A Great Man Passes - Page 2

Lefty, notice I said 'the Pope', and not Pope John Paul. And no, I have not met him personally, but his apology for his predecessors' actions made me sit up and take notice, and follow him somewhat in the media. The Catholic Pope is also much more than a figure head, as they can set policy for the largest (at the moment) segment of the religious community, yes?

'Celebrity status' can be a good thing or a bad thing, someone with that status can influence large populations. Sports stars, movie stars, popular leaders, musicians, all certainly have public appeal and influence.

"The Catholic Pope is also much more than a figure head, as they can set policy for the largest (at the moment) segment of the religious community, yes?"

No, thats the point of a figurehead, its a posistion in an ESTABLISHMENT that sets policy and directs influence through a figurehead.

Just like any pop culture icon or figureheads of political power, they do or say the wrong things (generally their real thoughts and feelings, or natural behaviors) to their fan base, then suddenly they're not so special anymore. But the establishment will remain.

From Prohpet to Patsy, depending on the weather.

My comment was for all who exalt anyone they can't possibly know well enough to do so.

"No, thats the point of a figurehead, its a posistion in an ESTABLISHMENT that sets policy and directs influence through a figurehead."

Hmm, "figurehead" usually denotes someone who has no real power. If the Papacy, for example, came out and said "Gays are Ok, leave 'em alone', their would be many grumblings, and possibly another split off from the Church, but that would still be the policy of the Church, yes?

And whether it was exclusively by his own thoughts and ideas, or influenced by his many advisors, one cannot really downplay the positive things the past Pope accomplished.

I thought I heard somewhere, who knows, that muslims were actually a majority, but hell if I know.

I remarked on a figurehead going against its base.

"And whether it was exclusively by his own thoughts and ideas, or influenced by his many advisors, one cannot really downplay the positive things the past Pope accomplished."

Firstly, by giving a single person credit for the acts of an organization is move in the direction of propaganda and fallacy. A stage show.

Second, just what do you accredit the pope with?

'Firstly, by giving a single person credit for the acts of an organization is move in the direction of propaganda and fallacy.'

I think we are missing a point. If they Cardinals come up with an idea, does not the Pope have the power to put the kibosh on that proposed policy? And if the Pope has an idea that his Cardinals do not agree with, does he not have the power to go over their heads?
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'Second, just what do you accredit the pope with?'

You have your pulse on the world news, you tell me.

No, I don't know these things, thats why I asked, I merely made point of peoples outpouring of personal sentiment as if they were family. And how Pope is still a posistion in an institution in referrence to power, I don't know how they work their power structure, if the entire church sways to a chosen man's whim, then so be it, I just didn't figure it worked that way, publicity is too dangerous of a double edged sword and fickle a beast for anyone these days, even the pope surely has a manager.

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the big deal is influence. how much influence have you had on the world? a lot less than him i bet.

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Do you know how happy I am for that??....when you don't influence, people think on their own....when they think on their own then enlightenment is easier to attain.......I don't want to influence anybody to do anything or to think anyway. Choose what you want...make your own decisions....treat examples as examples and make your choice not on influence but on acceptance!

i couldnt agree with you more 730. i was merely stating what the "big deal" was to a lot of people. the pope was a great man for much different reasons though. reasons that are very much open for interpretation. the pope is a celebrity, but to many he was and is much more.

"the pope is a celebrity, but to many he was and is much more."

Ya, to many of these same people so is Bush, go figure.