I recently read an email from a success journal I subscribe to detailing how organised religion promote poverty globaly. I have to say that I totally agree with this statement and other details of the email. It basically outlined that the catholic church was preaching that it is noble to be poor and that sacrifice and poverty will get you into heaven. This subliminal programing has been subconsciously stopping people having a happy and full life for generations, creating a social loathing towards affluent people. This only makes the world a worse place to live. Imagine if every one was well off, we could all fly to Rio for a coffee !! Seriously though, this makes the Catholic church and its hierachy a bunch of hypocrites as it is well known that they are one of the wealthiest organisations in the world ever. If its so noble to be poor and to sacrifice, why dont they give all of their money to fixing poverty epidemics such as those facing Burma, Sudan, numerous countries in south east Asia etc.. after all, they believe in giving dont they? Do they really believe that its noble for a 4yr old child to suffer because it has never tasted clean water. Do they believe that child is going to heaven for starving? The truth is that child has probably never even heard of God or the catholic church, what are their chances of getting into heaven now? Id like to see some cardinals take off some of that jewelery. Some of their solid gold crosses would be worth a pretty penny id bet. I'm not saying the church doesnt help already through charities (which are a great tax loop hole for their billion dollar empire), Im just saying that they could help more and really live upto the standards they expect from their congregations. They could also help by preaching that if God created the universe and all things encompassed, he'd want us to enjoy the fruits of his labour, not suffer in poverty. Whats the point of making a whole world and then not wanting us to enjoy living in it? Interesting perspective? rebuttles welcome...