As a Protestant with very Catholic leanings, I put up with a lot of broad statements about non-Catholics–like Anglicans not having valid orders, therefore our Eucharist isn’t the body and blood of Jesus. I realize I am a guest here and everyone is entitiled to their own beliefs. Most theologians I know, both Catholic and Protestant, are able to substantiate and convince others that their faith is the correct one.
Indeed, it certainly does!***P.S. I feel like this post kind of sucks, it’s not my best work so to speak ***lol. I didn’t want to get way off topic of the OP so I did not express my opinions as fully as I would have liked. Hopefully you can take that into consideration if you choose to critique my post
I have! (technically, we’ve all been embryos, have we not?)
Being serious though, the major objection to abortion is that it seriously violates the sanctity of life. What God gives is only God’s to take.
I be interested in knowing what some of the woman think of this verse in this context, it’s the only person in the Bible (?) who Jesus condemns personally and not by category (such as the leaders of the Jews who had him condemned).
(1) I come from a mixed religious heritage. I was raised (I'm a senior) when there was considerable tension within the family and community because of religion. The main cause back then was that Catholics were not permitted to go into Protestant churches. How many baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals were missed because of this rule at that time. This turned me off some at a young age, though I also could not accept the fundamentalism embraced by some of my Protestant kin.
(2) Over the years I have developed a strong interest in the ecumenical movement. My favorite Pope was John XXIII. I favored and continue to favor reforms within the church. My main thesis is that we should have a broad Christian community which allows space for more variation of opinion than we have today. For example, if someone cannot believe some doctrines but wanted to be a Catholic, there should be room for that person in the church. Frankly, many Catholics I know are 'heretics' in that they may doubt such basic teachings as transubstantiation, practice artificial birth control, cohabit without benefit of marriage, believe that priests should marry, etc. They remain Catholics because of tradition, family, and admiration for some of the great work done by the church among the poor, in the areas of health and education, and through some of the great saints of the past and today - e. g., Mother Theresa and Fr. Damien.
(3) As much as I have become somewhat of a Christian freethinker, and treasure my freedom to ponder, weigh, investigate, question, and doubt, I follow different forms of Christianity rather closely. I have particular admiration, for example, for the Quakers and the Salvation Army, but also admire the freedom many mainstream Protestants seem to enjoy in that they disagree amiably with one another. I'm referring here to Methodists, Presbyterians, UCC, Episcopalians, ECLA Lutherans, and others. My difference with Catholicism developed out of my need for just such a freedom.
That's enough for now. I enjoy reading and joining in the various discussions here on CAF. I subscribe to Our Sunday Visitor, America, US Catholic and Commonweal, so I do my best to keep well-informed on developments within Catholicism. I guess it's a particular interest of mine. But I also read up on Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Mormonism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam, Judaism, etc. I taught comparative religions and philosophy in college a long time ago, as my interest goes back many years. My main problem with traditional Catholicism is that it constantly claims to be the 'one true church'. With maybe a million solar systems out there, my guess is that we're all living amid much ignorance and that when we enter the world to come we will realize how little we knew as we made this journey called life here on earth.
My views appear to be too conciliatory for many CAF participants. Thank you for tolerating my participation. I do seek to follow the principal teaching of Christ, that we love another. Over the years I have worked and prayed for peace, racial reconciliation, and cooperation among people of faith.
God bless decent and sincere worshipers, whatever they creeds, colors, cultures or countries. Let us make religion a bridge rather than a barrier.I don’t want to be negative but how is it possible to make sweeping statements about “protestant” theology? Actually there does not seem to me to be any Protestant theology…but there are many versions of theology authored by numerous…maybe legions of individuals who have a few or many adherants. Isn’t this the essence of non Catholic Christianity…you read the Bible and decide for yourself what it seems to be saying to you? Before I was Catholic I sensed that the idea of a Church with leadership, a Catechism and a teaching authority was a turnoff for those who fall under the “protestant” label.
Hi Roy5,
Thank you Subtropocal, it is indeed refreshing for us to have so many come to visit with your open mindedness.I am Jewish, and married to a woman who has rediscovered her Catholicism. I found her Parish to be a fascinating place, filled with everything from thought provoking preaching to gracious fellowship, to approachable priests. I though I should learn more about her faith, and stumbled upon your website this evening. Much of what found under the rubric of relgion on the web seems to be poorly done, yet this the website looks like a solid breath of fresh air.
Peace, Carlan ]. These are no people I wants around my children, or me for that matter! I was raised around that type of environment and it sends me into another dimension. I like quiet and no drama. Several of his female acquaintances have let me know they are bisexual and would be interested in me!!Yes. I'm well aware that Catholicism is not a democratic institution, and presume that this is a major part of my problem with it.
To begin with, it continues the trappings and trimmings of an earlier time. When I see all the cardinals processing, in their ancient robes and without a single female, I am troubled. I undestand the power of tradition but also feel the need to make adjustments to the age we live in.
I also have a freedom-loving mind. I mean by this that I enjoy pondering and weighing and contemplating theology and other aspects of faith, and I really can't believe that God would want to deny us that freedom and insist upon conformity. The Lord provided us with a brain which has produced marvelous progress over the centuries (and continues to do so). I have come to the point (once I was a 'strict believer') that humankind has only tiny insight into the mysteries of the universe and of this adventure we call life. With perhaps a million solar systems out there in space, I look to God with overwhelming awe, but also with enormous humility. It troubles me that any one faith community - whether Christian, Muslim or whatever - claims to have a monopoly on essential spiritual truth and that everyone else is wrong ('heretical') to a lesser or greater degree. Personally, I leave such judgements up to God. My guess is that we're all like cats trying to explain a piano to other cats.
My main concern is promoting the gospel of love, working in unison with others to achieve reconciliation, mutual respect, and peace. My commitment to 'true doctrines' and 'true churches' pale in comparison. They have caused so much prejudice and pain and even ridiculous wars of religion over the years. Religion should build bridges and not barriers.Good post!
I was a catholic for the past 3 1/2 years or so but the more I thought about it I found myself in theological, moral and political dissention with the religion and the religious. I am here to give alternate points of view. if you go through threads you will see the same thing over and over i.e. is abortion a sin and for a few hundred posts its all yes,yes,yes. I’m here as the voice of open minded free thinking. come join me in the darkside question things you think are true and prove them wrong evolve your mind.
I was a catholic for the past 3 1/2 years or so but the more I thought about it I found myself in theological, moral and political dissention with the religion and the religious. I am here to give alternate points of view. if you go through threads you will see the same thing over and over i.e. is abortion a sin and for a few hundred posts its all yes,yes,yes. **I’m here as the voice of open minded free thinking. come join me in the darkside question things you think are true and prove them wrong evolve your mind./**QUOTE]
As I stated in the “Woody Allen/Bill Graham” thread…some of your insights sound quite Gnostic.
One of the beliefs of some Gnostic sects was that “satan” was truly the “light bringer”…he sought to free Adam and Eve from the influence of the “God of the Blind” by having them open their eyes with knowledge…some Gnostics held that God’s assertion to Adam and Even that on the day they eat of the forbidden fruit…true knowledge of their nature…they would “die”…the Gnostics pointed out…they didn’t die after all…“Lucifer” is then seen as a good influence in seeking to assit in the “salvation”…of Adam and Eve from the entrapment God had placed them…
Just a few random thoughts a few of your comments brought to life…those few comments of yours I have read…I’ve enjoyed…as it pushed me down a road of tangents of Christian thought that had similar formation in those first few centuries of the common era.