i'm thinking about going back to church... honestly,,,some of this thinking started with Batman Jones' explaination of why he is vegan. I'm vegan now during the work week but know i can't do it all 7 days. that is the best i can do. i grew up catholic in catholic schools and all that. that was a long time ago. i went out last night with a good friend of mine...a baptist friend. we talked about this. she says she doesn't go to church much anymore ... she knows what she needs to do in God's eye. I like to think i do too. but i'm not so sure. she is the best. she is my best female friend. did i say that she is the best! this isn't about her or any girl...."tragic" is what we call her. she gave me her advice and normally i don't ask for such on the internet...but i know some of you guys know more than me. My sister is very spiritual, too, buddhist now. She has faith... i have faith...but i just don't understand the reason for Jesus to play a part in that. I think Jews and Muslims are great, too. I wish I was one.... can I go back to my Catholic roots and partake. is this a question for a priest. Why don't I think Jesus is important? while i think faith is a power that exists on its own...i think the consistency of going back to my church is good, too. Jesus or no Jesus.
i think that for this kind of potential life changing event, you need to really talk to a few people one on one. nothing online can ever compare to the kind of one on one counseling you can ge with someone that you trust and respect in real life. don't be coerced into anything simply because everyone else you know is part of it, explore the opportunities for discovery and then make a choice aobut the one that you feel called to (not the one that agrees with you the most, since sometimes these two don't overlap). whatever your choice may be, be happy with it and let it be something that you're willing to go the distance for. I place my life squarely with Jesus after coming back to him from many years of wandering, so I wil pray that you also feel the same eventually. however, it is your private choice. I am happy that you think there is more to life than just the material. God bless you on your road to discovery.
While reading your post, there was an ad for a Roman Catholic website. Neat. Well, if you want answers regarding going back to your Catholic roots, I know of one way you can get answers. I don't know if other churches do this, but St. Thomas More has a weekly session called "inquiry" Wednesday from 7:30 pm to 9:00. You can go in and ask any questions regarding faith and get answers. It's not about debate, just getting any information you need. Deacon Ed Stoessel is the guy who is usually there to answer questions, and he is very helpful. I learned a lot from him. If you want any more info, I'd be glad to help.
"honestly,,,some of this thinking started with Batman Jones' explaination of why he is vegan. I'm vegan now during the work week but know i can't do it all 7 days. that is the best i can do." Not to hijack this thread but not being a complete vegan will be healthier for you because a true vegan will need to take Vitamin B12 pills regularly. Plus vegans also need to eat a variety of vegetables. If they only eat one or types of veggie, they will have amino acids deficiency.
hotballa, wow. see this is why i posted in D&D, i had no idea of your advice. you are right. aside from "tragic" i need more one on one. JaWindex, again...thank you so much. St Thomas More is the school that my goddaughter goes to. Yes, I'm a godfather. I started this conversation two weeks ago. Her mother told me that they go to church at 5pm on Sunday's. I'm invited, obviously, and I want to do it with them, but 5pm across town like that is hard for me on a Sunday night. I was hoping form 9am. But the wed sessions is so doable. hotballa, i will continue asking about why i'm conflicted about Jesus. I will think about you while I'm thinking about Jesus. thank you
http://www.stmfishers.org/ That should have all the info you need. Don't go to 5pm mass, thats life teen and it sucks. And if you go to 9 am mass you'd see me go up front everyday for dismissal after the homily
According to my friends, there is a special place in Hell waiting for me... Welcome back to religion. I pray every night I'm sober! It's awesome. But to answer you question? The correct answer was "Mormon", so it really doesn't matter, unless you're Buck Rogers...,. (On a serious note, I've always thought that you should believe in your original denomination. I've also learned that I'm not here to judge, nor is anyone else.) If y'all want to know what's going to happen to Fatty, watch TV on ABC this Wed. at 8. I think that'll explain it.
heypartner; I think spirituality is as important to us as reason but I doesn't think its something to rush into. I have nothing against Catholicism but I think you should think about why you became disillusioned with them in the first place. You might find that you left for the wrong reasons and Catholic beliefs are the beliefs that speak to you or you might find that you were right and you can't reconcile yourself to Catholicism. At the sametime before you consider any other religion I would suggest you take time and think about them too. Most Zen centers give Dharma talks that are open to the public and I think most church services also are open to the public. Take your time and like Hotballa said talk to someone. Talk to a lot of people of different denominations.
Pre Jesus death: The Jews were under the law but the law was just a test for sin and to show that no one can keep the law. Like a test for cancer, it will show you that you have a fatal problem. But no matter how many times you "take the test" (try to keep the law), it will not cure you of the problem. The Jews had faith that their God would forgive them for their sins and allow them to live with Him forever. The sacrifices of "pure" innocent animals were meant to show the penalty of sin - death. But the animal sacrifices would not have a permanent change on them or their habits or remove their sins - it was only a sign of something to come. Those of the true faith put their trust on God that he would somehow take care of them in spite of their sins and try to follow Him. Post Jesus death: God sent His Son Jesus to leave heaven, come down to earth to show us how to live and to take away the sins of the world. If one sinless man were to die for someone guilty, how many lives could his life "buy"? One. But how many lives can the Son of God's in human flesh buy? Infinite. His life and death is important because without Him, no one past, present or future can live with God because He is a holy God. (Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)) His justice required payment for the sin. His grace and mercy sent a way for payment in Jesus. And those who receive Jesus as their ONLY savior (no works - all faith on Jesus), will receive the Holy Spirit (a helper) to help guide them in their everyday walk with Him. So the Jews had faith in something that would happen in the future. Christians have faith in something that happened in the past. That event was the sacrifice of God's only Son Jesus. If there was ANY other way, I'm sure God would have spared sending down His Son and taken care of it another way. What father would choose that for his only son if there another way? But what father would choose that for his only son if there wasn't? A father who loves us more than we can imagine.
I think that if you decide to go back to the Catholic Church, it will be very important for you to approach it as you are now and see it as it is now. It's not that easy, but our life experience, filters, history w/ the church, etc. can prevent us from seeing things as they actually are today. Likewise, try to see the church (whichever it may be) as it actually is, and effects you (or not) this day, not what you felt/remember from "a long time ago." And regardless and for real :Bless you. Sincerely, C Son
I used to go to church regularly back in Canada, but have found tons of excuses skipping week by week, after I moved to NYC. But it's been bothering me a lot lately, that I don't want to use the city as excuse anymore. I think it's between you and God. Hope you will find your answer soon.
The Jews had faith that their God would forgive them for their sins and allow them to live with Him forever. Don't some Jews, especially say 2000 years ago, not believe in heaven? IIRC Heaven was a minority view way back in the day.
just only in the authorized Christian idea of Judaism. I also think Satan isn't the big bad meany for the Jews, that the Christians make him out to be.
Sishir Chang, I'm not sure I ever have a moment of reason nor any disillusion...it was just what we were raised to do. Catholicism is my hiistory and my family and i feel a connection to it; i never disliked it; i just never embraced it more than it being what we were raised to do. ArtV, that's a pretty powerful post. tells me for sure that i have never really thought that much about this...despite going to church every sunday for 18 yrs. C Son, There is something missing. It's difficult for me to even say "bless you" to someone because I don't think I know how to really say it. and I have the feeling that God does not want me to say it to someone until i know what i am saying. I can tell you do. I think I know what bliss means though. Maybe it is the same thing. 29... haha lol is the something interesting related to how old i am?
