R
reen12
Guest
I am about to express a highly negative view of the
writings of Saul of Tarsus, aka St. Paul.
I came upon a reference, today, that there is a group which
says that a Catholic may find sanctity - “without abandoning secular life.”
I find that an odd way of thinking.
Jesus, Joseph and Mary lived family life, and kept the Mosaic Law.
Whence comes this thought that - hundreds of millions
of Catholics, worldwide - can “attain sanctity,” praise be! -
without entering an abbey or the clerical life?
The “crumbs that fall from the Master’s table” theology,
vocationally speaking?
Part of the problem, with the Roman church, is this caste system - where one vocation is considered higher - and more blessed - by God. What an odd thought, I find. Perhaps this is why, in principle, I am far more akin to Judaic thought. In Judaism, priestly rank was a matter of birth into the Aaronic tribe.
These priests married and raised a family. e.g., the father of John the Baptist.]
Jews born into another tribe were not considered “runners-up”- in the sanctity sweepstakes.
But now, for Catholics - here’s our chance. You too! can be holy, even in “secular life.”
God told Adam and Eve “Go forth, and multiply.”
Then we have this individual, Saul, speaking of “it’s better to marry than to burn.”
How jolly of him. [A direct contradiction to God’s command to Adam and Eve, to go forth and to “increase and multiply.”]
Mere detail, right? All changed with the New Covenant?
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. [Ephesians 7: 7-8]
And this is considered Holy Writ! First, Saul is all gung-ho to defend Judaic beliefs. Then he has an “episode” - on the way to persecute the new Christians.
He then makes a bootleggers turn, and joins the rank of Christians, becoming a champion of the new religion.
We would not have to look too far - in the roster of symptoms of psychological impairment - to find an apt description of such “change in direction.” It is refered to, in Christianity,
as a ‘conversion.’ I think it more ‘conversion hysteria.’
And now he wants to lecture others on marriage! Good grief.
And 'twas Paul who ‘introduced’ the concept of “Original Sin” -
and who maundered on about a “thorn” in his side. Maybe that’s why he came up with Original Sin. That way,* whatever *his trouble was, it was not his fault. That pesky original sin could be blamed.
As to the “caste” system:
When I was a kid, I thought it odd, that my mother -
taking care of 3 little kids, had to fast in Lent - while the priest
in the rectory had a housekeeper to prepare his meals and do his laundry.
He did not have to do these chores for himself - while my mother
had to do chores for all five in our family. Father gets served by
his housekeeper, Mom works and works. He is served his fasting meal, Mom had to make her own. What a complete farce. I did not know the word farce, as a kid. I only knew that there was something very wrong about all of this. I didn’t know the word 'hypocrite" either.
But I do, now.
reen12 :coffeeread:
writings of Saul of Tarsus, aka St. Paul.
I came upon a reference, today, that there is a group which
says that a Catholic may find sanctity - “without abandoning secular life.”
I find that an odd way of thinking.
Jesus, Joseph and Mary lived family life, and kept the Mosaic Law.
Whence comes this thought that - hundreds of millions
of Catholics, worldwide - can “attain sanctity,” praise be! -
without entering an abbey or the clerical life?
The “crumbs that fall from the Master’s table” theology,
vocationally speaking?
Part of the problem, with the Roman church, is this caste system - where one vocation is considered higher - and more blessed - by God. What an odd thought, I find. Perhaps this is why, in principle, I am far more akin to Judaic thought. In Judaism, priestly rank was a matter of birth into the Aaronic tribe.
These priests married and raised a family. e.g., the father of John the Baptist.]
Jews born into another tribe were not considered “runners-up”- in the sanctity sweepstakes.
But now, for Catholics - here’s our chance. You too! can be holy, even in “secular life.”
God told Adam and Eve “Go forth, and multiply.”
Then we have this individual, Saul, speaking of “it’s better to marry than to burn.”
How jolly of him. [A direct contradiction to God’s command to Adam and Eve, to go forth and to “increase and multiply.”]
Mere detail, right? All changed with the New Covenant?
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. [Ephesians 7: 7-8]
And this is considered Holy Writ! First, Saul is all gung-ho to defend Judaic beliefs. Then he has an “episode” - on the way to persecute the new Christians.
He then makes a bootleggers turn, and joins the rank of Christians, becoming a champion of the new religion.
We would not have to look too far - in the roster of symptoms of psychological impairment - to find an apt description of such “change in direction.” It is refered to, in Christianity,
as a ‘conversion.’ I think it more ‘conversion hysteria.’
And now he wants to lecture others on marriage! Good grief.
And 'twas Paul who ‘introduced’ the concept of “Original Sin” -
and who maundered on about a “thorn” in his side. Maybe that’s why he came up with Original Sin. That way,* whatever *his trouble was, it was not his fault. That pesky original sin could be blamed.
As to the “caste” system:
When I was a kid, I thought it odd, that my mother -
taking care of 3 little kids, had to fast in Lent - while the priest
in the rectory had a housekeeper to prepare his meals and do his laundry.
He did not have to do these chores for himself - while my mother
had to do chores for all five in our family. Father gets served by
his housekeeper, Mom works and works. He is served his fasting meal, Mom had to make her own. What a complete farce. I did not know the word farce, as a kid. I only knew that there was something very wrong about all of this. I didn’t know the word 'hypocrite" either.
But I do, now.
reen12 :coffeeread:
:hug1:
