Just out of curiousity. Any Catholics on this forum? And, for non-Catholics, what are your views on Catholicism, if any?
I'm Buddhist. My veiw of Catholocism is that it is just a belief origionally created by those who could not realize the reality of not understanding and was created as an excuse to the mind to not understand. They teach themselves catholocism, and that eliminates deep thought, speculation, and pondering of the subject. Had Catholocism been any more popular a hundred years ago, we would all be living like amish.
Catholicism is enriched with thought and philosophy, but according only to its doctrine. It relies heavily on Sacraments over the Bible, taking Jesus's life and the meaning of his teachings into their own enterpretation and setting the newfound laws as fundamental and essential.
All I'm going to say is I'm Christian, but I do not agree with the Catholic religion at all. I have many reasons for this, but I'm only going to give you a few. Why would I have to confess my sins to a priest in a booth? And where do they get this place called purgatory from? And Catholic school is all wrong.
Confession is a common practice among Catholics, if not required, but I know the priest was pissed when I told him it was 5 years since my last one. I'd say that Catholic schools are generally very strict, more so than most religion based schools. Catholicism is as useless as all of the other religions, but Catholics are sometimes especially annoying.
Firstly, I view catholics as just another branch off the tree of Christianity..Jesus is at the root..and in the words of my friends shirt "Reject religion, embrace Jesus." that doesnt mean I personally agree with some of their methods or beliefs, primarily confessions and the whole bit with Mary...but thats me...Im not gonna criticize it... we can all get along.
The Sacrament, according to Catholicism, is more than a symbol or memorial - it is an act that is sacred, holy, containing the Holy Spirit. The Eucharist, according to Catholics, is the embodiment of Jesus' body and blood, the eternal giving of himself to save us from our sins - according to teaching. I'm just going by what I was taught. Sitting in a booth is a completely different view from what a Catholic sees it as. It is called the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession is when a priest is used as an instrument between God and yourself. Through him your sins, if you truely repent for them, are lifted - but not by him. He is almost a vessel to channel God's forgiveness. Priests are servants. Other Sacraments, aside from the Eucharist and Reconciliation, are Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders (being ordained as a priest). To a Catholic,these are not ritual - they are living spiritual acts of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) Signs and symbols.... In the Catholic Church there are many - and they are called Icons. Spiritual connection to what they represent is believed to be present.
The priests faults don't matter in Reconciliation. He is given the tool to be a vessel between God and yourself. Yes, he's a go-between. Perhaps the Catholic Church had established it for mere technical purposes, making it easier and more 'tangible' for everyday followers to work with. I don't know the definite answer. Nor do I say I agree. I've just been wondering recently, what others think of Catholicism. I myself was raised and educated as one (Went to Catholic school). I do not agree with the teaching, but I've come to understand it.
thats kewl burn..I think no matter what your personal beliefs you shuld always be open to LEARNING what others believe...that way you can atleast have more understanding..and, you can BASE an opinion and say why you dont believe in whatever more maturely then "Thats bad!"
...but..can you at least explain to us..and the catholics that may read this WHY? at least back up your statement man..im not catholic..but its just a common respect i think more people (especially in the religion forums) need to have
I am very interested in mysticism. Where this topic is concerned, I have found that the main Christian mystics are all Catholic (also Orthodox, but lets not complicate things). The fact seems to be that there is almost no protestant mystical litetrature. Perhaps this is because too much of the tradition was discarded at the time of the reformation. Also, the Catholic cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary is very attractive, as is devotion to saints. None of this can be found outside the Catholic Church, at least not in the context of Christianity. On the down side, there is the centralist authoritarianism of the Church, and the failure of the current Pope to pursue change in this as envisioned at the time of Vatican II. But this could change - the Church could be reformed. I emphasize that I am not a Catholic, nor really a Christian, but I have great respect for the Catholic tradition. I am not against other Churches or varieties of Christianity, but where any kind of mysticism is concerned, I have not found much in many years of reading and study coming from sources other than Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Is this because the post-reformation churches were too secular, politicized and worldly in their approach? Or is it that quite simply none of them really have any direct experience of God?
My View of Cathlics and other Christans is Many Christians just want to "Love Jesus" but not do any of the work or sacrifice. They just want to carry the title. Catholisism is much like Judaism. It is ancient in it's practice that stay true to it's history. Religion to then is not just believed it's practiced.
Thats kewl...Yeah..Im all about loving jesus..but it doesnt stop there...I read my bible and study it, I follow its commands and try and show love to everyone...religion...religion is something I have a problem with I guess..I guess by definition and by the church I go to, Im pentecostal..but I personally get bothered by a lot of the 'otherstuff' that goes with religion...sometimes it gets very stiff and condeming and can frighten people away, they think we're all about ceremony and not about fun..when that isnt the case. Im not saying we shouldnt have reverence for God..but I think its more about church rules then Gods rules..and that bothers me.
I was baptised a Catholic when I was born but think the Catholic Church is a load of rubbish as I think are all forms of Christianity. I believe in something greater than me the cosmos/mother nature or whatever you want to call it. I've read quite extensively on Buddhism/Taoism etc etc and find them to infinitely more believable than the joke that is the Bible.
The Bible was original touted by the Catholic Church as asbolutely true. Then along came Galiliao (sp?) and said no the The Earth rotates around the sun and this didn't conicide with the churches view. The Darwin disapproved the whole Adam and Eve thing which up until then was believed by everyone. The the Church came out and said well it was only sybolism. Everytime something is disproved they come out with some cop out. Also the Bible was written over 40 years after Jesus was supposed to have died and I would questions how truthful it is and even id Jesus ever actually existed. Buddhism however fits in far more with modern day science and anyone who has ever practised meditiation will tell you it can provide far more to one than endless hours of kneeling in a church praying. You also look at all the killing that was done in the name of the Catholic church, the crusades, the Spanish inquisition, the Inca and the Aztecs all but wiped out in South America. The you look at all the killing by the Reformation churches who killed Catholics in Ireland, Germany and other places. I could keep going but I'm not gonna bother cos you have your beliefs and no matter what I post your still gonna see Chrtistianity through rose-tinted specs so there' no point. Maybe one day you'll wake up and smell the coffee.
