Buffet Catholicism?

[Anonymous]

As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

[Anonymous]

If you find your religious beliefs being "torn down" by commentary here, perhaps your faith is not strong enough and you should work on it. Or perhaps the logic and reality testing you use in the rest of your life is starting to strengthen in light of some of what you've read here -- and you find it disconcerting.

I find the attitudes of many on this board so sad that it strengthens not weakens my Christian faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you find your religious beliefs being "torn down" by commentary here, perhaps your faith is not strong enough and you should work on it. Or perhaps the logic and reality testing you use in the rest of your life is starting to strengthen in light of some of what you've read here -- and you find it disconcerting.

I find the attitudes of many on this board so sad that it strengthens not weakens my Christian faith.

I am the pp who wrote the bolded part above and find that it's often the case that when faced with disturbing facts, the result is a professed strengthening of faith. Some faith is impervious to new information and supernatural- based religions (i.e. most religions) rely on people with this type of faith to survive. As the US and other developed countries become more secularized, fewer people have this type of faith and fewer will be teaching it to their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

Jesus is not the only human being who lay down his life for others -- and most of the rest of them are forgotten -- and they die forever - no resurrection or bodily ascension into heaven or sitting at the right hand of the father for them. If they were catholics who died with a mortal sin on their souls, they'd go straight to hell, no matter the altruism of their death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop being so smug and learn to respect someone other than yourself.

+1. Who gets this much satisfaction about tearing down religious beliefs? Who has the time and inclination to park themselves on the religion board and swat down every brand of faith? Someone has deep, deep issues.

religious beliefs rely on faith, not facts. People lose their faith for many reasons - and some retain their faith irrespective of the many doubts they have about how the beliefs of their religion don't square with reality.

If you find your religious beliefs being "torn down" by commentary here, perhaps your faith is not strong enough and you should work on it. Or perhaps the logic and reality testing you use in the rest of your life is starting to strengthen in light of some of what you've read here -- and you find it disconcerting.

Now now. You understand the difference between someone pointing out theological differences with a person and someone discrediting an entire way of thought, and, by extension, those who hold those beliefs.

I'm wondering more about the mental state of a person who feels satisfied by doing that.

But I suppose if you are going to question a person's faith, then it isn't surprising that you would turn it around and call the believer's depth of faith into question as a defense. Lame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

Jesus is not the only human being who lay down his life for others -- and most of the rest of them are forgotten -- and they die forever - no resurrection or bodily ascension into heaven or sitting at the right hand of the father for them. If they were catholics who died with a mortal sin on their souls, they'd go straight to hell, no matter the altruism of their death.

Please cite the Catechism where that is described.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

Jesus is not the only human being who lay down his life for others -- and most of the rest of them are forgotten -- and they die forever - no resurrection or bodily ascension into heaven or sitting at the right hand of the father for them. If they were catholics who died with a mortal sin on their souls, they'd go straight to hell, no matter the altruism of their death.

Please cite the Catechism where that is described.

Don't have an old copy, but do remember it was drilled into us as kids. A mortal sin without being absolved by confession, then followed by communion, meant hell. If that's changed, good, but what happened to all those who died in sin before the rule change? Any word on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop being so smug and learn to respect someone other than yourself.

+1. Who gets this much satisfaction about tearing down religious beliefs? Who has the time and inclination to park themselves on the religion board and swat down every brand of faith? Someone has deep, deep issues.

religious beliefs rely on faith, not facts. People lose their faith for many reasons - and some retain their faith irrespective of the many doubts they have about how the beliefs of their religion don't square with reality.

If you find your religious beliefs being "torn down" by commentary here, perhaps your faith is not strong enough and you should work on it. Or perhaps the logic and reality testing you use in the rest of your life is starting to strengthen in light of some of what you've read here -- and you find it disconcerting.

Now now. You understand the difference between someone pointing out theological differences with a person and someone discrediting an entire way of thought, and, by extension, those who hold those beliefs.

I'm wondering more about the mental state of a person who feels satisfied by doing that.

But I suppose if you are going to question a person's faith, then it isn't surprising that you would turn it around and call the believer's depth of faith into question as a defense. Lame.

I'v having trouble following this. Can you cite the example of discrediting an entire way of thought and then show a preferred way of handling it.

Besides, what if you do think an entire way of thinking is off base --like a religious person thinking an atheist is completely wrong not to believe. Or a catholic who thinks they are still a catholic if they don't believe in transubstantiation? that was pretty firmly discredited on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

Jesus is not the only human being who lay down his life for others -- and most of the rest of them are forgotten -- and they die forever - no resurrection or bodily ascension into heaven or sitting at the right hand of the father for them. If they were catholics who died with a mortal sin on their souls, they'd go straight to hell, no matter the altruism of their death.

Please cite the Catechism where that is described.

Don't have an old copy, but do remember it was drilled into us as kids. A mortal sin without being absolved by confession, then followed by communion, meant hell. If that's changed, good, but what happened to all those who died in sin before the rule change? Any word on that?

Well, you are right in that dying with mortal sin without repentance and forgiveness from God will doom you to hell, BUT that description does not mean mortal sin= straight to hell without any consideration. At least that's how my belief: all things possible through God's judgment and mercy. And although taking communion after a final confession is a natural and lovely act, it doesn't determine what happens to a soul following death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 13:25.

Also I believe that I don't want the conservatives to drive me out. So I stay, though often it's by a fingernail.

There is something soothing about ritual.

I love the ritual too, but knowing about how the hierarchy has protected sexual predators kind of ruins it for me. That's why I couldn't possibly financially support a Catholic church.

as for "once a catholic..." not true -- the catholics have been bleeding members.

I love the ritual, too. That is why I now worship in a Lutheran church. Same rituals, but without the cover ups etc.

[Anonymous]

I also like the Lutheran Church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As humans, the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down one's life for another. For Catholics, the crucifix is a constant reminder that Jesus made that sacrifice for all of mankind.

On a personal note, for me it's incredibly humbling (the sacrifice), comforting (the love) and joyful (the hope) all at once.

Jesus is not the only human being who lay down his life for others -- and most of the rest of them are forgotten -- and they die forever - no resurrection or bodily ascension into heaven or sitting at the right hand of the father for them. If they were catholics who died with a mortal sin on their souls, they'd go straight to hell, no matter the altruism of their death.

Please cite the Catechism where that is described.

Don't have an old copy, but do remember it was drilled into us as kids. A mortal sin without being absolved by confession, then followed by communion, meant hell. If that's changed, good, but what happened to all those who died in sin before the rule change? Any word on that?

Well, you are right in that dying with mortal sin without repentance and forgiveness from God will doom you to hell, BUT that description does not mean mortal sin= straight to hell without any consideration. At least that's how my belief: all things possible through God's judgment and mercy. And although taking communion after a final confession is a natural and lovely act, it doesn't determine what happens to a soul following death.

But if you've committed a mortal sin and not received absolution before you die, you have no idea, until you wind up in hell ( or not) whether God decided to be merciful to you. Given how capricious he seems to be in handing out his blessings to the living, you'd think people who believed this would be going to confession or communion like mad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 13:25.

Also I believe that I don't want the conservatives to drive me out. So I stay, though often it's by a fingernail.

There is something soothing about ritual.

I agree with this too. I will always be catholic (my type of catholic) no matter how many idiots tell me to switch to episcopalian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 13:25.

Also I believe that I don't want the conservatives to drive me out. So I stay, though often it's by a fingernail.

There is something soothing about ritual.

I love the ritual too, but knowing about how the hierarchy has protected sexual predators kind of ruins it for me. That's why I couldn't possibly financially support a Catholic church.

as for "once a catholic..." not true -- the catholics have been bleeding members.

I love the ritual, too. That is why I now worship in a Lutheran church. Same rituals, but without the cover ups etc.

I attended a few Lutheran masses but somehow it felt too different for me. Went back to catholic. Maybe do some "church shopping" on the bring your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with 13:25.

Also I believe that I don't want the conservatives to drive me out. So I stay, though often it's by a fingernail.

There is something soothing about ritual.

I love the ritual too, but knowing about how the hierarchy has protected sexual predators kind of ruins it for me. That's why I couldn't possibly financially support a Catholic church.

as for "once a catholic..." not true -- the catholics have been bleeding members.

I love the ritual, too. That is why I now worship in a Lutheran church. Same rituals, but without the cover ups etc.

I attended a few Lutheran masses but somehow it felt too different for me. Went back to catholic. Maybe do some "church shopping" on the bring your child.

Ugh. On the should be and then. Sorry.