If I'm not Catholic, then what am I?

[mercygate]

FTW, You know what you are. You are the person they were referring to when they came up with the saying " A little learning is a dangerous thing".

You have been spreading your “knowledge” in different threads and most of the time you have been proven wrong.

Can you please tell us why you think the sacraments came from mithraism?

Or is that just something you heard and decided to parrot?:

Mithraism? Even Protestants don’t believe that!

FTW should check out Evangelical Lee Strobel’s book The Case for the Real Jesus. He covers this exact issue. Evidence of similarities between Christianity and Mithraism appears about 100 years AFTER the Resurrection. The Mithra cult borrowed from Christianity. Lord: thank you for non-Catholics who actually DO have a CLUE!

Scott Hahn’s book, Swear to God, is a good overview of sacraments in the context of covenant theology. “Sacramentum” means “oath” – the sacraments are God’s covenant signs for His Church.

 

[benedictus2]

Scott Hahn’s book, Swear to God, is a good overview of sacraments in the context of covenant theology. “Sacramentum” means “oath” – the sacraments are God’s covenant signs for His Church.

Let’s have that in bold letters for emphasis

"Sacramentum" means “oath” – the sacraments are God’s covenant signs for His Church .

Shzchmack, now we have to define covenant .

To make it easier, Scott Hahn again: “The Father who keeps His Promise”.

Praised be to God for this wonderful convert!

 

[SSTeacher]

This question is for all Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians on this board. I’d love to have your oppinion on this. I don’t know if I can be Catholic, because I cannot accept everything that the Church teaches. So, if I’m not Catholic, then what am I? Should I try an Orthodox church?

I guess you’re a potential Catholic. I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

Grace and peace,
Mick

 

[jfallaw]

FTW, You know what you are. You are the person they were referring to when they came up with the saying " A little learning is a dangerous thing".

You have been spreading your “knowledge” in different threads and most of the time you have been proven wrong.

Can you please tell us why you think the sacraments came from mithraism?

Or is that just something you heard and decided to parrot?:

He has obviously been reading Jack Chick tracts

 

[Nuance]

If you can masturbate without lusting after someone, then I’m afraid you have a very serious mental illness and should seek out a psychiatrist.

There are a great many excellent explanations in this thread as to why masturbation is sinful, but this is not one of them.
Masturbation during early childhood is well documented, and these children are not being lustful. They are noticing that something they do makes them feel good and going with it.

Masturbation without lustful thoughts is sinful but it is not an indication of mental illness.

 

[jfallaw]

There are a great many excellent explanations in this thread as to why masturbation is sinful, but this is not one of them.
Masturbation during early childhood is well documented, and these children are not being lustful. They are noticing that something they do makes them feel good and going with it.

Masturbation without lustful thoughts is sinful but it is not an indication of mental illness.

OK, let me rephrase it. First of all, it’s obvious the OP is not a five year old. So, anyone over 13 or so who masturbates without lusting should see a shrink. Because, yes, masturbation by adults because they are ‘bored’ or ‘need to let out some stress’ is a sign of mental illness. It is well documented that many mentally ill people also chronically masturbate, often to the point of hurting themselves.

 

[Nuance]

I still disagree. Do you have a basis for saying this? Do you have a medical degree?

Just because the mentally ill masturbate does not mean that those who masturbate are mentally ill. Also masturbation without lusting after someone is different than masturbation out of boredom.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

OK, let me rephrase it. First of all, it’s obvious the OP is not a five year old. So, anyone over 13 or so who masturbates without lusting should see a shrink. Because, yes, masturbation by adults because they are ‘bored’ or ‘need to let out some stress’ is a sign of mental illness. It is well documented that many mentally ill people also chronically masturbate, often to the point of hurting themselves.

This is just outrageous. Way over the top. I am not by any means promoting masturbation or think it’s necessarily a great thing or moral thing to do but it is very very common and not a sign of mental illness. People sometimes can’t control their sexual urges and masturbate. It’s extremely common and no sign that a person is off their rocker.

 

[Cinette]

This is just outrageous. Way over the top. I am not by any means promoting masturbation or think it’s necessarily a great thing or moral thing to do but it is very very common and not a sign of mental illness. People sometimes can’t control their sexual urges and masturbate. It’s extremely common and no sign that a person is off their rocker.

I agree absolutely. Masturbation is not a big sin - just an act of impurity that should not be encouraged. To suggest mental illness is certainly outrageous. It would mean that more than half the world is mentally ill! :crying: :crying:

 

[jfallaw]

I still disagree. Do you have a basis for saying this? Do you have a medical degree?

Just because the mentally ill masturbate does not mean that those who masturbate are mentally ill. Also masturbation without lusting after someone is different than masturbation out of boredom.

When did I say that those who masturbate are mentally ill? I clearly stated in each post that masturbation WITHOUT SEXUAL THOUGHTS is a sign of mental illness. And no, I don’t have a medical degree, but psychiatrists DO, and you are more than welcome to ask any one of them.

 

[jfallaw]

This is just outrageous. Way over the top. I am not by any means promoting masturbation or think it’s necessarily a great thing or moral thing to do but it is very very common and not a sign of mental illness. People sometimes can’t control their sexual urges and masturbate. It’s extremely common and no sign that a person is off their rocker.

Once again, if you had read my original post, you would see that I clearly stated that masturbation WITHOUT SEXUAL THOUGHTS is a sign of mental illness. Yes, I know people masturbate because they cannot control their sexual urges, DUH! I said that if there is masturbation with an ABSENCE of sexual urge, then something is indeed seriously wrong.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Whoooooo! "If I’m not Catholic, then what am I? LoL, what has masturbation got to do with not being Catholic? I am sorry, I dont know where that came from? never mind me, continue.

 

[jfallaw]

This is just outrageous. Way over the top. I am not by any means promoting masturbation or think it’s necessarily a great thing or moral thing to do but it is very very common and not a sign of mental illness. People sometimes can’t control their sexual urges and masturbate. It’s extremely common and no sign that a person is off their rocker.

And, PS, masturbation while thinking lustful thoughts and masturbation out of boredom are not different at all. You must be a woman, because lemme tell you, I’m a man, and I cannot even get it up without thinking sexual thoughts, let alone masturbate, and I don’t know any man who can. So if there is masturbating going on, it’s out of lust. And if it isn’t out of lust, it’s out of something you need to see a shrink for. Sorry gurney this was supposed to be for Nuance lolz.

 

[jfallaw]

Whoooooo! "If I’m not Catholic, then what am I? LoL, what has masturbation got to do with not being Catholic? I am sorry, I dont know where that came from? never mind me, continue.

Maybe you should read the entire thread before you jump in with an opinion…

 

[RubyT]

For some time I struggled with many of the difficulties that you also have. I thought gosh, why go to a priest, after all it is Jesus who does the forgiving. Someone on this forum put in in such a way as I realized the need for the priest. The priest teaches us humility. If you just earnestly pray for forgiveness Jesus just may forgive you but isn’t the extra effort of going to the priest and telling him your most terrible sins so much more of a signal to God that you really feel bad and are sorry for your sins.

Doesn’t it mean so much more when you have to ultimately humble yourself in front of another human being? I was afraid of going to a priest because I was afraid he would judge me. I didn’t mind if God did the judging but another human being judge over me, ouch, that was scary. I took the plunge and tried the confession and came away realizing how silly I was being. Yes, I did learn humility from the experience and yes, the forgiveness felt so much more authentic than just praying on my own. The priest is doing his job at confession he won’t judge you and you will come away really feeling forgiven. So much more satisfactory to me and probably to God. Thats my story and I am sticking to it. :tiphat:

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

And, PS, masturbation while thinking lustful thoughts and masturbation out of boredom are not different at all. You must be a woman, because lemme tell you, I’m a man, and I cannot even get it up without thinking sexual thoughts, let alone masturbate, and I don’t know any man who can. So if there is masturbating going on, it’s out of lust. And if it isn’t out of lust, it’s out of something you need to see a shrink for. Sorry gurney this was supposed to be for Nuance lolz.

Calm down, Jfallaw, calm down. You’re dropping “duh’s” on me and pointing out my inability to spot nuance. Point conceded, friend. I did miss the point of your post. I would say that if someone masturbated without any sexual desire, that would be strange. Mental illness? I don’t know.

Wrong buddy! I’m not a chick! I’m 100% dude and I yield your point on nuances

 

[Cinette]

For some time I struggled with many of the difficulties that you also have. I thought gosh, why go to a priest, after all it is Jesus who does the forgiving. Someone on this forum put in in such a way as I realized the need for the priest. The priest teaches us humility. If you just earnestly pray for forgiveness Jesus just may forgive you but isn’t the extra effort of going to the priest and telling him your most terrible sins so much more of a signal to God that you really feel bad and are sorry for your sins.

Doesn’t it mean so much more when you have to ultimately humble yourself in front of another human being? I was afraid of going to a priest because I was afraid he would judge me. I didn’t mind if God did the judging but another human being judge over me, ouch, that was scary. I took the plunge and tried the confession and came away realizing how silly I was being. Yes, I did learn humility from the experience and yes, the forgiveness felt so much more authentic than just praying on my own. The priest is doing his job at confession he won’t judge you and you will come away really feeling forgiven. So much more satisfactory to me and probably to God. Thats my story and I am sticking to it. :tiphat:

I hope people who read your posting will take it in. You have made an excellent point.

I like to face the priest in Confession so I don’t go behind the “barrier” but I have on occasion gone to another Parish!!

Nowadays when I think of doing something I shouldn’t do I remember Confession and that I would have to confess and I DON’T DO IT!

Gossiping is pernicious and can cause damage.

 

[RubyT]

I hope people who read your posting will take it in. You have made an excellent point.

Nowadays when I think of doing something I shouldn’t do I remember Confession and that I would have to confess and I DON’T DO IT!

Thank you, Thank you very much (said with Elvis accent)
:egyptian:

 

[mercygate]

Whoooooo! "If I’m not Catholic, then what am I? LoL, what has masturbation got to do with not being Catholic? I am sorry, I dont know where that came from? never mind me, continue.

It was in the OP. I find it illuminating that on the lists of objections people have about Catholic teaching, the teachings on sexuality are embedded under a pile of “theological” concerns. This observations enjoys a sensitivity and specificity of 99.6% with a p value of 0.01.

 

[mercygate]

Thank you, Thank you very much (said with Elvis accent)
:egyptian:

Uh-huh. And my reluctance, my embarrassment in confession tell me just how much pride I have left in me that needs to die.