Who's a CATHOLIC?

[rado]

Originally Posted by babyblues

Thanks for the vote of confidence...I think.

Who knows who you really are Probably some dork

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by rado

Who knows who you really are Probably some dork

:nerdnew:

[rado]

But I feel like a hypocrite being born again when I'm going to sin...I don't know...Just lately I've been feeling so much guilt...This sucks.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by rado

But I feel like a hypocrite being born again when I'm going to sin...I don't know...Just lately I've been feeling so much guilt...This sucks.

i guess the best thing to do then is shoot yourself.

[rado]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

i guess the best thing to do then is shoot yourself.

So uncouth of you...Look it up.

[Shibby]

I think a large part of the loss of religion in today's world is there being to much stress already. We are so much more stressed in our lives now that we ( I say we but I guess it doesn't really include me) could do without the burden of being judged by religion. I know it's about some sort of an after life, but people are tired of being criticized at every turn.

[grnmchn]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

not sure why you feel you had to pick one. dosent seem like that is being honest with yourself. believe what you want to believe in, don't make yourself believe in something else.

I hear ya bro, but I liken chosing a religion to chosing a president. If you have to pick someone, pick the one that most suits you. I know that's a little off, but that's pretty much how I feel. I know I said that you shouldn't have to go to church to worship God, but I do go to church. So i wanted to pick a church that best conformed to the majority of my beliefs. I belief my present church does that.

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by rado

But I feel like a hypocrite being born again when I'm going to sin...I don't know...Just lately I've been feeling so much guilt...This sucks.

All I know is that it's about who He is. I'm there with you. That's the part I don't understand yet either. But I do know that He forgives because of who He is, not because I'm anything special. And when He forgives sins, they're gone. It comes down to accepting the value that He places on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And again, He is the only one who can help you with that.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by rado

So uncouth of you...Look it up.

na, just shoot yourself.

[rado]

Originally Posted by babyblues

All I know is that it's about who He is. I'm there with you. That's the part I don't understand yet either. But I do know that He forgives because of who He is, not because I'm anything special. And when He forgives sins, they're gone. It comes down to accepting the value that He places on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And again, He is the only one who can help you with that.

Yea I know...

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by Shibby

I think a large part of the loss of religion in today's world is there being to much stress already. We are so much more stressed in our lives now that we ( I say we but I guess it doesn't really include me) could do without the burden of being judged by religion. I know it's about some sort of an after life, but people are tired of being criticized at every turn.

You're right. We can't carry the burden of judgement. We aren't supposed to. God doesn't judge you, other people may, but God doesn't. Sure, we deserve it, but it is God's right to judge. He's the only one who has the right to judge us, but He chooses not to. That's freedom, my friend. Not freedom to continue with our destructive behavior, but freedom to continue trying to follow what is right.

[rado]

Originally Posted by babyblues

You're right. We can't carry the burden of judgement. We aren't supposed to. God doesn't judge you, other people may, but God doesn't. Sure, we deserve it, but it is God's right to judge. He's the only one who has the right to judge us, but He chooses not to. That's freedom, my friend. Not freedom to continue with our destructive behavior, but freedom to continue trying to follow what is right.

I know God can only judge me...But I thought he doesn't judge He loves everyone regardless...Also; Sin is Sin...No matter what we do in life. No Sin is greater than the other right? That's another confusing thing to me...I've read the OT and NT...The books I've enjoyed the most are; Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus and Job(my favorite one of all; Job).

[grnmchn]

All sins are sins, but the 10 commandments were put in an order for a reason. I would typically follow that logic.

[rado]

Originally Posted by grnmchn

All sins are sins, but the 10 commandments were put in an order for a reason. I would typically follow that logic.

Oh boy...Not that easy my friend

[grnmchn]

Things are as easy or difficult as you make them. If you take them as absolute law, then you need nothing else. Not saying that I do, but I'm sure to people of the church that is their thinking. If all it takes is you living your life by 10 rules, then why not?

[babyblues]

Originally Posted by rado

I know God can only judge me...But I thought he doesn't judge He loves everyone regardless...Also; Sin is Sin...No matter what we do in life. No Sin is greater than the other right? That's another confusing thing to me...I've read the OT and NT...The books I've enjoyed the most are; Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus and Job(my favorite one of all; Job).

He chooses not to. It is his right, but he does choose not to. And yes, He does love everyone regardless. That's why all have the opportunity to come to Him. He has provided the way to enjoy the life He can give, but He leaves the decision up to you. God is also just. He cannot stop being just anymore than He can stop loving. He can't deny himself. I will admit that I don't understand how the two balance each other.

[rado]

Originally Posted by grnmchn

Things are as easy or difficult as you make them. If you take them as absolute law, then you need nothing else. Not saying that I do, but I'm sure to people of the church that is their thinking. If all it takes is you living your life by 10 rules, then why not?

What I can not stand is when you go to a church(other than your own)and a pastor(we Catholic's call him Father)makes you feel bad for not reading the word...I don't like that...The Bible even says it's not how many times you read it or praise his name, it's how sincere you are when it's done.

In Ohio there are a lot of Pentecostal/Methodist people here and most act this way...It's almost like if you were not one of "them", you're not worthy.

[grnmchn]

Originally Posted by rado

...It's almost like if you were not one of "them", you're not worthy.

In my opinion, most denominations act like this.

[Shibby]

Just to put a little more into this discussion I will talk a little about my choice not to believe in god. It goes a bit to this whole confession discussion. The time in my life when I truly decided I didn't believe and didn't care to be associated with Christianity (well any religion but I was raised Lutheran) was one of the happiest times of my life. I felt like a burden I never really bought into was gone. I felt lighter and more free. Not having to conform and live by something unscientific gave me the freedom to really find out who I am. I'm honest with my family and I confide in my wife. To me that's all that really matters and they are the one's I really care how they perceive my life. I don't live by any set expectations, but I do think about how my choices affect them.

[grnmchn]

Interesting. Do you think it was any one thing in your life that contributing to this feeling? Or are you just more scientific thinking?

[Shibby]

Mostly scientific. It's hard for me to really believe anything without facts. I was one to always ask "how" and the explanation that god just has great power never really stuck with me. So it may not be one or a few specific things that made my decision. I thing it's more that I never really believed, I was just told to and when I was old enough to think for myself, I did. As for the confession I just don't see how a person who isn't with me day to day can make me forgive myself of something more than those who are. But I also understand that religion is with people always and they feel Priests, Pastors or what ever are messenger of god and his forgiveness.

[NYCmitch25]

I thought everyone was Italian and Catholic till i was about 10.

i see a lot of "religious" ppl who believe they are better then eveyoone else when in fact they are fuked up morally.

[magdalena]

*EDIT*


I was born into the Catholic family and raised that way. In Poland, pretty much everyone I know is Catholic, it just seems like a country religion. A few years ago I was thinking about changing my religion to Baptist because of the differences between the churches .In Catholic, you go to the mass, you confess, you say a set prayer each Sunday. It is all strict and spiritless. Just like saying a bunch of words that you never really thought what they truly mean. I didn't convert to anything. I turned away from church cause I committed some sins that were too hard for the priest to take and I would have to see the bishop because he was the only one who could cleanse my soul. And that in itself, doesn't make it easy to simply go there and confess. Many times you can confess but you will not get any good word from the priest, I have no clue what the English word for it is but basically, your sins will not be forgiven. Happened to many of my friends but then they went to other (usually younger) priest and the same sins were gone fast and painless. I am still Catholic, but have some mixed feelings. I am a biology major who takes the science seriously and it gets pretty hard for me to find myself; it is like being torn between believing and not believing. I saw a few movies done by Richard Dawkins, maybe not the best to explain what to do in this mixed situation but definitely he got me interested by pointin