Obedience in the Church

[catherine126]

I was away from Catholicism for a time. During that time, I read an article about reasons to NOT have religion…

This author argued that “religions are authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate your free will. They’re power structures that aim to convince you to give away your power for the benefit of those who enjoy dominating people.”

Yes, the Church is hierarchical, and of course obedience is considered a virtue, but I don’t think mindless slavery is what the Church has in mind…

What are your thoughts?

 

[Della]

Such generalizations are merely polemical. Everyone gives his obedience to someone else in some form or another, be it employers or spouses or parents or governments or…the list goes on. Trusting someone else enough to obey him simply means giving another person permission to help you do things you cannot do alone or things too hard for you to understand or too big for you to handle. We all need one another in one fashion or another. The person who is totally independent may as well live alone on a desert island and hope he has the skills to not only survive, but to thrive mentally, spiritually, emotionally as well as bodily.

 

[manygift1spirit]

The problem with that article is that is overgeneralizes. David Koresh’s (so-called) religion may be like that (look him up), but many, notably Catholicism, are not.

A great synopsis of the Catholic faith is that God wants you to be the best version of yourself. How does one become the best acholar? By hard studying and research, which precludes doing some things like taking arbitrary vacations, watching TV junk 20 hours a day, etc. How does one become the best athlete? By practicing (hard), exercising physical discipline, etc., which precludes things like staying out all night, boozing it up, etc. So, how does one become the best person? By practicing virtue. But yes, that precludes some things like practicing vices! But that is a good thing.

Like a father who points out limits for the welfare of the child, like road laws which facilitate thousands of people to get from point A to point B in one piece, that is what the Church has in mind. Mindless slavery demeans the subject. Practicing virtue, including acknowledging where the boundaries between virtue and vice are, elevates the subject. This is not synonymous with having it easy. But it is synonymous with having it good.

Another take on it is this: You may know that the Declaration of Independence acknowledges the unalienable right to “the Pursuit of Happiness”. It is very telling, and relevant (especially to those of the modern mindset like the author of your article) to note it does not say “the Pursuit of Pleasure”. They are entirely different things (ask any addict). Religion (properly understood) is about happiness. Those railing against it are about pleasure.

 

[fhansen]

I was away from Catholicism for a time. During that time, I read an article about reasons to NOT have religion…

This author argued that “religions are authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate your free will. They’re power structures that aim to convince you to give away your power for the benefit of those who enjoy dominating people.”

Yes, the Church is hierarchical, and of course obedience is considered a virtue, but I don’t think mindless slavery is what the Church has in mind…

What are your thoughts?

"If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children"

This statement from St Basil regarding man’s right relationship with God could apply equally to the Church as we come to believe that she authentically speaks for Him.

 

[GratefulFred]

I was away from Catholicism for a time. During that time, I read an article about reasons to NOT have religion…

This author argued that “religions are authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate your free will. They’re power structures that aim to convince you to give away your power for the benefit of those who enjoy dominating people.”

Yes, the Church is hierarchical, and of course obedience is considered a virtue, but I don’t think mindless slavery is what the Church has in mind…

What are your thoughts?

OUTSTANDING responses ! I’m going to borrow them.

Paraphrasing, Jesus said the greatest commandments are to Love God and to love others for the sake of loving God. All other commands are to achieve these two.

True love is an act of Free Will.

God loves us. He has revealed Himself to us in the Bible and in His Son, Jesus Christ to whom He gave complete authority. Based in Love, authority is not bad, it does not diminish us one iota. Christ set up HIS Church and enpowered it to speak and act for Him.

Our free will choice is to respond to God’s call or not. In rejecting God we choose Hell. Lukewarm response is dangerous. Our best efforts to live God’s Way is the best course through this life.

So wanting to respond, as God would have me respond, I certainly WANT reliable direction I then follow. I try to follow even when it seems to be difficult. I gave my word and it is a matter of honor that I honor my commitment knowing that in doing so I remain in a loving relationship with God and those in my life. Sometimes I fail that commitment, but I have the Sacrament of Reconciliation which helps greatly.

Now some in the Church and other religions may want to treat us like mindless sheep and try to dominate us. THAT IS THEIR SIN. That is NOT the purpose of the Catholic Church Christ established. If I felt I was being dominated by someone, I’d find another priest who demonstrates Love in the proper way.

Man’s imperfections do not make God wrong. Rather, man’s imperfections is why we need God through His Son Jesus Christ and the Church Christ established.

 

[awatkins69]

I think the person who said that is trying to control your beliefs.