
>SA>Islam offering a "valid spiritual foundation for the life of
its people",
>SA>etc.

>LL>As per Christian unity, B16 is referring to coherence between faith
>LL>and life, as well as Gospel and culture.  Certainly, Catholics have
>LL>their own unique identity, as do Baptists, Methodists, etc.
>LL>Otherwise, Catholics would not be Catholics and Baptists would not
>LL>be Baptists, etc.  He also seems to be pushing for more open
>LL>dialogue between Christians and non-Christians, so as the world's
>LL>people can gain a better understanding of each other.  His choice
>LL>of Benedict as a name is significant, being that Benedict means
>LL>"blessing", and his mention of Benedict XV being an influence on
>LL>his choice of name, along with St. Benedict.

SA>It is one thing to have "dialogue", but to what end? A
Parliament of the
SA>World's Religions is likely to issue a manifesto along the lines of..
SA>"Knowing that religion is a major cause of human misunderstanding and
SA>conflict... we the people of the world's community of faith believe
SA>that... we need to work cooperatively to reduce causes of conflict,
SA>negativity and separation... recognise our oneness with the Creator
SA>however we perceive Him..." (etc) and produce a manifesto designed
SA>to appeal to all people, but rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That is the danger.  For example, Kung's draft of "Towards a Global
Ethic" contains four component parts -

1. Respect for all life
2. Economic justice and solidarity
3. Tolerance and truthfulness
4. Equal rights and partnership between men and women

While those four parts seem well and good, the devil is in the details.

>LL>Benedict XV was pope from 1914-1922, and had tried mightily to
>LL>prevent WWI, but was unsuccessful.  St. Benedict was the founder of
>LL>the Benedictine Order, and although B16 is not a Benedictine, St.
>LL>Benedict is very popular in Germany.  Furthermore, recent comments
>LL>made by B16 seems to suggest that Christians will soon be
>LL>undergoing many trials and tribulations, with Judgment Day just
>LL>around the corner.

>LL>B15 - WWI
>LL>B16 - WWIII?

SA>Ezekiel 38 & 39? (Marketed as WWIII or Armageddon)

Those chapters of Ezekial are known as containing "war clusters"
in the Bible Code.  See www.biblecodedigest.com for details.

--Lee


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