Religion is just a gap filler where there is social needs that are not being met

[notsmart]

My husbands email to me today-

I guess you went ahead and met with that priest you mentioned to me. I hope to hear how that turned out when we can talk after she is asleep. Let me just get a few things off my chest, and hopefully give you some more to think about before you completely loose objective thinking.

Religion fails in countries where social policy is in place that takes care of the needs of the people. Case in point, Sweden. Now, if Religion was Gods desire for all people, why is there no need for it in Sweden? Doesn’t God, and all the Christians who are sent to “go forth and spread the gospel” doing anything about that, if it means their “salvation” could be lost? I think you can conclude he just does not care. And, neither do these christians you are so interested in now.

If you are so sure you want to persue a christian denomination that has “longevity” and is against abortion bear in mind the 2 I can think of or 3 are going to require you to believe in the Trinity. Which means, you are going to have to accept all those hard passages in the OT you dont like to read that shows God as a brutal killer. You, of course prefer to focus on Jesus. But, you cant seperate them, unless you join some cult. Think about that harder please.

Your desire to care about our daughers dream, is touching and another reason I love you so much. But, isnt it possible she overheard one of her friends parents on a play date that told her about Jesus, then she forgot it, and later it comes up in a dream?

I mean, you are making too much of all this. She is only 5 and of course, kids at that age dream of flying on unicorns. That does not mean we should run out and try to find unicorns also. Be reasonable.

You seem to buy into a lot of the beliefs that Catholics have.
Well, that’s fine- but why? You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed. Something to think about. I mean, you should be just as conviced of it, as the people then were required to be upon pain of torture and death or dont do it. And, that would be insane to do. You cant be that sure of anything, and over the years the very things some people were killed over are not matters of any importance today to the catholic church. Stuff like talking to non catholics, thats a bit too much dont you think?

I know, we both had parents that gave us a lot of room to inquire and ask about things. Maybe this is the real reason you like the catholic faith. They have it all figured out to the point of having the nerve to define in detail sacraments they themselves call “mysteries”?? What kind of a mystery is left?
They are talking out of both sides of their mouths there.

So, at least I got that out. I want you to think about this using some common sense. You always have before, dont stop now.

Love,
(husband)

 

[bpbasilphx]

You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed.

**Your husband is buying into the black legend of the Inquisition.

In France, the Inquisition was responsible for a total of THREE–count 'em–deaths.

In Spain common criminals would claim to be heretics to be transferred to the Inquisition’s jails because the conditions there were better.

**

 

[KingAlfred]

My husbands email to me today-

I guess you went ahead and met with that priest you mentioned to me. I hope to hear how that turned out when we can talk after she is asleep. Let me just get a few things off my chest, and hopefully give you some more to think about before you completely loose objective thinking.

Religion fails in countries where social policy is in place that takes care of the needs of the people. Case in point, Sweden. Now, if Religion was Gods desire for all people, why is there no need for it in Sweden? Doesn’t God, and all the Christians who are sent to “go forth and spread the gospel” doing anything about that, if it means their “salvation” could be lost? I think you can conclude he just does not care. And, neither do these christians you are so interested in now.

If you are so sure you want to persue a christian denomination that has “longevity” and is against abortion bear in mind the 2 I can think of or 3 are going to require you to believe in the Trinity. Which means, you are going to have to accept all those hard passages in the OT you dont like to read that shows God as a brutal killer. You, of course prefer to focus on Jesus. But, you cant seperate them, unless you join some cult. Think about that harder please.

Your desire to care about our daughers dream, is touching and another reason I love you so much. But, isnt it possible she overheard one of her friends parents on a play date that told her about Jesus, then she forgot it, and later it comes up in a dream?

I mean, you are making too much of all this. She is only 5 and of course, kids at that age dream of flying on unicorns. That does not mean we should run out and try to find unicorns also. Be reasonable.

You seem to buy into a lot of the beliefs that Catholics have.
Well, that’s fine- but why? You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed. Something to think about. I mean, you should be just as conviced of it, as the people then were required to be upon pain of torture and death or dont do it. And, that would be insane to do. You cant be that sure of anything, and over the years the very things some people were killed over are not matters of any importance today to the catholic church. Stuff like talking to non catholics, thats a bit too much dont you think?

I know, we both had parents that gave us a lot of room to inquire and ask about things. Maybe this is the real reason you like the catholic faith. They have it all figured out to the point of having the nerve to define in detail sacraments they themselves call “mysteries”?? What kind of a mystery is left?
They are talking out of both sides of their mouths there.

So, at least I got that out. I want you to think about this using some common sense. You always have before, dont stop now.

Love,
(husband)

Those who don’t care for religion have a myriad of reasons and explanations, some of which can get really complicated, if not bizarre, i.e., Feurbach, Freud, Marx, Russel, Hegel, Robespierre. Nearly all the societies people like this have built to disprove religion produced untold human suffering, and ended in disaster. I don’t trust any of them.

 

[OnlyAmbrose]

Praying for you and your husband.

Religion fails in countries where social policy is in place that takes care of the needs of the people. Case in point, Sweden. Now, if Religion was Gods desire for all people, why is there no need for it in Sweden?

Just because people don’t have God in a particular place does NOT mean that they don’t need Him.

If you are so sure you want to persue a christian denomination that has “longevity” and is against abortion bear in mind the 2 I can think of or 3 are going to require you to believe in the Trinity. Which means, you are going to have to accept all those hard passages in the OT you dont like to read that shows God as a brutal killer. You, of course prefer to focus on Jesus. But, you cant seperate them, unless you join some cult. Think about that harder please.

I’m no OT expert, but my understanding is that we can praise God that the endless cycle of human failure and God’s just punishment was broken by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know, we both had parents that gave us a lot of room to inquire and ask about things. Maybe this is the real reason you like the catholic faith. They have it all figured out to the point of having the nerve to define in detail sacraments they themselves call “mysteries”?? What kind of a mystery is left?
They are talking out of both sides of their mouths there.

We don’t pretend to know everything. The sacraments we have are gifts from God because he has deigned to reveal them to us. Yet even they are mysteries. Bread becomes flesh. Through man we are forgiven by Christ. Two souls become one. By the laying on of hands a man is given the power to forgive sins and change wine into blood. Are these things not mysterious?

So, at least I got that out. I want you to think about this using some common sense. You always have before, dont stop now.

God gave you sense, and you should never be afraid to use it, as I’ve seen you doing in your posts so far. It will help guide you to Him

Again, you’re in my prayers.

 

[notsmart]

You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed.

**Your husband is buying into the black legend of the Inquisition.

In France, the Inquisition was responsible for a total of THREE–count 'em–deaths.

In Spain common criminals would claim to be heretics to be transferred to the Inquisition’s jails because the conditions there were better.

**

That whole topic is so complex, I never got too interested in it. There were so many inquisitions, and too many dates, persons involved for me to keep up. He may not be refering to the Spainsh Inquisition, but if he isnt- then he is confusing me because he isnt being very clear about what constituted as a crime for death? Apostacy? He does not say, just the talking to non catholics comment. He must be upset, he is usually far more detailed than this.

 

[Verisimilitude]

My husbands email to me today-

I guess you went ahead and met with that priest you mentioned to me. I hope to hear how that turned out when we can talk after she is asleep. Let me just get a few things off my chest, and hopefully give you some more to think about before you completely loose objective thinking.

I am sorry I had to laugh at this a little. Gathering facts and information makes one loose objective thinking?

Religion fails in countries where social policy is in place that takes care of the needs of the people. Case in point, Sweden. Now, if Religion was Gods desire for all people, why is there no need for it in Sweden? Doesn’t God, and all the Christians who are sent to “go forth and spread the gospel” doing anything about that, if it means their “salvation” could be lost? I think you can conclude he just does not care. And, neither do these christians you are so interested in now.

Do I have this right: he suggests religion fails because government gets better at giving social services? God never promised two chickens in every pot and governments have never been able to deliver on their promises of utopia. I would correct your husband in that God does not desire religion for all people~He just wants us to know Him.

If you are so sure you want to persue a christian denomination that has “longevity” and is against abortion bear in mind the 2 I can think of or 3 are going to require you to believe in the Trinity. Which means, you are going to have to accept all those hard passages in the OT you dont like to read that shows God as a brutal killer. You, of course prefer to focus on Jesus. But, you cant seperate them, unless you join some cult. Think about that harder please.

The OT accounts of God as a ‘brutal killer’ should be put into perspective. It is often misunderstood. It was not a call for wholesale slaughter of the world, but a specific (small) area for a specific reason (to gain the land Promised) limited to a specific time (once they gained the land there was no more commands to wipe out another community of its inhabitants.)

Your desire to care about our daughers dream, is touching and another reason I love you so much. But, isnt it possible she overheard one of her friends parents on a play date that told her about Jesus, then she forgot it, and later it comes up in a dream?

I must have missed something from another post/thread somewhere.

I mean, you are making too much of all this. She is only 5 and of course, kids at that age dream of flying on unicorns. That does not mean we should run out and try to find unicorns also. Be reasonable.

Has she dreamed of flying unicorns too?

You seem to buy into a lot of the beliefs that Catholics have.

Smart cookie.

Well, that’s fine- but why?

I wonder if he believes something and then makes a habit of rejecting it?

You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed. Something to think about.

He might be confused with Islam.

I mean, you should be just as conviced of it, as the people then were required to be upon pain of torture and death or dont do it. And, that would be insane to do. You cant be that sure of anything, and over the years the very things some people were killed over are not matters of any importance today to the catholic church. Stuff like talking to non catholics, thats a bit too much dont you think?

Conviction is not just for criminals and despite the actions of some Catholics in ages past and even today I would ask for some offical Church document or teaching that would support a belief that he Church has such a position as reasons to avoid considering the faith.

I know, we both had parents that gave us a lot of room to inquire and ask about things. Maybe this is the real reason you like the catholic faith. They have it all figured out to the point of having the nerve to define in detail sacraments they themselves call “mysteries”?? What kind of a mystery is left?
They are talking out of both sides of their mouths there.

The creation of the universe remains a mystery. The nerve of those scientists to claim with confidence the Big Bang or Steady State or Pulsating theories to explain it.

So, at least I got that out. I want you to think about this using some common sense. You always have before, dont stop now.

Love,
(husband)

Common sense and logic support Catholicism just as it can evolution with a twist and a difference.
The difference is evolution has fossils that are argued over and Christianity has Christ/Scripture.
The twist is human conjecture explains how one animal evolved into another and the Church explains what Scripture and Christ is without conjecture. This does not mean everything is fully understood in either case but what is not fully understood in faith are left open to interpretation while science makes absolute claims that more often than not get overturned when a new discovery is made. Evolution requires more leaps of faith than Jesus.

Good luck.

 

[Biggie]

*“Christianity is a rebellion against natural law, a protest against nature. Taken to its logical extremes, Christianity would mean the systematic cultivation of human error.”

“The best thing is to let Christianity die a natural death. … Perhaps in enlightened worlds like ours, the Christian doctrine will be convicted of absurdity.”

“Thunderbolts do not spare churches.”

“If I can accept a divine commandment, it’s this one - ‘Thou shalt preserve the species.’”

“The evil that is gnawing at our vitals is our priests… I can’t at present give them the answer they’ve been asking for, but it will cost them nothing to wait…The time will come when I’ll settle my account with them, and I’ll go straight to the point.”

“I realize for my own part that if I were offered the choice between nakedness on this earth with supreme happiness in the world beyond and an earthly paradise, I certainly wouldn’t chose to sing hallelujahs until the end of time.”

“We are witnessing the final summersaults of Christianity. Dogma cannot resist the ceaslessly renewed attacks of the spirit of free inquiry. One cannot teach at ten o’clock in the morning truths which one destroys in the eleven o’clock hour.”*

How innovative, avant garde, intelligent, scientific, discerning, new age are we in our present analysis of religion, the Church and its value?

The foregoing are the words of … Adolph Hitler, murderer of 11 million. (Hitler’s Table Talk, H.R. Trevor-Roper, Engima Books, 2000-2008.)

 

[ribozyme]

Do I have this right: he suggests religion fails because government gets better at giving social services? God never promised two chickens in every pot and governments have never been able to deliver on their promises of utopia. I would correct your husband in that God does not desire religion for all people~He just wants us to know Him.

Good luck.

Well, as a secularist who strongly wants to reduce suffering, I believe it is moral for the government in OCED countries to provide for the needs of their citizens. However, if you really want to give charitably, I prefer giving to international causes (as opposed to local causes) that help those who live in countries which does not have the wealth, infrastructure, or lack of corruption necessary to serve their citizens and establish a welfare state. Organizations such as OXFAM, MSF, UNICEF do this really well.

I am not fervid in promoting secularism, nor do I see it a calling to convert theists to believe in a godless universe. I do not know if secularism will be conducive for the welfare state as some secular philosophies loathe it. But I still wonder if secularism will lead to a general gravitation towards utilitarian morality (which is necessary for the welfare state).

 

[KingAlfred]

Well, as a secularist who strongly wants to reduce suffering, I believe it is moral for the government in OCED countries to provide for the needs of their citizens. However, if you really want to give charitably, I prefer giving to international causes (as opposed to local causes) that help those who live in countries which does not have the wealth, infrastructure, or lack of corruption necessary to serve their citizens and establish a welfare state. Organizations such as OXFAM, MSF, UNICEF do this really well.

I am not fervid in promoting secularism, nor do I see it a calling to convert theists to believe in a godless universe. I do not know if secularism will be conducive for the welfare state as some secular philosophies loathe it. But I still wonder if secularism will lead to a general gravitation towards utilitarian morality (which is necessary for the welfare state).

Freedom is the key. People must be free to choose for themselves. God bless America.

 

[ribozyme]

Freedom is the key. People must be free to choose for themselves. God bless America.

Freedom? What good is freedom if you are starving or suffering? I think a better approach for freedom should focus on capabilities. Amartya Sen advocates this approach.

 

[BeeSweet]

Your desire to care about our daughers dream, is touching and another reason I love you so much.

At least he said he loves you. That’s a good start.

So, at least I got that out. I want you to think about this using some common sense. You always have before, dont stop now.

This is very insulting, but I doubt he realizes how insulting this statement is. My heartfelt advice to you is to let this slide, do not engage him. He is under the false impression that you’ve gotten yourself tangled up with a bunch of nonsense. He’s afraid, probably very afraid of loosing you in particular, afraid of you changing and no longer being the woman he loves so much. He’s afraid of someone else being in charge in his life, in his family, someone Whom he does not trust, and does not know, namely God. Keep this in mind, that you’re dealing with someone who is scared. People living in fear do not always behave appropriately, and can be hurtful at times. Have patience with him. Answer his questions as best you can, but refrain from discussions, since I can tell you from my own painful experience, discussions will most likely lead to arguments. That’s where this particular conversation is heading straight towards, so head it off at the pass. Reassure your husband that your head is on quite straight. Remind him that religion is a very divisive topic, and that you do not want it to divide the two of you, so it’s best to agree to disagree at this point and simply respect each other’s differences.

Jesus warned us in Luke 12:51-53

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."

He went on to say that we are to judge for ourselves what is right. Do not let your husband’s attacks on your supposed lack of “common sense” cloud your God given ability to judge what is right for yourself. Be patient, be kind:

1Corinthians 13: 4-8

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends;

Don’t be sad. He did say that he loves you, believe me that can make all the difference in the world. Focus on that, and lift it up. Do not engage in arguments, and pray for peace in your husband’s heart, and for him to find the love of God.

 

[strngrnrth]

He is doing a common atheist thing. He claims to speak for objective reason while showing none himself. He won’t listen until he calms down and God speaks to him. (Probably). So just go forward and don’t stop praying.

 

[Verisimilitude]

Well, as a secularist who strongly wants to reduce suffering, I believe it is moral for the government in OCED countries to provide for the needs of their citizens. However, if you really want to give charitably, I prefer giving to international causes (as opposed to local causes) that help those who live in countries which does not have the wealth, infrastructure, or lack of corruption necessary to serve their citizens and establish a welfare state. Organizations such as OXFAM, MSF, UNICEF do this really well.

Does moral mean required? Many things may be moral but not always appropriate or even be immoral if applied incorrectly. We may have personal disagreements on the morality of mercy killings, abortion, and contraception so the morality of a governments actions such as taxing the income of people to pay for them is the dilema. I will take a guess we agree on the immorality of the Iraq war but maybe for differnt definitions of a moral; please correct me if I am wrong.

I can appreciate your sincerity but the government as I think you mean in reality is doing exactly as you wish now and trying to do more; in my opinion it is doing more harm than good despite the best of intentions. How to address the needs of its citizens was spelled out in the Constitution for Americans and the federal government was given limited authority restricted to internatinal trade, national defense and a steady currency. Local government is best for local issues. What is moral for the family in OR (inter-racial marriage) may be immoral to the family in VA (bigots?). I don’t fault the government for passing anti-discrimination laws but I resent having to hire at least one black transvestite in a wheelchair as a government quota of face a fine. The only asian I could find was a man and I have too many of them…OK…I’m just kidding but it isn’t/wasn’t so far from the truth.

Please reconsider the idea of giving locally as the best method on a personal basis rather than mandated by federal government. If you and your community has enough then give collectively to others as you see fit. Why help the guy around the world if your neighbor needs help? Charity is what built Americas hospitals, schools, and libraries …with the generosity of many Catholics/Christians, Jews and Secularists for the common good, and use/sales/business/state taxes paid for roads and municiple buildings… Only recently (50 years) has our government taken control of these institutions from local hands. It was lack of a central government that made America prosperous enough to be the inspiration of the world for a few generations that now seems to have ended.

I am not fervid in promoting secularism, nor do I see it a calling to convert theists to believe in a godless universe. I do not know if secularism will be conducive for the welfare state as some secular philosophies loathe it. But I still wonder if secularism will lead to a general gravitation towards utilitarian morality (which is necessary for the welfare state).

I am not anti-American as some think. Freedom and liberty was working pretty well for a while but it began to wane markedly when the secularists in government, anticipating the end of the Cold War sought to change America fundamentally from the reluctant/humble but mighty nation among many to the benevolent and lone Super Power forcing our good will upon the world. It’s moral compass has been altered. In that regard we claim natural resources in other nations as our national interest that we don’t even use much of. The recent Russia/Georgia war is because America wants to build a gas pipeline for Europe that bypasses Russia. Is business driving our policy or a quest for the common good? Some Catholics here call the war moral and just in the name of Christianity. I do not happen to share that view, not because the intention is immoral but because the laws broken to carry it out is.

(prepare for sarcasm) Government has nearly replaced God with the average American so I would think you would be happy with the way things are going. Everyone that drove past the lady with a flat tire for 15-20 minutes struggling alone to change it, on a very busy road; 90+ deg rush hour stuff assumed one of those little government trucks with it’s little flashing yellow light would show up and help her instead of the biker.

 

[KingAlfred]

“Freedom? What good is freedom if you are starving or suffering? I think a better approach for freedom should focus on capabilities.”

I suspect a person who thinks the way you do could only know when he didn’t have it. I’m lucky to be able to recognize its value without having to learn the hard way.

 

[fix]

Religion fails in countries where social policy is in place that takes care of the needs of the people. Case in point, Sweden. Now, if Religion was Gods desire for all people, why is there no need for it in Sweden? Doesn’t God, and all the Christians who are sent to “go forth and spread the gospel” doing anything about that, if it means their “salvation” could be lost? I think you can conclude he just does not care. And, neither do these christians you are so interested in now.

Check out things like suicide and euthanasia rates in places like this then ask for an explanation of why secularism is seen as enlightened?

If you are so sure you want to persue a christian denomination that has “longevity” and is against abortion bear in mind the 2 I can think of or 3 are going to require you to believe in the Trinity. Which means, you are going to have to accept all those hard passages in the OT you dont like to read that shows God as a brutal killer. You, of course prefer to focus on Jesus. But, you cant seperate them, unless you join some cult. Think about that harder please.

Does he think he is the first to see a contradiction? All those great minds have never considered this before? The point is there is no contradcition but understanding the issue requires a deeper knowledge not just a superficial glance at the bible.

You seem to buy into a lot of the beliefs that Catholics have.
Well, that’s fine- but why? You are lucky you can walk out anytime now, unlike many who did and ended up in prison, and some tortured and killed. Something to think about. I mean, you should be just as conviced of it, as the people then were required to be upon pain of torture and death or dont do it. And, that would be insane to do. You cant be that sure of anything, and over the years the very things some people were killed over are not matters of any importance today to the catholic church. Stuff like talking to non catholics, thats a bit too much dont you think?

The usual canards. Why not, gently, suggest he do some study on these matters rather than simply accepting pop culture’s wisdom.

 

[Newbie2]

I think this is going beyond a religion-discussion/disagreement thing. Perhaps counseling might be in order?

 

[notsmart]

I think this is going beyond a religion-discussion/disagreement thing. Perhaps counseling might be in order?

What kind of counseling? What type of counselor? I have seen a priest.
Just so you know, I am not a christian. He is an atheist. We both were atheists up till recently.

 

[Contarini]

Regarding the “Sweden argument”:

There are devout Christians in Sweden. It’s true that Christianity doesn’t dominate society there as much as it does in the U.S. and some other parts of the world. And it’s true that people who are materially prosperous are generally less likely to be devout. There are two possible explanations for this:

1. People who are comfortable and whose material needs are met become complacent and lose their spiritual hunger. This is part of a general human tendency to be happy with cheaper, easier satisfactions rather than putting in the extra effort to acquire more lasting ones. One could argue, for instance, that because people read fewer books when lots of TV programming is available, therefore books have no value. In fact, I think most thinking people would say that books do have much of value to offer that we can’t get from TV. Therefore, the fact that people are happy to vegetate in front of the TV doesn’t negate the value of books–it just shows that people tend to go for quick, superficial satisfactions over more challenging but ultimately deeper satisfactions.
2. The Marxist explanation (which is basically your husband’s position) that religion is the “opiate of the people”–in short that, reversing the argument I used above, religion is the superficial answer covering up the real needs of humanity. You may be surprised to hear that I think this does cover a lot of religion (of any organized brand or none). Many people go to church to get a kind of comfort that will allow them to avoid their real problems. That is not what Christianity (or any other traditional religion) teaches people ought to do. But a lot of people do do this. When society is so ordered that people have fewer problems, then those who go to “religion” only to feel better no longer have any use for it. But as I noted above, there is no society, however secular, where there are not a significant number of people who do feel the need for something more. And the question your husband needs to ask is, why? I can explain why there are not as many Christians in Sweden as there used to be. How does he explain the fact that there are still quite a few of them there? (I suppose he could argue that they have particular needs or weaknesses not shared by healthier members of the society. But isn’t such an argument just an attempt to explain away other people’s beliefs and experience by an unwarranted assumption about them, just as Christians often do to unbelievers?)

Your husband’s point is in many ways the same one Dietrich Bonhoeffer made in his famous letter from prison on “religionless Christianity.” Yet Bonhoeffer died as a Christian martyr (killed by the Nazis). Your husband might find him interesting.

Edwin

 

[notsmart]

Your husband’s point is in many ways the same one Dietrich Bonhoeffer made in his famous letter from prison on “religionless Christianity.” Yet Bonhoeffer died as a Christian martyr (killed by the Nazis). Your husband might find him interesting.

Edwin

WOW!

I find you interesting! Thank you so much for the rebuttal to the “Sweden argument”

You made it really clear cut, and I cant imagine he will win this one.

But, I am taking Bee Sweets advice for the moment. Still, I need to memorize this one if it comes up from him/or anyone in the future again.

 

[Contarini]

I find you interesting! Thank you so much for the rebuttal to the “Sweden argument”

You made it really clear cut, and I cant imagine he will win this one.

Oh, don’t be too sure. People usually come up with better arguments than you think. And this really is something that often bothers me as well, because unlike many folks on this forum I really admire European culture and in many ways like being there better than being here (I’ve never been to Sweden, but I have lived in Germany for several months and loved it). But I do find that while the numbers of believers are fewer there, they are very real and very devout and they shouldn’t just be written off. The problem is that American Christians like to paint this picture of a completely secular Europe because it makes them feel superior.

Let’s pray for each other. I also would face some marital difficulties if I were to convert to Catholicism, but much milder–my wife is a Christian and very close to Catholicism in many ways, but disagrees with certain Catholic teachings and sees no need to convert.

In Christ,

Edwin