As an atheist... why would he think I (or we) would even care?
That's good to know. I suppose it goes a little way toward legitimising non-belief in the eyes of some believers. But it does little directly for atheists, since we don't believe in heaven or hell anyway. Perhaps it may give some believers pause when the fanatics in their ranks begin the next wave of persecution. Again, This Pope's words will probably not matter. (Especially since there is an emeritus Pope who does not see eye-to-eye with Francis.) The religious moderates will sit on their hands, keeping mum lest they themselves be labelled apostates, and the blood will flow.
Little message to Pope Francis:
We atheists don't believe in god. We don't believe in hell. We don't believe in heaven either.
What you're saying is, 'Don't worry about not believing in the non-existent thing, because not believing in the non-existent thing won't stop you going to the non-existent place.'
You might as well say, 'Don't worry about not believing Homer Simpson is real, because Homer and Marge will still invite you over to their place for cocktails.'
Very well stated! I wonder if he thought that would tempt freethinkers to attend church and help line the coffers?
They're losing so many members, they'll even take atheists? Has he mentioned this plan to god?!
Don't think he has to. Haven't you watched Dogma? Lol It's called Papal Infallibility. The Pope says it, therefore it is law.
This will surely piss off the religious nuts who love to say you are going to hell if you do not believe in that revengeful guy in the sky.
Shit! I don't want to be around a bunch of asshole Christians when I die.
I second this comment!!
@Tmoney2478 Third it, here!
Think of the fun we could have there....plucking wing feathers, hiding halos, burning hymn books....swinging on the golden gates...do we get to leave when we've had all the fun there is to have? (Probably take a week to be blindingly bored...)
Well, that’s lovely. But does it mean I don’t have to if I don’t want to?
Whoa! That's not going to be good for the church's revenue stream, which is dependent on people buying their way into heaven.
Awww... how sweet of him!
I can equally assure mr. pope that he's not going to hell, that is for certain....
That is a fairly insulting and idiotic thing to say. "Assures" us? Huh? Well, I assure Christians they don't have to believe in Santa Claus to avoid being attacked by midgets in a hot air balloon.