The Pope has died - Page 4

dissention · #46 04-05-2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Church attendence has already been on a steep decline for years...it has long been thought that the Catholic Church is a dying entity...

Well, didn't they just concede the fact that the Earth isn't flat in the eighties?

Or am I thinking of something else?

strandinthewind · #47 04-05-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Well, didn't they just concede the fact that the Earth isn't flat in the eighties?

Or am I thinking of something else?

Wasn't it for killing Joan of Ark?

Who knows - but the point is the Church is archaic that it is like some older beloved relative every one listens to and says "well isn't that sweet" and then they ignore.

GypsySorcerer · #48 04-05-2005, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I would love to know the correlation between the decline in attendence in the RCC and any rise in attendence in other faiths, including non Christian faiths. I think it would be an interesting study.

The latest figures I have seen show that the number of people identifying themselves as Roman Catholic are holding relatively steady (Note, this is not church attendance.) People identifying themselves as Protestants are decreasing. People practicing Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, etc are also increasing, and a growing number of people are just calling themsleves "Christian," with no denomination given.

Of course, people claiming to follow a religion and actually practicing it are two different things.

I think this study came out 6-8 months ago.

strandinthewind · #49 04-05-2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

The latest figures I have seen show that the number of people identifying themselves as Roman Catholic are holding relatively steady (Note, this is not church attendance.) People identifying themselves as Protestants are decreasing. People practicing Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, etc are also increasing, and a growing number of people are just calling themsleves "Christian," with no denomination given.

Of course, people claiming to follow a religion and actually practicing it are two different things.

I think this study came out 6-8 months ago.

Very Interesting!!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I personally think many churchgoers are doing it for the kids' sake. I know many of these people who are really not churchgoers until they have kids. In fact, I was rather surprised that lightening did not strike a few of them when they darkened the Church door

But, I think the vast majority of people consider themselves spiritual on some level but just recognize the hypocrisy of the RCC and other organized religions.

DrummerDeanna · #50 04-05-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

The latest figures I have seen show that the number of people identifying themselves as Roman Catholic are holding relatively steady (Note, this is not church attendance.) People identifying themselves as Protestants are decreasing. People practicing Buddhism, Islam, Wicca, etc are also increasing, and a growing number of people are just calling themsleves "Christian," with no denomination given.

Of course, people claiming to follow a religion and actually practicing it are two different things.

I think this study came out 6-8 months ago.

I maintain that one of the biggest religions in the US is: "I was raised Catholic" lol...I hear that ALL the time - almost everyone I work with was raised Catholic but no longer practice.

Brwn_eyes0511 · #51 04-05-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Show your signature to your fellow parishioners and I bet they'll question your sexuality.

And all because of the man...that got away...

That was rude! I know that Joots is a gay icon (not as big as she used to be back in the day) but it doesn't bother me. I love the entertainers who i like and am not going to fall into a simple set of stereotypes!

Judy rocks forever!

DrummerDeanna · #52 04-05-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

But, I think the vast majority of people consider themselves spiritual on some level but just recognize the hypocrisy of the RCC and other organized religions.

And that's a somewhat difficult thing to come to terms with with one's self.

I constantly ask myself the question, "by simply going to a Catholic church and identifying myself as Catholic am I, in a way, condoning their heinous actions of the past and perhaps present?" it's a tough question...

But I remind myself that there are good aspects of it as well...

dissention · #53 04-05-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

That was rude! I know that Joots is a gay icon (not as big as she used to be back in the day) but it doesn't bother me. I love the entertainers who i like and am not going to fall into a simple set of stereotypes!

Judy rocks forever!

I never said you were going to fall into a "stereotype," just that you have some rather large gay icons in your signature.

GypsySorcerer · #54 04-05-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I maintain that one of the biggest religions in the US is: "I was raised Catholic" lol...I hear that ALL the time - almost everyone I work with was raised Catholic but no longer practice.

Yep. My grandmother was baptized Catholic but hasn't attended since then.

amber · #55 04-05-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

That was rude! I know that Joots is a gay icon (not as big as she used to be back in the day) but it doesn't bother me. I love the entertainers who i like and am not going to fall into a simple set of stereotypes!

Judy rocks forever!

Hmm, I don't think it's very rude to say someone's sig is as gay as Richard Simmons on the Ellen show.

But then, I'm not homophobic....

Brwn_eyes0511 · #56 04-05-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I never said you were going to fall into a "stereotype," just that you have some rather large gay icons in your signature.

LOL..you crack me up!

Actually Junie and Annie aren't big gay icons...

but on that...I guess any older movie star could be considered a "gay" icon...lol

oh btw...was it you who likes Chita Rivera (sp?)? Because I made some great screen caps from when she was on The Judy Garland Show in the 60's! She looked amazing!

GateandGarden · #57 04-05-2005, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

For the life of me, I can't comprehend this statement, darling. How could anyone be happy that such an institution remains stagnant while society progresses? If your church doesn't learn to adapt and change their ways based on the directions that society moves to, the fact of the matter is that it will become even more archaic than it already is and will become even less pertinent. It will only damage your religion in the long run.

So true.

It confuses me when people think that change, as a general concept, is a bad thing. The church does acknowledge that humans are flawed, so why would it assume that we got everything right the first time? We have a long way to go. I can't really see the benefits of any institution that is not open to change in the least.

And his sig is kind of gay. I wondered if someone was going to say that.

GypsySorcerer · #58 04-05-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

And that's a somewhat difficult thing to come to terms with with one's self.

I constantly ask myself the question, "by simply going to a Catholic church and identifying myself as Catholic am I, in a way, condoning their heinous actions of the past and perhaps present?" it's a tough question...

But I remind myself that there are good aspects of it as well...

I've struggled with that too, and with organized religion in general. I definitely understand why people have disdain for religion. I do think that every institution has committed atrocities and evil. Even Science has committed evil in the name of research and knowledge. So, I guess it just comes down to the fact we live in an imperfect world.

dissention · #59 04-05-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

LOL..you crack me up!

Actually Junie and Annie aren't big gay icons...

but on that...I guess any older movie star could be considered a "gay" icon...lol

Ann Miller?! She sure is!

dissention · #60 04-05-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

oh btw...was it you who likes Chita Rivera (sp?)? Because I made some great screen caps from when she was on The Judy Garland Show in the 60's! She looked amazing!

Yes, I love Chita Rivera. Woman looks damn fine for her age.

Her and Eartha Kitt are ageless.