Shame

[d40gmar]

I have been on this web site for a few months now and I am very saddened at how My fellow Catholics have acted. I have read time after time the name calling and the utter hatred to our fellow man because of either a different stance on Christ our beloved savior or Islam. What did Christ say about loving your fellow man? What did Christ say about loving your enemy? What did Christ say about the most important commandment was? Finally, When Our Lord And Savior was on the cross, what did Christ ask for to Our Father and Maker. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THHEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. I love being Catholic. I believe that I am in the one true church and that what the Church teaches and what Christ our savior taught is the only truth. This is why I am very sad at what some of my fellow Catholics have said and I am sorry for all of them. I know, there are those who condem us and do evil deeds to us now. Jesus himself went through much pain to save us. I only ask you my fellow Catholics to pray for others. Put down your sword and pray that they may one day Find the true church and follow Christ fully. God bless and I will be praying with you.

 

[Publisher]

Great post.

 

[SuzieB]

I agree.

 

[carol_marie]

Utter hatred? Wow. Those are some pretty powerful words. I can’t say I’ve ever come across hatred in the three years I’ve been here. If you have, please report those posts to the mods.

For the most part I think Catholics on this site are MORE charitable than other faiths on other sites.

 

[Mirdath]

Utter hatred? Wow. Those are some pretty powerful words. I can’t say I’ve ever come across hatred in the three years I’ve been here.

That’d likely be because you’re Catholic. I’m not, and I have run across quite a lot of it here. For a while I considered keeping a list – high points include being told I’m morally equivalent to a pedophile (for owning a tarot deck that I don’t even believe possesses any mystical properties), being harassed via PM, and being compared unfavorably to Hitler.

Anyway, thanks d40gmar It’s posts like that that remind me Christianity possesses such a great philosophy, in spite of many of its so-called adherents’ abandonment of it.

 

[aimee]

Utter hatred? Wow. Those are some pretty powerful words. I can’t say I’ve ever come across hatred in the three years I’ve been here. If you have, please report those posts to the mods.

For the most part I think Catholics on this site are MORE charitable than other faiths on other sites.

I agree CarolMarie…good post.

 

[Verisimilitude]

With respect, and only speaking for myself since you name no names, but I’d like to offer a response.

What did Christ say about loving your enemy? What did Christ say about the most important commandment was?

Love also includes reproach when going astray. Just as a parent will rebuke or reproach an errant child out of love to correct them, sometimes the tenderness of love is set aside to bring about the desired effect. God loves us, and the bible is full of the ways He corrected us over the centuries.

Finally, When Our Lord And Savior was on the cross, what did Christ ask for to Our Father and Maker. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THHEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

Can you say the same to Mulsims, JW, Mormons and other groups that add to, detract from, and alter what is known? Do they not know what they are doing now, unlike those who murdered Christ then? I think they do. If they acknowledge Christ, they can no longer say they do not know.

I only ask you my fellow Catholics to pray for others. Put down your sword and pray that they may one day Find the true church and follow Christ fully.

What does this mean to you?
Luke 22:38
The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.

I take it to mean we can offer justified defense, not by weapons for two swords are clearly not a call to arms in or out of context. But I have every right to defend my faith from slander and falsehoods, and might be remiss if I do not. Loving them is not letting it go unchallanged, for unchallanged lies may take hold in someone. That is justified defense. I think it is in Revelations where there is a description of a sword in the mouht of the One.

I love being Catholic. I believe that I am in the one true church and that what the Church teaches and what Christ our savior taught is the only truth.

What you say is true, but what is not said is that Christ is with us spiritually, no longer physically. He spoke the passage knowing that He was leaving the Disciples in a dangerous world where while He was with them they had His protection. That discourse in Luke is about just that.

35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.

36He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’**; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”
“That is enough,” he replied.

I agree that we must remain respectful to the individual, and I try, but admittedly sometimes my anger at such warped defenses of their faith, while denouncing mine as false is difficult to master.

The attack on the Catholic faith is growing from both secular life and other religions. Look at Europe. Christianity is dwindling fast. The only loud voices are for equality to every other social/religious institution except Christianity which is being marginalized and laid aside. They do not recognize it was largely due to Christianity that allows such debate to begin with.

Those loud voices are coming here to America. A justified defense is warranted. A vigorous defense is needed. If I have to be loud myself sometimes, so be it.**

 

[LDNCatholic]

Nice to see someone else here who isn’t tooling up for the next Crusade . However I think in a lot of cases it has less to do with religion and more to do with country of origin

(I said a lot, not ALL-and it is not a prejudiced comment, it is based on observation of the more fervent anti Islam crowd.)

 

[kell0618]

Please remember that this is an online forum; one where though it is well moderated, anonymity allows for some behaviors that would not happen in a face to face situation. It is also not unique to this forum. I have encountered it in any other forum I have joined. This applies to Catholic, non-Catholic religious, parenting and even crafting forums.

One must learn to treat the forums like television. When you find something engaging and interesting, pull up a chair and get involved. If a topic or posts are found offensive, ‘turn the channel’. You are not required to participate.

I have encountered very little hostility here, and when I have, I simply discontinue posting within the ‘out of hand’ post. As mentioned, the ‘warning’ button for the moderators is there for a reason. If you feel you have been wrongly attacked for any reason, take it to the moderators and let them deal with it. Posts that ‘flame’ often cause more harm than good, and I pray that this post does not turn into a blaze.

Peace be with you,

Kelly

 

[LDNCatholic]

Please remember that this is an online forum; one where though it is well moderated, anonymity allows for some behaviors that would not happen in a face to face situation. It is also not unique to this forum. I have encountered it in any other forum I have joined. This applies to Catholic, non-Catholic religious, parenting and even crafting forums.

Excellent point!

 

[AKG]

I have been on this web site for a few months now and I am very saddened at how My fellow Catholics have acted. I have read time after time the name calling and the utter hatred to our fellow man because of either a different stance on Christ our beloved savior or Islam. What did Christ say about loving your fellow man? What did Christ say about loving your enemy? What did Christ say about the most important commandment was? Finally, When Our Lord And Savior was on the cross, what did Christ ask for to Our Father and Maker. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THHEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. I love being Catholic. I believe that I am in the one true church and that what the Church teaches and what Christ our savior taught is the only truth. This is why I am very sad at what some of my fellow Catholics have said and I am sorry for all of them. I know, there are those who condem us and do evil deeds to us now. Jesus himself went through much pain to save us. I only ask you my fellow Catholics to pray for others. Put down your sword and pray that they may one day Find the true church and follow Christ fully. God bless and I will be praying with you.

While people may use these forums as sounding boards to blow off steam and frustration with the present state of world affairs, I totally agree with you that we are to be peacemakers and demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ toward all people. When we mock and ridicule others, we are mocking Christ.

 

[Carol_Coombe]

While people may use these forums as sounding boards to blow off steam and frustration with the present state of world affairs, I totally agree with you that we are to be peacemakers and demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ toward all people. When we mock and ridicule others, we are mocking Christ.

I am glad that we are speaking together about something that has troubled me since I started posting 6 weeks ago. In that time, I know four others have dropped out because of what they felt were unwarranted attacks. But I am beginning to understand that it works both ways.

As a would-be convert, I asked questions that must have seemed provocative while to me they just seemed like, well, questions.

People who feel provoked are likely to answer in anger or hostility. And there is an element of defensiveness (I used the word paranoia once, but it is perhaps too strong). Defenders of the Faith.

I got angry, until finally I blew up because the orthodoxy of my three senior spiritual advisors (Bishop, Monsignor and senior Jesuit) was questioned in a hostile manner. Yup - a warning. I had to learn the hard way.

I have to say, however, that it is possible to track the prints of those who are on the Forum for an adrenalin rush, because they like to score points rather than make them, because they like the thrust and challenge of debate - however nasty it becomes. There are people on this Forum who find it hard to make a substantive point, but seem to prefer to take people down - people who really are questing - with sniggering asides, hurtful jibes, and accusations of all kinds. It is hard to ignore them, but I have learned not to engage with certain posters, or certain kinds of posters.

After the first four weeks, I was profoundly traumatised, and about to give up my quest for a spiritual home in the Catholic Church. The confusion, fear, angst and anger was dreadful, and mostly because I could not believe that Christians (I come from the Canadian Baptist Convention, now living in Africa) would behave in this way to each other, no matter how different their views.

I came back to the Forum because several people were kind, helpful and supportive, and I felt I owed it to them to keep on trying, but to tone down my own sense of urgency, and my inability to react in a respectful way myself.

I think that it is the inability of some posters to behave like Christians, to reflect the example of Our Lord, and in the process to treat others who are enquiring like stupid derelicts. I assumed the Forum would be something like a graduate seminar, with informed debate and serious questions. Too often, discussion falls far of the mark. But that would not be so bad, if it happened in a way that is civil, moderately compassionate, and understanding. That is, in a way that respects and confirms the example of Our Lord.

Blessings

Jabulani!

 

[carol_marie]

That’d likely be because you’re Catholic. I’m not, and I have run across quite a lot of it here.

Actually I wasn’t Catholic for the first year I posted. I was an Evangelical Christian who thought Catholics were a bit :whacky: .

I’d ask questions & get answers - sometimes the debates would get rather intense - but I never felt “utter hatred” toward me. And I’m certain I was never called any names.

I’m very sorry if that’s been your experience here. In general I think people receive the same sort of treatment they dish out - but if you feel you’ve been treated badly by a poster, by all means report him.

 

[cestusdei]

I love them so much I will tell them the truth and demand they stop persecuting my brothers and sisters and supporting terrorism.

I may be hard on them, but you don’t see me stoning muslims to death. Which is worse? Being blunt or murdering someone who converts to another faith?

 

[Montalban]

I have been on this web site for a few months now and I am very saddened at how My fellow Catholics have acted. I have read time after time the name calling and the utter hatred to our fellow man because of either a different stance on Christ our beloved savior or Islam. What did Christ say about loving your fellow man? What did Christ say about loving your enemy? What did Christ say about the most important commandment was? Finally, When Our Lord And Savior was on the cross, what did Christ ask for to Our Father and Maker. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THHEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO. I love being Catholic. I believe that I am in the one true church and that what the Church teaches and what Christ our savior taught is the only truth. This is why I am very sad at what some of my fellow Catholics have said and I am sorry for all of them. I know, there are those who condem us and do evil deeds to us now. Jesus himself went through much pain to save us. I only ask you my fellow Catholics to pray for others. Put down your sword and pray that they may one day Find the true church and follow Christ fully. God bless and I will be praying with you.

7 posts since last December (including the OP of this thread) !

 

[Carol_Coombe]

I love them so much I will tell them the truth and demand they stop persecuting my brothers and sisters and supporting terrorism.

I may be hard on them, but you don’t see me stoning muslims to death. Which is worse? Being blunt or murdering someone who converts to another faith?

So sorry, but who are you talking about? I am just someone who wants to be Catholic, I do HIV work in Africa, and I do not support terrorism or murder anyone. I just do my best. So why do people talk to me the way they do? Perhaps it **is **getting back what we deal out, as carol marie suggested.

But I do not understand who you are referring to, from your own experience.

 

[Carol_Coombe]

7 posts since last December (including the OP of this thread) !

What do you mean? Is this a jab? Or just some helpful information? It may be that she has been reading and thinking. I did not post for almost two years after I joined because I was scared to.

Love from Carol

Jabulani!

 

[cestusdei]

So sorry, but who are you talking about? I am just someone who wants to be Catholic, I do HIV work in Africa, and I do not support terrorism or murder anyone. I just do my best. So why do people talk to me the way they do? Perhaps it **is **getting back what we deal out, as carol marie suggested.

But I do not understand who you are referring to, from your own experience.

Are you a muslim? That’s who I was referring too.

 

[bdm3]

While I don’t mean to minimize the concerns originally posted, I do think that we all tend to get caught up in the heat of the moment and say things which we otherwise might not. That somebody does go off the deep end and make an error in judgement on how they speak is not necessarily a true reflection on their character or the sincerity of their faith. We as Christians are all called to be Christ-like, and none of us are as Christ-like as we ought and are called to be, otherwise there would have been little need for Christ.

We are commanded to love our enemies and pray for them. But that does not make our enemies any less our enemies. While it is important to be magninimous and charitable toward them, it is vitally important to correct them when they are in error and to defend the Truth.

 

[distracted]

That’d likely be because you’re Catholic. I’m not, and I have run across quite a lot of it here.