I think I might be done with the Catholic Church...

[Skull Pilot]

No wonder you know nothing about the bible.

Did you stop to think what that means for atheists?

Atheists realize that the bible is all made up. You don't and try to interpret it yourself. Big difference.

You just implied that atheists don’t know anything about the Bible because they don’t go to church. Make up your mind.

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

You just said, " I stopped going to Church when I was 18. "

so by your own argument you don't go to church so that must mean you don't understand religion either

 

[Meriweather]

I was forced to attend Catholic church when I was young so yes I know.

Organized religion like the Catholic church is a bastardization of religion.

Somewhere along the line power and money has corrupted the Catholic church

And hierarchy is always corrupted so it's best to have as little of it as possible

I was privileged to attend Catholic Church and schools when I was young, so I know, too. There is no bastardization except in your own mind. Didn't you ever volunteer for any of the ministries? There has been no corruption is ANY of the parishes I have been a member of. While I know that cannot be said of all parishes, it certainly true for the greatest majority of them. The Church is the people--and the people are not corrupt.

"Forced" says it all. Like you are still mad at your parents--and probably about being "forced" to go to church. Or, as I said, perhaps you had the misfortune to be in a parish were things just weren't right. Either way, it resulted in a warped sense of religion, faith, God, and spirituality. Someday, perhaps, try looking at the forest through the trees. It may be too late for you to ever want to give it a try again, but it might bring a better understanding of what others see.

 

[Meriweather]

The red cross is not one of the richest organizations in the world.

The Catholic church has enriched itself with gold and land not for the good of the needy but for their own self importance

Asking poor people to kiss a ring that cost more than some people make in a year is helping people get closer to god in what way?

Never kissed a ring. I don't know of anyone who has. What year did you leave the Catholic Church? Anyway, the history:

First, people are not personally reverencing an individual bishop but are symbolically showing their respect and fidelity to the Apostles, whom each bishop represents through succession.

Second, in the West, the act of kissing the ring has been discouraged for decades by the Bishops themselves who feel uncomfortable with the formality because of the fact that most people have forgotten they are not showing respect to the Bishop, but to the Apostles.

 

[OldLady]

The bishops allowed 1000 children to be molested by priests, a grand jury has found.

I might be done with carrying the water of a Church that has failed on such an epic level to live up to their own moral rules.

As long as my father is alive, I will continue to go to Mass with him, because I don't want to break his heart.

But after that, I think I'm done.

You may want to keep in mind that Judas decided he was done, as well. The other eleven decided they had something worth carrying forward. Judas represents eight percent of the Apostles. The number of priests who broke their own vows is far less than that. Leaving the Church because of this would also be a slap in the face to the ninety-seven percent who did not break their vows.

Here is the real deal. I have found in my life there is never one reason for someone to reach a major decision. There are always at least three reasons that push a person into making such a change. Have you pondered what those other two reasons might be that may also be pushing you towards this choice?

Why does one have to belong to any church?

Why can't you just read the bible yourself and practice what it says?

Organized religion was established when most people were illiterate there is no need for it now

It's a social thing. For a lot of people, it always has been.

 

[Skull Pilot]

I was forced to attend Catholic church when I was young so yes I know.

Organized religion like the Catholic church is a bastardization of religion.

Somewhere along the line power and money has corrupted the Catholic church

And hierarchy is always corrupted so it's best to have as little of it as possible

I was privileged to attend Catholic Church and schools when I was young, so I know, too. There is no bastardization except in your own mind. Didn't you ever volunteer for any of the ministries? There has been no corruption is ANY of the parishes I have been a member of. While I know that cannot be said of all parishes, it certainly true for the greatest majority of them. The Church is the people--and the people are not corrupt.

"Forced" says it all. Like you are still mad at your parents--and probably about being "forced" to go to church. Or, as I said, perhaps you had the misfortune to be in a parish were things just weren't right. Either way, it resulted in a warped sense of religion, faith, God, and spirituality. Someday, perhaps, try looking at the forest through the trees. It may be too late for you to ever want to give it a try again, but it might bring a better understanding of what others see.

Unlike you I looked at religion with a cold and objective eye. I didn't just believe what people told me the bible said I read and decided for myself.

So the only one warped here is you because you can't see the forest for the trees

 

[Skull Pilot]

The red cross is not one of the richest organizations in the world.

The Catholic church has enriched itself with gold and land not for the good of the needy but for their own self importance

Asking poor people to kiss a ring that cost more than some people make in a year is helping people get closer to god in what way?

Never kissed a ring. I don't know of anyone who has. What year did you leave the Catholic Church? Anyway, the history:

First, people are not personally reverencing an individual bishop but are symbolically showing their respect and fidelity to the Apostles, whom each bishop represents through succession.

Second, in the West, the act of kissing the ring has been discouraged for decades by the Bishops themselves who feel uncomfortable with the formality because of the fact that most people have forgotten they are not showing respect to the Bishop, but to the Apostles.

You do know that the Catholic church doesn't only exist in this country don't you?

A church that makes itself rich on the tithes of its members as does the Catholic Church does not have any interest in the people

 

[Penelope]

The Catholic Church is failing in many respects, many priests are unfaithful to Catholic teachings, for example. You find them out in confession, when they tell you masturbation is not really a sin, or that you should take Communion even if you are in a state of sin.

In their defense everything has been rehashed since the 1940's. Personally I do not believe its as bad as they say it was, as many join the bandwagon to get money. One is a Representative that is out to extend the civil lawsuit to 50 years of age, since he could never come forward before and he wants to sue. Also its from a Jewish Law firm and also a Jewish state attorney, they might want to look into the Hasidic child molestation in that NY community, but they won't.
Why because Jews do not turn other jews in , in orthodox religion and I believe it may extend to all jews.

 

[Meriweather]

Unlike you I looked at religion with a cold and objective eye. I didn't just believe what people told me the bible said I read and decided for myself.

So the only one warped here is you because you can't see the forest for the trees

That where I took the road less traveled. Little Golden books of Bible stories had amazing accounts of people encountering God. As a mere toddler, I decided that is what I wanted--an encounter with God. Adults were very forthright with me, advising that people no longer had those type of encounters. I didn't see why they couldn't, so I took my own path. And encountered God. It did take years, but it was the Bible that told me to keep seeking and to persevere. (The path is indeed narrow.)

I looked at religion with a discerning eye. Some things in the Bible did not seem to match up with my own encounter...until...I started studying ancient languages, cultures, and history and realized through that lens it matched perfectly. Modern culture has us looking through a much different lens, and I suspect you "decided for yourself" while looking through that modern lens.

Look, I am not trying to get you to change your mind. Only to (hopefully) provide some understanding as to why so many elect to practice their faith. It is an adventure I wouldn't have missed for the world. It has made all the difference. And...it has taken a vast amount of time, time many simply do not have.

 

[Meriweather]

You do know that the Catholic church doesn't only exist in this country don't you?

A church that makes itself rich on the tithes of its members as does the Catholic Church does not have any interest in the people

It appears you have looked at the Vatican. Now take a look at the missionary work to the poor all over the world. Also keep in mind those who are more well off materially still need inspiration and aide for their spirits--often times more than the poor. The Church does not ignore them, and should not.

 

[zaangalewa]

... I was forced to attend Catholic church when I was young so yes I know.

You know nothing. You never had to do only a little with the holy catholic church. You just simple use stereotypical prejudices.

I know all I need to know about the church

In the nationalsocialistic pseudophysics for example the sun was an iceberg. That's no joke. So you can see very clear what's the way of ideologies, which know less than nothing. And you know less than nothing if you don't care about your own prejudices and think every lie is justifiable by victory. Normally this wouldn't be important - but often lots of people have to suffer a lot because extremists are denying spirituality and reality. We call them for example "terrorists" or "preachers of hate".

 

[ding]

Did you stop to think what that means for atheists?

Atheists realize that the bible is all made up. You don't and try to interpret it yourself. Big difference.

You just implied that atheists don’t know anything about the Bible because they don’t go to church. Make up your mind.

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

You just said, " I stopped going to Church when I was 18. "

so by your own argument you don't go to church so that must mean you don't understand religion either

That was never my argument and you don’t know what happened after I stopped.

 

[ding]

Did you stop to think what that means for atheists?

Atheists realize that the bible is all made up. You don't and try to interpret it yourself. Big difference.

You just implied that atheists don’t know anything about the Bible because they don’t go to church. Make up your mind.

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

 

[Taz]

Atheists realize that the bible is all made up. You don't and try to interpret it yourself. Big difference.

You just implied that atheists don’t know anything about the Bible because they don’t go to church. Make up your mind.

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

So quote me you idiot.

 

[ding]

You just implied that atheists don’t know anything about the Bible because they don’t go to church. Make up your mind.

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

So quote me you idiot.

I don’t think you are an idiot. Just a little confused.

 

[Taz]

No, I just explained it to you, atheists don't go to church because they realize that the bible isn't a god's word, but men's word.

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

So quote me you idiot.

I don’t think you are an idiot. Just a little confused.

You can't. I win.

 

[ding]

What does that have to do with you admission they can’t understand it since they don’t go to church.

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

So quote me you idiot.

I don’t think you are an idiot. Just a little confused.

You can't. I win.

Thank you for proving my point.

 

[Taz]

That's it, make up something I didn't say, it's all you've got.

It’s your logic, Taz, not mine.

So quote me you idiot.

I don’t think you are an idiot. Just a little confused.

You can't. I win.

Thank you for proving my point.

Which is that I own you? Agreed.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

The Church should have purged out the homosexuals.

Homosexuals should not be equated with pedophiles.

The pedophiles in the Church would not have existed but for the protection of homosexuals.

When a straight man is confronted by a pedophile the reaction us one of rage. Beat the bastard to death. When homosexuals are confronted with a pedophile the reaction is one of sympathy and empathy. Who else knows the pain of forbidden love? Who else understands unfair rejection based upon what kind of sex a man enjoys? The pedophile priest horror would not have grown and flourished without the caring cover up of gay priests.

 

[james bond]

I went to Catholic parochial school. Too much guilt. The Catholic are the worst as they're rebellious. Me too. I rebelled at thirteen.

 

[boedicca]

The bishops allowed 1000 children to be molested by priests, a grand jury has found.

I might be done with carrying the water of a Church that has failed on such an epic level to live up to their own moral rules.

As long as my father is alive, I will continue to go to Mass with him, because I don't want to break his heart.

But after that, I think I'm done.

You may want to keep in mind that Judas decided he was done, as well. The other eleven decided they had something worth carrying forward. Judas represents eight percent of the Apostles. The number of priests who broke their own vows is far less than that. Leaving the Church because of this would also be a slap in the face to the ninety-seven percent who did not break their vows.

Here is the real deal. I have found in my life there is never one reason for someone to reach a major decision. There are always at least three reasons that push a person into making such a change. Have you pondered what those other two reasons might be that may also be pushing you towards this choice?

The Catholic Church is not Christianity; it didn't even exist at the time Jesus lived. It's just another huge power structure which tends to attract corrupt people and corrupt people who gain some power within it.