What makes Catholics so angry and bitter?

[Snerticus]

I disagree with you. There are many passages in the Bible that talk about the joy of the Lord. Jesus did not suffer on the cross to make anyone feel guilty. That’s strictly a Catholic teaching since any truly repentent Christian can ask God for forgiveness and receive it. Catholics have to go through man to get to God and be forgiven. Christians do not.

It didn’t surprise me that as a Catholic you were able to point out passages that threaten the fear of God rather than God’s love for his children. Catholics don’t look for love from God, they fear Him and hope they don’t die in sin so God can zap them right into hell. Did Jesus die for our sins or didn’t He? If he did then, why do Catholics seem to have such a hard time being forgiven? I suspect it has something to do with the bondage of the Catholic Church.

I’m sorry Linna, but where in my post does it say fear, specifically, and where do you infer fear from my post? I re-read it and I didn’t see any fear at all in there… perhaps when you were brought up you were very afraid of your parents. Maybe they were punishing or something. I pray for you in that case. Or else maybe you and those of your faith see fear when there is none.

Also where in my post does it say the Catholic Church says we must feel guilty? There’s no doctrine that states it that I’m aware of. That’s our own prerogative and most of us are realists who understand we have hurt God. What hurts God should hurt us and we know that we are the cause of His hurt. If I hurt my parents and then go off and ignore it, then I’m fairly certain I’m going to illustrate to them I really don’t care, even if I do. And even though God knows I care, I’m sorry but I’m not one of those people who just shrug it off because Jesus died for my sins. I don’t know about you, but usually when I realize I hurt God, I feel very sorry. I guess I shouldn’t, according to you. Jesus died so we didn’t have to be sorry for our sins. Rejoice!

Now I’d like you to specifically answer 2 things. 1)where does it state in the NT that Jesus died for our happiness right here on earth? Show me a passage. I don’t want a passage that points to Jesus’ joy. Jesus could have jumped off bridges but that doesn’t mean he died so we could too. Granted, if a protestant believes we are already saved, that would explain your view. Catholics, of course won’t know until we see God face to face. Maybe that’s where you need to look for your answer. Since we don’t view ourselves as saved, maybe we need to try harder, thus the guilt.
2) Do you ignore your sins? Do you derive joy from ignoring your sins? And if you ever do think about a sin you committed, what do you feel at that time? I’m asking for feelings, not rationalizations, please. IE “I feel that Christ died for me to not have to worry about it”. That’s not a feeling that’s a rationalization. What do you actually feel after committing a deliberate sin? I assume yo do repent, so what do you feel that brings about the repentance?

Thanks

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I disagree with you. There are many passages in the Bible that talk about the joy of the Lord. Jesus did not suffer on the cross to make anyone feel guilty. That’s strictly a Catholic teaching since any truly repentent Christian can ask God for forgiveness and receive it. Catholics have to go through man to get to God and be forgiven. Christians do not.

It sounds good on paper but in reality? ‘Truly repentant Christians’ are like needles in a haystack. We need a system that strongly enforces discipline to ensure that sin ceases to be committed. What better system than Confession?

And guilt is a wonderful thing you know? It tells you how much you’ve screwed up, that you are responsible for your actions, and that you need to make up for it.

I shudder to imagine the moral depravity of a world where people do not feel guilty about the dark deeds they do.

 

[Jacafamala]

Callard greens. Must be that.

 

[cathguy]

Callard greens. Must be that.

I think its a combination of pasta dishes and wine and/or corned beef, cabbage and beer.

 

[Snerticus]

There was a man and a woman who had an affair. Both had wives and husbands. The woman asked the man “don’t you feel guilty doing this to your wife?” The man said “no”. The woman didn’t say anything but felt even more guilty than before she asked. Even though they both were committing the same sin, which one, do you think, was closer to God?

That said, I do have to acknowledge though that guilt can go a bit far. I myself have taken that path and to overdo it can be as bad as to not feel guilt at all sometimes.

 

[Snerticus]

I think its a combination of pasta dishes and wine and/or corned beef, cabbage and beer.

Sorry, but being Polish I think it’s the kielbasa and pierogis.

 

[cathguy]

Sorry, but being Polish I think it’s the kielbasa and pierogis.

Forgot that combination

Lets add kielbasa, pierogis, golomki, and…vodka!

These protestants… don’t know what they’re missin’!

 

[Jacafamala]

I think its a combination of pasta dishes and wine and/or corned beef, cabbage and beer.

That’ll give you gas, too. An that’s awful fearsome combo.

 

[Snerticus]

That’ll give you gas, too. An that’s awful fearsome combo.

…gas and angst… I wouldn’t want to be near someone with that combo!

 

[cathguy]

I think we can turn this question around:

What makes the white anglo-saxon protestant personality so… bland?

There are only so many ways you can deep fry, serve with butter, or boil things… like meat… yuck…

Definitely the lack of good food and spirits.

Praise GOD we are Catholic.

And golomkies are DEFINITELY WORTH the gas.

YUM.

 

[Snerticus]

I think we can turn this question around:

What makes the white anglo-saxon protestant personality so… bland?

There are only so many ways you can deep fry, serve with butter, or boil things… like meat… yuck…

Definitely the lack of good food and spirits.

Praise GOD we are Catholic.

And golomkies are DEFINITELY WORTH the gas.

YUM.

LOL!!!

Just don’t eat them before mass. Patience is a virtue…

 

[Boxcar]

LOL!!!

Just don’t eat them before mass. Patience is a virtue…

The Mass is Heaven on Earth , where else is it, in the comfort of your home?or maybe when you drive your car,what kind of a sacrafice is that?

 

[cathguy]

The Mass is Heaven on Earth , where else is it, in the comfort of your home?or maybe when you drive your car,what kind of a sacrafice is that?

Non sequitur perhaps?

We are speaking here of finer culinary things…

and Gas.

 

[EasterJoy]

There was a man and a woman who had an affair. Both had wives and husbands. The woman asked the man “don’t you feel guilty doing this to your wife?” The man said “no”. The woman didn’t say anything but felt even more guilty than before she asked. Even though they both were committing the same sin, which one, do you think, was closer to God?

That said, I do have to acknowledge though that guilt can go a bit far. I myself have taken that path and to overdo it can be as bad as to not feel guilt at all sometimes.

Guilt has one purpose, and one purpose only: to prompt you to ask yourself if you have done something you need to repent of. When it prompts shame or makes us vulnerable to manipulation, then we need to learn more about how to handle our guilt. Guilt can do its job in a minute or less. Once we’ve repented, we don’t have to hold onto our guilt feelings to be virtuous.

Besides, we aren’t morally bound to have certain feelings or to avoid having others. If you never feel guilty, that is OK, as long as you examine yourself and repent with all your heart when you have sinned. Still, for most of us, guilt is like anger. It is a difficult gift that, when we have been taught how to handle it and have the self-control to master it, can still serve us well. Many of us would not have the strength to defend the good and repent of our evil, were it not for our anger and our guilt.

Which of those two adulterers was the closest to God, then? Well, the one who, recognizing that it was wrong, repented of the affair and ended it, of course. Otherwise, the sentence might be more severe on the one who had the grace to feel her guilt, yet did not repent. We don’t know that. Jesus’ commandments were given to us to follow, not to beat other people up with.

Again, anger is not a sin. The Lord got angry sometimes. Bitterness, though, comes when a sense of injury has been nursed and brooded over. There is no virtue to be found there.

 

[Snerticus]

The Mass is Heaven on Earth , where else is it, in the comfort of your home?or maybe when you drive your car,what kind of a sacrafice is that?

We were talking about food, boxcar. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

[Snerticus]

Guilt has one purpose, and one purpose only: to prompt you to ask yourself if you have done something you need to repent of. When it prompts shame or makes us vulnerable to manipulation, then we need to learn more about how to handle our guilt. Guilt can do its job in a minute or less. Once we’ve repented, we don’t have to hold onto our guilt feelings to be virtuous.

I never said I hold on to guilt to be virtuous, I said I over do it sometimes and that can be as bad as having none. But I have to disagree with you on one thing… The only way I know I need to repent is if I feel guilty. How else do you know you’ve done something wrong? If I didn’t feel guilty about slapping someone in the face, why would I repent? I felt justified in doing it and therefore no guilt, no repentance. ( I would never do that, mind you. ) Could you illustrate a situation where someone repented but didn’t feel guilty? Remember, repentance comes from the heart. Anyone can say they’re sorry when they’re not. I’d just like to understand where you’re coming from. And I’m really confused why you are accusing me of holding on to guilt to be virtuous. That wasn’t even alluded to.

Which of those two adulterers was the closest to God, then? Well, the one who, recognizing that it was wrong, repented of the affair and ended it, of course. Otherwise, the sentence might be more severe on the one who had the grace to feel her guilt, yet did not repent. We don’t know that. Jesus’ commandments were given to us to follow, not to beat other people up with.

I know which one repented, at least one of them did. I don’t understand what you mean by “beat each other up with” guilt. Who said that? Am I missing something? Are you accusing me of that too? Why?

Again, anger is not a sin. The Lord got angry sometimes. Bitterness, though, comes when a sense of injury has been nursed and brooded over. There is no virtue to be found there.

Where were we talking about anger? Yet again, am I missing something? I was talking to Linna and anyone else who was following our conversation. The only thing that was said about our anger and bitternes, was Linna thought it was because Catholics follow the doctrine of guilt, and are also fearful and disappointed. Although I don’t know where she got the fearful and disappointed part from…

 

[PJM]

=Lost Wanderer;4779088]The tricky thing is some people tend to confuse ‘fearing God’ with the act of acknowledging that you are accountable for what you do. Sometimes when you feel good about yourself and feel no guilt, that opens a lot of windows to pride and I wouldn’t wanna be that person if he/she falls upon discovering that the mistake he/she has made and that he/she is accountable for it.

I’m not one that has or recommends going through life fearing God.

I know, practice, live and share my faith, and that’s good enough for God and me We live “under grace,” not under the OT “Law.”

Okay. Um… do you know where I could find cute, shy and devout Catholic girls?

I can’t say factually, but the following seem to make some sense…

Join a Christian Youth Group and become active in it. (If not Catholic, beware that you are strong enough in THE RC faith, to explain what you believe and why.)

Google “Catholic Singles” or “Chrsitian Singles.” I have seen ads on several Catholic Web-sites.

Seriously, I’ve been rather desperate lately (especially with Valentine’s day being near and all). People keep telling me that the girl I’m looking for is an extinct species!!

Your only looking for one right:thumbsup: Don’t give up, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and be patient and alert. Sometimes he only whispers.

Well I’ve been told many times by both my parents and my peers to see the glass half full but… it’s just not easy for me. I guess you can say I have this really nasty knack for seeing what’s wrong in this world, far more than others.

Pray everyday: “Father not my will, but thy Will be done.” If you want me to change, please lead me and guide me.

It will happen if your sincere, consistant and patient.

May you find love, joy and peace…
Where, how and when God wants you to