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When I attended Catholic elementary school up North, the public school kids who arrived for religious instruction after we left on early-dismissal Wednesdays were seen as little heathens with cooties. They wore SNEAKERS to school, for one thing! OMG!
We didn't even discuss Protestants. They might as well have been on another planet.
Here, when I married a Southerner who was raised Baptist, I learned how little Southerners knew about Catholics. (It's been a while since I've been Catholic.) There were a lot of misconceptions. The biggest one was that Catholics weren't Christians. I set him straight. It is the world's largest Christian church.
I wish there was a mandatory elementary course in all the different religions of the world -- or at least the top 21 or so. Even if kids didn't understand each religion, they should at least know they exist, be respectful, and learn the importance of freedom of religion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sayantsi
Just don't let the Baptists know you're Catholic, and you'll be fine!
j/k!
As an aside, I was in a Baptist church and they were having a information session on Catholics, and you'd think they were discussing a Satanic cult. Some people really know very little about religion it seems, regardless of what they practice - I certainly wouldn't single any one religion out for having ill informed people as followers.
In SC I was constantly questioned about why I worship Mary, if I'm Christian, and if I'm allowed to pray on my own..... here, no one bats an eye when I say I'm Catholic and I have yet for someone to make an assumption or rudely ask one of the above questions (of course, I'm happy to educate if they are being respectful, but in SC the questions were not posed respectfully).
My bride took a religion survey class at Meredith College a few years ago. It was quite well done w/o anybody getting threatened about trying to convert folks.
We've been fortunate enough to travel a bit over the years but one of the saddest places I've been is Belfast. Hard to fathom the violence.
I went to a college that has its roots as a college for Basilian priests. The one and only holdover was that all graduates were required to take two religion courses. I thought I was gonna die.
I felt better, though, after one class, when I told the instructor how hard it was to listen it, especially the story of a miracle, because I didn't believe it, and he said he didn't believe it either. Not only that, he was at some event that included the recipient of said miracle, and the recipient told him that she didn't believe it either. (I wish I could remember the miracle...something about someone being cured.)
That's when I realized he wasn't really preaching to me -- just teaching, and I was able to learn.
I still think it would be great to have a course for children about the religions of the world. Their little minds are more open. But it might be difficult for some teachers to teach it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by frankpc
My bride took a religion survey class at Meredith College a few years ago. It was quite well done w/o anybody getting threatened about trying to convert folks.
We've been fortunate enough to travel a bit over the years but one of the saddest places I've been is Belfast. Hard to fathom the violence.
You know the old joke about the nun who went to Mother Superior for a conference:
"I'm leaving the convent, Mother. I've decided to become a prostitute."
Mother Superior fainted dead away.
When she was revived, the first nun said "I'm sorry, Mother, I realize that it's hard news to accept that I'm becoming a prostitute."
Mother S: "A prostitute?? OH, I thought you said you were becoming a Protestant!!"
Growing up in Raleigh, I do remember when pretty much the only Catholic churches (at least in N. Raleigh) were Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Rapheal's. I had some (transplanted) friends at the latter, and was educated on a few things such as Communion, but I don't remember it being such a big deal, even then. Of course, my other best friend was Jewish.
Anyway, I would say it is a non-issue here. As others have comments, you'll find lots of people who are involved with their church/temple here, but the doctrine really covers the entire spectrum from liberal to conservative, every religion you've ever heard of and some you haven't. But, most are live-and-let-live; I don't ever recall hearing anyone getting into "religious wars" or arguments.
You know the old joke about the nun who went to Mother Superior for a conference:
"I'm leaving the convent, Mother. I've decided to become a prostitute."
Mother Superior fainted dead away.
When she was revived, the first nun said "I'm sorry, Mother, I realize that it's hard news to accept that I'm becoming a prostitute."
Mother S: "A prostitute?? OH, I thought you said you were becoming a Protestant!!"
Growing up in Raleigh, I do remember when pretty much the only Catholic churches (at least in N. Raleigh) were Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Rapheal's. I had some (transplanted) friends at the latter, and was educated on a few things such as Communion, but I don't remember it being such a big deal, even then. Of course, my other best friend was Jewish.
Anyway, I would say it is a non-issue here. As others have comments, you'll find lots of people who are involved with their church/temple here, but the doctrine really covers the entire spectrum from liberal to conservative, every religion you've ever heard of and some you haven't. But, most are live-and-let-live; I don't ever recall hearing anyone getting into "religious wars" or arguments.
I LOVE the joke! As with most good jokes, there is a speck of truth to it!
I also agree with what you are saying. I have friends that are Catholic and friends that are Jewish. I may not know everything about their religion but religion isn't what we usually discuss. I don't think they are thought of differently because of their religion.
Probably more so than in other parts of the south (SC and GA for example) but perhaps not as much so as in Raleigh and Wake County (which according to 2000 figures was 29% Baptist and 22% Catholic in 2000, so may be Catholic majority or pretty close to it with all of the recent northern transplants since then).
It's never been an issue and no one cares. Heck, if they tolerate Mormons, Catholics are a breeze
P.S. JK...some of my best friends are LDS...my better friends are agnostic
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I set him straight. It is the world's largest Christian church.
Just don't let the Baptists know you're Catholic, and you'll be fine!
