The ‘Us and Them’ Religion

[Vico]

…
My view is that politics/geopolitics trumps everything else. [but again i emphasise, religion still contributes but pales into comparison]

The loss of original justice by mankind is the cause rather than politics or religious beliefs.

 

[ratio1]

The loss of original justice by mankind

Pardon my ignorance. Could you please explain? Thank you!

 

[Vico]

Vico:

The loss of original justice by mankind

Pardon my ignorance. Could you please explain? Thank you!

Catechism

376 … The inner harmony of the human person, the harmony between man and woman, 253 and finally the harmony between the first couple and all creation, comprised the state called “original justice”.

379 This entire harmony of original justice, foreseen for man in God’s plan, will be lost by the sin of our first parents.

403 Following St. Paul, the Church has always taught that the overwhelming misery which oppresses men and their inclination towards evil and death cannot be understood apart from their connection with Adam’s sin and the fact that he has transmitted to us a sin with which we are all born afflicted, a sin which is the “death of the soul”.291 …

 

[QwertyGirl]

Thank you for taking the time to write this post. It is such an important concept, and one that is so often ignored or not even considered.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Given this, to authentically love those of other religions, one must wish for them to come to know the truth and to join the Catholic Church.

Wishing and loving aren’t the same thing. Love is completely possible without wishing people come over to your religion.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

I wish to speak about this ‘us and them’ mentality, attitude or what has developed into an almost religion over the centuries as I believe it’s man made and is a major obstacle to peace.

Humans are tribal. Evidence shows in-group/out-group divisions have been around as long as human cultures have been.

But the Scriptures say we were all created in the image of God and that God loves us all unconditionally. So why have we developed this ‘otherness’ or ‘us and them’ attitude in this world which sets us at odds with our fellow human being?

The in-group/out-group divisions so common to humans are also illustrated in the Bible.

 

[GusMcCrae]

I tend to agree, but I think today’s society, tolerance and acceptance are confused. Jesus commanded us to love one another, but many people think that means anything goes and a complete relativism. That in order to love someone you not only have to tolerate their choices, but accept and rejoice in them. That is simply not true. Jesus also taught us the way to salvation. Remember what he said in Matthew 10:14-15 as he sent out the disciples to preach the gospel, “And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. In truth I tell you, on the Day of Judgement it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.”

The problem is that we humans tend to want everyone to accept whatever we do and think, and if you do not, YOU are being intolerant. Of course we think that we are perfectly reasonable, but you are being intolerant. That results in the “us v. them” kind of thing.

 

[Shakuhachi]

…and for myself Catholicism teaches that path better than anywhere else.

I am glad you phrased it that way because to many faith Christians and even faithful non Christians, Catholicism seems riddled with the barnacles of history.

 

[fhansen]

Of course, I did as well during my long sojourn away from the Church. And I’d now assert that any perceived barnacles are pretty much superficial, related to practices if anything rather than teachings on faith and morals, the essence of Catholicism