Flutterby™! : Pope says "works" 2013-05-23 05:11:40.325743+00

Pope says "works"

2013-05-23 05:11:40.325743+00 by Dan Lyke 7 comments

Wow. Vatican Radio: Pope at Mass: Culture of encounter is the foundation of peace:

If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”

Pope goes all out for works over faith. I kinda like this guy.

Via Huffington Post: Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics, which I think is going further than that mass went, but I still think this is a fascinating turn in Catholicism...

#Comment Re: made: 2013-05-23 15:48:04.28013+00 by: meuon [edit history]

My bus driver on a ride back from the Atlanta airport was a "Deacon" at a largish local "fundy" church but had some actual education in seminary school and with a Catholic school. Neat guy, and open enough to talk about things. I was the only passenger and somehow we got into this topic. It was a friendly conversation and as I hadn't dived in deep in a while, I enjoyed it. According to his narrow focus, only through Jes-us can one attain salvation. He actually quoted: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14: 6)

Never thought I'd say this: But I'm with the Pope. I believe there are many socially responsible sound theologies. It IS what you do that matters. This is what brings us together as humanity, and if there really is an afterlife, what will bring us together there. If not, at least we tried to do the right things here and now.

Yeah, the only way I've ever been able to have a conversation on the "faith vs works" dichotomy is with people who acknowledge that faith can only be expressed through works, but it's frankly earth-shattering to have a Pope come down on the "works trumps faith" side of the discussion.

This is huge, especially since he was largely expected to stay fairly conservative in order to continue to appease the growth markets for Catholicism, developing countries.

I can think of several parables that Jesus taught that expresses this exact idea. The parable of the sheep and the goats is the first one that comes to mind. This is why I've come to think of a number of friends from various religions or no religion as brothers and sisters in Christ and true members of Christ's Church. Thinking in terms of a tree being known by its fruit if an atheist, a Christian, a Buddhist and a Pagan all show the same fruit aren't they gong to be known as the same tree?

Well, you have limes (green), Key limes (yellow) and Calamondin limes (orange), all slightly different and yet, limes, but not of the same tree.

#Comment Re: made: 2013-05-26 00:24:34.526754+00 by: Dan Lyke [edit history]