R
Roy5
Guest
I think this is it. I’ve challenged you more than enough and only can hope I’ve caused at least 2-3 of you to be less dogmatic. Perhaps not. As you have seen, I have arrived at the point in life where I have trouble with dogmatism since I believe God, whom I worship with a deep faith, is well beyond the understanding of any one set of doctrines.
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But a few rejoinders in closing.
1. I have read the Qu'ran and am not in sympathy with dogmatic Islam. Fortunately, there are millions upon millions of Muslims who are not dogmatic. We often forget that four major Islamic nations - Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey - have had women presidents or prime ministers. How about the USA? So, it's a complex matter and stereotyping ought to be done with great care.
In fact, I have taught Comparative Religions on a college level. I hesitate to say such things because some out there are going to become more convinced that I am egotistical etc. That argument, so frequently used on CAF against dissenters, is ad hominem. It doesn't bother me, but it often is employed when counter-arguments are weak.
2. My main point, over and over, is that Christianity should be a 'big tent' so that millions of people like me, with our faith and our doubts, will feel comfortable in the church. A recent poll, for example, found that 43% of US Catholics don't believe in transubstantiation - maybe even more, depending upon how the question is asked. This proves nothing except that I'm not an exception. I just am ready to voice my doubts shared by so many others. Plus the 30,000,000 who have left the US RCC altogether to become (1) evangelical Protestant, (2) mainline Protestant or, most likely, (3) nothing. I have become somewhat attracted to (2) because its seems to tolerate folks like me.
3. Just to make the point: I have tried to understand Catholicism fully by spending time in a monastery, subscribing still to *Our Sunday Visitor*, *US Catholic*, and the local diocesan monthly. I also read *Commonweal* and *America* at the local library. As stated already, I have read the Church Fathers - well, many of them - including Clement of Alexandria, Anselm, Tertullian, Origen and Augustine to later ones, especially Thomas Aquinas. Their assumptions too often are based upon incorrect knowledge of the material world to instill confidence in me. I have read many of the encyclicals, watch EWTN with some regularity, obviously follow CAF, and on and on.
4. Someone suggested that I have 'atheist roots'. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was raised in a devout home and have a particular distaste for the writings of Hitchens, Harris and other contemporary champions of atheism. I would love to be a conforming Christian - and I certainly see myself as a Christian - but have trouble with traditional Catholicism and evangelical Protestantism. I feel the need to be honest. Actually - hesitate to say this - I'm inclined to think that my simple style of Christianity may better reflect the Jesus of Nazareth and his precepts than many churches with their narrow creeds, huge cathedrals, ornate vestments, hierarchies, etc. But I presume this will be cited as further evidence of my egotism. Is it more egotistical than to claim that you belong to the only true church and that all the other faiths are flawed, some badly? Just a question. By the way, I do admire the Quakers and their emphasis on peace. Yes, I guess I'm something of a preacemonger. Hope that fits in with the teachings of Christ. But the Quakers have too little liturgy and don't sing at worship.
5. Anna Scott. Thanks for your encouragement to hang around here. But I've made my case and tempus fugit.
God bless his children of every creed, color and country. May religion become a bridge instead of a barrier.
That should be the last nail in that coffin! 
