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My wife left the Catholic church to become Episcopalian (I did not encourage her. In fact, I tried to dissuade her saying, "Don't do this for me."). She grew up in a very devout Catholic family, so I know it was a big step for her. But despite her repeated claims of, "I'll never go back," it's interesting how much Catholicism still permeates her thinking.
Annie, my dear, I've become desensitized to these ridiculous diatribes wasting bandwidth.
These posters sound very uni-dimensional, not a lot of fun, and not anybody I'd be wanting to break bread with on a social level.
They've never heard the expression "less is more."
And that is why I try not to let myself get sucked into these discussions if you want to call it a discussion, by the way Robert you did a good job.
It is one thing for someone to make a sincere inquiry about the Catholic Church/faith and another thing what happens in these forums.
I think there are enough issues within the Church without worrying about what some clueless people think the problems are, they should go look in the mirror and examine their own beliefs.
So what do you recommend,then? Being a fundie? Your profile is pretty ethereal and says nothing about your religious beliefs or what you're all about. Not that it's a real barometer of anything, but when rep to post ratios are REALLY REALLY low, it takes away some credibility from the person. Either that, or they are broken records. There are plenty of well-adjusted Catholics and some who are not so well-adjusted. Ditto for adherents to ALL religions.
- I am no longer a protestant of The Re-Form-Mation of catholic church doctrine.
I don't believe God Himself came in the flesh as Jesus.
wow, a really "resurrected" thread---but here's my very late to the party two bits, LOL and FWIW, on the "once in never out" implications in the discussion. my understanding of the Catholic "take" on this is ALL Christians are united together and to Christ by baptism in "water and the Holy Spirit" into a new life in Christ. that unity ("communion" as it were) is sadly incomplete and damaged because of the differences in doctrine and practice among Christians but (according to the Church) we remain brothers and sisters in Christ separated in some respects but with the hope that with God's help we will all finally and fully come together in "one faith, one Lord, one baptism" with "one flock and one shepherd".
along with this is the belief that baptism leaves an special mark spiritually on the baptized as "belonging to Christ"---we can strive with God's help to continue to belong OR we can exercise our free will (another of God's free gifts, BTW) and ultimately reject this mark of belonging and leave to do our thing and follow our own desires and wishes and see where that takes us and what it does to us---it's up to us and what we do (or don't do) with the free gift of faith and salvation that is given to us in baptism (sort of like the parable of the talents). that said, God like the father in the parable of the prodigal son is always ready to take us back and restore the inheritance and renew all the gifts of grace initially received in and through baptism that sadly we all tend to squander at times---if we return with repentance and love.
FWIW, certain Christians like (strict) Calvinists have a belief (sometimes known as the "persistence of the saints" or "once saved always saved") that says the "elect" are "predestined" to salvation and CANNOT be separated from Christ.
whatever our reasoning or our beliefs may they bring us to do the really right (loving, kind, unselfish) things for ourselves and for others.
Last edited by georgeinbandonoregon; 09-12-2015 at 09:15 AM..
I agree with Das here, but it's uncharitable to right off denominational religions such as Catholicism without credit for their origins, complex dogmas ( many that makes ya want go hmm) . Firstly, many of us are born into a faith, nurtured in them regardless of their perceived nonsense, blasphemy, and blatant errors biblically. There is no telling them because human nature calls for a push back albeit defense. Catholics inherited the influences of Justin Marytr, Constantine ( a pagan emperor mandating Sun Day the worship of the sun God) , Nicea , Papacy ( a socialist sect responsible for changing the days of the week slam dunking the Lord's Sabbath). In spite of a few of these idocrincracies Catholics do believe in the son of man His grace via faith and do call upon His name!! Unfortunately they detour Yeshua and segway to dead former sinner icons, saints, symbols of religousity and lapse into pagan-like ceremonies all that were manufactured by man . It's a "partially" cursed church via a large and historic (dating back to monestaries and convents ( carmelites) then the modern church becoming a baston for gay vocations mixed with spirituality . We had 6 gay Catholic Christian Brothers and lay teachers at our Catholic High who went so far as to house a gay student in their rectory!! It was very unsettling. Anyway, most clergy whether Catholic or Luthern etc are wonderful educators, straight individuals. Credit Catholicism for their energies, faith, works, missions, nurturing children in grade schools, aid to the poor and dedicated clergy.
Last edited by openmike; 09-12-2015 at 09:40 AM..
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