Religion.

[The Iceman]

I don't know why we are not taught these things properly in school (another F up from the Church) but I'm glad I took the time to explore it all, read the Bible and understand it where possible and I'm glad I have been able to grow closer to God as a result.

Do you think that if you were handed the Bible, Koran and any other religious books, and given a few lectures on each religion, that you would choose Christianity, and indeed then choose Catholicism?
Or do you think that it's more a case that you're Catholic due to having been raised a Catholic?

As for being taught in school, unless they're teaching the details of all religions and scriptures as a history lesson, learning about other cultures, or literatary criticism, I don't think school is the place. That's what Church is for, if people so choose it. I wouldn't be keen on your idea that it's a 'F up' on the Church's part that they didn't impart even more of this wisdom on school children.

I went to Catholic primary and grammar school  - I should have been taught these things I believe rather than having to figure it all out.  Or at least be pointed in the right direction some more.

I actually did take a step back form the Catholic Church and attended several different Protestant and non-denominational services, events and teachings.  Asked a lot of questions of a lot of people, spent some time on mission overseas and really discerned what I believed.
For me its the RC Catholic Church.  Simply because of a couple of things:
We have Jesus in the Eucharist - no other church has that and its such a gift.
Sacraments.

[Maguire01]

I actually did take a step back form the Catholic Church and attended several different Protestant and non-denominational services, events and teachings.  Asked a lot of questions of a lot of people, spent some time on mission overseas and really discerned what I believed.
For me its the RC Catholic Church.  Simply because of a couple of things:
We have Jesus in the Eucharist - no other church has that and its such a gift.
Sacraments.

Fair enough, but that wasn't really my question. I was wondering where you thing you'd be if you had not been raised a Catholic/Christian and then been presented with all the options in an informed way, when you were old enough to make such a decision. Once you've grown up with it, you're obviously going to be biased, so you're less likely to change teams.

[The Iceman]

I actually did take a step back form the Catholic Church and attended several different Protestant and non-denominational services, events and teachings.  Asked a lot of questions of a lot of people, spent some time on mission overseas and really discerned what I believed.
For me its the RC Catholic Church.  Simply because of a couple of things:
We have Jesus in the Eucharist - no other church has that and its such a gift.
Sacraments.

Fair enough, but that wasn't really my question. I was wondering where you thing you'd be if you had not been raised a Catholic/Christian and then been presented with all the options in an informed way, when you were old enough to make such a decision. Once you've grown up with it, you're obviously going to be biased, so you're less likely to change teams.

We'll never now the answer to that one.  I would hope that like 1000s of others I would have found my way here.  My brother in law was raised Jehovah Witness - at 34 he is now in an RCIA programme to become a Roman Catholic.
I'm glad things worked out the way they did.

[Zapatista]

So Jesus basically opened up heaven for us (but he was Jewish wasn't he?), is that what's meant when people say he died for our sins?

I still don't understand how Jesus was a Jew. If he believed he was the son of God and was going to die for our sins it makes him a Christian in my book.


Iceman, I wish i had your faith.

[thebigfella]

For example hen Lazarus died he went to Abraham's side and the rich man went to hell. In hell the rich man looked up and could see Lazarus being comforted at Abraham'ss side.

Seriously, the more you hear, the more ridiculous some of this is. On what basis is this known? Did the rich man send back messages?

He posted it as on Facebook status - "There is that poxy Lazarus and Abraham looking down on me from Paradise again. Pair of smug bastards".

[THE DADGA]

So Jesus basically opened up heaven for us (but he was Jewish wasn't he?), is that what's meant when people say he died for our sins?

I still don't understand how Jesus was a Jew. If he believed he was the son of God and was going to die for our sins it makes him a Christian in my book

are you actually bein serious or is this a wind up?? (assuming your not a 10 year old that is)

[scud]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/nun-cured-pope-parkinsons-ill

So where does sainthood fit in the grand scheme of things? I know this is slightly mischievous but the whole sainthood thing has always seemed absurd to me. I mean surely it contradicts the 'Thou shalt not put false gods before me' bit?

[Puckoon]

The saints are kinda like prefects.

St Peter must have been the head boy.

[Zapatista]

  are you actually bein serious or is this a wind up?? (assuming your not a 10 year old that is)

I'm serious. He was so far off being a jew they killed him for it.

No i'm not 10


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpVjBBDMOoA

[Caid]

I actually did take a step back form the Catholic Church and attended several different Protestant and non-denominational services, events and teachings.  Asked a lot of questions of a lot of people, spent some time on mission overseas and really discerned what I believed.
For me its the RC Catholic Church.  Simply because of a couple of things:
We have Jesus in the Eucharist - no other church has that and its such a gift.
Sacraments.

Fair enough, but that wasn't really my question. I was wondering where you thing you'd be if you had not been raised a Catholic/Christian and then been presented with all the options in an informed way, when you were old enough to make such a decision. Once you've grown up with it, you're obviously going to be biased, so you're less likely to change teams.

We'll never now the answer to that one.  I would hope that like 1000s of others I would have found my way here.  My brother in law was raised Jehovah Witness - at 34 he is now in an RCIA programme to become a Roman Catholic.
I'm glad things worked out the way they did.

Your brother in law presumably married your sister (given the Catholic Church view on gay marriage) and she was presumably raised a Catholic?

[Maguire01]

So Jesus basically opened up heaven for us (but he was Jewish wasn't he?), is that what's meant when people say he died for our sins?

I still don't understand how Jesus was a Jew. If he believed he was the son of God and was going to die for our sins it makes him a Christian in my book.

Are you really being serious?

Jesus was just meant to be the next stage of Judaism. He was the Jews' meassiah, but they rejected him/didn't believe he was the messiah, so Judaism stayed where it was and Christianity developed as a 'new' grouping (hence the Jews having just the Old Testament, and Christians having the Old and the New). If the Jews had accepted him, the term 'Christianity' may never have been used - we'd probably all have been Jewish. The Jews are still waiting on the 'real' messiah.

[Maguire01]

I actually did take a step back form the Catholic Church and attended several different Protestant and non-denominational services, events and teachings.  Asked a lot of questions of a lot of people, spent some time on mission overseas and really discerned what I believed.
For me its the RC Catholic Church.  Simply because of a couple of things:
We have Jesus in the Eucharist - no other church has that and its such a gift.
Sacraments.

Fair enough, but that wasn't really my question. I was wondering where you thing you'd be if you had not been raised a Catholic/Christian and then been presented with all the options in an informed way, when you were old enough to make such a decision. Once you've grown up with it, you're obviously going to be biased, so you're less likely to change teams.

We'll never now the answer to that one.  I would hope that like 1000s of others I would have found my way here.  My brother in law was raised Jehovah Witness - at 34 he is now in an RCIA programme to become a Roman Catholic.
I'm glad things worked out the way they did.

Your brother in law presumably married your sister (given the Catholic Church view on gay marriage) and she was presumably raised a Catholic?

I'd imagine you're right.
People are the product of their environment. If you were isolated from all religion until you were 18 or 20 and then given the option of all religions, it's unlikely that you'd choose to be Catholic; probably more likely that you'd just disregard them all.

[Zapatista]

Are you really being serious?

Jesus was just meant to be the next stage of Judaism. He was the Jews' meassiah, but they rejected him/didn't believe he was the messiah, so Judaism stayed where it was and Christianity developed as a 'new' grouping (hence the Jews having just the Old Testament, and Christians having the Old and the New). If the Jews had accepted him, the term 'Christianity' may never have been used - we'd probably all have been Jewish. The Jews are still waiting on the 'real' messiah.

That's my point. Jesus was rejected by the Jews and founded a new religion in his name (Christianity). He said he was the son of God. The Jews said he wasn't and the killed him for being blasphemous. Christans believe he was the son of God.

Calling Jesus a Jew is like saying Gerry Adams is in Republican SF.

Actually it's more like saying Mohammad was a Jew.

I'm only half serious. 

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

So Jesus basically opened up heaven for us (but he was Jewish wasn't he?), is that what's meant when people say he died for our sins?

I still don't understand how Jesus was a Jew. If he believed he was the son of God and was going to die for our sins it makes him a Christian in my book.


Iceman, I wish i had your faith.

Culturaly a Jew, like all those/us cultural Catholics, but rarely go to mass, think the Popes a dick, don't believe in hell but in heaven (handy eh    ), thinks the priests should mind their own business re confession and get their own house in order first, etc. etc. but when some English lads slags of Catholics, gets deeply offended.

Wasn't one of Hitler's great grandparents a Jew, talk about self-hate.

[J70]

I laugh often at non-believers who feel the need to challenge Christians beliefs.  You're really only trying to convince yourself you're right because deep down that little question is niggling at your heart - what if you got it wrong?

What a load of crap. By that logic, Nationalists only challenge the Unionist beliefs because deep down that little idea that unionism might be right is niggling at them.

Religious opinion/beliefs should be challenged every bit as much as any other opinion.

Maguire thats the thing - Faith is not based on Logic - if it was people like you would have no problem understanding it.
Therefore you can't apply your "logic" and compare it to other ways of thinking.  Also your comparison is very naive  - Nationalists will not be spending eternity in a very hot place if they got it wrong.

If someone has to spend an "eternity in a very hot place" just because they had the misfortune to use their brains and come to honest conclusion about the existence of a god, then that god is just a petty, vindictive bollocks. And the idea that someone who, through accident of time and place of their existence and no fault of their own, went through their life without even hearing about this god should also be punished or at least denied access to the privileges and riches of the "heavenly" suggests this god is also a c**t.