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You really don't know how human psychology works, do you? Legolas Send a noteboard - 13/02/2013 06:28:23 PM
Not to mention, in their own best interests! With all the STDs being such a problem, you'd think people would at least be cautious. If they are going bareback and claiming it is out of adherence to Catholic doctrine, they are merely using it as an excuse. No one can be invested enough in Catholicism to be aware of and influenced by the prohibition on condoms, and at the same time be ignorant of the far more explicit and frequently promulgated teachings on promiscuity and extramarital sex.

That last sentence is really nonsense. What you mean is, no one should combine those two stances, because to do so is inconsistent at best. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, or even that the people who do that are in any way exceptional in their hypocrisy.

No matter which religion you look at or which group of believers you study (including non-religious "beliefs" or adherences like, say, veganism), there will always be some rules or doctrines that people adhere to far closer than others. Among those that are most closely adhered to, you'd have the things that most strongly distinguish the religion in question, like the dietary laws for Jews and Muslims, and also things that align with pre-existing personal or culturally ingrained preferences or aversions - like the distaste for condoms.

But the laws banning things which are almost universally tempting, and against which you can't really create a lasting cultural aversion, such as extramarital sex (or, say, gluttony), well, it's hardly a surprise if those are less convincing and people try to sneak around them more. But just because they break those rules, doesn't mean they then think "while I'm at it, might as well break those other rules too". A Jew or Muslim who generally eats kosher/halal, but then commits adultery, would not consider that a reason to suddenly stop eating kosher/halal as well.

And then of course there's the issue that by opposing condoms (and for that matter other forms of birth control) so strongly, the Catholic Church effectively keeps them away not only from its own believers but also from many who aren't practicing Catholics, but just happen to live in predominantly Catholic regions or countries. America is quite an unusual case in having such strong religious diversity nearly everywhere due to all the immigration; in most other countries, that really isn't the case (it's admittedly becoming more so in many places, but there's a long way to go).
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So the Pope has resigned - 11/02/2013 01:01:59 PM 1488 Views
Re: So the Pope has resigned - 11/02/2013 02:29:13 PM 907 Views
As a catholic, I am surprised, but please by the Pope's decision..... - 12/02/2013 03:05:34 AM 861 Views
Re: As a catholic, I am surprised, but please by the Pope's decision..... - 12/02/2013 09:21:30 PM 797 Views
One mistake in my original post..... - 13/02/2013 01:27:48 AM 792 Views
Re: As a catholic, I am surprised, but please by the Pope's decision..... - 13/02/2013 01:35:14 AM 770 Views
Re: As a catholic, I am surprised, but please by the Pope's decision..... - 13/02/2013 03:45:23 PM 845 Views
Luke or Paul? - 13/02/2013 04:36:27 PM 777 Views
That is what I get for only having decaf coffee this morning... - 13/02/2013 05:43:57 PM 841 Views
I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this point. - 13/02/2013 06:36:03 PM 696 Views
Re: I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this point. - 14/02/2013 11:12:34 PM 794 Views
Hate to jump you again but are you sure you mean Timothy? - 14/02/2013 11:54:00 PM 838 Views
Yep, I ment Timothy - 15/02/2013 04:18:21 AM 795 Views
Re: Yep, I ment Timothy - 15/02/2013 11:03:16 AM 784 Views
So Roman Catholic priests CAN marry, under tortuous conditions? Interesting.... - 13/02/2013 03:40:48 PM 727 Views
A priest can't marry, but a married person can become a priest. - 13/02/2013 03:51:02 PM 770 Views
Heh, yeah, I guess I slightly mischaracterized what you were saying. - 13/02/2013 05:54:05 PM 876 Views
There are a bunch of semi-Catholic denominations that allow priests to marry. - 13/02/2013 06:06:13 PM 793 Views
That makes more sense. - 13/02/2013 06:23:36 PM 845 Views
Here's my chance. I'm putting in my application. - 11/02/2013 04:20:52 PM 960 Views
Unfortunately it matters due to the power he has... - 11/02/2013 04:42:25 PM 892 Views
You would like the Roman Catholic Church to do some good FOR ONCE?! - 11/02/2013 08:00:26 PM 957 Views
Well said. *NM* - 11/02/2013 10:55:18 PM 465 Views
You give them too much credit. - 11/02/2013 11:19:06 PM 941 Views
Put on blinders much? - 11/02/2013 11:50:01 PM 865 Views
I lol'd. *NM* - 11/02/2013 11:54:09 PM 437 Views
Grant me Chastity and Continence, But Not Yet! *NM* - 12/02/2013 03:35:26 AM 371 Views
Chastity: A Virtue best found in others *NM* - 12/02/2013 12:53:26 PM 368 Views
and continence too, apparently..... *NM* - 14/02/2013 12:18:22 AM 434 Views
Well said. - 13/02/2013 01:43:47 AM 742 Views
You really don't know how human psychology works, do you? - 13/02/2013 06:28:23 PM 819 Views
..and you don't get that it isn't what people will/may do, but what they should. - 15/02/2013 04:22:26 AM 1000 Views
It's not religion, it's HIV or no HIV. - 15/02/2013 10:45:52 PM 781 Views
it's not HIV or no HIV, it is about what people should do. - 16/02/2013 07:02:36 PM 863 Views
Of course they don't have to teach people how to use condoms. - 17/02/2013 10:46:38 AM 773 Views
You're showing some glaring bias and hostility here - 12/02/2013 01:58:17 PM 762 Views
No, you are giving them far too little. - 13/02/2013 03:33:03 PM 764 Views
Oh, that. - 12/02/2013 03:04:42 PM 727 Views
That's such a load - 13/02/2013 01:39:45 AM 813 Views
Oops, I meant to reply here - As a catholic.....my take. - 12/02/2013 03:39:42 AM 891 Views
I'd say the chances are about as good... - 12/02/2013 03:48:29 PM 987 Views
So teh chances are excellent then! Good to know. - 12/02/2013 04:51:43 PM 827 Views
I doubt there's much of a chance of a real progressive. - 12/02/2013 06:38:14 PM 808 Views
IDK, two straight non-Italians? Will they put up with a 3rd? Has that even happened since Avignon? - 13/02/2013 01:46:28 AM 854 Views
Who says Benedict/Ratzinger is straight? - 13/02/2013 04:56:52 AM 761 Views
Don't think so, but the Italians will have to get used to it. - 13/02/2013 06:34:24 PM 751 Views
This will be a very interesting time. - 13/02/2013 06:27:41 PM 885 Views
He's retiring into a monastery in the Vatican, as I understand it. - 13/02/2013 06:42:14 PM 876 Views
Now this would be interesting.... - 13/02/2013 06:51:40 PM 843 Views
Right now I would settle for making up lost ground... - 14/02/2013 05:02:38 AM 747 Views
Pope Bene-victed... - 19/02/2013 07:56:17 AM 1031 Views
Hurrah, Ras. I love a good pun or three. *NM* - 19/02/2013 01:55:11 PM 339 Views

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