blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Moose I do know that alot of Christians feel that since Catholics pray certain prayers to be forgiven of their sins is a no no. The only way to be forgiven is through Jesus Himself. We never learned that in Catholic school - you have to go through the sacrament of reconciliation in order to be forgiven for your sins, which means a trip to the priest's crazy little closet where you speak through something that looks like a wicker basket. The original concept of priest as mediator for God or whatever developed during a period of mass illiteracy. Back when most folks couldn't read the bible anyways. (Why do I pronounce it bibble in my head?) Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Moose I do know that alot of Christians feel that since Catholics pray certain prayers to be forgiven of their sins is a no no. The only way to be forgiven is through Jesus Himself. The only way that I'm aware of, for a Catholic to be forgiven for their sins is to confess them to a priest (who is representative of Christ) or at a general absolution. And one can't just go to general absolutions & skip the confessional entirely. Link to post Share on other sites
Pocky Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 What other gods do Catholics have?? Catholics don't have any other gods, but they have saints and treat them as deities. What do you mean? They are not allowed to make pictures? Idolatry? That's how some interpret it. Muslims do not have any images of God or even Muhammad because they believe it's strictly forbidden by God. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky Catholics don't have any other gods, but they have saints and treat them as deities. I've heard this - I think it's definately more true for the Catholic church in certain countries, like Spain and South and Central America and the Caribbean...it's definately not really an issue in American Catholic churches. Although when I was little we would pray to St. Anthony when we lost things or pets. And there's that whole saying the rosary with prayers to the Virgin and the Holy Ghost. Ok I'll shut up now I just proved Pocky's point. Link to post Share on other sites
tokyo Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky Catholics don't have any other gods, but they have saints and treat them as deities. I think I have to strongly disagree with that. They are not considered to be deities. There´s just one god for Catholics. That's how some interpret it. Muslims do not have any images of God or even Muhammad because they believe it's strictly forbidden by God. Muslim are in fact not allowed to make images of any living being at all. I think the same applies to Jews. If Catholics are committing a sin by making pictures, what about the rest of the other Christan groups, do they not make any pictures? I´d be surprised to hear that. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by kooky If Catholics are committing a sin by making pictures, what about the rest of the other Christan groups, do they not make any pictures? I´d be surprised to hear that. Hey I didn't even think about that - what about those weird little postcards of a smiling white Jesus I get from those crazies that go door to door? Link to post Share on other sites
bluechocolate Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky Catholics don't have any other gods, but they have saints and treat them as deities. When Catholics pray to a saint or to the Virgin Mary they are not worshipping them so much as asking them to intercede with God on their behalf. but this is going way off topic now - sorry Moose Link to post Share on other sites
tokyo Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 I just think this discussion is quite amusing. I went to classes about Catholicism, because my dad is Catholic and where I live most people are Catholic and so incredible religious. Now hearing another Christian tell me that he thinks they don´t believe in resurrection and worship idols is so hilarious. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by kooky I just think this discussion is quite amusing. I think it's funny, too. But I am also currently singing a song about "Smiling white Jesus" in my head, so that might be why I'm in a weird mood. Link to post Share on other sites
Pocky Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by kooky I think I have to strongly disagree with that. They are not considered to be deities. There´s just one god for Catholics. Well I'm merely pointing out why this causes non-Catholics to have this opinion. It is because they see Catholics worshiping these saints. The definition of deity is a postulated supernatural entity, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshiped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by humans. Mary could be considered a deity by non-Catholics even if Catholics don't call her that. Her incorporation into this religion exalts her into this status. Some non-Catholics see this as breaking the Ten Commandments and worshiping false idols. Link to post Share on other sites
Pocky Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by kooky I just think this discussion is quite amusing. I went to classes about Catholicism, because my dad is Catholic and where I live most people are Catholic and so incredible religious. Now hearing another Christian tell me that he thinks they don´t believe in resurrection and worship idols is so hilarious. I'm not Christian. And I'm not debating your religion, how you believe it conducts itself or the validity of its actions. What I am pointing out is where non-Catholics may have derived these misconceptions. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky I'm not Christian. And I'm not debating your religion, how you believe it conducts itself or the validity of its actions. What I am pointing out is where non-Catholics may have derived these misconceptions. Yeah I think kooky was referring to Moose. You are as usual articulate and well spoken. I'm still singing about a smiling white Jesus. Oh, the medication is changing my brain. Again. Link to post Share on other sites
tokyo Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by blind_otter Yeah I think kooky was referring to Moose. You are as usual articulate and well spoken. I'm still singing about a smiling white Jesus. Oh, the medication is changing my brain. Again. Yep and I´m not Catholic at all. It´s not really a religion that I favor. Pocky, I think you would have to live where I live in order to understand why I think it´s funny when other Christians come with their prejudices about Catholics. Maybe it´s like telling a Baptist he´s not Christian enough. Link to post Share on other sites
Pocky Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by blind_otter Yeah I think kooky was referring to Moose. You are as usual articulate and well spoken. I'm still singing about a smiling white Jesus. Oh, the medication is changing my brain. Again. I figured kooky just combined us into one. Moose made the resurrection comment I made the idols comment. I just wanted to clarify my intentions as religion conversations can be quite heated at times. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky I figured kooky just combined us into one. Moose made the resurrection comment I made the idols comment. I just wanted to clarify my intentions as religion conversations can be quite heated at times. I proposed that all future conversations regarding religion be conducted in the nude. That way we can get as hot as we want. Oh baby when you talk about Jesus it makes me wanna....ooooooh. Sacreligious! Link to post Share on other sites
Pocky Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by kooky Yep and I´m not Catholic at all. It´s not really a religion that I favor. Pocky, I think you would have to live where I live in order to understand why I think it´s funny when other Christians come with their prejudices about Catholics. Maybe it´s like telling a Baptist he´s not Christian enough. I was baptized Catholic. My entire family is Catholic - as with most Catholic families. I attended church and CCD classes per my request when I turned fourteen and started my journey to understanding religion. This religion didn't fit me and I had to move on. I have a pretty good understanding of the religion, but I can also see it from an outsiders perspective. In all honesty, I think what is most concerning is not so much that people disagree with alternate religious beliefs, but that so many people don't know anything about other religions. I personally feel that this is why we have so much intolerance for religion. We can't tolerate something we don't understand and misconceptions spread like wildfire. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky In all honesty, I think what is most concerning is not so much that people disagree with alternate religious beliefs, but that so many people don't know anything about other religions. I personally feel that this is why we have so much intolerance for religion. We can't tolerate something we don't understand and misconceptions spread like wildfire. Word. Link to post Share on other sites
tokyo Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Pocky I was baptized Catholic. My entire family is Catholic - as with most Catholic families. I attended church and CCD classes per my request when I turned fourteen and started my journey to understanding religion. This religion didn't fit me and I had to move on. I have a pretty good understanding of the religion, but I can also see it from an outsiders perspective. As I said, my dad is Catholic and that´s why I went to classes about Catholicism, I even attended some masses, but I´m just not interested in this religion. Since our dear priest called me "our little pagan" I thought they are a bunch of hypocritical idiots, that much about religious tolerance. Of course, not all Catholics are intolerant, but I´m getting tired of attempts to get converted and at the same time being told over and over again that we all believe in the same God and he has only different names. - Yeah..... Therefore, it´s so hilarious for me if other Christians doubt their devotedness to God and ask if they believe in the resurrection. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Moose Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 Therefore, it´s so hilarious for me if other Christians doubt their devotedness to God and ask if they believe in the resurrection.Shouldn't you be more understanding and educate us instead of thinking it's hilarious? Link to post Share on other sites
tokyo Posted March 3, 2005 Share Posted March 3, 2005 Originally posted by Moose Shouldn't you be more understanding and educate us instead of thinking it's hilarious? You should have seen my initial answer to your question. I seriously have never ever thought that other Christians might consider Catholics not to be full Christians and I didn´t feel like I should have hidden my surprise, because I´d assume that Christians should at least have some vague idea about other Christian groups. And the Catholics are quite a big group. Don´t Catholics outnumber Baptists (I assume you are Baptist?) worldwide? Did you ever see the easter processions in Spain where people run around in long dresses with hoods like KKK-members? I think in the Philipines you also have some pretty spectacular processions during easter with people castigating themselves in the street and a lot of blood streaming. The resurection if I recall it correctly is even more important than Christmas. Just wait till Blockhead sees this thread Link to post Share on other sites
shamen Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Originally posted by LucreziaBorgia I teach my kid about it from a historical and a religious perspective: favoring no one story over the other. She will believe in the one she chooses to believe in. She likes the Christian perspective in general, with the pagan explanation of the origin of eggs and bunnies in the context of the holiday. Me personally? I'm not religious, but I find the story of Easter/Oester interesting nonetheless. I agree with LucreziaBorgia; if I had a child, I would also teach about the several possible different origins. I was taught the Catholic version as a child, but find the pagan stories more interesting now. Its pagan origins are based in celebrating the Spring Equinox. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Originally posted by Moose Shouldn't you be more understanding and educate us instead of thinking it's hilarious? My great and wonderful father always taught me the responsibility is on my shoulders to educate myself about things I want to/need to understand further. I have attended Baptist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Unitarian services - not because I was shopping for a faith, but because I was just like - hey, I wonder how the other half lives. That's why I minored in asian religions in university, too. One of my professors was an ex-buddhist monk who travelled to SE asia via Afghanistan on top of a bus!!! hahaha, what weird stories he had. Perhaps because of my multicultural upbringing, with an asian buddhist mother and an agnostic white father who was raised baptist until the local church excommunicated his family because his grandma was drinking a hot toddy every day (the truth is stranger than fiction)....I have never really been able to ascribe to a particular religious faith. I respect them all. But I think that, if you aren't really well read or come from a place of understanding than you can surely be dedicated to one faith, but your understanding even of you own faith is limited by how much you chose to or chose not to understand the whys and hows of other people's faiths.... does that make any sense? Link to post Share on other sites
Author Moose Posted March 4, 2005 Author Share Posted March 4, 2005 Yes it makes sense, but your understanding even of you own faith is limited by how much you chose to or chose not to understand the whys and hows of other people's faiths.... Why do you think I asked in the first place? I'm not totally ignorant to other faiths, but in some areas I still don't have a full understanding, they may seem very trivial to some, but completly foreign to me. Sorry if it looks as though I'm an idiot. I posted a response, that was removed by the way, that I don't find what I asked, "hilarious", at all. Just where does one begin to understand the other anyway? Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Originally posted by Moose Just where does one begin to understand the other anyway? Reading, experiencing - also my daddums always says you should make sure to associate with as many different types of people as possible. SO I have friends who are religious, who are agnostic, who are athiest, who are white, who are black, who are mixed.....who are college educated, who dropped out of high school....that kind of thing. Attending services of other sects, you know....my biggest way of understand has always been reading. Link to post Share on other sites
Merin Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Easter for me is bitter-sweet.. My youngest child had her first seizure when she was 10 months old on her first Easter.. I had no idea what was wrong with her.. she stopped breathing and her Dad and I thought she was dead.. The images of paramedics and firemen being in my living room with my child in my lap will always haunt me.. and unfortunately.. I will probably always associate Easter with that event. I still tell my Kiddo's why Easter is celebrated.. and yeah.. I do the whole chocolate and egg hunt thing for them.. but again.. for me Easter represents bitter in what happend to my baby.. and sweet she is still alive and a happy healthy kid. Link to post Share on other sites
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