I need to let out my frustation

[Goth_Catholic]

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[rayne89]

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Where did I say they were worse Catholics? I said I have some concerns and it’s not something I’d be thrilled if my kids got into for some very specific reasons. BTW, horse lovers are hardly considered a sub-culture and I seriously doubt you’ll find one that says it is.

 

[sanctamaria17]

An unhealthy interest in anything is obviously wrong. This goes for whether you’re goth, into animals, or into anything else. However, just because GC chooses the goth wardrobe and other aspects of that lifestyle does not mean she’s putting her soul in danger or that she thinks God isn’t enough. As for it making her a better Catholic, that’s not impossible. Black is certainly a liturgical color, death is a necessary path into eternal life, and didn’t Jesus tell us that the world would hate us and that mainstream society would not accept us? Maybe it helps her focus on these aspects of Catholicism and makes her love Jesus more.

When she says that being a goth is who she is, that means she identifies strongly with it. What’s wrong with finding something to identify with, especially when you’re a teen. Also, St. Paul said we had different gifts for serving God. Maybe this is hers, showing how you can be any type of person and use that to serve God in a beautiful way.

 

[bear06]

An unhealthy interest in anything is obviously wrong. This goes for whether you’re goth, into animals, or into anything else. However, just because GC chooses the goth wardrobe and other aspects of that lifestyle does not mean she’s putting her soul in danger or that she thinks God isn’t enough.

I agree with you on the unhealthy interest. And I agree that choosing the “goth” lifestyle might not be putting her sould in danger. I’ve asked very specific questions based on specific things that GC has said. I never said that she doesn’t think God is enough. I asked why she felt she’d “lose it” if she weren’t “goth” and why she didn’t feel that the Sacraments were enough to keep from “losing it”.

As for it making her a better Catholic, that’s not impossible. Black is certainly a liturgical color, death is a necessary path into eternal life, and didn’t Jesus tell us that the world would hate us and that mainstream society would not accept us? Maybe it helps her focus on these aspects of Catholicism and makes her love Jesus more.

 

[rayne89]

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Interesting definitions of sub-culture, Rayne. I’d have a problem with anyone joining any of these sub-cultures (whether it be the goth, soccer or horse sub-culture) who feel like they’d “lose it” without it. They are not the Catholic Faith. We make like the soccer, goth, etc. subcultures but we should never feel like if they were gone that we’d be lost. That would pretty much move it into cult territory wouldn’t it?

 

[Goth_Catholic]

Again, why do you feel you need a sub-culture. Why isn’t the Catholic Church enough? Why isn’t the Holy Eucharist enough?

I never said they weren’t enough. But I can’t just be a normal Catholic because I’m not “normal” I dont have the make up of someone who would be consitored “normal”. I have tastes and passions and ideals that don’t flow with normal society. I dont NEED goth, I AM goth. The same way I don’t need Catholicism because I am Catholic. I’m just being myself. Who I am is who my soul is, my soul is goth and my soul is Catholic.

Being a goth helped me to be a better Catholic because I have more appeciation for the Catholic faith. Before being Catholic to me wasn’t anything special, now it is because I can see the beauty, the passion, and holyiness within the Church and within the Mass. I used to fall asleep in mass, now I know all the songs that are sung at every mass, I know all the prays and I sometimes even cry during Mass when the Priest consacrates the Host. Being a Goth gave me a center, and because I have that center my faith has greater meaning for me.

 

[whatevergirl]

I never said they weren’t enough. But I can’t just be a normal Catholic because I’m not “normal” I dont have the make up of someone who would be consitored “normal”. I have tastes and passions and ideals that don’t flow with normal society. I dont NEED goth, I AM goth. The same way I don’t need Catholicism because I am Catholic. I’m just being myself. Who I am is who my soul is, my soul is goth and my soul is Catholic.

Being a goth helped me to be a better Catholic because I have more appeciation for the Catholic faith. Before being Catholic to me wasn’t anything special, now it is because I can see the beauty, the passion, and holyiness within the Church and within the Mass. I used to fall asleep in mass, now I know all the songs that are sung at every mass, I know all the prays and I sometimes even cry during Mass when the Priest consacrates the Host. Being a Goth gave me a center, and because I have that center my faith has greater meaning for me.

If it leads you to becoming holier…then, it cannot be a bad thing. If things lead us away from the Lord…then, it is unhealthy. I think that you are a great person, Goth…and you seem to really love the faith.

 

[bear06]

But you don’t want to hear from others just GC right? I thought this was forum for discussion. Unless you use the personal message system -this isn’t going to be two way discussion.

Quite right. When someone makes a statement and I ask a question regarding that statement, I’d like to hear a response from that person regarding that statement. It’s not that hard. If other people want to ask me questions or make statements fine but I don’t appreciate it when questions are answered for others.

By the way if you ask questions like "“Why isn’t the Church enough? Why isn’t the Eucharist enough?” That implies that you believe that she feels those things aren’t enough

. That’s what I get from this statement by GC:

The day I don’t bare goth tattooed to my soul is the day I loose it.

That’s why I’m asking more questions. When I hear that someone will lose it when if they ever took “goth” out of the equation then I start to think of unhealthy interest. If “goth” is the thing holding life together then it’s bound to break.

If my daughter was drawn to Goth than I would talk to her about why she indentified with that particular group. I would make sure something deeper wasn’t going on. Keeping communication open is what’s most important with your kids. Sometimes people just have a more melancholic personality. Not everyone is an optimist - that’s life.

I agree. Different people have different personalities. That said, I have little worries about the way people look, I’m concerned with spiritualities which is why I asked the questions I posted above.

Off to go car shopping!