Well, let’s see how God rewarded those who “obeyed His standards” and didn’t go around fornicating. (Since apparently that is the only sin that matters to some people.)
God didn’t reward many of them with virginal spouses. (By the way, that’s only a one-time deal, if you know what I mean. You marry a virgin, you might find you have to live with a lot of other sins, and once the virginity is gone, what do you have left?)
God let some of them be imprisoned and beheaded.
Others got the stigmata and years of suffering.
Others died of consumption at an early age.
Some were poor and led miserable lives of abuse and neglect.
One little virgin got knifed to death for her efforts to remain pure, and suffered terrible pain for a few days before she died.
Some virgins were sent to gas chambers in WWII, or the Gulags or the laogais.
Some were set on fire. Burned at the stake.
So… just off the top of my head, that’s how I have read God often repays people for not fornicating. And oddly enough, none of those individuals would have groused that God should have sweetened the pot by adding something to it as a reward for their virginity, or alleged they had a legitimate beef with God. Our reward should be the Kingdom of God, not the Kingdom of the World.
I once was a virgin saving myself for marriage. I married someone who prized virginity for all the wrong reasons. I’d be scared now to be out there as one and realize there are people out there who would view me only as "a tool on the hands of God by being one of those things which will be added unto the “nice guys”. " Gosh, that’s like one step above being one of those 72 virgins promised to Islamic jihadists, isn’t it? Those guys also think that if they obey Allah’s standards, they will be rewarded with virgins. I guess the only difference here is one of scale and scope and timing. Norseman, you’re settling for only one??? You should up the ante on God. He owes you! I mean, if God’s giving out 72 for murderers, shouldn’t you ask for at least 4 or 5?
My virginity would have been some guy’s reward for not fornicating? That’s all it would be?
Because that attitude wouldn’t have made my loneliness easier to bear.
This is what is really troubling by this thread… you go on to say that if the father had been nicer to the son and killed a few goats for him he would have loved his brother and welcomed him more? Gosh, I think I missed that part of the story when Jesus told it. Did He add that in?? Was that HIS attitude? Are you telling Jesus how to improve His parables? Who among us should presume to tell The Father what we deserve?! In fact, in the Eucharistic prayer, the priest says “Do not consider what we truly deserve…”
Jesus was a virgin too. How did God repay Him? Yeah, not by giving Him another virgin.
That one ended with a cross. Horribly.
For the record, it was amazing how quickly my xh lost interest after the wedding, once I wasn’t a virgin any longer.
So you console yourself that there are many “renegers” here on CAF, whom you are better than. And you’d think that the mere act of not fornicating would count for something here. That and $2.25 will get you a cup of coffee at the airport.
No, there are many here who are cognizant of their own sins and so they do not presume to judge what lack of upbringing, what priests who never said the truth, what failure of parental example, what psychological issues or peer pressure would lead someone in their youth to make wrong decisions. None of us want the rest of our lives to be controlled by one bad decision in our youth, or young adulthood or middle age, so we don’t look at others like that. And who are we to show less mercy and forgiveness than God?
What did Christ have to say about repentant sinners? He spoke with love for the sinner who beat his breast and said Lord, I am not worthy. He condemned those who went around putting burdens on others and not lifting a finger to help them, who judged the woman caught in adultery even though they had sins on their souls, who criticized Him for dining with tax collectors and prostitutes.
Norseman, I have to warn you, pride goes before a fall. I hope you’re darn sure you’ll never ever sin against chastity in your life, because I can’t imagine how you’d ever forgive yourself. Since you don’t seem to think God’s forgiveness matters in the equation of calculating personal dignity.
Please discuss this issue with a priest. It’s tearing you apart.
I don’t believe I said this…lol I will have to reread what I posted here…I would never suggest for someone to be a ‘‘jerk’’ to get what he/she wants…
I’d look at it like that. Good, strong, healthy minded Catholic girls don’t want guys who play headgames. They appreciate men who don’t play games, and who treat them well. They are looking for someone who matches them, not someone who wants to undo them.
No, not any friends I’ve mentioned previously. And yes, he’s Catholic…and I’m hoping he likes me too!