Things that almost make me atheist

[DMC12]

*Animals supposed absence of “soul”.
*The idea that all sins can be “forgiven”, not matter how serious it was.
*Always to show the other cheek (I’m tired of that, I mean, there are limits)

yes, and that is to avoid Hell, do you really want someone to go to hell forever? but don’t think God can be fooled, He will make people pay in the way He sees fit.

yes, there are limits, to both sides, you wont punch a guy who laughed a little bit at you, yet you would not allow someone to kill an inocent if you can do something about it.

 

[Zincman]

yes, and that is to avoid Hell, do you really want someone to go to hell forever? but don’t think God can be fooled, He will make people pay in the way He sees fit.

yes, there are limits, to both sides, you wont punch a guy who laughed a little bit at you, yet you would not allow someone to kill an inocent if you can do something about it.

I was refering to those who regret a sin ‘just before death’ and later go ‘directly’ to heaven. One of the things that bothers my own faith is the possible unfairness in a ‘all-love god’, specially to those good people that always followed the good way.

 

[davidv]

I was refering to those who regret a sin ‘just before death’ and later go ‘directly’ to heaven. One of the things that bothers my own faith is the possible unfairness in a ‘all-love god’, specially to those good people that always followed the good way.

Those who have been in sin all their lives, but repent at the last moment will not go directly to heaven. There will be significant cleansing required.

CCC:

1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."609 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.610 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.611

It would appear that in declaring God unfair, one must think themselves better than God. Is it possible that one does not know or understand enough to make that claim?

 

[St_Francis]

I was refering to those who regret a sin ‘just before death’ and later go ‘directly’ to heaven. One of the things that bothers my own faith is the possible unfairness in a ‘all-love god’, specially to those good people that always followed the good way.

Simply confessing one’s sins does not mean one goes immediately to Heaven upon one’s death. Confession removes the eternal consequence (any existing danger of eternity spent in Hell), but not the temporal consequences.

Someone may benefit from a plenary indulgence, but it requires a complete lack of attachment to sin or proper disposition, something very difficult for the habituated sinner to achieve.

I would also remind you of tye stories of the prodigal son (focus on the older beother) and the workers in the vinyard (all paid the same amount altho hired at different times during the day.

 

[KingAlfred]

I was raised as a catholic man, but around my childhood and teen ages I was sent to non-religious schools, let’s say “clearly atheistic”.

Even if I was, and I’m not a “fanatic” at all,I was always mocked and bullyed by the other students because my religion and my good grades (for example I was humilliated once for a virgin’s medal my mother give me).

History, literature and philosophy classes used to attack catholic church, and even teached us about how it was all made up, Jesus marriage, horus-jesus ********, and new age stuff like that, al teached as it was a fact. Ah, of course galileo’s trial and those stuff didn´t help.

With the time, my faith was always at the limit, to the point I became agnostic for a lapse. Somehow I regained some faith and keep loyal to the catholic morality. Religion and integrity costed me a lot of self steem and social relationships. Of course it was not the only cause, but the main one.

But there are certain things of catholic church teachings that I cannot agree, no way. And those are:

*Animals supposed absence of “soul”.
*The idea that all sins can be “forgiven”, not matter how serious it was.
*Always to show the other cheek (I’m tired of that, I mean, there are limits)

That’s it, I needed to say that stuff. I’m not a native english speaker, so forgive my mistakes, and I’m truly sorry if this post does not belong here.

Thanks for reading

I don’t think Jesus literally meant that we should always turn the other cheek. He was too smart for that. He taught the common people through simple parables, which He thought would enable them to believe the essence of His lessons. I interpret that teaching to mean we shouldn’t become vengeful and/or uncivilized in our struggles with others. We’re obligated to remain moral in conflict. Yes, we will have to fight for what’s right, but when we do, we can’t go crazy and commit atrocities. We can’t become savages. We have to restrain ourselves. We have to fight in accordance with ‘Just War’ doctrines.

I know what it’s like to be in a distinctly anti-religious social environment for a long time. It can really wear on you. I work in an environment in which there is a forward, aggressive antagonism on the part of evangelical Christians toward Catholics. The Catholics are quiet, passive, and tolerant of abuse. Meanwhile, the evangelicals are loud and offensive. This is a direct reflection of issues alive in the Latin American Christian public, from which most of these people come. I find the evangelicals very insulting, but manage to hold my tongue, most of the time.