Angry Mr Anonymous returns...

Here's the latest from Mr Anony-mouse who has not the courage to give a name:

'The Drama Geeks who contributed to the making of the bible back in the day would laugh their asses off if they knew fools like you all to this day still take their stories as some true word of a god. Religion is a control to keep the human race from dipping into a very dark place that we all can go without "fear" of a "maker". Those who understand this can control millions of people and get them to do what they want and usually get very wealthy from doing so. One of the fastest ways to make millions is to start a church or start preaching a religion to "followers". I suppose if your version of the bible had told you to do horrible things to yourself or eat other people you would also do so? Or is their a limit to your devotion to the writings by a fellow man of which is easily corrupted?'

I wonder what "dark place that we can all go without 'fear' of a 'maker'" he has in mind.

Nazism? Stalinism? Cannibalism? Murder? Rape? Child-molestation?

And this is guy who thinks that those who believe in religion and the Bible would happily do all manner of evil things if the Bible told them.

But, of course, the Bible doesn't tell them to do evil things or to "dip into a very dark place". Quite the opposite. As he, himself, admits "Religion is a control to keep the human race from dipping into a very dark place" and thus, by implication, irreligion has no control but allows men to "dip into a very dark place".

Foolish man! By his own words he condemns himself just as so many irreligious men have done before him.

Remember how St Augustine points to the folly of the Pharisees who were ready to bribe the Roman soldiers to say that Christ escaped alive from the tomb whilst they were sleeping. Foolish men who thought they could testify to something that happened whilst they were asleep!

So, too, similar self-contradiction here.

Then he seeks to excuse his folly by claiming that religion is only about making money. Now he simply adds ignorance to his folly.

In the true Christian religion the highest examples are the saints. How did they live? Did they use religion to exploit others and make money? Quite the opposite. They lived lives of poverty, chastity and obedience, modestly, patiently, humbly and in peace with their fellow man.

Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to live lives of humility, holiness and love of God

What of the monks and friars who seek to live the fullness of a religious life? They have to renounce all worldly goods, money, wealth, pleasure and power. They even make solemn promises called "vows" obliging themselves to live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Where is the money-grabbing in this? Nowhere.

But, of course, anony-mouse will say that they were all hypocrites who only pretended to be poor, chaste and obedient. How does he know? Well, he simply doesn't know. He simply cannot accept that anyone would live like that because he couldn't do it himself and so he simply assumes that they were, and are, all hypocrites. If they were not hypocrites but really did live such a life it would be too great a challenge to his own life-style in "a very dark place" and that he could not stand. So he refuses to believe and chooses instead to mock and to hate.

Who, then, is the hypocrite? Who, then, is corrupt? And who, then, is the Pharisee?

And what happens to corrupt, hypocritical Pharisees?

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all filthiness.
[Matt 23:27]

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites... you shall receive the greater judgement.
[Matt 23:14]

Therefore, please pray for people like Mr Anony-mouse lest their scoffing hatred of goodness and holiness send them to a place of horror in the next life.

May they be saved by the grace and Divine Mercy of an all-merciful God. Let them respond to grace and no longer turn away from mercy.

Fresco of the Last Judgement. Michelangelo. Sistine Chapel, Vatican City.

Mr Anonymous and others like him will have to choose, as must we all, where we shall spend eternity. Where shall you go Mr Anonymous on the Day of Judgement? To love, forgiveness and mercy or to eternal loss?

Think, pray and learn to love...

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