So lets say a bomb goes off in the Vatican killing the pope...

[Heraclitus]

@Heraclitus

You are mixing two things, the conscious act of denying the catholic faith and the Vatican as symbols for the western civilization for large group of people.

Even for many non catholics, the catholic church represent an affective symbols in itself. His destruction could enrage a large groups of Europeans (right wing, nationalist, monarchist). And I don't speak of Catholics (traditionalist or not) The killing of the pope and the destruction of the Sixtine chapels, would cause massive, but VERY massive uprising of right wing movement.

Even if it's 20-30% of people. These peoples would become politically very strong, and very motivated...

Come to think of it you are right, I hadn't looked at it that way. What do you think would happen?

[Riesstiu IV]

The Vatican would force annoying Slovenians to marry their fat girlfriends and produce children in order to halt the demographic decline of Europe.

[Ben Kenobi]

We'd probably crusade again.

The first one was triggered by the destruction of the Church of the Nativity.

It would be interesting to see a revival of the religious orders such as the Templars and whatnot. There's really no reason why they couldn't also work in the modern sense, by recruiting those who have already had military training.

If the rank and file were sufficiently motivated, and were willing to fund it through tithes, then yes, you could see folks from all over the world.

One of the main reasons why Popes of the last while have held back is out of concern for Christians in Arab-held lands. The Christians who were there before the Arabs, particularly in Syria and Egypt have suffered tremendous persecution. It would take an event like the successful assassination by the Pope in the Vatican, with damage to St. Paul's to get the next Pope to put caution aside.

[Barnabas]

The Pope dies as do several dozen other people there is damage to the buildings of the Vatican. The effect of a burning St. Peter's' Basilica might make a comparable impact on non-European Chatolics as seeing the twin towers collapse was for Americans.

Why non european catholics?

There are more right wingers in Europe (moderate Christian Democracy parties, anti immigration racists, Le Pen, Haider neo nazi wackos) than in Latin America, which has mainly leftist populist and social democrat governments (Chavez, Evo, Lula, Kirchner, Bachelet etc).

The Vienna is not Istanbul crowd which does not want Turkey in the European Union would go crazy if muslims killed the pope and destroyed Saint Peter

[Riesstiu IV]

Revival of Crusading? You are retarded, Ben.

[Theben]

Italy would nuke Mecca and Medina.

[Ben Kenobi]

Revival of Crusading? You are retarded, Ben.

It's either that or a DOW from all the western powers and full-scale war.

[Lul Thyme]

Many European Chatolics are Chatolic in name only. You thus get confusing demographic data, where the % of people who belive in God is substantly lower than the % of Chatolics (also pause to consider all the non-Chatolic monotheistic religions present). Europe is mostly seculal.

What makes you think Non-Europe is different?

In Quebec, for example, the vast majority of people are officially "Catholic", yet it is probably the most secular region in North America and probably more secular than most areas of Europe.

All over the world, the number of registered Catholic is much higher than the number of "believers" (what ever that means). I don't think that Europe is significantly different in this regard.

The only reason you bring it out is because that it the only region you have first-hand experience with and were able to witness the difference between statistics and the situation "in the street". Why do you then trust the statistics elsewhere?


P.S. It's "Catholic".

[a.kitman]

It would be interesting to see a revival of the religious orders such as the Templars and whatnot. There's really no reason why they couldn't also work in the modern sense, by recruiting those who have already had military training.

troll alert, troll alert

thru my years of lurking in silence i always suspected you where a clever troll ben kenobi. But here you really blew your cover.

[Ben Kenobi]

Considering the fact that I did a thesis on the Teutonic Knights, did you stop to consider that I actually might believe in what I posted?

[a.kitman]

no

[Ben Kenobi]

well mr. Kitman, I don't know what to tell you. I wasn't kidding.

[a.kitman]

trolling and kidding are two diffrent things

[Ben Kenobi]

You think I posted that to get a rise out of folks?

In case you didn't notice the OP already stated that I'd probably be calling for a Crusade in the first place.

I think the OP knows just a wee bit more about me then you do.

[a.kitman]

no he dont