the Catholic church

“This is just more evidence that the Catholic church is not the authority that it claims to be. The pope is not the interpreter of scripture, and no body should follow him.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294395,00.html

To clarify, the church does not know what a "saint" is. They can't read people's hearts. A saint is a follower of Christ. Obvsiously, the Catholic church/pope are unable to determine such things.


(this thread is in response to Mutt's plea here: http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/49112,5.php)


Basically, if the anti-Christ is a powerful man who turns people from Jesus, it is possible the Catholic church, or the pope, is actually the anti-Christ.
last edited: 8/24/07 10:17:40 AM”

“..and maybe all the other god factory operators that are out selling sub-prime nonesence.”

“In letters eight years later she was still expressing “such deep longing for God,” adding that she felt “repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal.”

I think this is typical of most True Believers. Though they'll never openly admit it, though they'll pretend to be fulfilled like mother teresa did, their actions will continue to belie their masquerade. And why is this? Because the Christian Myth is a man-made FICTION. (As if that wasn't obvious from the child's-tale quality of biblical stories.) In fact, pretty much anyone who thinks they know the One Truth is more than likely in this boat, unless of course we're talking about the truly mentally ill. There is no simple answer to life.”

“Sorry, I'm just not feeling very fuego-inspired today.

Though what I just posted is true enough...”

“Sister Teresia Benedicta of the Cross was canonized in 1997 after the Vatican verified that a young girl who ate seven times the lethal dose of Tylenol was suddenly cured. The girl's family was said to have prayed to the spirit of Sister Teresia for help.

The Catholic church gave her the status of "saint" after claiming that praying "in her name" saved a young girl.

Hmmm .... sorta contradicts this -

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joh%2014:5-14;&version=31;”

“Mutt - it's true, most believers do experience a period of distancing from God. That makes sense, because we are removed from God. As we become stronger believers, we actually sometimes doubt how God could ever accept us due to our sinful nature which wants us to be able to be accountable for our own actions (and therefore, responsible and able to take credit for).

We want to be able to stand on our own 2 feet, unassisted, and claim victory in our lives. That's what sin is - a selfish desire to be in control. All Christians are sinners, therefore, all experience that to some degree.

We also recognize it (even if in discrete circles, in our devotional reading, etc.) although we might not announce it to the world. We usually recognize it as a "phase", or more precisely, a test. Not a test which we can pass/fail, but one to strengthen us. God uses our distance from Him to improve our reliance on Him and trust in Him. As we are separated from God, we become more readily able to recognize our dependence on Him - which strengthens our relationship with Him.

It's part of His plan, and it works well.”

“Yeah, that's a pretty good pattern maintenance trick: "the more you doubt this is true, the stronger and closer to God you become". It really serves to make up for a lot of the more incredible (read: ridiculous fiction) aspects of xtianity. And in the end you get a bunch of duped people, who really want to believe, feeling empty inside because they believe in a fiction.”

“Jesuit settlers from England founded the Province of Maryland in 1634. The 1646 defeat of the Royalists in the English Civil War lead to stringent laws against Catholic education and the extradition of known Jesuits from the colony. During the greater part of the Maryland colonial period, Jesuits continued to conduct Catholic schools clandestinely.[2] It was not until after Pope Clement XIV's suppression of the Jesuit order in 1774 and the American Revolution in 1776 that long-term plans to establish a permanent Catholic institution of higher education in America were realized.[6]

Following the revolution, the Pope appointed John Carroll, a Maryland Jesuit, as the the first head of the Catholic Church in America, although the suppression of Jesuits was still in effect. Carroll orchestrated the early development of a new university, and on January 23, 1789 obtained the property on which Georgetown University and Georgetown Visitation were built.[7] Instruction at the school began on November 22, 1791 with future Congressman William Gaston, its first student.[8]

Due to a lack of support from the Catholic church in its early years, Georgetown College suffered from considerable financial strain. However, the restoration of the Maryland Society of Jesus in 1805 allowed for funding from Rome and bolstered confidence in the college.[9] The United States Congress issued Georgetown its first university charter in 1815, which allowed it to confer degrees. The college's first two graduates were awarded the degree of bachelor of arts two years later in 1817.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown_university#Founding”

“Yeah, that's a pretty good pattern maintenance trick: "the more you doubt this is true, the stronger and closer to God you become". - Mutt

The problem with your sarcasm is that you're assuming that the reason we get closer to God is because we're told to by the religion. The fact is it happens naturally - so there is no "trick".

If it went down like this - "Hey Joe, you are feeling distanced from God? Get closer to God now and that will be proof you needed Him all along." And then Joe suddenly "got closer" and believed - then you'd have a point. But, that's not how it goes down.

What happens is that when a Christian is distanced from God they remember their need for Him and it draws them closer - with or without somebody telling them what to do.

That's no "trick" performed by wordsmiths to an unsuspecting believer, that's a naturally occuring event.

If you personally have a problem with God using distance to draw people closer, I think that's odd. Didn't you ever hear the phrase "If you love somebody, set them free"? That whole concept is part of our nature, and it only makes sense that our relationship with God would reflect aspects of our nature. I mean, we're talking about us here, it only makes sense.”

“Great, so there's no need for Jesus and all the attendant fictions. One just need to distance oneself from God and Whammo! one remembers their need for Her. And I suppose spiritual fulfillment follows.

I never thought I'd see a die-hard Christian argue so effectively against christian exclusivism.”

“The importance of getting close to God and the importance of accepting Christ as Savior are two separate things.

Accepting Christ as Savior does not in itself create a strong loving bond with God, it only saves us. Once we're saved, God uses various means (including the aforementioned), to bring us closer to Him.

Just because you marry your wife, doesn't mean your marriage is strong, it only exists.”

“This is boring. Sorry Sarge, some days the fuego burns dim.”

“Agreed. Thought maybe a spark might help. Next time.”

“Never met a catholic I didn't like. Even the one pushy guy who was always trying to save me.”

“There are millions of wonderful Catholics, I'm sure. The church on the other hand is a different story.”

“Cathoholics are ah, I don't know?”