The Roman Catholic Church. A respectful, civil, sharing of thoughts.

Catballou said:
I see it differently. If you've read my previous exchanges with this OP on the thread about spirituality/religion, you'd see why I think she's trying to bait me or prove that people can debate religion civilly and respectfully. We will see what transpires here.
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The only one NOT being civil is YOU........(and me :) )
 

Not a Catholic and never was, but being originally from Louisiana with lots of relatives still there I knew a lot of them. Some of my family are.

I think Catholics are good people, so the Church can't be too bad. What I hear from the Pope I like most of, he seems a good man.

I know there has been a lot of press about bad things Church related of late, and that is not good. However they are not the only good organization with a few bad actors, like say the Boy Scouts.

The history is fascinating, and not all good, but it is impressive the organization they have held together for almost 2,000 years, I know of nothing to compare.

On the whole I think the Catholic Church has been and continues to be a force mostly for good. But I don't believe any of their supernatural stuff. However I do appreciate Mardi Gras, wouldn't have happened without them!
 
Alligatorob said:
Not a Catholic and never was, but being originally from Louisiana with lots of relatives still there I knew a lot of them. Some of my family are.

I think Catholics are good people, so the Church can't be too bad. What I hear from the Pope I like most of, he seems a good man.

I know there has been a lot of press about bad things Church related of late, and that is not good. However they are not the only good organization with a few bad actors, like say the Boy Scouts.

The history is fascinating, and not all good, but it is impressive the organization they have held together for almost 2,000 years, I know of nothing to compare.

On the whole I think the Catholic Church has been and continues to be a force mostly for good. But I don't believe any of their supernatural stuff. However I do appreciate Mardi Gras, wouldn't have happened without them!
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I think it is so wonderful that you see only the good in this religion.
Yes, every religion which keeps God in the mind and brings hymns of devotion is a wonderful thing.
There are wonderful people belonging to every religion. I think the Pope is a good man, or a man who
wants to reach God under the restrictions of his religion.

There are religions and wisdoms which are many, many thousands of years old. The oldest is the Vedic religion.
The "Bhagavad Gita" is supposedly 9000 years old, and the wisdoms of the Upanishads, is what I'm studying now.
I'm just saying the "church" is like a body without a soul. The doctrines no longer hold spirit.
Religion is not an intellectual understanding. Religion has to be LIVED, followed and the truth of it has to be experienced,
according to the best understanding of that religion's scriptures.
In my mind, religion should bring fulfillment to each person. it should take away all fear from man. It should be alive and dynamic
so each person can realize the full values of life, in a natural way.
Yes, This has lasted 2000 years because dutiful followers know of no other way. They want to reach God, to do good and know
of no other way. They praise God a few hours a week and go home to tension, suffering, vices, sadness, disease and incapacities of human values, because they know of no other way.
I'm sorry. I'm writing a sermon! hahaha!

Again, my opinion only.
 

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I will state right off that I firmly believe that I am saved by Jesus sacrifice for my sins and not any works of my own or works or traditions of any person or church. I was raised in the Catholic church. My mother was very serious about her faith and it was a quite personal faith - it impressed me as a child and it still impresses me in her absence. My father, on the other hand, like many churchgoers in many different denominations, hid within the church traditions. Hiding within church traditions has been a problem for all time. It was for me as well. That said, I truly believe my Mom's faith was real. And it was another older Catholic women I worked with that introduced me to a Catholic group that met in a school on Wednesday nights - a group of on-fire believers. It was within this group that I believe that the Holy Spirit moved me toward the cross. And it was so essential that I be directed to this group as I was closed off to any non-Catholic church at the time. God can move in the lives of people, in spite of traditions or in absence of any of them, if there is faith. It happened with the Roman Centurian Cornelius as he was a man of great faith even before he joined the Christians. It happened with the Ethiopian eunuch that Philip encountered in the wilderness. It happened with me.
 
Catballou said:
I see it differently. If you've read my previous exchanges with this OP on the thread about spirituality/religion, you'd see why I think she's trying to bait me or prove that people can debate religion civilly and respectfully. We will see what transpires here.
Click to expand...
The only one NOT being civil is YOU........(and me :) )
Catballou said:
What are you talking about? I haven't said a thing here about the Catholic church.
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Yet plenty of rude things aimed at the OP, again.
 
I remember my ex-mother in law telling me about one of her experiences with nuns at her Catholic school. When someone (her) misbehaved they had to go to the chapel and kneel on rice and pray. She couldn't wait to get out of that school and away from those "loving" nuns.

But I have found the Baptist churches here in Kentucky very narrow minded and don't sound much better than what she experienced.
 
Alligatorob said:
However they are not the only good organization with a few bad actors, like say the Boy Scouts.
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Around 25 years ago I submitted an online comment to a Toronto newspaper columnist who had written an article about 'child molesting priests', (or somesuch), saying that those who join the church for this purpose do so because of the proximity of vulnerable boys.

I recall my closing line was "If you are hunting rabbits, you don't go out into the middle of a lake - you go where the rabbits are".
 
LadyEmeraude said:
If not an appropriate topic, then @ Matrix will remove.
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I wonder what precipitated this topic and subsequent discussion? Is it because bashing Catholicism is just low-hanging fruit? I find it offensive and yes, I'm Catholic. Why did you pick Catholicism and not another broad-based, historic religion like Islam or Judaism?

Odd how the OP provides a forum title then removes herself from the discussion. Nothing but a pot-stirrer. It takes a LOT to get me riled or offended but this topic has. You're a real class act @LadyEmeraude :mad:
 
I have a friend, who, along with her mother, decided to join the Catholic church about ten years ago. Recently my friend's mother died and I attended her funeral, a formal Catholic Mass. It was one of the most beautiful services I've ever attended. We came from all sorts of churches and none at all but everyone seemed moved in one way or another.

Sometimes rituals can be very comforting and very spiritual. I was raised Presbyterian, there were rituals within its services, too, and I find that even the big non-denominational mega churches have a pattern they follow, just more musicians on the stage for the contemporary music they favor. I think all these churches can provide comfort, instruction and peace for the people who attend.

The Holy Spirit is there for those who seek to know God, in spite of the few evil men and women who might pass through.

I don't understand the recent tendency to separate religion form spirituality as though it's an either/or choice. I think the two go together and most people who join a religion do it because they are spiritual people.

 
Leann said:
I wonder what precipitated this topic and subsequent discussion? Is it because bashing Catholicism is just low-hanging fruit? I find it offensive and yes, I'm Catholic. Why did you pick Catholicism and not another broad-based, historic religion like Islam or Judaism?

Odd how the OP provides a forum title then removes herself from the discussion. Nothing but a pot-stirrer. It takes a LOT to get me riled or offended but this topic has. You're a real class act @LadyEmeraude :mad:
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Probably because the OP doesn't know anything about those other religions. Try logic. It often prevents offense.
 
Speaking as someone without a God belief, I find the original question a little strange. Get a group of humans together and you'll find both good and bad. So, the Catholic Church has both good and bad people. As an organization, I'm less convinced. It's a sham. But that kind of goes with all religions, being a non-believer.

My issue would be with believers and non-believers, not any specific church. But when I say "issue", I simply mean a irrevocable difference of opinion. I could only be with a Catholic if they respected my belief in no Gods.
 
Leann said:
I wonder what precipitated this topic and subsequent discussion? Is it because bashing Catholicism is just low-hanging fruit? I find it offensive and yes, I'm Catholic. Why did you pick Catholicism and not another broad-based, historic religion like Islam or Judaism?

Odd how the OP provides a forum title then removes herself from the discussion. Nothing but a pot-stirrer. It takes a LOT to get me riled or offended but this topic has. You're a real class act @LadyEmeraude :mad:
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She posted this because she got annoyed with me on another thread when I expressed my opinions about religion. She's trying to bait me into sharing my views about the RC Church, as a former Catholic and now atheist. I have many issues with the church, but I'm not playing this game out of respect for the Catholics here. I warned her that this thread might turn ugly, but it won't be me stirring the pot.
 
Gloria Patri (Glory Be to the Father)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Requiem aeternam
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Requiescatant in pace.
Amen.

Great thread Lady Em ...hope people are civilised enough to treat it with respect.

My Papa was Catholic, my Mama was Anglican, so religion in our house was quite relaxed.

My brother is married to a Jewish girl...whom I love

My sister is married to a Hindu whom I love

I am married to an Egyptian, who is a Sunni Muslim....and whom I adore.

I have learnt so much about religion and sprituality from my own relatives. I do not believe any church is bad...how could a building and a set of rules cause disharmony. No, it is the people who bend the rules to suit themselves. To say I hate this church or that religion is so far removed from my own psyche that I am at a loss to understand why people denigrate.

Bad things have happened in all churches, but the Catholic church seems to have bourne the brunt of it. Why is that so? The teachings are the same as any other religion. The Catholic church despite it's shortcomings has done a lot of good whether you accept that or not.

I am not a church goer but I believe in God and I feel very lucky that I have that consciousness. A church or religion does not make you good or bad....it's the thoughts inside and what you do with your life that produce results.
What does it matter, who worships what or how?
Find your own happiness!
 
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