God's tools to soften hard hearts

[grannymh]

Has anyone seen any of the TV ads - Catholics Come Home – We’re waiting for you?
What is your gut reaction?

These powerful TV Ads show true Catholicism. My first reaction was that here are the tools to bring our family members and friends home.

The truth is that regardless how much we know about philosophy and theology, it is often difficult to start conversations. “How about them Bears?” regarding the Chicago football team can be altered to fit the current media campaign which has to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Can TV ads be better than philosophical discussions when it comes to hard hearts?

The first link below is from a local diocese with quick access to the TV ads.



Christmas Blessings,
granny

The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
from the poem “Christmas” by George Herbert

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” are meant to be celebrated.

 

[06convert]

I’ve seen a couple and like them. Hopefully they will bring some people home.

I’m not sure how many people will notice though. I mean, a commercial without women in their underwear? Must be a tough sell.

 

[Detales]

I haven’t seen the ad, Grannymh. My gut reaction, though? No way on God’s good Earth would I return to the Church. Why? It had nothing for me except platitudes when I had serious questions about the very nature of my Being. No research, no cleric, no layman came even near the province of my question. Fortunately, it came to be answered, and I felt like I had won the mega lottery. At last there was a system of Understanding that made sense and had a cognitive line of inclusion that not only deepened my awareness of the meaning of my experience, but clarified much about the Church as well. If you were in a large outside area that was Eden like, and someone invited you to return to a small dusty room, would you go? But there are all these plaintive cries form that little room that want me to return where I can never fit again. I think that the wish for company sounded by these cries is no more than the fundamental insecurity of an inadequate response to the desire for relationship with Divinity. And it is not because it is Catholic, mind you, it is because it is religiosity, complete with all its prophylactic beliefs. I could no sooner join any other religion either.

Having said all that, I think that religion is quite wonderful for many people. There are parts of it I enjoy as well, like ceremony and community. It is too painful, though, for me personally, to be around that, because of the blatant misunderstanding of what the original intent of all that was.

I think that there are magnificently glorious and courageous souls who might return and do work with those in that room. I don’t believe that I am one of them. But I am glad to help a few who have found cracks they can get through.

 

[grannymh]

I haven’t seen the ad, Grannymh. My gut reaction, though? No way on God’s good Earth would I return to the Church. Why? It had nothing for me except platitudes when I had serious questions about the very nature of my Being. No research, no cleric, no layman came even near the province of my question. Fortunately, it came to be answered, and I felt like I had won the mega lottery. At last there was a system of Understanding that made sense and had a cognitive line of inclusion that not only deepened my awareness of the meaning of my experience, but clarified much about the Church as well. If you were in a large outside area that was Eden like, and someone invited you to return to a small dusty room, would you go? But there are all these plaintive cries form that little room that want me to return where I can never fit again. I think that the wish for company sounded by these cries is no more than the fundamental insecurity of an inadequate response to the desire for relationship with Divinity. And it is not because it is Catholic, mind you, it is because it is religiosity, complete with all its prophylactic beliefs. I could no sooner join any other religion either.

Having said all that, I think that religion is quite wonderful for many people. There are parts of it I enjoy as well, like ceremony and community. It is too painful, though, for me personally, to be around that, because of the blatant misunderstanding of what the original intent of all that was.

I think that there are magnificently glorious and courageous souls who might return and do work with those in that room. I don’t believe that I am one of them. But I am glad to help a few who have found cracks they can get through.

Thank you, Detales, for your honest reply. The one thing we have in common is that I question not only my own mind but everything else. I am a direct descendent of Thomas, the doubting Apostle.

One of the many interesting things about the ads is that they show Catholicism in the 21st century. Just as an update, you may be interested in what these ads are saying. You did say that you thought religion is quite wonderful for many people. As a matter of curiosity, you could check the link which says Rockford where there is quick access to the three ads.

I do respect other worldviews. As a strong believer in free will, I respect your choices – even when I don’t agree with them.

Christmas Blessings,
granny

The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
from the poem “Christmas” by George Herbert

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” are meant to be celebrated.

www.CatholicsComeHomeRockford.org

 

[Detales]

Thank you, Grannymh,

Actually, when people post a link as part of their statement or response, I go there before answering. You never know how vital that bit might be to the overall picture. Sadly, I found nothing there that would encourage me that much has changed, especially in the area of my concern.

I am exceptionally pleased at the tone of your response, because most people read it a s angry when I say similar things. I am not angry, though I was disappointed deeply when my birth religion failed to adequately cope with my inquiries after a series of “spiritual” experiences culminating in one that completely pulled the rug out from all my concepts of who or what I thought I was. That inability to cope revealed an irreconcilable flaw, in my opinion, which is a grave and serious defect of the Church. Not because of its inability to satisfy my spiritual need, but because it confessed a serious lack of understanding about some very fundamental matters of spirituality. That is my opinion still.

I had to go through a lot to keep my balance and my honesty to myself in the face of the barrage of suggestions from well meaning people. They offered me everything from “trust in God” which I already did, to the imaginative admonition that it was just my hormones in imbalance, to the simplistic “have faith.” The worst part came when people caught on that I was looking outside the Church for results. I am sorry, but faith is clearly not adequate to some situations, as I have since verified by receiving practical, useful, and appropriate answers outside the Church. Those answers have unfolded in increasing grace and knowledge these past thirty plus years.

In any case, I admire your levelheadedness, and have enjoyed your posts on here, and feel a warm sense of familiarity when I see your signature. Blessings and Best to you!