A saint for California? (Sacramento: college, military, atheist)

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by slo1318

Im not Catholic so I really cant answer that, although clearly they have a stricter standard for sainthood then being a believer. Not sure where it came from....

In Catholic theology there are two uses of the word "saint".

One meaning is "a person set apart for God" - a Christian.

The more commonly used meaning is "holy one", which refers to one who is completely without sin, namely the saints in heaven. Most of the saints in heaven are unknown, perhaps your Aunt Martha. But a few of them are known, because the Church tells us with infallible certainty that such-and-such person achieved a degree of sanctity on earth that assures his beatitude. This is determined by an ecclesiastical investigation into the person's life, validated by two miracles. A "devil's advocate" is appointed whose job it is to argue against the person's character, and to find any evidence that might prevent his canonization.

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

In Catholic theology there are two uses of the word "saint".

One meaning is "a person set apart for God" - a Christian.

The more commonly used meaning is "holy one", which refers to one who is completely without sin, namely the saints in heaven. Most of the saints in heaven are unknown, perhaps your Aunt Martha. But a few of them are known, because the Church tells us with infallible certainty that such-and-such person achieved a degree of sanctity on earth that assures his beatitude. This is determined by an ecclesiastical investigation into the person's life, validated by two miracles. A "devil's advocate" is appointed whose job it is to argue against the person's character, and to find any evidence that might prevent his canonization.

I guess there is a third, non-technical usage that is also common: "a really holy person", perhaps not completely without sin, but one who exhibits supernatural virtue in some respects.

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by bouncethelight

For me, it's as Fontucky noted - there have been a lot of these threads lately, all started by the same member. That kind of thing starts to get old, no matter what the subject matter.

I scrolled back 300 posts, and could find only five California topics, started by myself, with a religious component.

Let's see, 5 out of 300 is 1.7%.

1.7% of the last 300 posts had a religious angle.

I wonder what the percentage is for, say, economics? Politics? Geography? Development? Relocating? Much higher than religion, I'm sure. And I don't see anyone complaining.

[jeffredo]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

I scrolled back 300 posts, and could find only five California topics, started by myself, with a religious component.

Let's see, 5 out of 300 is 1.7%.

1.7% of the last 300 posts had a religious angle.

I wonder what the percentage is for, say, economics? Politics? Geography? Development? Relocating? Much higher than religion, I'm sure. And I don't see anyone complaining.

Because they're in the correct sub-forum for their topics. Yours often aren't.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/religion-philosophy/

[WesternPilgrim]

Originally Posted by jeffredo

Because they're in the correct sub-forum for their topics. Yours often aren't.

No, they're in the California forum.

There's no reason - apart from sheer irrational bigotry - why religion alone should be exiled and shut off from the rest of life. I don't believe that C-D's various sub-forums are meant to be mutually exclusive. We have a political sub-forum, but politics shows up here all the time. We have a city-vs. city sub-forum, but city- v. city discussions happen here all the time. We have a rural life sub-forum, but rural issues show up here all the time. Etc.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by jaijai

I certainly think that there are saintly humans on the planet but i don't give the Catholic church any power (zero, zip, nada, none) to decide / tell me who they are! Absolutely not.

^^This^^. I'll go a step further and say I don't trust any institution, religious or secular, in this regard. Too many hidden agendas are involved when people are put up on a pedestal.

[TrueTimbers]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

^^This^^. I'll go a step further and say I don't trust any institution, religious or secular, in this regard. Too many hidden agendas are involved when people are put up on a pedestal.

agreed..

[slo1318]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

^^This^^. I'll go a step further and say I don't trust any institution, religious or secular, in this regard. Too many hidden agendas are involved when people are put up on a pedestal.

I dont subscribe to generalizations of groups of people, which you clearly are. Eyes wide open yes, buy cynical sweeping observations are too shallow.

[.highnlite]

The more commonly used meaning is "holy one", which refers to one who is completely without sin, namely the saints in heaven. Most of the saints in heaven are unknown, perhaps your Aunt Martha. But a few of them are known, because the Church tells us with infallible certainty that such-and-such person achieved a degree of sanctity on earth that assures his beatitude. This is determined by an ecclesiastical investigation into the person's life, validated by two miracles. A "devil's advocate" is appointed whose job it is to argue against the person's character, and to find any evidence that might prevent his canonization.

Is there any thing in the bible to support this?

[Fontucky]

Now the nuns are getting into the act!

Irish nun to face 87 charges of sexual abuse against young school girls | Irish News | IrishCentral