Am I wrong? I thought God was merciful..?

[Tigress]

So I’ve never really been taught about God but always believed in him and I’ve always thought that he was loving and forgiving as long as I made an effort. I thought Hell was a place for bad people who did bad things like kill and steal with no remorse or conscience. I thought that as long as you are good you’ll die and go to heaven. But like I said, that was just my own mind wandering. Now, at fourteen, I started studying these things and I’m so shocked! Everything is so scary and horrible!

You could be a perfectly fine person born and raised in some country where Christianity isn’t practiced too often, donate to charities and save hundreds of lives, die a hero and a great great person but still be condemned to flames JUST because you don’t believe in our God! What is that about!? There are so many things that just make my heart drop and stomach turn, like how homosexuality is a sin and how you have to do everything in perfect order if you don’t want to be scorched and hurt for all of eternity.

All my life I’ve prayed at night to a God I feel like I was born to love; I’ve never been pressured to believe in anything and never taught about God or anything because I wasn’t raised religiously, but that faith I’ve always had in a merciful God who loved everyone and would never turn His back on his child over innocent personal choices kept me going. I’ve always felt like this God was real because I’ve always believed in him without being raised to. But now all of that is tarnished because it turns out everything is so fear based! Why do I have to fear someone who is supposed to love me, why does our God seem so disrespectful of free will? Doesn’t He know that some people aren’t raised to believe and that it’s not their fault?? (obviously He knows all and I’m not trying to be rude in His name, I’m just trying to get my point across).

And what- buying contraceptives is really really bad? Telling a dirty joke or even laughing at one sends you to confession? Am I wrong in all of this? I’m so scared of the one deity I should love with all my heart…

Oh and sorry for posting this in two sections of the forum. I’m new and I don’t know where to post what.

 

[Abu]

Tigress #1
it turns out everything is so fear based! Why do I have to fear someone who is supposed to love me, why does our God seem so disrespectful of free will? Doesn’t He know that some people aren’t raised to believe and that it’s not their fault?? (obviously He knows all and I’m not trying to be rude in His name, I’m just trying to get my point across).

You need to get to know God through His Church – Her teaching, Her Tradition and Her Scriptures. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), or first the Compendium of the CCC – how can you know unless you take the trouble to learn? Nothing is fear-based except the just punishment due to knowingly committing grave evil. This is why Christ gave us the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion.

It is precisely because of God’s great love that we are redeemed by Christ’s crucifixion, death and resurrection. But we need to love in return, and we do that by conforming our will and actions to His Will – which we do through the loving teaching of His Church through His Pope, Bishops, Priests, families and catechists.

God made us with free will so that we could freely CHOOSE to obey Him and His Church on faith and morals. Those who don’t know of Him or believe can be saved, as His Church teaches by following their consciences in doing what they believe to be right – the true and good, and avoiding evil. They can be saved through His Church.

And what- buying contraceptives is really really bad?

The use of any form of contraception is objectively gravely evil and totally unnecessary.

What else would you like to know?

 

[Tigress]

Thank you for responding

I get the gist of it, but honestly the first paragraph was confusing to me. Thanks for clearing up the thing where as long as you follow your conscience you’re safe. That worried me the most.

Well, one: why is homosexuality considered evil?
Two: why are contraceptives evil? I vaguely knew that from an auto-biography my grandmother wrote where she mentioned that she came from a family of seven because her parents didn’t believe in birth control, but why is that evil?
Three: what if you’re an atheist? Agnostic? How is that considered turning your back on God?
Four: who actually wrote The Bible? I bet I’m going to get scorned for that one

That’s all for now

 

[Tigress]

I have a few more questions; why do we have to capitalize He and Him? Grammatically speaking that’s incorrect… xD

I saw somewhere else on the forum that making a sexual joke / remark or even laughing / responding to it is a sin. Is that correct?

And finally, why is there such a morbid emphasis on anything sexual here?

Thanks,
~ Tigress

 

[Abu]

Tigress #3
Thanks for clearing up the thing where as long as you follow your conscience you’re safe.

But not any kind of conscience – not the erroneous conscience – the conscience needs to be formed by the teaching of the Church on faith and morals.

Answer by Fr.Stephen F. Torraco (EWTN) on July 24, 2007:
There can be no conflict between a well formed and correctly informed conscience and the Church’s Magisterium. A person who does not accept the Church’s teaching on contraception removes him or herself from communion with the Church.
[Fr Torraco was the Executive Director of the Society for the Study of the Magisterial Teaching of the Church, and answered questions for Mother Angelica’s Eternal Word Television Network]

“The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.” (CCC1783).
CCC1792 identifies “errors of judgment” precisely: “…assertion of a mistaken autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and Her teaching…”

Vatican II:
“In the formation of their consciences, the Christian faithful ought carefully to attend to the sacred and certain doctrine of the Church. For the Catholic Church is, by the will of Christ, the teacher of the truth. It is her duty to give utterance to, and authoritatively to teach, that truth which is Christ Himself, and also to declare and confirm by Her authority those principles of the moral order which have their origins in human nature itself. Furthermore, let Christians walk in wisdom in the face of those outside, ‘in the Holy Spirit, in unaffected love, in the word of truth’ (2 Cor. 6:6-7), and let them be about their task of spreading the light of life with all confidence(36) and apostolic courage, even to the shedding of their blood.” (Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae, 14).

Bl Pope John Paul II in Veritatis Splendor #64: “The Church puts herself always and only at the service of conscience, helping it to avoid being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine proposed by human deceit (cf. Eph 4:14), and helping it not to swerve from the truth about the good of man, but rather, especially in more difficult questions, to attain the truth with certainty and to abide in it.”

why is homosexuality considered evil?

Those with the homosexual disorder are not considered evil at all. They are loved and can be helped. What is evil is engaging in sexual acts as it is for normal unmarried men and women – two men or two women cannot get married, and neither can they engage in sexual acts without sin. Men and women are made by God for marriage and procreation within marriage.

why are contraceptives evil?

**Answer by Fr.Stephen F. Torraco on June 19, 2006 (EWTN): **
“If you want an objective reason as to why contraception is a serious evil and NFP is not only morally justifiable but also praiseworthy, that objective reason is this: with contraception, there is the deliberate rupture of the intimate link between the unitive and procreative meanings of the marital act. With NFP, there is no such rupture. Even in the case in which a couple, using NFP, resorts to the infertile period for marital relations so as to avoid pregnancy (assuming for the sake of argument, for serious reasons) there is no such objective rupture of that link precisely because there is nothing there to contracept. You need to understand that morality is not simply about results. It is also about our actions in and of themselves. The argument to which you refer (the results are the same with NFP and contraception) is purely utilitarian and does not take into consideration the entire human act. Furthermore, as I have pointed out several times, the condoning of contraception quite logically is also the condoning of genital activity with anyone or anything, as well as of in vitro fertilization and cloning. The Church’s teaching on contraception does not at all depend on faith. It is a clear and rational defense of the very essence of civilization.”

what if you’re an atheist? Agnostic? How is that considered turning your back on God?

What matters is whether people follow their consciences, do good and avoid evil; if they know of Christ’s teaching they have a responsibility to make the effort to examine it further. Rejecting God has to be a calculated action which God will judge. Those outside of the Church may be saved, through His Church, if they do good and avoid evil to the best of their ability.

who actually wrote The Bible

The Bible is the collection of writings, Old Testament and New Testament, by the Catholic Church and declared infallibly as the Word of God. The New Testament (Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and Epistles) is written by Catholics.

#4
why is there such a morbid emphasis on anything sexual here?

There is no “morbidity” in Catholic teaching, so explain what you mean. Sexual jokes may range from inconsequential to pornographic.

I capitalize the references to God simply because He is God.

 

[Dave_B]

You asked a lot of Qs in one post! Re other religions. The CC doesnt teach they go to hell. She teaches that God judge each person based on their works, and would not condemn someone purely for ignorance. That is my understanding.

And yes God is merciful

 

[bscastro]

You asked a lot of Qs in one post! Re other religions. The CC doesnt teach they go to hell. She teaches that God judge each person based on their works, and would not condemn someone purely for ignorance. That is my understanding.

And yes God is merciful

I think we need to be careful when we say that God judges people outside of the Catholic Church based on their works - as that is not quite accurate. Here is an excerpt from Pope Pius IX from his Encyclical Quanto conficiamur (1863): (The emphasis in bold is mine)

“And here, beloved Sons and Venerable Brethren, it is necessary once more to mention and censure the serious error into which some Catholics have unfortunately fallen. For they are of the opinion that men who live in errors, estranged from the true faith and from Catholic unity, can attain eternal life. This is in direct opposition to Catholic teaching. We all know that those who are afflicted with invincible ignorance with regard to our holy religion, if they carefully keep the precepts of the natural law that have been written by God in the hearts of all men, if they are prepared to obey God, and if they lead a virtuous and dutiful life, can attain eternal life by the power of divine light and grace. For God, Who reads comprehensively in every detail the minds and souls, the thoughts and habits of all men, will not permit, in accordance with his infinite goodness and mercy, anyone who is not guilty of a voluntary fault to suffer eternal torments (suppliciis). However, also well-known is the Catholic dogma that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church, and that those who obstinately oppose the authority and definitions of the Church, and who stubbornly remain separated from the unity of the Church and from the successor of Peter, the Roman Pontiff (to whom the Saviour has entrusted the care of His vineyard), cannot attain salvation.”

And St. Thomas Aquinas on invincible ignorance:
“Now it is evident that whoever neglects to have or do what he ought to have or do, commits a sin of omission. Wherefore through negligence, ignorance of what one is bound to know, is a sin; whereas it is not imputed as a sin to a man, if he fails to know what he is unable to know. Consequently ignorance of such like things is called invincible, because it cannot be overcome by study. For this reason such like ignorance, not being voluntary, since it is not in our power to be rid of it, is not a sin: wherefore it is evident that no invincible ignorance is a sin. On the other hand vincible ignorance is a sin, if it be about things one is bound to know.”

So what does this mean?

1. If you have been taught the faith of the Catholic Church, you must live that faith through the grace of God. If you have been exposed to it, you should within your power explore, study, and try to understand the faith before accepting/rejecting it.
2. If you cannot understand the faith - e.g. mental retardation - God in his infinite mercy will not punish you.
3. If you cannot know the faith - e.g. you live on a remote island where no influence/contact from the outside world has occurred - God may have mercy on you if you live according to the natural law that can be known without specific contact with the Catholic faith.

That’s my understanding/summary. Ultimately, salvation is a grace - a gift from God - that we cannot earn on our own. Even our works are attributed to the grace of God - as a response and collaboration to the grace given to us.

God bless,
Bryan

 

[Tigress]

Okay maybe not morbid, but kind of a “do anything sexual at all and you’ve committed a grave sin” type of deal.

 

[ssa_fellow]

Now, at fourteen, I started studying these things and I’m so shocked! Everything is so scary and horrible!

You could be a perfectly fine person born and raised in some country where Christianity isn’t practiced too often, donate to charities and save hundreds of lives, die a hero and a great great person but still be condemned to flames JUST because you don’t believe in our God! What is that about!?

No, actually these people can still be saved according to the Church. Although they were never baptized, or even knew about Jesus Christ, if they had known about Jesus they could have wanted to follow Him. Well, God knows who falls into that boat. And that boat is called: Baptism of desire. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism_of_desire

Tigress:

There are so many things that just make my heart drop and stomach turn, like how homosexuality is a sin and how you have to do everything in perfect order if you don’t want to be scorched and hurt for all of eternity.

I really wanted to respond to this part. I’m gay. I’ve also committed my life to the Church’s teachings on celibacy. So, I don’t normally say “I’m gay” because I don’t want to be associated with the gay people that are actively homosexual (the ones glorified by the media, etc.).

Well, God is merciful, but He is also Just. So, if I live my entire life as a virgin and never commit a single homosexual act… and then there is someone who has gay sex every single day. Wouldn’t it be unjust for that person to go to Heaven? If one person obeys God his entire life and another person disobeys Him for his whole life, how can they both go to Heaven?
And that’s why homosexuality is bad, because there are plenty of people who deny their lust, pick up their cross, and carry it daily. There are plenty of people that are attracted to the same sex who choose to serve God rather than serve their own selfishness.

And if that sounds harsh to those people… they have the rest of their lives to turn from their sin. They could turn from their sin and repent on the last day they’re alive. And if it’s legit (and there’s no fooling God), then they could be saved. But, for all the homosexuals who die obstinate in their sin… why should they go to Heaven? They have indulged in sin their whole lives while many others (including myself) have carried out the burdensome commitment of celibacy.

Lastly, I hope that doesn’t sound unloving. Because I love these people very much. I KNOW that these people are capable of living better lives. I’m living proof that it is not impossible. It may seem inconceivable to some gay people to be celibate, but to me I couldn’t imagine living like they do. So my heart does go out to them. It’s very sad to think that the vast majority of our society aren’t even aware of what gay people are called to.

But the Church in her infinite wisdom does!

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Okay maybe not morbid, but kind of a “do anything sexual at all and you’ve committed a grave sin” type of deal.

Outside of the confines of marriage…you are correct. Within the confines of marriage…not as long as the end result is procreative.

 

[Dorothy]

Okay maybe not morbid, but kind of a “do anything sexual at all and you’ve committed a grave sin” type of deal.

Our sexuality is a beautiful gift from God. Due to the fall and our human nature being disordered, we need the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to live according to his will. Pope John Paull II’s teaching on “Theology of the Body” puts a wonderful spotlight on the teachings of sexuality.

Marriage and the intimate union of man and wife is more joyous when both partners put our Lord Jesus Christ on the pedestal and not each other. Yes, of course they are to love each other, but never to compromise to what our Lord teaches us through the Church. It is for our salvation and happiness here and for eternity!

With regard to homosexual sins…we need to remember that with God all things are possible. Heroic virtue is possible with the grace of God. Obedience to His perfect laws will bring us eternal happiness. He grants his peace to those who follow him.

I know of two people who practiced homosexuality who are now celibate and in love with our Lord Jesus Christ.

With God all things are possible!

He died a tortuous death on the cross for us. With the grace He purchased for me I can die to myself for Him.
There is no Resurrection without the Cross!

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Our sexuality is a beautiful gift from God. Due to the fall and our human nature being disordered, we need the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to live according to his will. Pope John Paull II’s teaching on “Theology of the Body” puts a wonderful spotlight on the teachings of sexuality.

Marriage and the intimate union of man and wife is more joyous when both partners put our Lord Jesus Christ on the pedestal and not each other. Yes, of course they are to love each other, but never to compromise to what our Lord teaches us through the Church. It is for our salvation and happiness here and for eternity!

With regard to homosexual sins…we need to remember that with God all things are possible. Heroic virtue is possible with the grace of God. Obedience to His perfect laws will bring us eternal happiness. He grants his peace to those who follow him.

I know of two people who practiced homosexuality who are now celibate and in love with our Lord Jesus Christ.

With God all things are possible!

He died a tortuous death on the cross for us. With the grace He purchased for me I can die to myself for Him.
There is no Resurrection without the Cross!

:clapping: