The Pope has died

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I know I'm not a devout scary following blindly and accepting all the church teaches Catholic -

Well if you consider your fellow Catholics "blind" and "scary" then why do you even bother with the religion. Get out now...we're all crazy anyways...and we aim to take over the world!!! LOL

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

So I guess it's not just the Vatican who is behind the times...

Abstinence? NOT WORKING!!!

And women could be capable priests and need to be held to a higher regard by the Catholic church...

---------


Strand - so am I considered a Cafeteria Catholic? I've never heard that before..

I basically just am because

A) I was raised that way
B) I like the social justice teachings
C) I actually like the ritual of it

lol...I don't hold the "Vatican Law" as laws because they are man made and therefore well ya know...

I know I'm not a devout scary following blindly and accepting all the church teaches Catholic -

I've heard "Cafeteria Catholic" a lot. Actually, I think the term can be applied to any belief system/ideology.

I am not a member of the Catholic Church, but I do attend Mass sometimes. It is by far my favorite worship service. I also like many of their traditions (Saints, Advent, etc) which are just not found in many Protestant churches, save the Episcopalians.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

Well if you consider your fellow Catholics "blind" and "scary" then why do you even bother with the religion. Get out now...we're all crazy anyways...and we aim to take over the world!!! LOL

Um I believe I just outlined why I am Catholic - and not once did I state that ALL OTHER Catholics are blind and scary...but some are....it's a fact...

There are aslo scary Muslims, jews, atheists etc...you can't get away from the crazies unfortunately...

I think the Catholic Church needs forward thinking people like myself so that it can eventually change and get with the times...

I am currently looking for a different religion though - one that IS more in touch with reality and the world....good luck to me

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

. . . Strand - so am I considered a Cafeteria Catholic? I've never heard that before..

I basically just am because

A) I was raised that way
B) I like the social justice teachings
C) I actually like the ritual of it

lol...I don't hold the "Vatican Law" as laws because they are man made and therefore well ya know...

I know I'm not a devout scary following blindly and accepting all the church teaches Catholic -

I meant no disrespect by it I was just using that image as a way of illustrating my point that I know of no Catholic that follows every teaching of the Church. They, instead use the Church as a basic guide to live their life. I am totally okay with that because, as I mentioned, relatively few really takes the Church as 100% serious. In fact, it is pretty hard to do in today's world and IMO it is unnecessary. And, the Chruch will endure because people realize that and sort of threat it like a much loved elderly grandparent who has great advice but that advice is not always followed

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Um I believe I just outlined why I am Catholic - and not once did I state that ALL OTHER Catholics are blind and scary...but some are....it's a fact...

There are aslo scary Muslims, jews, atheists etc...you can't get away from the crazies unfortunately...

I think the Catholic Church needs forward thinking people like myself so that it can eventually change and get with the times...

I am currently looking for a different religion though - one that IS more in touch with reality and the world....good luck to me

But, even in a new religion, odds are you would not accept all of its teachings. How many Catholics are against abortion, the death penalty, and stem cell research and are for no birth control whatsoever. I submit very very few. So, if you like in general Catholocism - I stay stick with it. It has a world of good to offer though it has done evil acts like playing hide the pedophile to avoid prosecution

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Um I believe I just outlined why I am Catholic - and not once did I state that ALL OTHER Catholics are blind and scary...but some are....it's a fact...

There are aslo scary Muslims, jews, atheists etc...you can't get away from the crazies unfortunately...

I think the Catholic Church needs forward thinking people like myself so that it can eventually change and get with the times...

I am currently looking for a different religion though - one that IS more in touch with reality and the world....good luck to me

But that's why I love being Catholic, the church refuses and is not going to change based on the secular society, especially that of America! Who would want to be a part of a religion that changes its beliefs and values just because its "with the times" and it's "what everyone else is doing". I don't see that as the "Jesus" thing to do. Just my observation.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

But that's why I love being Catholic, the church refuses and is not going to change based on the secular society, especially that of America! Who would want to be a part of a religion that changes its beliefs and values just because its "with the times" and it's "what everyone else is doing". I don't see that as the "Jesus" thing to do. Just my observation.

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

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

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

But that's why I love being Catholic, the church refuses and is not going to change based on the secular society, especially that of America! Who would want to be a part of a religion that changes its beliefs and values just because its "with the times" and it's "what everyone else is doing". I don't see that as the "Jesus" thing to do. Just my observation.

I think change is positive. The CC, just like every other Institution, was shaped by context and those in power. I mean, Christianity would be totally different had the Gnostic movement not been snuffed out by the Pauline line.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I meant no disrespect by it I was just using that image as a way of illustrating my point that I know of no Catholic that follows every teaching of the Church. They, instead use the Church as a basic guide to live their life. I am totally okay with that because, as I mentioned, relatively few really takes the Church as 100% serious. In fact, it is pretty hard to do in today's world and IMO it is unnecessary. And, the Chruch will endure because people realize that and sort of threat it like a much loved elderly grandparent who has great advice but that advice is not always followed

I didn't take it as disrespectful - I'd just never heard the term before...

But what you described...I'm totally at Cafeteria Catholic

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I think change is positive. The CC, just like every other Institution, was shaped by context and those in power. I mean, Christianity would be totally different had the Gnostic movement not been snuffed out by the Pauline line.

Change is good - because the world is an ever-changing place...

And in fact the church HAS changed with the times - just not as fast as the time lol....

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Change is good - because the world is an ever-changing place...

And in fact the church HAS changed with the times - just not as fast as the time lol....

I actually expect major changes within 50 years. I have no evidence for this; 'tis just my opinion.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by GypsySorcerer

I think change is positive. The CC, just like every other Institution, was shaped by context and those in power. I mean, Christianity would be totally different had the Gnostic movement not been snuffed out by the Pauline line.

Yep - it is and continues to be. I hope the Church will see that science, which I believe is divinely inspired, is illuminating mysteries once thought to be evil by the Church much in the way that scientists in the Enlightment and other eras were persecuted as heretics for saying things like the earth revolves around the sun, which we know now to be 100% true and not heretical in nature.

Anyway - here is a site that espouses many Catholic beliefs. I dare say that if we name five people we know between all of us who actually do all of this every day, we will be doing great.

Catholic Facts and General Knowledge

Catholic Belief
I. To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world. Man must know, love and serve God in a supernatural manner in order to gain happiness of heaven. Man is raised to the supernatural order only by grace, a free gift of God.

II. We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the Catholic Church.

III. In order to be saved, all persons who have attained the use of reason must believe explicitly that God exist and that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked; in practice they must also believe in the mysteries of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation.

IV. By the Blessed Trinity we mean one and the same God in three divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

V. By the Incarnation is meant that the Son of God, retaining His divine nature, took to Himself a human nature, that is, a body and soul like ours.

VI. The Church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same sacrifice, and the same sacraments, under the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff and the bishops in communion with him.

VII. We find the chief truths taught by Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church in the Apostles' Creed.
The Commandments
Besides believing what God has revealed, we must keep His law.
The Two Great Commandments

that contain the whole law of God are:

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we must keep the commandments of God and of the Church, and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The Ten Commandments of God
I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
You shall not covet you neighbor's goods.

The Chief Commandments or Laws, of the Church
To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.
To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
To confess our sins at least once a year.
To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
To contribute to the support of the Church.
To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/beliefs.php

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

But that's why I love being Catholic, the church refuses and is not going to change based on the secular society, especially that of America! Who would want to be a part of a religion that changes its beliefs and values just because its "with the times" and it's "what everyone else is doing". I don't see that as the "Jesus" thing to do. Just my observation.

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.

[DrummerDeanna]

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.

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

[strandinthewind]

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...

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.