Vatican convenes summit to fight the "threat" of alternative faiths!

The Pope and the Catholic hierarchy are looking for ideas to combat the horrors of Druidry, yoga, and Zen Buddhism!

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-break...0338-2257r.htm

Vatican moves to quell 'alternatives'

Vatican City, Jun. 16 (UPI) -- A week-long summit at the Vatican is trying to devise a plan to deal with the rise of "New Age" religions and fads, The Independent reported Wednesday.

The closed-door conference includes priests and lay people from 25 countries, focusing on a Vatican report on New Age sects last year.

Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, one of the authors of the report, said the greatest challenge may be in England and North America "where the New Age began ... and where it has become such a part of everyday life that we don't notice it." That makes it harder to attack, he says: "Where one sees a threat, it's easier to battle it."

Among the pursuits eroding the Catholic church's ranks are ancient Egyptian occult practices, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, medieval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, yoga and Zen Buddhism.

The report notes how in Japan, one Jesuit missionary became a Zen Buddhist roshi, or master. He became a type of reverse missionary, implanting Zen Buddhist ideas and practice in Catholic groups in Germany and elsewhere, where they continue to thrive.

Originally Posted by EllisDTripp

closed-door conference

i wish they would open the doors

So--in other words, they're looking to eliminate any vestiges of TRUTH and LOVE? Real threat, they sure are valiant.

I guess if the pope says something's not right, it must be killed, since he's been declared "infallible". From the pictures I see of him these days, he's more like incomprehensible and incompetent! Someone needs to euthanize that poor rich man!

The universal religion of peace has many enemies. Why is that?

Too simple, no room for pettiness and competition, too unselfish, not violent, no pedastals to stand on, etc.


The main reason, IMO, truth is needed for discovery, therefore most think it nonexistent.

It's easy to see the faults of Christianity, but much harder to see how it chained many beasts.

Originally Posted by EllisDTripp

The report notes how in Japan, one Jesuit missionary became a Zen Buddhist roshi, or master. He became a type of reverse missionary, implanting Zen Buddhist ideas and practice in Catholic groups in Germany and elsewhere, where they continue to thrive.

It's probably worth noting that buddhism is not actually a religion but a philosophy and a way of life. In fact, it is perfectly possible to be both a buddhist and a christian. Someone should tell that to the ignoramuses.

I do not understand why there is so much hostility against the Papacy here. No laws will be passed forbidding people from practicing Buddhism or Wicca. The Vatican is simply developing apologetic doctrine to defend the Faith, as they have done for 2000 years. Really, it has no effect whatsoever on anyone who isn't Catholic, and so anyone who isn't Catholic should probably stay out of it.
"they're looking to eliminate any vestiges of TRUTH and LOVE?"

That's self-serving and arrogant. If Buddhism or Wicca or whatever is your truth, then that's fine, but don't talk as if it applies to me. And don't lie to me and tell me that the Church is not based on love.

"In fact, it is perfectly possible to be both a buddhist and a christian."

How? Christianity has a God, Buddhism doesn't. Christianity has an afterlife, Buddhism has reincarnation. Those are two pretty big differences.

Buddhism has no religious beliefs, although some buddhists do. Buddhism is simply an ancient system for achieving enlightenment and inner peace. A good buddhist teacher will teach you to come to your own conclusions, not his, and if christianity is part of your conclusion so be it. Surely the church isn't against a system of meditation and self controll, it would be like the church being against psychiatry.

"Surely the church isn't against a system of meditation and self controll"

Ah, but surely they are!

Are those not the domain of the church? Such things are not for we who do not have a direct line to the almighty!
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The church is a despotic institution.

Maintaing power is thier interest; and thus other systems, and, god forbid, independant thought are thier enemies.

"The church alone may offer peace- in exchange for control. And If you don't sign on, you go to hell anyway."

Who do they think they are? Microsoft?