I don't understand
Scott
Sonny <son...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:37c3a688...@news2.newscene.com...
> Hi
>
> I've been reading many posts here over the past few days. What I find
> are a lot of people claiming to be Christian who do nothing but
> villify and often insult other people who likewise claim to be
> Christian. I think that rather than loving your neighbour many of you
> actually despise him. Do you not all claim to follow Christ? I came
> from a world which hated people because they believed differently from
> me. I rejected that world. I hoped that things had changed but I find
> it the same.
Hi Sonny,
Are you new to Usenet and news groups? <sigh> Most are just like this. If
you listen to what's talking, as opposed to what's being said/written,
you'll hear a lot anger.
People just seem to wall themselve off. And that is the problem with
fundamentalism and why the Church rejects it.
Presently, in the Church's layity there seems to be a lot of debate about
"conservate" and "liberal" beliefs. I don't like those two terms when
discussing Catholic theology because it implies politcal leanings. It's
really a debate between degrees of Catholic Fundamentalism and Critical
Realism. Myself, I'm politically conservative but in matters of Catholic
faith I lean way over in to Critical Realism.
I believe that in all religions there are both truths
> and errors.
I've spent some informal study into Joseph Campbell's work on mythology and
comparitive religion. If you haven't read any of his work, you might find it
of interest. A good starting point would be "The Power of Myth" by Bill
Moyers and JC (it's in both book and video). Campbell was born Catholic but
quit the church while in college in the 1930's. He didn't believe in a
personal god but at the same time he was very much infavor of religious
beliefs. He believed religions should be read metaphorically. He had a
saying: "Your religion has got to keep up with what it is you know about
nature or else it won't work." I may be wrong but that to me is another way
of saying "Critical Realism". (I've noticed that Campbell's influence has
been making it's way into some of the layity, including a priest that I
had.) No modern person today believes in a three teared universe, but Jesus
most likely did. He was like the men of his day "in all things but sin" so
his knowledge of the universe was no greater than what could have been known
for his time (ie "The Sign of the Times"). Should we believe in the three
teard universe because Jesus did? Anyhow, the Catholic Church today is
working towards Pluralism with other non-christian religions. All religions
share some things in common and the Church (from what I've read) encourages
the layity to find those graces in other religions.
Lately, I started spending more time studying my Catholic religion. I want
to be a more imformed about just what are the theological discussion that
have gone on and are going on. What's official and what isn't. And
ultimately, just how "good" or "bad" of a Catholic am I?
Since you seem to be search as well, let me give you two good books to read
(in this order): (1) Catholicism: New Study by Richard McBrien
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/generic-quicksearch-query/002-1226235-5736
044 and (2) "The Harpercollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism" also by Richard
McBrien.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060653388/qid=935519927/sr=1-2/002-1
226235-5736044
The second complements the first IMO.
The two books are very comprehensive. Even the question you had the other
day about "Hell" is answered.
I've learned from McBrien that even in maters of dogma you must consider the
"historicity" of when it was written and why. If you don't you risk
misinterpreting (or even getting a false interpretation) the doctrin/creed.
Luminaria
Sonny <son...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:37c3a688...@news2.newscene.com...
> Hi
>
> I've been reading many posts here over the past few days. What I find
> are a lot of people claiming to be Christian who do nothing but
> villify and often insult other people who likewise claim to be
> Christian. I think that rather than loving your neighbour many of you
> actually despise him. Do you not all claim to follow Christ
[snipped only for space]
Sonny, you have a very valid point... and I've wondered the same thing
myself. I personally think that it is a facet of the very nature of
Usenet that allows, maybe even encourages such attitudes. There is the
ability to have virtually complete anonymity, if one chooses, and yet, one
can say any fool thing one pleases. What are the reprisals? That someone
might flame you? Not much to worry about with a delete key handy... So, my
theory is that while some of these really, really, really "rabid" folks are
some shade of hostile in real life, most of them would probably never speak
like this face to face... that's the Internet for you!
But, they forget... Christ sees and hurts every time they are cruel.
Every time they are hateful. Every time they ridicule instead of discuss.
He is right there with them...
Many folks who write to this particular forum, and are Protestant, are
"born again" and have "accepted Jesus as their Savior"... they believe He
is a "personal presence" in their lives, or so they claim. But would they
really speak like this, if they truly believed that Jesus was actually
looking at them? His eyes must fill with tears...
God bless