[Azure]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Really, as much as some religious types want to flame the athiests,

I'll be the last person who 'flames' atheists.

you really gotta look at your own organizations first.

Eh? Last time I checked there is nothing 'wrong' with my organization.

Maybe today's version doesn't creep you out like the mideval version,

And thats where you are wrong.

Medieval version was strictly Catholic. Catholics during that time were basically corrupt.

They tortured, burnt, raped and basically killed anyone that opposed their belief system.

Then came this thing called the reformation.

The movement began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church. Many western Christians were troubled by what they saw as false doctrines and malpractices within the Roman Catholic Church, particularly involving the teaching and sale of indulgences. Another major contention was the practice of buying and selling church positions (simony) and the tremendous corruption found at the time within the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy. This corruption was systemic at the time, even reaching the position of the Pope.

Here, read about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation

Fascinating really, and exactly the reason why you cannot lump ALL Christians together into the 'Catholic' melting pot.

but therein lies the truth, no? I mean if we can look back at what you believed 500 years ago and say "geez, you fought these wars and gave this money and built these building all to save your soul, and now you acknowledge that it is all unnecessary"...

I never fought all those wars, nor did I build those buildings, nor did I spend money to save my soul....considering that is exactly where you're going.

Everything you mentioned above speaks about a physical component of a corrupt Catholic Church. NOTHING is mentioned about the spiritual side, the 'true' spiritual side of 'true' Christianity. You know the part about believing on Jesus Christ....etc, etc?

Right, the Catholics forgot about all that too somewhere in their process of becoming a corrupt church.

Sadly enough, too many people look at the Catholics, their history and lump all Christians together into the same 'pot.' And that my friend is simply not right.