Christians Unite!.....Or Wait, Let's Not?

[bleechers]

So we are paying bleech by the word now? Okay no problem. Soon he will be making more than Barry Bonds and we might have to trade him for a few prospects tho

Talk to my agent...

 

[LondonsBurning]

There can be no unity. It's impossible, that is for denominations etc. Well until one comes and unites all religions into one world religion.. then there will be unity... but we'll be gone then so don't worry about it.

One world religion may come sooner than you think. The Pope's successor, an archbishop from france has a dream of uniting Judaism, Christianity, and ISlam to one massive religion as his first and most important action in office.

 

[Gold Dragon]

One world religion may come sooner than you think. The Pope's successor, an archbishop from france has a dream of uniting Judaism, Christianity, and ISlam to one massive religion as his first and most important action in office.

Very interesting. Link please? or at least a name?

Apparently in 1999, CNN did a special report on the Pope and potential successors, with the expectation that he was going to kick the bucket soon. Five years later, the dude is still rolling. Papal successors are not chosen until after the current pope dies or steps down.

Apparently back then, the two front running candidates were

1) Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, the archbishop of Milan
2) Cardinal Francis Arinze, a Vatican official from Nigeria

Not sure what the situation is like now.

 

[SumTinWong]

Hey London, who is the Popes succesor? The Vice Pope?

 

[bleechers]

One world religion may come sooner than you think. The Pope's successor, an archbishop from france has a dream of uniting Judaism, Christianity, and ISlam to one massive religion as his first and most important action in office.

Hey, LB, great avatar... but you're not helping...

This is the kind of stuff I have to answer for all the time!

 

[Gold Dragon]

Here is an article from the National Catholic Reporter from March of this year. It list the top five Italian candidates and the top five non-Italian candidates.

Arinze still seems to be the most popular non-Italian candidate.

Dionigi Tettamanzi has succeeded Martini as Archbishop of Milan and is currently the most popular Italian candidate.

 

[bleechers]

Here is an article from the National Catholic Reporter from March of this year. It list the top five Italian candidates and the top five non-Italian candidates.

I'm Italian... any chance I'll get some votes?

 

[Gold Dragon]

I think Cardinal Francis Arinze is that candidate that LondonsBurning is talking about. I found a few conspiracy theory type websites spreading concern about him.

Here is an article from beliefnet.com a religious ecumenical website that invites religious folks from all walks of faith. Most of the Christian content there is generally from the more liberal side of Christianity.

White Smoke for a Black Pope?

...

Williams, of the Detroit archdiocese, said Arinze's expertise in Islam, developed in his Vatican role, is highly valued on a continent where Islam is developing apace with Christianity. Nigeria's nascent democracy is threatened by instability, reflected in the country's soaring crime rate and recurrent civil conflicts. Optimists say that Arinze's prominence, combined with his emphasis on interreligious respect, could help keep the peace.

"The next religious war on the African continent could be a religious war between Christians and Muslims," Williams said. "I think Cardinal Arinze is often mentioned as pope because he has the skills needed for reconciliation."

Arinze learned about coexistence with members of other faiths early in life. Although he comes from Onitsha, a predominantly Catholic city, nearly half of Nigeria's citizens are Muslim. Arinze arranged for Pope John Paul II to meet members of both faiths during the pope's visit to Nigeria in 1998.

"If you look at Christian-Muslim relations around the world, it's a life-and-death matter," said Monsignor Raymond East, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Washington. Religious tolerance is going to be one of the most important messages for the future."

...

Even as he reaches out to other religions, though, Arinze insists on a strict doctrinal line. "All are redeemed by Jesus Christ," he said at Wake Forest -- a message that does not always play well with leaders of other faiths. Nor is it strongly held by all contemporary Christian theologians. The Vatican, in fact, has been clamping down recently on Catholic theologians thought to waver on that point.