Are You More Special?

[Lost_Wanderer]

One of my favorite writers, Archbishop Fulton Sheen once wrote that where we used to find God in the order of things… that in modern society, we are prone to look for God in the confusion of our own minds.

Well I can’t tell if you find that a good or bad thing but I like the insight gain from tackling moral dilemmas. Philosophizing is a sub-hobby of mine.

I put to you that true piety and devotion are wonderful things which only serve to better your relationships with others, remind you of your responsibilities, and enrich your life in every way imaginable… and are not to be shunned or avoided at all.

Okay, so anything that calls itself “piety” or “devotion” but actually harms the things they are supposed to better is actually not valid? I see nothing wrong with that but I know a few around here who definitely would. I mean, given their advocacy of a divisive, hostile, and isolationist view of Christianity/Catholicism and all…

 

[joe_cool]

Well I can’t tell if you find that a good or bad thing but I like the insight gain from tackling moral dilemmas. Philosophizing is a sub-hobby of mine.

I can tell.

Okay, so anything that calls itself “piety” or “devotion” but actually harms the things they are supposed to better is actually not valid?

I’m not going so far as to say invalid, but let’s use the word confused instead.

Evil things are not a byproduct of good things.

I see nothing wrong with that but I know a few around here who definitely would. I mean, given their advocacy of a divisive, hostile, and isolationist view of Christianity/Catholicism and all…

Not sure where you’re going with this, but I’ll play.

One of my best friends is a Jehovah’s Witness. I know he’s completely wrong, and that the JWs are a dangerous cult. I also know that conversion is a God-given grace - that any negative behavior toward his religious views is not going to convert him, but in fact the opposite. Instead we talk about what we agree with. I take a page from JPIIs book in this regard. God will bring my friend home when he’s ready: in the meantime, he’s a wonderful friend.

 

[joe_cool]

Ouch…Be careful in judging other people- even those “druggies” who fill Protestant mega-churches…We can’t know the state of their souls, and many of them live exemplary lives of discipleship even if one might find their worship style to be lacking…especially lacking the Eucharist. “Many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first.” Who among us does not need to be purified from our desire for consolation in prayer, from “seeking the gifts of God instead of their Giver?” Personally I have not yet reached that level of holiness, but please God I hope to someday!
Peace!

I did not judge the state of their souls, nor those of any other group… I merely stated that as a general rule they’re all (for all intents and purposes) drug addicts.

Certainly it’s possible to be a junkie and come to God… it happens all the time: God’s influence is far greater than any chemical can ever pretend to be. It just so happens to make the conversion much harder for the convert-ee.

 

[brandy_jo]

Okay, Joe…but .just so you know though saying “They are not looking for God, they are looking for their next fix” really does sound like a pretty harsh judgment of their intentions and spiritual state. Not that you intended it to come accross that way…

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Not sure where you’re going with this, but I’ll play.

One of my best friends is a Jehovah’s Witness. I know he’s completely wrong, and that the JWs are a dangerous cult. I also know that conversion is a God-given grace - that any negative behavior toward his religious views is not going to convert him, but in fact the opposite. Instead we talk about what we agree with. I take a page from JPIIs book in this regard. God will bring my friend home when he’s ready: in the meantime, he’s a wonderful friend.

Well the people I’m talking about would do the exact opposite of what you’d do. :\