Philippine President Duterte Calls God 'Stupid' For Allowing Adam and Eve To Commit Original Sin

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines
Photo courtesy: www.washingtontimes.com

President Duterte (front) praying at a wedding Mass in a Manila church on Sept. 16, 2017
Photo courtesy: www.philstar.com

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, a Roman Catholic, in a recent televised speech in Davao, condemned the Original Sin story of Adam and Eve and termed God 'stupid' for doing that. 

 "Who is this stupid God? You [God] created something perfect and then you think of an event that would tempt and destroy the quality of your work," he said.

Criticizing the concept of the Original Sin, that automatically taints all human beings because of their descent from Adam and Eve, he told his audience:"You weren't born yet, but now you have original sin." He then added: "What kind of religion is that? I can't accept it."

His comments on God generated widespread adverse reactions, but President Duterte said what he spoke about God was his personal belief and that "not in a million years" would he apologize for blaspheming God this way.

This President, in the past, criticized Pope Francis in a crude language. He also cussed against and cursed Catholic priests in the Philippines. He claimed that he and another boy were abused by a foreign Jesuit priest when they were studying in a Catholic school.

For more on this issue, please read the following: 

• Philippine president blasts creation story, calls God 'stupid' (June 25, 2018)
• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Blames 'Stupid' God for Adam and Eve's Original Sin (June 25, 2018)
• Philippine President Duterte calls God 'stupid,' (June 26, 2018)
• Philippine president slammed for calling God 'stupid' (June 25, 2018)
• Bishops hit Duterte for calling God stupid [video] (June 26, 2018)
• Philippines' Duterte under fire for calling God 'stupid' (June 26, 2018)
• Cardinal Tagle breaks silence on Duterte remarks: Don't be distracted (June 27, 2018)
• Duterte seeks collaboration with Philippine bishops after calling God 'stupid' (June 27, 2018)
• 'Not in a million years!': Duterte defiant amid calls to apologize over 'stupid' God remarks (July 2, 2018)
• Palace: Evangelicals offer to wash Duterte's feet 'out of humility' (July 3, 2018)
• Duterte: I believe in God, but prove his existence -- via a selfie (July 7, 2018)
• Rodrigo Duterte says he'll resign as Philippine president if someone can prove God exists (July 7, 2018)
• Duterte: Show me proof that God exists and I'll resign (July 7, 2018)
• Duterte vows to resign if anybody can prove God exists (July 7, 2018)

(Updated on July 7, 2018)

Catholic Deacon George Dardess Seeks To Understand Muslims and Islam

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 Catholic deacon George Dardess

Photo courtesy: www.americancatholic.org/

George Dardess, a retired professor with a Ph.D. in English literature and an M.A. in theology, was converted to Roman Catholicism in 1983. Later he became a deacon in the Catholic Church,  where a deacon serves as the minister of the Word (giving sermons during the Mass, preaching and teaching of religion), minister of the Liturgy (giving holy communion) and minister of the Charity (providing service to the poor and underprivileged). He is also a consultant to the Diocese of Rochester, New York, on interfaith dialogue and migrant ministry.

As a deacon, George Dardess came to know about Catholic Church’s attitude towards other religions and interfaith dialogue. The horror of the first Iraq War of February 1991, spurred him to know the Muslims and their religion of Islam although, previously, he had no contact with Muslims and he knew nothing about Islam. 

In the meantime, he took training on Islam and came in direct contact with Muslims. He wrote to books, Meeting Islam as a Christian and Do We Worship the Same God? In his approach and in these books, George Dardess took a sympathetic outlook toward Muslims and Islam. Some commentators in different blogs severely criticized him for this sympathy. Some even commented that he lost his way. 

To know more about Deacon George Dardess, his mind on the Muslims and Islam, and interfaith dialogue efforts of the Roman Catholic Church, you may read the following:

•  A Deacon's Journey Through Islam
• Deacon Encounters Islam 
• The Church and Interfaith Relations 
• The Church & Dialogue
• Messages and Documents of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue
• Pope John Paul II -- Interfaith Giant
• Vatican Launches Catholic-Islamic Dialogue
• Muslim-Christian Dialogue
• Islam FAQs
• Interreligious Dialogue
• Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Glossary (A - Z)

My Doodles Series -- 2: Catholic Religious Theme

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 Doodles on God, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ 

and the Virgin Mary © Jerome D'Costa

My Roman Catholic faith automatically found its place in these doodles.

(Top left doodle) God is the triune God. In the unity of Godhead there are three persons -- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is the creator of everything and he watches over his entire creation.

(Top right) The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our faith.

(Below left) Jesus Christ is the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is our Lord and Saviour. Through his death on the cross he brought the eternal salvation to mankind.

(Below right) Mary or the Virgin Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ. She has a special place in the heart of the Roman Catholics.

(Continued)