Well, I say a hearty chin up! to Pope Ratzy. What a show! The bling, the music, the colourful dresses, the golden chalice filled with booze...and they didn't even wheel out the custom-made car...!
I think the holy spirit's finally gettin' to me...
1leg. I'd never say I'm going to Heaven and you're not. Maybe we're going to heaven but you don't realise. I think how one lives life rather than what one believes is the key. But I do celebrate what I believe and think I'm entitled to do that sometimes without defending it. I'm naff at Christian apologetics anyway!
You needn't apologise for anything, jude. People can get along wonderfully and still disagree about certain topics. Just let us thank God (or whoever) we live in a society where free and disagreeable discussions are allowed.
You don't have to be the voice of Christianity all the time Jude... I think you deal with the constant barage with dignity, decorum and wit.
Sometimes you say things that astound me, but I would never feel the need to say,
'How can you believe?' when, obviously, the point of belief and faith is the 'belief' aspect - nobody can explain that to anyone else who doesn't feel it themselves, because it would be impossible.
If I'm honest I sort of envy you. Everything was a lot easier to define when I did believe, and when I was a fervent Christian (I was too - there's a surprise).
When I was a Christian I was because a) I'd seen Jesus of Nazareth on TV and thought that a lot of what He (Robert Powell) said was 'right' and good b) I liked all the New Testement stories about Jesus and about being kind to others, not judging others, not gathering up too many worldly goods etc etc and c) I could imagine this big 'bloke' character who was in charge of everything (that's what a patriarchal society will do for you).
Later I got sad about having to admit original sin - that doesn't ring true to me as a foundation for my life, and also the idea of sin itself doesn't ring that true to me either.
It was a very sad day when I had to hang up my choir robes and surplus and not sing at Even Song again. *sighs*. (seriously, I love singing in churches).
Other people in the choir don't believe in God either, but I found myself too hypocritical going through all the ritual and readings when I didn't believe it.
The nearest thing to anything I can like now is Buddhism because it has all the bits of Christianity I like without a) a god b) guilt and c) sin.
Nice.
Hey jude - don't appologise for being a Catholic if it's what you are.
Christian apologetics isn't saying "I'm really sorry I'm a Christian". It is the academic discipline within theology that defends doctrine and other elements of the Faith expecially in the light of modern science, the problem of evil and oher issues. It is a necessary and intelligent school - we should be able to intelligently defend our beliefs in a reasoned manner.
But Fergal you are right - I don't always have to be this voice! I'm taking a mini break and having a party instead. Champers anyone?
I know that (my bloke is a trainee RE teacher remember!) - but really what it ends up as on here is you having to fight against about 20 people as to the whys so it ends up more of an apology in the personal sense rather than the religious doctrine manner.
*holds out very big glass for excess champers*
(I just read my last sentence, and I know it is terribly worded, but I can't be bothered to reword it).
Ah Emma - hello! I'll open another Magnum, here you go!
I get a little jittery but not too much usually but Sr Karen is coming tomorrow so I have to be extra specially behaved, not get drunk or use naughty words or describe illegal activities in my reading!
Although I might be a vocal critic of the Catholic Church, I will admit I did like Benedict's homily in the Mass today, about the deserts of thirst, hunger, loneliness, abandonment, and the spirit. Very good. Very true. Maybe he won't be so bad, after all... stay tuned.
Wait there Jude - does this mean me reading a story that mentions blow jobs will cause great affront.
(I've looked through my back catalogue and it's really hard to find anything that *doesn't* have a sexual reference....)
No more affront than when I was in the convent once and said of the lentil stew.."eeer what is that lumpy shit?"
Of course not mine mentions all sorts of lovely wickedness! You stick with sex and I'll stick with drugs and rock'n'roll.
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