Are Catholics "out of touch?"

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The Church is not out of touch with the times. The times are out of touch with the Church.
👍 agreed. I’ve heard all the “Catholic Church’s beliefs are medieval and archaic and are not relevant to today’s society” arguments. I will say that they are more relevant and important now more than ever.
 
=Robertanthony;11891770]I don’t have all the answers, but i was just answering the OP’s question to the very best of my ability. Reality is what it is. If people ridicule me because they think I’m dumb, then they ridicule me because I’m dumb, God is not purifying me, testing me or sending meanies my way. There is not, systematically, in everything that happens a message from God or a trap from Satan or one of his demons. There is a great deal of superstition in religion and in religious people. Everything is not a freaking sign from heaven. Sometimes being mean-spirited can be cathartic. Evil is not all bad, otherwise God would never tolerate it. Simon Stock probably never received a scapular from Mary’s hands. The dancing sun was probably the effect looking into the sun for a few secs had on people’s retinas. Apart from a few miracles, Jesus’ public life was pretty mundane, ordinary. God’s absence makes it hard for people to constantly believe in him, they need to see this or that coming straight from God etc. “Be perfect like your heavenly father is perfect”, do you think that comes from someone who knew humankind well? Jesus was like us except for sin! Then he was not like us, plain and simple. A naturally smart, talented, ambitious guy can’t understand a slow-witted introvert working a menial job and not seeking a better job because everything about the introvert loser is so foreign to him. Asking us to be perfect when perfection is simply a de facto impossiblity for a human being with original sin reveals how little God/Jesus/Mary understand what it’s really like to be human. But i digress.
So dear friend, Do YOU believe in heaveen and hell?

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
Dear freind in Chirst,

Do you think that we Catholics are out of touch? If so, HOW?

God Bless you,
Patrick
Saying the Catholics are “out of touch” is a statement that has very little meaning. But when stripped down to its bare, essential meaning, all it says is that Catholics aren’t conforming to pop-cultural norms.

Of course we don’t conform to pop-cultural norms, these things are often whimsical, they usually aren’t rooted in any solid foundation, such things are reflective of the fleeting desires of particular societies, in this case, first world Western societies. What would make Catholics “in touch”? To accept the values and perspectives of the mob (people driven blindly in a spirit of relativism)? This is basically what is being demanded, that Catholics shake off aspects of their faith that the mob disapproves of. And if certain Catholics were to do such a thing, what would distinguish them from everyone else?

To a greater or lesser extent we will always be “out of touch” with the world and we are supposed to be. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world, so we will always find ourselves in positions where we have to challenge those who are considered “in touch” with this world.
 
The church will always be “counter cultural” so to speak, because it goes against the ways of the world.

So if the Catholic Church were ever viewed as “in touch”, that’s the time to worry! 😛
I agree with this as well. A lot of people I hear saying the church is out of touch with the modern world claim their views on chastity, abortion, and other moral issues like that are what they think need to be updated. Things can be presented differently depending on the times, but the substance of what is certainly can’t be, which is what a lot of people seem to really want.
 
Saying the Catholics are “out of touch” is a statement that has very little meaning. But when stripped down to its bare, essential meaning, all it says is that Catholics aren’t conforming to pop-cultural norms.

Of course we don’t conform to pop-cultural norms, these things are often whimsical, they usually aren’t rooted in any solid foundation, such things are reflective of the fleeting desires of particular societies, in this case, first world Western societies. **What would make Catholics “in touch”? To accept the values and perspectives of the mob (people driven blindly in a spirit of relativism)? **This is basically what is being demanded, that Catholics shake off aspects of their faith that the mob disapproves of. And if certain Catholics were to do such a thing, what would distinguish them from everyone else?

To a greater or lesser extent we will always be “out of touch” with the world and we are supposed to be. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world, so we will always find ourselves in positions where we have to challenge those who are considered “in touch” with this world.
Why does being in touch mean conforming? To me, being in touch, means having your finger on the pulse of what is going on. It does not mean that you must conform to it.

For example, I, as a Catholic, am in touch with the fact that popular culture will see living together out of marriage as ifthe 2 people are married. I do not agree and can argue that point but I am aware of this popular trend.

Being out of touch would mean that you are unaware that tsomething is happening.

The OP asked if Catholics (not the Catholic Church) were out of touch…Can the OP specify what he/she is looking for?
 
Dear freind in Chirst,

Do you think that we Catholics are out of touch? If so, HOW?

God Bless you,
Patrick
I think when anyone doesnt focus on discipleship with Our Lord, the result is to be out of touch with Him. Catholic or otherwise.

Entering into discipleship is demanding of anyone who seeks daily friendship with Him.
 
Why does being in touch mean conforming? To me, being in touch, means having your finger on the pulse of what is going on. It does not mean that you must conform to it.

For example, I, as a Catholic, am in touch with the fact that popular culture will see living together out of marriage as ifthe 2 people are married. I do not agree and can argue that point but I am aware of this popular trend.

Being out of touch would mean that you are unaware that tsomething is happening.

The OP asked if Catholics (not the Catholic Church) were out of touch…Can the OP specify what he/she is looking for?
It’s interesting that you took it in that sense. I’ve always understood the term in this context: say if you voiced opposition to premarital sex, and someone responded that you are out of touch with today’s generation (implying that this is “normal” and “okay”). This is how I’ve understood the term.
 
I don’t have all the answers, but i was just answering the OP’s question to the very best of my ability. Reality is what it is. If people ridicule me because they think I’m dumb, then they ridicule me because I’m dumb, God is not purifying me, testing me or sending meanies my way. There is not, systematically, in everything that happens a message from God or a trap from Satan or one of his demons. There is a great deal of superstition in religion and in religious people. Everything is not a freaking sign from heaven. Sometimes being mean-spirited can be cathartic. Evil is not all bad, otherwise God would never tolerate it. Simon Stock probably never received a scapular from Mary’s hands. The dancing sun was probably the effect looking into the sun for a few secs had on people’s retinas. Apart from a few miracles, Jesus’ public life was pretty mundane, ordinary. God’s absence makes it hard for people to constantly believe in him, they need to see this or that coming straight from God etc. “Be perfect like your heavenly father is perfect”, do you think that comes from someone who knew humankind well? Jesus was like us except for sin! Then he was not like us, plain and simple. A naturally smart, talented, ambitious guy can’t understand a slow-witted introvert working a menial job and not seeking a better job because everything about the introvert loser is so foreign to him. Asking us to be perfect when perfection is simply a de facto impossiblity for a human being with original sin reveals how little God/Jesus/Mary understand what it’s really like to be human. But i digress.
Hello, you are certainly not slow witted in heart and attitude. if you add a little humor you sound like Bill Maher. He is actually quite funny in depicting God as a bad owner of us and the cosmic humane authority would take us away from His rule over us. Like he allows us to be imperfect, then punishes us for it and floods the whole earth , only to start all over again with the same dilemma/people. I am sorry you say you are slow witted, but i pray He yet illumines you as He has other slow witted folk and exchanges it for the mind of Christ. I would challenge you to demand from Him to be made perfect, to be born again, to have that kind of faith. You are gifted in not holding back on your emotions and thoughts so please rail against Him these woes and challenge Him to justify you…Love and blessings in this regard
 
Im a Catholic who loves the tune “Out of Touch” by Hall & Oates. 😛

MJ
 
=Barricade;11914803]Saying the Catholics are “out of touch” is a statement that has very little meaning. But when stripped down to its bare, essential meaning, all it says is that Catholics aren’t conforming to pop-cultural norms.
Of course we don’t conform to pop-cultural norms, these things are often whimsical, they usually aren’t rooted in any solid foundation, such things are reflective of the fleeting desires of particular societies, in this case, first world Western societies. What would make Catholics “in touch”? To accept the values and perspectives of the mob (people driven blindly in a spirit of relativism)? This is basically what is being demanded, that Catholics shake off aspects of their faith that the mob disapproves of. And if certain Catholics were to do such a thing, what would distinguish them from everyone else?
To a greater or lesser extent we will always be “out of touch” with the world and we are supposed to be. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world, so we will always find ourselves in positions where we have to challenge those who are considered “in touch” with this world.
Nicely done friend! Thank you:thumbsup:

Continued Blessings,

Parick
 
=Barricade;11914803]Saying the Catholics are “out of touch” is a statement that has very little meaning. But when stripped down to its bare, essential meaning, all it says is that Catholics aren’t conforming to pop-cultural norms.
Of course we don’t conform to pop-cultural norms, these things are often whimsical, they usually aren’t rooted in any solid foundation, such things are reflective of the fleeting desires of particular societies, in this case, first world Western societies. What would make Catholics “in touch”? To accept the values and perspectives of the mob (people driven blindly in a spirit of relativism)? This is basically what is being demanded, that Catholics shake off aspects of their faith that the mob disapproves of. And if certain Catholics were to do such a thing, what would distinguish them from everyone else?
To a greater or lesser extent we will always be “out of touch” with the world and we are supposed to be. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world, so we will always find ourselves in positions where we have to challenge those who are considered “in touch” with this world.
Nicely done friend! Thank you:thumbsup:

Continued Blessings,

Patrick
 
Why does being in touch mean conforming? To me, being in touch, means having your finger on the pulse of what is going on.

Being out of touch would mean that you are unaware that tsomething is happening.
Very good point! I hadn’t thought of it that way. I would say we are painfully aware,
possibly more so than some who take the culture for granted.

Benhur mentioned Bill Maher. I know they were just using him as a example to encourage one of our brothers, but taking it out of context,
Maher has said that religion is “the willful suspension of critical thought”. I think some of the critical thought in these forums would make Bill Maher’s head spin. 🙂
 
"Are Catholics “out of touch?”, kind of a strange question if one were to really think about it.

What does one mean by “Catholic”, seeing as many who consider themself “Catholic” are not considered “Catholic” by many others who call themself “Catholic” and one can see this very simply by reading some of the comments posted in the various postings in this and other sites.

Many seem to think that they can look into other people’s hearts better or at least as good as God can, but I would say that this is not even close to being true.

Seeing as we all have different “jobs” since we are all different parts of One Body, who can tell anyone else just how to do the “job” that they are called to do?

Being in “union” does not mean uniformity.

Many who seem to look down on others because they do not seem to be in lockstep with all of the “rules” would maybe be surprised to find out that some of those that are pointed out to look up too were look down upon when they were alive for not being in lockstep themselves.

There is only one Command and that Command is one word long and I would say that we all fall short of this Command, at least I would say that I do, others can make their own determination concerning how they measure up to this Command.
 
It’s interesting that you took it in that sense. I’ve always understood the term in this context: say if you voiced opposition to premarital sex, and someone responded that you are out of touch with today’s generation (implying that this is “normal” and “okay”). This is how I’ve understood the term.
he concept of ‘this is the new normal’, is only another way for people to do what they want in the name of being ‘modern’, or ‘times have changed’

Yes, today`s generation would say that you are out of touch for voicing such an opinion, however, that does not mean that you ARE out of touch (don’t know what is going on) it simply means that you do not agree.

In your above example, the person saying that you are out of touch is implying that you are unaware of the new standard, and that if you should become aware and informed you would FIND OUT that this is the way that things are done now.

That is exactly what I am saying, being ‘out of touch’ with today`s generation, to me means that you are unaware of what is going on. ie. I was naively unaware of the hatred towards the CC, therefore I was out of touch with that reality

Being unaware and being in disagreement are different.
OldBurke said
I would say we are painfully aware, possibly more so than some who take the culture for granted.
I can definitely say that since my “Catholic bubble” has burst, the pain I feel is very deep. It was easier to be out of touch!

Also, I contemplated the OP’s question in the sense: Are we out of touch with Jesus, His reality, His existence, His relevance in today’s world etc
 
Dear freind in Chirst,

Do you think that we Catholics are out of touch? If so, HOW?

God Bless you,
Patrick
I don’t know if we are out of touch as much as not realizing how lucky we are.

We forget what we actually have.
 
The Church is not out of touch with the times. The times are out of touch with the Church.
Not the times the people.

I just read a book lately about rediscovering Catholicism. It states this.

People say church is boring, the priest is boring, Church is too long, etc.

It said to try this, and I think we should ALL try this, I know I have started and WOW!!

It said take a Journal and each Sunday or daily mass jot down one word or so of what was given to you by God in the readings, Homily, etc.

I went yesterday actually to daily mass and started it.

The word that stood out to me was HOPE!

We need to change our own state of mind on why we are going to Church. What word or sentence stands out to you personally. What does God have to say to you,

When you look at it that way, you start to pay attention again, and rediscover one Joy and Mystery of the RCC!
 
SADLY true; BUT WHY is it?:o
Because we live of this world not of the world of Christ as he told us.

He said to Pilate is this were my world they would not want me dead.

There were some though who were there for him, like now, like then, not many.

Its the ones who search for inner wealth who are living of Christ and the true world.
Its the ones who search for outer wealth money, power, fun, sin who are of this world.

Go to daily Mass you will see. maybe six or seven

Go to Sunday Mass you will see. maybe a hundred or so

Go to a football game, party, concert, you will see!🤷 usually record numbers of thousands.
 
Not the times the people.
I respectfully disagree. The Catholic faithful are more and more becoming victims of secular society; through entertainment, advertising, social engineering and this notion that anything goes as long as it makes you happy.

The Church may need to be sympathetic to the people, but not to the point of sanctioning it. Like the child who says “Mommy and Daddy don’t love me because they won’t let me play in the street.” Of course, Mommy and Daddy do love their child and draw boundaries to keep the child safe." The child though, doesn’t always understand this.

Likewise the Church has its rules to ensure the spiritual well-being of its flock. If anything, she needs to drive that message home to the congregation. Maybe just a different approach is needed to get the point across.
 
=Lost_Sheep;11930715]I respectfully disagree. The Catholic faithful are more and more becoming victims of secular society; through entertainment, advertising, social engineering and this notion that anything goes as long as it makes you happy.
The Church may need to be sympathetic to the people, but not to the point of sanctioning it. Like the child who says “Mommy and Daddy don’t love me because they won’t let me play in the street.” Of course, Mommy and Daddy do love their child and draw boundaries to keep the child safe." The child though, doesn’t always understand this.
Likewise the Church has its rules to ensure the spiritual well-being of its flock. If anything, she needs to drive that message home to the congregation. Maybe just a different approach is needed to get the point across.
GREAT post!

God Bless you and thanks,

Patrick
 
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