I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They will hear My Voice, and there will be One Flock, and One Shepherd (John 10:14-16)
Posted on 10/30/2013 8:09:25 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
It’s fascinating, the amount of emotion at least some non-Catholics seem to have about Catholic teaching. I can tell you that when I was in the anti-God period of my life, I did not give one whit what any church taught. I paid them the ultimate diss of not giving a care.
But from what I’ve seen on this blog, there are a large number of people who claim to be atheist or some what-not version of what I was in my anti-God period, who appear to think about Christianity, the Catholic Church in particular, 24/7. They appear to be, in a word, obsessed with the minutiae of Catholic teaching.
If you doubt this, go to some of the atheist blogs. All they ever talk about is God, Christian teaching, and the Bible.
There are a few issues in particulate that really rev their engines. They are:
When someone confronts them with the obvious inconsistency implied in their obsessive demands that a Church they claim is a stupid cult alter teachings that they claim are based on a myth, they start denouncing Catholics for using their rights as American citizens to vote and advocate according to their consciences.
It’s as if it offends them that Catholics have the same rights to vote, free assembly and to petition their government as other citizens. I suppose it’s true that it does offend them. Because one takeaway I get from reading the comments from most (not all, there are a couple of clear exceptions) of these people is that they are, at base, bullies.
I also think that the core reason they keep coming around here to drop off their load of insults (most of the truly insulting ones never see the light of day on this blog) is that they are either mental on some level, or, whether they will admit it or not, they are God haunted people who desperately want what the Church offers, which is peace with God, eternal life and a spiritual home. It’s just that they can’t bring themselves to go to God on God’s terms. They want Him — meaning HIs Church — to come to them on their terms.
These are people who refuse to be forgiven for their sins. What they want is to have the Almighty ratify their sins. They are obsessed with finding, not absolution, but vindication, from a Church they claim they believe is a fraud.
However, that’s just my reaction. Yours may be different. I’m going to throw this open for discussion.
Why do you think nonbelievers are so obsessed with the Catholic Church?
In my experience, there are several camps. The first is made of atheist of good will. They merely lack the faith, and don’t really seem to know or care what any particular sect believes.
The second camp is of militant atheists, who enjoy trumpeting the superiority of their skeptical minds and devotion to what they misstate as science.
The final camp of Catholic-obsessed people are those who define themselves and religious practices as to how they are against Catholicism. Instead of stating what they for, they spend their time talking about what they are against.
I have little interest in the beliefs of other religions, except in their sociological context. What person or group chooses to believe is their own business.
An even better question to ask is why do Catholics want so desperately for Evangelicals to “Swim The Tiber”?
I think their lack of belief and at the same time their desire to be a part of something larger than them has them in a state of, if I can’t be a part of it then I will work to destroy it.
I live in the Bay Area and the arise of “atheist” churches is a testament to their “logical”thinking.
Because they are self-loathing narcissists. Their self-image is of maximum importance. They are not 100% comfortable in their own skin. Deep down, they know they are part of something that has been considered an abomination in most civilized societies from time immemorial. However, they crave acceptance and validation from the rest of us so they can accept and validate themselves. The only way to do that is to silence the voices that speak out against them.
Of course, some gays are not self-loathing narcissists. Some are comfortable with who they are and don't care what anyone thinks. These are the ones who keep a low profile and have a "live and let live" outlook.
Other than their teachings aginst the Rule of Law and against our country’s right to Sovereignty and therefore the right to control its own borders. I have no problem with Catholic Church.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen or heard many Catholics making that case.
What I have heard on Catholic radio and websites, are spirited defense of Catholic teaching, as well teaching what Catholics actually believe.
Bishop Fulton Sheen made this statement, “There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church.”
His follow up is also important “ ....As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.”
Well, that's an interesting question. It sure isn't true of all atheists/agnostics. (My father was an a/a, but was not a all hostile towards the Church.) I suppose those particular agnostics and atheists who have OCD's against religion should more propely be called "anti-theists."
Beats me why a person who isn't sure abut "a god." or absolutely disbelieves in the existence of "any god," would be so convolutedly preoccupied with what the Catholic Church (for instance) is up to.
I've heard people who "say" they God is non-existent, whose behavior suggests rather that they hate Him. Do they get all tied up in knots about Thor?
IMO: they have a basic need to have others to endorse their beliefs and to have the Catholic Church, their major nemisis do that, will make them feel good and destroy Christianity at the same time.
Yeah, isn't that strange?
No so much today, but for many generations most baby (gentile) boys were circumcised for health reasons ---it was considered preventative for the transmission of certain infections, as I understand it. Are the anti's against that, too?
Catholics have the most visible organizational structure; most people know who the Pope is, and even cardinals and some bishops are in the public eye. These “bullies” go after Catholics because they’re easily seen, certainly among the most influential, and probably have the most assets world-wide. They also know that if they can persucute and take down Catholics, they can take down any church.
Gertrude Stein said that? Hmmm....
Too much mirror?
As a non-Cathoic, I affirm their right to believe whatever they wish.
[Yes, much of it is unBiblical and added in later centuries. That is their right and I support their right to believe as they wish.]
As a nonCatholic Christian, I have no interest in Catholics changing their beliefs. In fact, the thought of them doing so is a little scary to me. As one of the largest branches of the Christian faith, if they were to start to compromise of capitulate on their Catechism, it would be devastating to all of Christianity. Can Catholics do better at some things? Of course, all of Christianity can do better at most things.
I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also. They will hear My Voice, and there will be One Flock, and One Shepherd (John 10:14-16)
Oh.
Well then, we need you --- you especially --- in the Knights of Columbus.
Catholic Catechism
Para 2241
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
There is no moral relativism...Satan is always there to fill the gap when Christians abandon their faith. Catholics are the prime target because they stand stalwart against evil!
Just sayin'!
Why, thank you!
(Eyes darting quickly from side to side):
How'd you stumble into the Religion Forum?
(Note to Religion Moderator: that's not "mind reading," it's just teasing!)
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