Originally Posted By fkurucz And it looks like the Japanese have done something that Americans have never done: they placed a conservative Catholic in charge of their country. <a href="http://news.aol.com/article/japan-elects-catholic-conservative/182714" target="_blank">http://news.aol.com/article/ja...e/182714</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X Ain't that just weird, KooRoots? I had no idea til yesterday that he was Roman Catholic! (most Japanese aren't religious in the least bit, actually)
Originally Posted By WorldDisney At the rate of the most recent PMs....oh, maybe 3 weeks . It is sort of funny though. In America, its a shock if a politician isnt religious, but in Japan its a shock if they are!
Originally Posted By Mr X Not just religious, but CATHOLIC. That's pretty hardcore..I think most Catholics are born into the family, no? Almost as much as Jews are, I'd say (not quite...you don't often see a converted Jew). On the three weeks thing, lol. BUT, this Aso guy has been eager to get in for a long time..he tried four times before getting the gig. I think he wants to stick around (don't know if he will though, he's not too popular so far!).
Originally Posted By DisneyCurly Returns Really, WARLDDISNEY..you think so huh? Funny, huh? You must be shocked. In more ways than one. Muhahahahahahaha. Can I get a "Welcome back Curly" from ya, buddy?
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^Dear god! I am praying this is a cruel joke by someone lol!! And it's funny Mr. X, how long the guy has been there, a few weeks and he's already 'not that popular' lol. To be honest, I'm not sure why ANYONE wants to go into politics these days, especially in Japan, but we'll see if he can turn it around and have a real term or two for a change.
Originally Posted By Mr X Well, he's been "around" for years..so he's pretty well known. We shall see, huh? Personally, I want Koizumi back!
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^LOL, me too!! Koizumi was given a lot of grief in the last year of his term, but I bet they wish they have him back now lol.
Originally Posted By Mr X Can you imagine if 2 presidents in a row just sorta quit. Pretty bad example to set for your country, I'd say!
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<That's pretty hardcore..I think most Catholics are born into the family, no?>> You'ld be surprised. While we don't go around knocking on doors like the LDS or Watchtower folks, we do have a large number of converts in the Church.
Originally Posted By Mr X You're a born again Catholic? Well, I'm a reborn cynic, so I guess we balance. I don't have "stats" in front of me, but I would assume that Catholic and Jewish ranks tend to swell not so much from gaining new prospects but from convincing family who are already a part of. Just a guess. I've seen plenty of the evangelical thing, and the mormon thing, and they seem to (at least temporarily) get people to buy into the hype. Catholic and Jew stuff is much more ritualistic and stodgy. Hard to win converts (who want to thump their bible and condemn gays and all that). It's a much more civilized, old religion and it's horribly sad that the perverted priests and the pope who harbors them have ruined what is a very old and traditional church of christ. It's a tough sell, to say the least (perhaps the polyamorous sicko weirdo mormons are more appealing to the darker side of converts, we all know what god thinks about THOSE freaks right? They deserve nothing but scorn, deviant sicko freaks that they are with their deviant cult and their multiple spouse history of sick deviance..the devil is truly creative in his efforts to sicken the very fabric of MARRIAGE, the covenant of god, through these deviant evildoers who continue to support the concept even while rejecting it for the sake of persecuting others).
Originally Posted By Mr X I'm not hateful or angry when I say these things, by the way. It is simply and truthfully the instructions of my church to the faithful...it is exactly what I've been instructed to say. So, it doesn't make me prejudiced or hateful. You must understand that...I only want what's best for you hellbound sinners, and to encourage you to reject your sick, evil and sinful ways and follow the true path of Jesus. In the name of the Lord.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Catholic and Jew stuff is much more ritualistic and stodgy. Hard to win converts (who want to thump their bible and condemn gays and all that).>> We actually get a lot of people who leave evangelicalism, and that includes former pastors. And that's without proselityzing. Another source are folks quiting Anglicanism/Episcolpalianism. A most prominent recent convert was Tony Blair. In the US there is a special provision for them. They are allowed to keep their Anglican style of worship and their priests (even the married ones) are ordained. <a href="http://www.pastoralprovision.org/" target="_blank">http://www.pastoralprovision.org/</a>
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<It's a much more civilized, old religion and it's horribly sad that the perverted priests and the pope who harbors them have ruined what is a very old and traditional church of christ>> FWIW, the Church has recovered from worse situations in the past. In many ways I think its amazing that it has survived this long. One might conclude that the only way an organization that is always chock full of sinners (both in the pews and around the altar) could survive 2000 years would be through divine grace.
