R
royal
Guest
notself, Do you believe the expression of Pope John Paul 11 when he said that a Catholic whom is baptized will not be able to escape their Catholic baptism no matter where they go to hide?
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R
royal
Guest
notself, I think that by not confessing sacramentally you may have avoided discussing the reason for your discontent with the Catholic church with your favorite priest. It sounds similar to me to leaving a wife without giving her a chance to hear your complaints and try to do better. Confession of the sin of despising your Confirmation vows may be the actual crux of the problem. In Confirmation the vow was made to become a soldier of Christ in the Catholic sense unless you did not make it to Confirmation or perhaps you lapsed on some other vow you made? I am speculating of course. Sin can build in the heart to make it indifferent to love and that can affect marriage, family, faith and many other commitments. Pope John Paul 11 wrote a book on Love and Responsibility which essentially says that to love is also to be responsible to family, faith and vows. What do you think?
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notself
Guest
What ever made you think I did not discuss things with a priest? I left the church because I no longer believed in God. Nothing the priest said changed my mind.
I realize it is difficult for people who believe in and are devoted to God to realize that there are people who do not believe the way they do. But one either believes in God or does not. I have know idea what predisposes us to believe or disbelieve. It may be the way our brains process information. Who knows?
R
royal
Guest
Priscilla Ann, When a Catholic finds Catholic Doctrine inconsistent with Scripture, this is usually caused by a willful soul interpreting Scripture on your own without allowing the Catholic church to explain their interpretation of the Scripture. This is like disagreeing with someone then instead of asking them to explain themselves, you simply walk out the door. The admirable behavior would be to ask the church to explain it’s behavior with your favorite priest. It seems unfair to me that you would not allow the Church to defend it’s teaching. Am I reading this correctly? Roy
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notself
Guest
I am not hiding. I am right here.
You may have a point for those who leave the Church for another denomination. But it hardly applies to those of us who leave the Church because we no longer believe in God.
R
royal
Guest
Notself, Perhaps you no longer believed in God because he did not do what you commanded him to do? Could I be correct or is this speculative? Roy
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notself
Guest
I just don’t believe in God I haven’t since I was around 25 years old. Nothing bad happened. I was not disappointed in any way. I was and am happy. I just don’t believe in a God.
I believe in loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy in the successes of others, and in equanimity. I believe that it is to my lasting benefit and to the benefit of others to
Refrain from killing
Refrain from taking what is not freely given
Refrain from sexual misconduct
Refrain from incorrect speech
Refrain from intoxicating drinks and substances
Metta
notself
Q
qui_est_ce
Guest
Those sound like the Ten Commandments.
P
Priscilla_Ann
Guest
No, Roy. You are not reading this correctly. One of the first things I did was make an appointment to see my parish priest. He referred me on to his pastoral assistant who recommended RCIA. It was what I learned in RCIA that helped me to decide to leave the Catholic Church.
I didn’t leave Catholicism because I didn’t understand what the church teaches. I left because I DO understand what the church teaches.
It’s that simple. End of story!
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notself
Guest
They do a bit.
The First Precept is refraining from intentionally killing any sentient being. There is only one thing a Buddhist should intentionally kill. That is anger.
The Second Precept would be the same as the Christian commandment.
The Third Precept is refraining from sex with a partner who is under the age of consent, with a partner who is pledged to another, or with a partner who is coerced by force or power into having sex. Marriage is a purely civil matter in Buddhism, although Buddhist monks will chant at weddings if asked.
The Fourth Precept is a great deal more than refraining from false witness. According to polls on forums such as this, it is the single most difficult precept for Buddhists to keep.
The Fifth Precept is to avoid intoxicants because they tend to cause you to violate the other four Precepts.
The commandments about coveting goods and spouses would fall under the basic purpose of Buddhism which is to overcome greed, aversion, and delusion. Coveting would fall under greed.
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Delraek
Guest
hi notself,They do a bit.
The First Precept is refraining from intentionally killing any sentient being. There is only one thing a Buddhist should intentionally kill. That is anger.
The Second Precept would be the same as the Christian commandment.
The Third Precept is refraining from sex with a partner who is under the age of consent, with a partner who is pledged to another, or with a partner who is coerced by force or power into having sex. Marriage is a purely civil matter in Buddhism, although Buddhist monks will chant at weddings if asked.
The Fourth Precept is a great deal more than refraining from false witness. According to polls on forums such as this, it is the single most difficult precept for Buddhists to keep.
The Fifth Precept is to avoid intoxicants because they tend to cause you to violate the other four Precepts.
The commandments about coveting goods and spouses would fall under the basic purpose of Buddhism which is to overcome greed, aversion, and delusion. Coveting would fall under greed.
So the third precept doesn’t include refraining from premarital sex (or whatever “marital commitment” would equate to in Buddhism)? I’ll probably come across extremely ignorant by saying this, but now I can understand how someone like Richard Gere (or any Hollywood type) could be a Buddhist!
(not that I have anything against Richard Gere - he’s a good actor…)I don’t know why, but I had the idea that Buddhism taught that sexual abstinence was a good thing?
Could have been misrepresented on TV and I didn’t question it - silly me! 
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notself
Guest
Sexual abstinence is a good thing. Celibacy is practiced by monks and nuns and is encouraged in laypeople. Premarital sex is not against the precepts for laypeople as long as the other criteria are met.hi notself,
So the third precept doesn’t include refraining from premarital sex (or whatever “marital commitment” would equate to in Buddhism)? I’ll probably come across extremely ignorant by saying this, but now I can understand how someone like Richard Gere (or any Hollywood type) could be a Buddhist!
I don’t know why, but I had the idea that Buddhism taught that sexual abstinence was a good thing?
Celibacy is encouraged because it is difficult to overcome craving if one does not overcome sexual craving. However marriage and the proper sexual relationship between partners are considered moral for laypeople.
There are excellent teachings by the Buddha on how a husband should treat his wife and how a wife should treat her husband; how parents should treat their children and how children should treat their parents.
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GOP
Guest
What about those who claim to have heard the truth in the Scriptures apart from the Catholic church? I know a lot of Catholics that have left the Catholic church claiming to have finally heard God’s True Word where they themselves have claimed that they never heard of God’s True Word in the Catholic church?
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Delraek
Guest
I guess I was referring more to the sexual conduct (misconduct?) between non-married people that our media portrays as acceptable. It’s extremely rare to see any movie or tv show now where a romance doesn’t consist of premarital sex. Personally, I think it’s very damaging for our culture…
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thecoach
Guest
He has a right to his opinion, your response seemed “condescending and rude” as well.
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brian231
Guest
First off, it doesn’t matter what I think. It doesn’t matter what father so and so thinks, it doesn’t matter what reverend so and so thinks, it doesn’t matter what Martin Luther thought, or what John Calvin thought, or what some theologian thinks. What matters is what your Bible says.
1 COR 15:44: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 COR 15:49: And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1 COR 15:50: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1COR 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 COR 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 COR 15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Philippians 3:20: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Philippians 3:21: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
-From this we learn that we are given a new spiritual body and that the change is instantaneous.
Luke 16:19: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke 16: 20: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke 16:21: And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke 16:22: And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24: And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:25: But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And….
Luke 23:39: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
Luke 23:40: But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Luke 23:41: And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
Luke 23: 42: And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
-From these two examples we learn that Lazarus and the thief on the cross went to heaven and there is absolutely no mention that they made some sort of pit stop to go through a purification process before they got there. We also learn from the rich man that hell is a very real place for the unbeliever.
B
brian231
Guest
CONTINUED:
Also:
Romans 6:9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Romans 6:10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Romans 6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Romans 8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1 COR 6:9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 COR 6:10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 COR 6:11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Colossians 2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 2:14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
2 COR 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
-It’s pretty clear that our sins are forgiven. Purgatory is one of the most insidious teachings of the catholic church, since it denies the sufficiency of Christ and the sufficiency of His blood and righteousness for the purification of our souls.
Let’s have a look at 2 Maccabees:
2 Macc 12:38 So Judas gathered his host, and came into the city of Odollam, And when the seventh day came, they purified themselves, as the custom was, and kept the sabbath in the same place.
2 MACC 12:39 And upon the day following, as the use had been, Judas and his company came to take up the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their kinsmen in their fathers’ graves.
2 MACC 12:40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites, which is forbidden the Jews by the law. Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain.
2 MACC 12:41 All men therefore praising the Lord, the righteous Judge, who had opened the things that were hid,
2 MACC 12:42 Betook themselves unto prayer, and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance. Besides, that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain.
2 MACC 12:43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachms of silver, he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering, doing therein very well and honestly, in that he was mindful of the resurrection:
2 MACC 12:44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again, it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead.
2 MACC 12:45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour laid up for those that died godly, it was an holy and good thought. Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
-These slain soldiers are unfortunately in hell. They rejected God and worshipped idols.
You can pray for them and make all the sacrifices you want but it won’t change a thing. No sign of purgatory here either.
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notself
Guest
I think the frequency of sex and sexual partners is overstated by the media. I realize that many young people have sexual relationships but they are not usually promiscuous.I guess I was referring more to the sexual conduct (misconduct?) between non-married people that our media portrays as acceptable. It’s extremely rare to see any movie or tv show now where a romance doesn’t consist of premarital sex. Personally, I think it’s very damaging for our culture…
I agree there is excessive too emphasis on sex in our culture. But even our religious groups are always talking about it. Sex was hardly mentioned by Christ.
The true damage to our culture is approval of violence through movies and videos and the unchecked growth of materialism.
I am much more offended by the fact that the most popular purse among the elite in New York costs $25,000 than the fact that young people are having sex.
I am much more concerned by our culture of violence and our eagerness to use violence to solve problems than I am about young people having sex.
I am much more offended that we don’t have health care in a country where the top 500 CEO’s were paid a total of $5.1 Billion in compensation last year. That is an average of $50 Million each.
Unchecked greed and acceptance of violence is the true threat to our culture.
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qui_est_ce
Guest
Brian, may I ask who do you think gave (not wrote, God wrote it) us the Bible?
Which Church was the Church instituted by Christ on earth?
What did Jesus mean when he gave Peter the Keys?
I would appreciate honest discussion and not attacks and inuendoes.
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