Addressing the Obvious

[Robert_Burns]

Is it just me or has there been quite a few obvious questions being posed here lately?

We are all here to Discuss Catholicism or we wouldnt be here and many of the Questions posed are indeed interesting - But when People ask things like Is there really Heaven or is there really Hell - my question would be - Why would anyone ask that here?

There is a direct link to the Original Catholic Encyclopedia on the same bar where we click on Forum where if a person wants to know what holy mother the Church teaches - they can go and read in depth the answers without coming to the forum at all. If after doing so - you still have questions - then come and ask them. Then we all could save about a hundred posts and get to the really good stuff right away.

Comments?

 

[CB_Catholic]

Is it just me or has there been quite a few obvious questions being posed here lately?

We are all here to Discuss Catholicism or we wouldnt be here and many of the Questions posed are indeed interesting - But when People ask things like Is there really Heaven or is there really Hell - my question would be - Why would anyone ask that here?

There is a direct link to the Original Catholic Encyclopedia on the same bar where we click on Forum where if a person wants to know what holy mother the Church teaches - they can go and read in depth the answers without coming to the forum at all. If after doing so - you still have questions - then come and ask them. Then we all could save about a hundred posts and get to the really good stuff right away.

Comments?

Some people are so poorly catechized or have been raised with no religious formation at all, so that they do not know even the basics of Christianity, let alone Catholicism. the Catholic Encyclopedia is a good resource, but many do not know of it’s existance or purpose; also it is not that easy for someone new to the faith to understand or use. Some of the terminology or theological language may be difficult for them, or they may not have enough knowledge of “church language” to be able to look up a subject.

Also, may people have been exposed to conflicting views on things spiritual, perhaps having grown up in a home where the parents held different religious beliefs so they received little or no religious training, or heard conflicting things. They want someONE to help them and answer their questions directly.

I am on our RCIA team and sometimes there are catechumens who have almost no knowledge of Catholicism or Christianity in general. Handing them the Catholic Encyclopedia would be useless–they don’t know what questions to ask and are unfamiliar with the terminology. We start with teaching them the basics and give them reading material on the subject to follow up with, and answer their questions as they come up. It is a step-by-step process and the personal interaction is important. Even though the internet is not really personal, there is some human interaction, and answering the question with simple explanations and then referring them to articles to read is probably a better way to go than merely posting links. That shows them that people are interested in them and in answering their questions. The articles can be used to supplement and clarify the answers they receive, but the human interaction is very important.

 

[one_luv]

I grew up with a Devout Catholic as a father, went to Church every Sunday and attended Catholic school. And you know what? I don’t remember any of what I was taught! I had to meet with the priest the other day and he told me to meet him in the vestibule of the church. Guess what? I didn’t even know what the vestibule was. I have forgotten some of the prayers I learned as a child. I have questioned through the years whether God actually did exist, and if there really was such a thing as Heaven and Hell.

As years went by, I questioned everything I was taught growing up and finally got to the point where I gave up on my faith in God altogether. I became a wanderer…walking the world aimlessly and feeling a sense of emptiness for the past 17 years.

But now…here I am ready and willing to learn everything all over again…including the basics. What may seem so obvious to some on this board, isn’t quite so obvious to others…including me! Some are just looking for reassurance and a sense of comfort as we embark on our journeys.

It’s interesting that you bring up threads questioning whether or not there is a heaven. It was a thread that discussed exactly that question that drew me into coming onto and registering on this forum.

 

[Robert_Burns]

Some people are so poorly catechized or have been raised with no religious formation at all, so that they do not know even the basics of Christianity, let alone Catholicism. the Catholic Encyclopedia is a good resource, but many do not know of it’s existance or purpose; also it is not that easy for someone new to the faith to understand or use. Some of the terminology or theological language may be difficult for them, or they may not have enough knowledge of “church language” to be able to look up a subject.

Also, may people have been exposed to conflicting views on things spiritual, perhaps having grown up in a home where the parents held different religious beliefs so they received little or no religious training, or heard conflicting things. They want someONE to help them and answer their questions directly.

I am on our RCIA team and sometimes there are catechumens who have almost no knowledge of Catholicism or Christianity in general. Handing them the Catholic Encyclopedia would be useless–they don’t know what questions to ask and are unfamiliar with the terminology. We start with teaching them the basics and give them reading material on the subject to follow up with, and answer their questions as they come up. It is a step-by-step process and the personal interaction is important. Even though the internet is not really personal, there is some human interaction, and answering the question with simple explanations and then referring them to articles to read is probably a better way to go than merely posting links. That shows them that people are interested in them and in answering their questions. The articles can be used to supplement and clarify the answers they receive, but the human interaction is very important.

I dont mean to be condescending , But if a person is savy enough to find the Catholic answers forum online on a Computer , is able to surf the web , sign on , in short do all of these things - then asking if Heaven or Hell really exist in a Catholic forum , is to me - inexcusable. Certainly there are people who may not know their faith well enough. But I am not talking about legitimate questions. I am talking about asking if Heaven exists.

 

[Robert_Burns]

I grew up with a Devout Catholic as a father, went to Church every Sunday and attended Catholic school. And you know what? I don’t remember any of what I was taught! I had to meet with the priest the other day and he told me to meet him in the vestibule of the church. Guess what? I didn’t even know what the vestibule was. I have forgotten some of the prayers I learned as a child. I have questioned through the years whether God actually did exist, and if there really was such a thing as Heaven and Hell.

As years went by, I questioned everything I was taught growing up and finally got to the point where I gave up on my faith in God altogether. I became a wanderer…walking the world aimlessly and feeling a sense of emptiness for the past 17 years.

But now…here I am ready and willing to learn everything all over again…including the basics. What may seem so obvious to some on this board, isn’t quite so obvious to others…including me! Some are just looking for reassurance and a sense of comfort as we embark on our journeys.

It’s interesting that you bring up threads questioning whether or not there is a heaven. It was a thread that discussed exactly that question that drew me into coming onto and registering on this forum.

Well I really hope that what you are saying isnt true. I really do and for one reason. That you would put your salvation in the hands of what someone you dont know types on a message board about heaven.

 

[one_luv]

Well I really hope that what you are saying isnt true. I really do and for one reason. That you would put your salvation in the hands of what someone you dont know types on a message board about heaven.

I’m not sure I ever made the claim that “I was putting my salvation in the hands of someone else”. It is nice to get some feedback from others though who have much more experience/expertise on the issue than I do. But thanks for completely distorting what I stated in my post.

 

[Robert_Burns]

I’m not sure I ever made the claim that “I was putting my salvation in the hands of someone else”. It is nice to get some feedback from others though who have much more experience/expertise on the issue than I do. But thanks for completely distorting what I stated in my post.

I meant no offense. The Catholic Faith at its core is the relationship one fosters with GOD on an individual basis. We can learn everything there is to know about the Catholic faith and yet still lose our soul. My point is - practicing ones Faith is much more important that learning ones Faith. In fact - if a person is that ignorant of their faith - a message board should be the last place they come IMO. And I mean that sincerely. The Seven gifts of the Holy Ghost are Knowledge , Understanding , Wisdom , Piety , Counsel , Fortitude , and Fear of Offending GOD. We gain them in abundance from Prayer , Penance , the Sacraments , Fasting , Offering Suffering and Sacrifice and Mortification acts of Faith Hope and Charity for the love of GOD. We dont get then from reading other people’s opinions. You show me a person doing all of the above prior to coming to Catholic answers and I’ll show you someone who will not ask the question of whether or not heaven exists.

Pax

 

[paperwight66]

What saddens and perplexes me is the number of questions posted (on the Catholic Living forum rather than this one) on the lines of
‘I’ve just had major surgery or
I’ve been at the hospital all night with my dying father or
my wife’s just had her third c-section and came home from hospital yesterday but isn’t up to minding our three under-fives as well as the baby -
so should I go to confession for missing Sunday Mass this morning as missing Mass is a mortal sin and I don’t want to go to Hell’.

It saddens me that people have such a concept of our Loving Father.

 

[Robert_Burns]

What saddens and perplexes me is the number of questions posted (on the Catholic Living forum rather than this one) on the lines of
‘I’ve just had major surgery or
I’ve been at the hospital all night with my dying father or
my wife’s just had her third c-section and came home from hospital yesterday but isn’t up to minding our three under-fives as well as the baby -
so should I go to confession for missing Sunday Mass this morning as missing Mass is a mortal sin and I don’t want to go to Hell’.

It saddens me that people have such a concept of our Loving Father.

I know…

 

[novelista]

Sometimes people just want to know other people’s opinions, in addition to what they’ve read in articles, especially if the subject matter is complex or confusing.

 

[Robert_Burns]

Sometimes people just want to know other people’s opinions, in addition to what they’ve read in articles, especially if the subject matter is complex or confusing.

True - but my point is when someone asks if Heaven exists in a Catholic forum. Why ever would someone ask a question like that.

 

[JHow]

Perhaps it’s obvious, but I wouldn’t respond to obvious questions. There are whole swathes of the forums that can easily be avoided.

I think the phenomenon you speak of, results from the wide range of posters here, with differing levels of age, education, background, profession, nationality, interests, and religion. Not to mention the practice of what is referred to as “trolling” or “fishing”.

 

[archangel04]

Some people just don’t like to use the search option! It’s simple to use, and some topics just keep coming back over and over. People don’t like reading the sticky and just quickly post. I go to a military forum, and I can tell you they are not nice over there like they are here. If you post something about a topic that have been discussed many times they will chew you out and spit you out.
I guess two things that irk me are those who fail to use the search option and those who post on dead threads lol. Sorry if I sound uncharitable.