Scalia commends foolish Christians

Ben Kenobi · February 1, 2005, 02:29

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/012305/new_sca...

US Supreme Court Justice Scalia: Christians Should Not Fear Being Perceived As “Fools for Christ”

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, January 31, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) –

US Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, in a keynote address on the 100-year anniversary of the Knights of Columbus Baton Rouge Council 969 on Saturday, told the Knights not to fear the perception by “educated circles” as being “fools for Christ.”

“To believe in traditional Christianity is something else,” Scalia said, as reported by 2theadvocate.com. “For the son of God to be born of a virgin? I mean, really. To believe that he rose from the dead and bodily ascended into heaven? How utterly ridiculous. To believe in miracles? Or that those who obey God will rise from the dead and those who do not will burn in hell?”

“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools ... and he has not been disappointed.”

Scalia commended Catholics who “follow religiously the teaching of the pope.”

“Intellect and reason need not be laid aside for religion,” he said. “It is not irrational to accept the testimony of eyewitnesses who had nothing to gain. There is something wrong with rejecting a priori (deductively) the existence of miracles.”

“I find it hard to understand people who revere Thomas More but who themselves selectively oppose the teachings of the pope,” Scalia said. He described More, who opposed King Henry VIII’s bid to divorce his wife and name himself head of the Church of England, as the ideal model for the Christian life. More was martyred for refusing to bend to the king's will.

“If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”

Scalia, a member of the Supreme Court since 1986, is considered a potential replacement for chief justice William Rehnquist when he retires the bench.

Scalia is a father of nine, one of whom is a priest.

DRoseDARs · February 1, 2005, 02:49

"I accept, for the sake of argument, for example, that sexual orgies eliminate social tension and ought to be encouraged." -- Justice Antonin Scalia

Agathon · February 1, 2005, 02:57

Make an English sentence out of these words.

Someone; Cap; In; Pop; A; His; Ass.

DRoseDARs · February 1, 2005, 03:03

"Somone pop a cap in his ass..." -- Justice Antonin Scalia

notyoueither · February 1, 2005, 03:40

Originally posted by Agathon
Make an English sentence out of these words.

Someone; Cap; In; Pop; A; His; Ass.

Quite the beacon of freedom and understanding you are.

Berzerker · February 1, 2005, 04:46

“To believe in traditional Christianity is something else,” Scalia said, as reported by 2theadvocate.com. “For the son of God to be born of a virgin? I mean, really. To believe that he rose from the dead and bodily ascended into heaven? How utterly ridiculous. To believe in miracles? Or that those who obey God will rise from the dead and those who do not will burn in hell?”

Most if not all of that is found in other religions, so it isn't something else, its the same 'ol same 'ol.

“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools ... and he has not been disappointed.”

The wise wouldn't give a damn what Christians believed if they just minded their own business and didn't have this habit of turning their immoral "religious" beliefs into laws for the rest of us to obey. And using Jesus to propagate that evil turns my stomach. These people remind me of the Cardinal (or whatever he was) in Braveheart offering mercy to Wallace if he would only break under the torture.

“Intellect and reason need not be laid aside for religion,” he said. “It is not irrational to accept the testimony of eyewitnesses who had nothing to gain. There is something wrong with rejecting a priori (deductively) the existence of miracles.”

I saw a UFO and I have nothing to gain, therefore believe me in the name of rationality.

“I find it hard to understand people who revere Thomas More but who themselves selectively oppose the teachings of the pope,” Scalia said. He described More, who opposed King Henry VIII’s bid to divorce his wife and name himself head of the Church of England, as the ideal model for the Christian life. More was martyred for refusing to bend to the king's will.

And to follow in his footsteps, Scalia supports incarcerating millions for "drug use".

“If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”

Wolves for Christ, smart enough to persecute people and look like a victim while doing it.

Urban Ranger · February 1, 2005, 04:48

In other news, Rumsfeld commends US soldiers in Iraq for "Dying for freedom."

molly bloom · February 1, 2005, 05:45

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

“Intellect and reason need not be laid aside for religion,” he said.

No, but clearly it helps in North America.

Especially in demagogic politics and certain legal circles. Useful for rewriting history and American legal tradition too.

" It is a Constitution that morphs while you look at it, like Plasticman....

That is contrary to our whole tradition, to "In God We Trust" on the coins, to Thanksgiving proclamations, to (Congressional) chaplains, to tax exemption for places of worship, which has ALWAYS existed in America."

Antonin Scalia, quoted in Gina Holland: "Justice Discusses Church-State Separation"

Associated Press 12th January , 2003#

Just add holy water to get 'instant' tradition.

Boris Godunov · February 1, 2005, 10:44

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Scalia commended Catholics who “follow religiously the teaching of the pope.”

The pope? Why him instead of ol' Jesu?

The pope is a man, and very fallible. Religiously following the edicts of the pope is indeed foolish, just as foolish as following any person without question.

Provost Harrison · February 1, 2005, 10:57

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/012305/new_sca...

US Supreme Court Justice Scalia: Christians Should Not Fear Being Perceived As “Fools for Christ”

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, January 31, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) –

US Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, in a keynote address on the 100-year anniversary of the Knights of Columbus Baton Rouge Council 969 on Saturday, told the Knights not to fear the perception by “educated circles” as being “fools for Christ.”

“To believe in traditional Christianity is something else,” Scalia said, as reported by 2theadvocate.com. “For the son of God to be born of a virgin? I mean, really. To believe that he rose from the dead and bodily ascended into heaven? How utterly ridiculous. To believe in miracles? Or that those who obey God will rise from the dead and those who do not will burn in hell?”

“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools ... and he has not been disappointed.”

So this is an admission of the sheer anti-intellectual nature of Christianity? Is it a coincidence that those with superior mental processes consider it to be bullsh*t?

Scalia commended Catholics who “follow religiously the teaching of the pope.”

No sh*t Sherlock

Scalia, a member of the Supreme Court since 1986, is considered a potential replacement for chief justice William Rehnquist when he retires the bench.

So you are going to promote a self-confessed f*ckwit to one of the most powerful men in the country? Welcome to the Fundamentalist States of America

DinoDoc · February 1, 2005, 11:05

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
So you are going to promote a self-confessed f*ckwit to one of the most powerful men in the country? Welcome to the Fundamentalist States of America

Spoken like someone who doesn't know anything of the opinions the man has written over the years.

St Leo · February 1, 2005, 11:52

Viruses of the Mind

Certum est quia impossibile est.

Ben Kenobi · February 1, 2005, 23:11

The pope? Why him instead of ol' Jesu?

When in Rome.

He's speaking to the Knights, Boris. He specifically says that Catholics ought to follow the pope, because they believe certain things about the authority invested in him by Christ.

The pope is a man, and very fallible. Religiously following the edicts of the pope is indeed foolish, just as foolish as following any person without question.

"Follow religiously"

I don't think Scalia here means what you are taking this to mean. Does it mean to follow his instructions without question?

As for it being foolish, no more foolish than believing Mary to be a virgin.

A much better question would be to ask whether Christians as a whole ought to follow the pope, and not just Catholics.

Ben Kenobi · February 1, 2005, 23:15

So this is an admission of the sheer anti-intellectual nature of Christianity? Is it a coincidence that those with superior mental processes consider it to be bullsh*t?

I suppose you consider yourself to be among these, eh?

Imran Siddiqui · February 1, 2005, 23:20

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
The pope? Why him instead of ol' Jesu?

Vicar of Christ, Throne of St. Peter and all that

.

Ben Kenobi · February 1, 2005, 23:47

The wise wouldn't give a damn what Christians believed if they just minded their own business and didn't have this habit of turning their immoral "religious" beliefs into laws for the rest of us to obey.

So if all Christians kept their faith in the closet, everything would go smoothly?

I saw a UFO and I have nothing to gain, therefore believe me in the name of rationality.

Given the absence of further evidence, one would have to accept the testimony of the eyewitness that she saw something. Just because it's a UFO, doesn't make it full of aliens.

Berzerker · February 2, 2005, 00:31

Ben -

So if all Christians kept their faith in the closet, everything would go smoothly?

Out of my house and my life will do... Is there leeway between this closet y'all hang out in

and hiring mercernaries with our money to order us around in the name of Jeee-SuSsss?

Given the absence of further evidence, one would have to accept the testimony of the eyewitness that she saw something. Just because it's a UFO, doesn't make it full of aliens.

Is it full of God?

molly bloom · February 2, 2005, 05:58

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi

As for it being foolish, no more foolish than believing Mary to be a virgin.

Of course, because undocumented virgin births happen all the time.

Then again, I have no reason for not considering Mary Tyler Moore or Mary J. Blige virgins, because I've never taken a great interest in their private lives.

Or do you mean contrary Mary with the garden?

Uncle Sparky · February 2, 2005, 08:22

Popes aren't fallible, and haven't been for quite a while. That's why JPII cannot step down - you can't have 2 infallible people at the same time.

... anyway, its time for liberals in the US to have an armed insurrection of their own... The world awaits.

chequita guevara · February 2, 2005, 11:15

Originally posted by Uncle Sparky
Popes aren't fallible, and haven't been for quite a while. That's why JPII cannot step down - you can't have 2 infallible people at the same time.

Only a little over 100 years.

Boris Godunov · February 2, 2005, 11:30

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
He's speaking to the Knights, Boris. He specifically says that Catholics ought to follow the pope, because they believe certain things about the authority invested in him by Christ.

And that belief is foolish, especially since it has no grounds in scripture.

"Follow religiously"

I don't think Scalia here means what you are taking this to mean. Does it mean to follow his instructions without question?

When people talk about following something "religiously," it is usually meant with complete, unquestioning devotion. That's certainly the context when referring to religious devotion to god.

As Uncle Sparky pointed out, official Catholic doctrine is that the pope is infallible. So it makes no sense for Scalia to be urging Catholics to be follow the pope "religiously" yet believing they can consider him fallible. If you adhere "religiously" to the doctrine of Catholicism, you must believe the pope is infallible.

As for it being foolish, no more foolish than believing Mary to be a virgin.

Well, I certainly think that's foolish.

But you're wrong, it's a specious comparison. Believing that Mary is a virgin doesn't impact one's own moral behavior. Believing the pope is infallible means one has to follow his edicts, which concern proper moral behavior. That's a big difference.

A much better question would be to ask whether Christians as a whole ought to follow the pope, and not just Catholics.

If it's alright for Christians as a whole not to follow the pope, then any argument for the infallibility of the pope is rendered null and void. Either the pope is the infallible "vicar of Christ" or he isn't. If he is, not following him is wrong.

Provost Harrison · February 2, 2005, 11:38

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Spoken like someone who doesn't know anything of the opinions the man has written over the years.

So enlighten us then...

Sava · April 1, 2013, 01:01

we've been doing this for too long

Ben Kenobi · April 1, 2013, 01:04

Oh wow - this is just before my conversion! It reads like yesterday.

SlowwHand · April 1, 2013, 01:07

I don't know if Sava missed his meds or doubled up on them.

Sava · April 1, 2013, 01:07

also lolz

Scalia, a member of the Supreme Court since 1986, is considered a potential replacement for chief justice William Rehnquist when he retires the bench.

in his ****ing dreams

cranky ****ing troll bastard
disgrace to the court also