tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post8029505230673602926..comments2023-10-31T01:42:26.102+11:00Comments on Fringe Faith: Why I love the Catholic Church - but why I decided to leaveAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-67122124029930521082017-09-24T09:14:38.930+10:002017-09-24T09:14:38.930+10:00Liz, I fell in love with the Bible and I was horri...Liz, I fell in love with the Bible and I was horrified to discover that falling in love with the Bible brings to some form of head on clash in doctrine with the church. I am sad but I have to move on because I realise what I believe in now after doing Theology courses is not reconcilable. I am sad but have to move on. I have been home church ing for a while praying to God to give me a spiritual home. I am waiting but very much aware that taking away the love I had for the church is a big deal. But for the love of the God of the Bible...I have to make that move. <br /><br />Also the reasons you mentioned for me are also very important. God luck and may God help youDrwifymomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13976242544203424021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-49646907651210675652011-05-09T18:07:29.443+10:002011-05-09T18:07:29.443+10:00Hi David,
Thank you for your comment. I thought i...Hi David,<br /><br />Thank you for your comment. I thought it was a very good comment.<br /><br />I wish I could give this reply the attention it deserves, but I'm wanting a smoke (and trying not to have one) and I'm also about to get dinner ready, and I just can't seem to think of anything good to write. <br /><br />But it was a good comment. It didn't tell me that what I had chosen was okay when you don't believe it is. And yet it wasn't very judgmental either. I think it's very rare to find people that can comment on your actions without sliding into one of those positions. And I'm always so appreciate when people can speak truthfully, without judgmentally. <br /><br />I think you're right and somewhere society has got it very wrong. And people look to have their social needs met in all the wrong places too. We all have great big holes in our life and we're just trying to fill them the best we can, I suppose. And some people do so in good ways and others do it in not so good ways. <br /><br />And we also have a spiritual hole that can only be filled by God. And sometimes I think we're so busy trying to fill that hole with all the wrong stuff that there's no room left for God. <br /><br />And maybe, to be honest, I'm a little bit there at the moment. I'm trying not to be though. <br /><br />LizAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-71499605219202515622011-05-09T04:26:07.479+10:002011-05-09T04:26:07.479+10:00Hi Liz,
It's an interesting post.
I also re...Hi Liz,<br /><br />It's an interesting post. <br /><br />I also read your Naomi Wolf one. <br /><br />There's a recurring theme: Today's fractured society makes us lonely. <br /><br />We're social creatures. We need people. But we're also spiritual creatures. We need God. <br /><br />How do we get both in our life in a balanced way? <br /><br />For those who choose the married state, I guess you get married and have children, go to church and mix with other society members. You get a social life and a spiritual life which is as balanced as it gets.<br /><br />Sounds perfectly balanced until separation and divorce comes along. <br /><br />Then all the questions start. The ones that should have been addressed before marriage and children. <br /><br />The most overlooked question is always the first question from the Catechism: Why was I created? <br /><br />The answer remains the same: To know love and serve God in this life and be happy with Him in the next for all eternity. <br /><br />Anyone who has ever made living this (or putting this belief into practice) puts God first, and sees everything as coming from God. <br /><br />Even people are lent to us by God. He sometimes takes them away. <br /><br />Holy Job's one of the few people who ever lived this. His attitude was: God gives. God takes away. Blessed be God. <br /><br />Hanging around people who don't believe what you believe for the sake of human comfort is natural. Clinging to God is supernatural. For every person it's the hardest thing to do and the biggest test of one's faith. But it tells you where your faith is. It tells you whether it's rooted in the emotions or in the intellect (where faith should reside).<br /><br />Mine is shot to pieces. I only say these things because it continues to astound me how many people talk about Catholicism and yet still remain ignorant of the Catetchism (which is a more important book to read for Catholics than the Bible itself).<br /><br />That statement will be as misunderstood as St Louis de Montfort saying Mary is more important than Christ. <br /><br />But, no Mary, no Christ. <br /><br />That's no less understandable than Christ saying two apparently contradictory things: 1. The Father is greater than I. 2. I and the Father are one. <br /><br />Christ had two natures (human and divine). In His Divine nature he was equal to the Father. In his human nature, the Father was greater. <br /><br />Only the Holy Ghost himself can convince us of these things. People will be of little use. <br /><br />Yes we need people in our lives. The right ones. <br /><br />David ... <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So that’s basically it. The reason why I love the Catholic Church is because I love beauty, peace, tradition and ritual. But the reason why I had to leave is because I need people. And for me at least the only place where I could find those people was in my old Pentecostal church.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00132747353148167195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-18563405998362223902011-04-04T08:23:59.340+10:002011-04-04T08:23:59.340+10:00Hi Luke,
The fractures in the Church upset me too...Hi Luke,<br /><br />The fractures in the Church upset me too. Yesterday, Yesterday I was sick, so I spent the whole day reading a novel set in the Reformation. And even though it was fictional (and happened over 500 years ago), it still upsets me, seeing the attitudes people had towards each other. And so at least we don't have it that bad now! <br /><br />I also got particularly annoyed with the Protestant attitudes, with their desire to abolish all traditions and symbolism. That makes me feel like crying.<br /><br />But I do believe God can bring good out of bad things. I know that feeling 'disconnected' and even 'rejected' by Church also happens in Protestant denominations. And at least if there's more than one denomination, they can choose another church, rather than leaving Church altogether or even losing their faith. <br /><br />And I'm still going to have questions about this. When I was trying to decide whether to come back to the Pentecostal church, someone told me that I should find the church that gives me peace. But I honestly don't believe I'll have that peace anywhere. Wherever I go, I'll always know what I'm missing.<br /><br />As I was reading this novel yesterday, I was thinking about the tradition and beauty of the Catholic Church and missing that. But at the same time, I had to ring up my friend and tell him I didn't need a lift to church (Pentecostal) because I was too sick. He went and got me some groceries from the shops after church. That wouldn't have happened in the Catholic Church - well not for me, anyway. <br /><br />But like I've said before, people do find lots of support (both practical and spiritual) and encouragement in the Catholic Church too. And people do feel like that support is lacking in Protestant churches. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm glad you have a spiritual advisor. I'm sure that must be a huge support and encouragement for you. And I hope I maintain some ties with the Catholic Church as well.<br /><br />LizAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-76680592858240518882011-04-04T06:41:53.365+10:002011-04-04T06:41:53.365+10:00You have a strong story Liz. I'm sad at the fr...You have a strong story Liz. I'm sad at the fractures and divides in the Church, and sad when they affect us like this. When Pope Benedict created an official constitution for Anglicans, I hoped it might bring in a new journey of ecumenism that could help to heal our Christian Body. It still might - the Catholic Church is one of, if not THE slowest moving institution in the world.<br /><br />I've attended both an "Emerging" church and my Catholic parish since I came to the RCC in 2008-2009. I love the same things as you love about the RCC. I'm frustrated by some of the same things, and I'm frustrated by other things as well. I don't have many close ties at my parish, but roughly half of my immediate family is Catholic (all converts); I meet with a spiritual advisor - a Benedictine nun - at my parish; our pastor serves as a real personality of Jesus and is a great example of Catholicism that rises above religiosity. Without that support and that leadership, I think I would have, as Alan Creech says, "been pushed out the other side of the Catholic harbor."<br /><br />I hope you stay close to the Catholic Church, and especially to the rich Tradition it seeks to preserve and pass on to all Christians.lukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844724534003766952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-45813367728262944952011-04-02T20:26:18.659+11:002011-04-02T20:26:18.659+11:00PS. I have a program on my website that lets me la...PS. I have a program on my website that lets me label internet addresses, so I can not only see how many people are visiting our site, but who is returning and when. <br /><br />I rarely look at it, but I was interested in whether that last comment was from someone I know. It was, but not exactly who I expected! <br /><br />Anyway, not sure if you still hold any bad feelings. But I do hope you're doing well.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-48085485301822446132011-04-02T20:12:27.426+11:002011-04-02T20:12:27.426+11:00Yes I could go to a knitting circle. And I might e...Yes I could go to a knitting circle. And I might even be able to meet friends there.<br /><br />But they won't provide the type of fellowship and support that you can find in a church. They won't talk to me about God. They won't pray for me. They won't encourage me in my faith when it is weak.<br /><br />And my faith has been weak lately. I was going to church maybe once a month. I prayed rarely and read my bible even less. Since returning to my old church, I feel my faith growing stronger again.<br /><br />As for what God feels? I don't know. I'm not God. I believe he would probably prefer me to be a strong Christian in a Pentecostal Church than a weak Christian in a Catholic Church. <br /><br />I believe in Hell. But some Protestants think Catholics are going to Hell (not that I know anyone personally who thinks that. Some Protestants believe that salvation is dependent upon making a commitment or being 'born again'. Personally, I think God is bigger than any of our denominational arguments about who gets saved. <br /><br />I do still believe the Pope is God's representative. But I don't believe he is always right. And I don't believe that means I have to go to a Catholic Church to enter Heaven. <br /><br />LizAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-41826881831557278732011-04-02T18:15:06.404+11:002011-04-02T18:15:06.404+11:00So, you go to Church to make friends? Why not just...So, you go to Church to make friends? Why not just join a knitting circle? How does God feel about your church-hopping? And more's to the point, what if you choose the wrong church? Hell is forever, Liz.<br /><br />p.s. Does the matter of whether or not the Pope is God's representative on Earth hinge on whether or not you can make friends in his church?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-55741285737841324842011-04-01T14:29:23.551+11:002011-04-01T14:29:23.551+11:00Hi Teresa,
I agree that Catholic Churches will be...Hi Teresa,<br /><br />I agree that Catholic Churches will be different, depending on the priest and the people there. The priest has just changed at the Church I was going to as well. So I don't even know what it's really like now. <br /><br />But I think it also changes depending on how you get on with the people there. People connect to other people differently. Where one person is going to connect to heaps of people, another person might find it hard to connect to anyone at all. I find it very easy to make friends in the Pentecostal Church and not so easy in the Catholic Church, but for another person they might find it completely the opposite.<br /><br />LizAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-14131486130491633612011-04-01T12:21:10.861+11:002011-04-01T12:21:10.861+11:00Hi Liz
I only saw this by chance today - i was get...Hi Liz<br />I only saw this by chance today - i was getting notification of your posts on an old email address that I rarely think to check. <br />I can't really compare the Catholic church to other churches - because it is the only one I have ever belonged to - but I do think that your experience will be different, depending on which Catholic church you attend. Because it is made up of people.It has been many (many)years since I attended church regularly but probably what made the most difference to me was the priest.<br />I hope you find a satisfactory resolution.<br />TeresaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-57077337958251643462011-03-31T12:48:56.978+11:002011-03-31T12:48:56.978+11:00As far as conundrums go, this one doesn't come...As far as conundrums go, this one doesn't come with overly dire consequences, so . . . perhaps experiencing a bit of both for a while will resolve matters for you. Both groups offer their share of beneficial and rewarding experiences.tlcorbinhttp://yourglobalguy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-83874637696431884532011-03-31T08:52:59.759+11:002011-03-31T08:52:59.759+11:00Hi Larry,
If became a Charismatic Catholic, I stil...Hi Larry,<br />If became a Charismatic Catholic, I still wouldn't have the fellowship and support of the Pentecostal Church. But it's a question I've been asking myself too, whether I need to give up one completely for the other. <br />LizAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059054907843482358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-833547834321864748.post-32436986803476423142011-03-31T08:11:08.873+11:002011-03-31T08:11:08.873+11:00Why give up one for the other? I have met with so...Why give up one for the other? I have met with so called Charismatic and Pentecostal Catholics, and found both gratifying. What I suspect is that you are wanting to disassociate yourself from the rigidness of organized religion. I have been at odds with the stiff necked religious crowd, their dogmatic flotsam and loveless demeanor for years. tlcorbintlcorbinhttp://yourglobalguy.comnoreply@blogger.com