the catholic church is the single most corrupt and indoctrinating organisation since time began

================== Introduction: ================== My opponent (I'm sorry if this offends, it is not a pejorative term), has not come close to meeting his burden. But I will not let his rhetoric go without comment. As another note, I am not Catholic myself as my opponent seems to assume. ================== Am I pointing the Finger? ================== Josh states that I am focusing on the "diversion" argument, merely pointing fingers and not taking any responsibility. It will do him well to recall that his burden is to prove that the Catholic Church is the single most indoctrinating institution, so where is the folly in (1) asking for the criteria by which he assesses such a claim and (2) asking how, based on this criteria, the aforesaid institutions are not more corrupt and indoctrinating (at least presently). I am not pointing fingers, I am merely showing that the Catholic Church is NOT, in light of other institutions, the single most corrupt and indoctrinating. As should be abundantly clear, I have no qualms with identifying and responding to the missteps of the Catholic Church - given my analysis of it. ================== Women and Paganism ================== The Da Vinci Code? Is this what the debate is stemming from? My opponent seems to be regurgitating ill-informed nonsense from the myth-ridden book and motion picture, "The Da Vinci Code." My opponent claims that the Catholic Church, because it had some vehement dislike for egalitarianism, went about and killed 5 million women! This is historically incorrect. It is true, unfortunately, that many people were killed, non-Christian historians now agree that it was somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 women AND men that were killed during the time of 1450 and 1750 (quite a distance from the alleged 5 million) (1). Moreover, many of these trials took place in local and often secular courts! Furthermore, these witch hunts happened long after Constantine had legalized the practice of Christianity – which was not a popular thing to do given that Emperor Diocletian before him was persecuting and killing Christians. Before that, even, Emperor Nero would use Christians as candles to light the way to his domicile – he would also wrap them in animal skin and feed them to dogs (2). The subjugation of women was around long before Catholicism and Constantine. The thoughts of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, no affiliate to Judaism, unfortunately influenced some early catholic teachings. Aristotle saw women as imperfect men (3). My opponent's side comment about condoms is ridiculous. Which is worse, the push for free and unfettered sex WITH condoms, or the Church's advocacy of chastity until marriage? Is it of no surprise that it was only after the invention of condoms and the sexual revolution that AIDS surfaced? ================== The Pope is Greedy ================== My opponent is now making a claim that is at least relevant to the topic at hand, as he is attempting to show that the Church is CURRENTLY corrupt and indoctrinating. The problem is that he does not assess the absolutely positive giving of the Church. If he thinks the fancy hat and the large adorned monasteries are too much (and I totally agree), he as to ask if this outweighs the earnest giving and relief efforts of the Church. The CRS (Catholic Relief Service), helps in over a hundred countries, Rwanda relief effort, Turkey Earthquake, South Asia Tsunami, Darfur, Pakistan Earthquake, Hurricane Mitch, Kosovo, floods in the Philippines, Floods in Pakistan, Middle East and etcetera. They are leaders in pioneering health efforts and, contrary to my opponent's assumption, leaders in HIV and AIDS relief. But even further, they help with peace building, education, and equipping people to sustain themselves via agriculture and micro-financing (4). ================== Conclusion ================== My arguments were not addressed and my opponent's burden was not fulfilled. All of my opponent's arguments have been shown wanting. Sources: 1. http://www.jesusanddavinci.com... 2. http://encyclopedia.farlex.com... 3. http://www.associatedcontent.com... 4. http://crs.org...