tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post3597133314238286509..comments2024-02-14T11:00:03.180-05:00Comments on Tom McLaughlin: Getting Harder To Be CatholicTom McLaughlinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07691546351143209227noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-25226220378249552322018-11-22T07:48:13.987-05:002018-11-22T07:48:13.987-05:00Not a Catholic,...Heathen is the best I can procla...Not a Catholic,...Heathen is the best I can proclaim. <br />I had such great hopes for the Catholic Church when Benedict popped up that I went out of my way to get a couple "The Cafeteria is CLOSED" coffee mugs.<br />*sigh* oh well, c'est la vie. CaptDMOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-65404059279781205792018-11-21T12:33:31.732-05:002018-11-21T12:33:31.732-05:00Brian, you have a good grasp with your definition ...Brian, you have a good grasp with your definition of rebellion when you said this: "Willful rebellion against God" would be when you look deeply within, know what is the right thing to do, yet not do it for selfish purposes" That's it in a nutshell. <br /><br />There's nothing wrong with sunsets. But we must remember who created the sunsets. God very clearly warned us not to worship His creation but the one who created everything when he said this: <br /><br />"For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever." Romans 1:25<br /><br />There's a lot of creation worship going on these days...and one of the very biggest problems as to why we're so messed up. Our priorities are screwed up. Chaos happens when we're out of order. God is the God of order. Satan is the god of chaos. <br /><br />Churches everywhere are falling...they are buckling to the world system. They are not heeding the warnings put forth by the Prophets and later Apostles. <br /><br />Historically the church never does well when it tries to mimic the world and that's what we're seeing today. The church was called out to be separate and sanctified (holy) and not like the world. We are told to be lights like a lighthouse helping others find their way in the dark. Sadly that is not the case in many churches today. I think the door to clear understanding of God and His ways is either shut or almost closed. The churches/pastors are going to have an awful lot to answer for one second after they die. Another warning from God thru James who wrote this: <br /><br />"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment" James 3:1. <br /><br />I take that warning very seriously. DAWNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-9138625936175322862018-11-21T11:34:15.897-05:002018-11-21T11:34:15.897-05:00I agree that religion and church can be effective ...I agree that religion and church can be effective at helping some people with guidelines on moral behavior. It can also be sometimes used as an excuse to show intolerant or hateful behavior, such as "hating fags", which is a sentiment I believe Jesus would vehemently disagree with. <br /><br />Sunsets and loving people are everywhere in the world. But if a formalized church or religion helps those that can't distinguish between good and evil themselves, then it is doing a good service for those individuals...kind of like a crutch. I think we should be striving for a world that best enables everyone to find their moral compass, and heaven, within, and be able to throw away our crutches.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-68685765615313996422018-11-21T10:16:53.325-05:002018-11-21T10:16:53.325-05:00Brian, being with a loved one during a spectacular...Brian, being with a loved one during a spectacular sunset is no doubt an awesome feeling, but it is luxury that we have living in the freest country on the planet. I still believe people need guidelines and that most religions provide that. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-39760231749699233532018-11-20T23:01:37.364-05:002018-11-20T23:01:37.364-05:00To me "Willful rebellion against God" wo...To me "Willful rebellion against God" would be when you look deeply within, know what is the right thing to do, yet not do it for selfish purposes. That is the spark of evil. I certainly agree that there are plenty of depraved minds going around these days. I'm glad that we agree that the moral compass does come within, and I love the idea that Church is not a building or a denomination. I would add that along with being people, it is also nature. What better Church than being with a loved one (atheist or otherwise) during a spectacular sunset?Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-80351534897293265982018-11-20T22:10:08.128-05:002018-11-20T22:10:08.128-05:00As a former Catholic and very knowledgeable about ...As a former Catholic and very knowledgeable about the religion I agree with Nathan. The moral compass does come from within. Church (Biblically speaking) is not a building or a denomination. It's people. Ecclesia (called out ones) is the church Christ has been building for 2 millennia. He's been calling us out of these worldly religious systems since he showed up the first time! He's still calling out a people for His name for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. <br /><br /> “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; Revelation 18:4<br /><br />But just as Christ indwells his church, his own, so too does the evil one. Willful rebellion against God will result in God turning them over to a depraved mind (Romans 1) and there's more than plenty of that going around these days. DAWNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-22920478727270195592018-11-20T20:55:52.115-05:002018-11-20T20:55:52.115-05:00Charles, I guess many of the Roman catholic leader...Charles, I guess many of the Roman catholic leaders of the Third Reich, and so many others like Joseph Fritzl, Timothy McVeigh, Anie Lou Gibbs, Son of Sam, John Wayne Gacy, and all the pedophile priests were all too busy killing and raping to check their religious moral compasses. <br /><br />I find it sad and confusing that so many feel that they can't be good without looking to the church for guidance. <br /><br />As an atheist who places Islam at the top of the list of unnecessary religions I most say that I think the world would be a better place without any of them. Although I do admire the Dalai Lama tremendously. But just look at all the killing and war over the centuries done over religion. That said, I do think it is possible to take good aspects out of religion....Jesus sounded like he was an awesome, wonderful person.<br /><br />No, don't look toward the government for moral guidance. Especially now. I agree with Nathan...look within. Some don't look deep enough and do evil, others look and ignore. But it's there.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-56282790828307120522018-11-20T19:19:43.544-05:002018-11-20T19:19:43.544-05:00Full disclosure, I am not a Catholic. I know many ...Full disclosure, I am not a Catholic. I know many who are and feel the same way as Tom suggests.<br />I agree with what Micheal Savage said that Charles Martel just refered to. There may be some imperfect humans in places of power in the church but the church itself, and what it stands for are a good thing.<br />Again, not being a Catholic myself, I would encourage all Catholics to continue the fight to restore some sanity to the church higher ups.<br />Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-28317899478095901982018-11-20T19:14:07.806-05:002018-11-20T19:14:07.806-05:00Nathan, I guess Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, Atilla th...Nathan, I guess Tamerlane, Genghis Khan, Atilla the Hun, Ivan IV, Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, etc. we’re all too busy killing, raping and pillaging to check their compasses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-38946304808025609322018-11-20T16:08:03.172-05:002018-11-20T16:08:03.172-05:00Charles, moral compass comes from within no church...Charles, moral compass comes from within no church needed. Nathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20524196.post-11862163577952648842018-11-20T15:38:21.868-05:002018-11-20T15:38:21.868-05:00Having read a book focusing on the history of pope...Having read a book focusing on the history of popes, "Triumph" (H.W. Crocker), I was down on the Church since some popes were real bastards. Then I read, "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" (Thomas Woods) which reinvigorated my belief in the Church and made me very proud to be a Catholic. <br /><br />Now, with this Marxist pope who is wrong on the sovereignty of borders, immigration, climate change and sexual abuse, I'm in the camp of those who find it difficult to remain a Catholic as well. <br /><br />However, Michael Savage made the comment one day on his radio show that the Church is run by imperfect men. Ignore them, admire its rituals and follow the teachings and behavior of Christ as much as possible. Sounds like good advice to me.<br /><br />For those atheists who denigrate all religions (except Islam), what do you use to provide you with a moral compass? The government? BaaaHaaaaa! Look how well that has worked our for the country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com