What does the word 'religion' mean to you?

Opinion of a non believer

Actual History is chockfull of the rise and fall of religions for millennia … many Ages. And they all have the following in common. Whenever they became week enough to lose control of the majority of the sheeple, they are replaced with a new Messiah and a new message just as the Christians have done with the ‘old Jewish’ religion when that too lost its strangle hold on the world of Man due to its barbarism as perceived by man in a new Age. Anyone who lives in a future time views almost everything from previous times to be barbaric (except for those that thrive in barbarism) and in this Christianity is no exception. It is my belief that the purpose of religion has always been nothing but a methodology to control the masses. The Bible (OT and NT) are replete with plagiarisms from the actual real world of the past. The NT is in itself a plagiarism from much of the OT. The stories of the Bible are impossible in the real world in which we all exist. I agree that many names and places were real, but this is just another plagiarism from the actual history of man. If you can place your hand on a Bible and swear that the Earth is what ~12,000 years old, then you are a fool. If you deny the evidence of science and technology, then you are doubly a fool. If you deny the evidence of early man or prehistoric man and can find no logic or truth in evolution you are a damned fool. And if you are so foolish as to allow the leadership of some rascals who lived thousands of years ago during the ‘glorious’ days when all this stuff was concocted … to control virtually every aspect of your life today, you are doomed. But all you have to do is ‘have faith’ and ignore your own perceptions of reality … and all will be yours, just bring your pocket book and come often … because we have castles and churches and armies to build to prove they are right, yea right. The all-powerful all-knowing one God would never vanquish the devil (certainly within reason for the all-powerful mindful of His sheep) because He would be destroying Himself … as there can be no light without the dark? What better ploy could man devise than to make the light and the dark impervious to the perceptions of man, the sheeple? The complete history of the universe and that insignificant little planet Earth with its complete compliment of well ‘everything’ … all described between the covers of a book written thousands of years ago by smart (-ass) people with nothing benign in mind whatsoever who championed a flat Earth for a thousand years for naught than to promote the new religion of the Age of Pisces … the two fish. It took man and a simple invention called a telescope to start the downward spiral of Religion (Christianity this time) and it cannot be stopped.

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Reply #1 Top

What does the word 'religion' mean to you?

Opinion of a believer in God and in the Catholic religion.

"Religion" comes from a Latin word meaning "to bind" (to God or gods). The conception of a deity is necessary for religion.

The Christian define Religion as the virtue which prompts man to render to God the worship and reverence that is His by right.

Objectively, religion is the voluntary acknowledgement of man's dependence on God through acts of homage.   

The practice of some form of religion is universal.

Morality needs religion.

 

Reply #2 Top

Lula, I can agree with the first part ... but the Catholic religion … where did that come from? I have always understood that Catholicism was the RCC’s style of practicing Religion … but I never considered it a religion in itself, go figure. If ... "The conception of a deity is necessary for religion.”... Why do you call atheism a religion since by definition they do not conceptualize any god at all? What in the world is "universal" about religion??? I do not have religion and there is nothing wrong with my morality our only difference is that I do not need the Church to explain it to me.

 I just watched a movie about Martin Luther and I am afraid he had it right … as far as religion and its purpose goes. He had his own opinions of the RCC and especially Pope Leo X … and they weren’t good. (Note: he was there and we were not).

Reply #3 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
but the Catholic religion … where did that come from? I have always understood that Catholicism was the RCC’s style of practicing Religion … but I never considered it a religion in itself, go figure.

The Catholic religion came from Christ given to His Apostles (Christ's first bishops, Peter being the head) and disciples from 30-33AD. Through oral (Tradition) and written word (Scripture). they, in turn, passed down the Christian Faith through the ages.

Through Christ, the Catholic religion is the perfect fulfillment (full development) of OT Hebraic Judaism.   

Catholicism, the Catholic religion, the Christian Faith, Christianity, the religion of Christ, Christ's New Covenant religion all are one and the same.  Different names for the same thing. 

 

Reply #4 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
"The conception of a deity is necessary for religion.”... Why do you call atheism a religion since by definition they do not conceptualize any god at all?

Atheists do make for themselves their own god. That god they worship might be man, self, science, etc. .

Some people's god is the earth, the environment.  

Some people's god is satan, They worship satan; the religion is called Satanism. 

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 1
The practice of some form of religion is universal.

 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
What in the world is "universal" about religion???

Every one, whether they know it or not, practices some form of religion ... religion is universal in this sense. 

As opposed to Christianity, the one true religion of GOd, all these are false religions as they have false gods. 

 

 

Reply #5 Top

Lula, I assume from the start now that there is nothing I can say that will even chip the armor of your precious RCC, but I still have my views so as meaningless as they are to you ... what for??? I count 22 religions that are considered 'major ones' but the offshoots number in the hundreds. I imagine that all 22 have something that tells them and their followers they have the right of it, but who cares ... oh ... the RCC does to the point of gross neglect. I don't have a problem with religion itself as that is straight forward ... you just believe whatever someone tells you MUST be true or you can decide for yourself as I have. But the RCC is a self-isolated entity … and everyone else … be damned.

Forgetting any specific theology, can you not understand what people think when they try to have a conversation with a know-it-all? I have never known a topic or subject matter that you do not claim full and error free knowledge of or that you fail to drag into your Catholicism for complete justification. And all this knowledge that you possess, you don’t even crack a technical book or read the first instrument or have the least bit of confidence in the human species … until they are converted of course. I wonder how one becomes so knowledgeable just from this conversion process of yours … that would be a miracle indeed.

Reply #6 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 4
Every one, whether they know it or not, practices some form of religion ... religion is universal in this sense.
Lula, you know we differ on man's beginnings. But we cannot even have this conversation if you do not acknowledge that man existed before biblical times ... there is proof. I contend that mankind was free until governments and religions were created to control the populations. And it would seem that the RCC and its CCC were invented to control all the religions of the world whether they like it or not, go figure.

Religion cannot be universal just because you say so ... especially considering it was invented here on Earth by people with agendas and infinite knowledge of everything of course. Just a pebble in the bigger scheme of things I am afraid. Gravity is universal as well as the speed of light, but religion … I think not.

Reply #7 Top

BT, 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
but the Catholic religion … where did that come from?

It came from Christ. 

St.Matt. 16:18-20, Jesus said, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My Church and the powers of Hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind of earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in Heaven."

The Church that Christ built on St.Peter is the CC and Pope Benedict is his 265th successor.

Does it shock you that Catholicism is Christianity?  

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 5
Forgetting any specific theology, can you not understand what people think when they try to have a conversation with a know-it-all?

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 5
but I still have my views so as meaningless as they are to you ... what for???

Your views aren't meaningless to me. You wrote; I read and responded. We're discussing. 

 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 5
I count 22 religions that are considered 'major ones' but the offshoots number in the hundreds. I imagine that all 22 have something that tells them and their followers they have the right of it,

Ya, I can agree with this.  

So then comes the claim of these followers of various religions that the tenets of their faith is right. Well are they? 

I must say no way. Of all the various religions out there, be it 22 or 122, only one is the true religion of God. The Catholic Church confidently and serenely claims to be that one religion. She is the only one that was given Christ's authority to teach on Faith and morals today as she did in Apostolic times.

There is just One Man in history that has spoken with the voice of both Man and God...Jesus the Christ....and there is only one Society that claims to speak in matters of faith and morals with the same authority as that Man. This claim is so imperious that all other religions when compared to her are on one side and the CC is on the other.

This should explain the special position that I as Catholic must occupy in any discussion on religious views.

This should also explain why the CC and Catholicism, true Christianity, is subjected continually to attack from some quarter or another. Why it is only the CC that is the object of widespread and inveterate hostility and of a misunderstanding that runs deep through generation after generation. No one is much concerned about the teachings or discipline of the other various religions.

Anyway, all things including time itself changed with Christ's Birth, Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection. During His life, Christ established the CC, man's spiritual pilgrimage in all succeeding time will follow her in until this planet has run its course and on "the last day", all will be before the Throne of Almighty God.

Reply #8 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 7
Why it is only the CC that is the object of widespread and inveterate hostility and of a misunderstanding that runs deep through generation after generation. No one is much concerned about the teachings or discipline of the other various religions.
I hope you weren’t asking me this stuff, hahaha. I don't know why this should be a surprise to anyone as I have explained several times. Here, let me use your own words:
Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 7
This claim is so imperious that all other religions when compared to her are on one side and the CC is on the other.
Even though you have usurped the word of God and all his inner thoughts, you have no control over the meanings of words. Imperious also means domineering, arrogant, superior, haughty and highhanded and this is the light the world sees the RCC as they proceed to dictate their will to humanity without the option to refuse, retreat or rebut … just because you say so. I might also add hypocritical in to the mix just for good measure.

Religion: people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. Notice the first word here!!!  Religion is here for one reason only … to allow people to subjugate themselves to God as they can understand it, and there is no reference I can find (understandable) that obligates the RCC to form a dictatorship of God’s words, thoughts and intentions especially concerning other peoples.

Reply #9 Top

 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 8
that obligates the RCC to form a dictatorship of God’s words, thoughts and intentions especially concerning other peoples.

We are talking about Catholicism here, not Islam or Communism. The CC isn't a dictatorship. People are free to come into the CC and Catholic Faith and free to leave. 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 8
the RCC as they proceed to dictate their will to humanity without the option to refuse, retreat or rebut …

Christ gave His authority to the CC and she has made certain claims....People do have the option to leave, ignore, etc. the CC and her Christological teachings. It is to their detriment when they do so. 

 

 

Reply #10 Top

 

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 7
There is just One Man in history that has spoken with the voice of both Man and God...Jesus the Christ....and there is only one Society that claims to speak in matters of faith and morals with the same authority as that Man. This claim is so imperious that all other religions when compared to her are on one side and the CC is on the other.

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 7
This should also explain why the CC and Catholicism, true Christianity, is subjected continually to attack from some quarter or another. Why it is only the CC that is the object of widespread and inveterate hostility and of a misunderstanding that runs deep through generation after generation. No one is much concerned about the teachings or discipline of the other various religions.

 

BT, 

I know what imperious means. 

Christ gave but one Church the CC His own Authority and mandate to preach and teach His Christian Faith and morals. And for over 2,000 years the CC as Christ's Living Voice has done just that and will continue to do that until the end of the world (or age if you like that better as in this case it's the same thing.)

FOR THIS VERY REASON, The CC and Catholicism is set apart, so very distinguished from every other church and religion in the world. 

"The world"  hates the CC and Catholicism for the very reason they hated Christ before they hated His Church.

 

 

Reply #11 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 7
Your views aren't meaningless to me. You wrote; I read and responded. We're discussing.
Lula, we are not discussing anything here ... it is just you telling me the right of things just as any good Catholic theologian would … but to the exclusion of everything else. The frustrating thing here is that you will not accept any physical evidence or theory (based on evidence) as anything but the devils work. This complete disregard for men and their knowledge doesn’t seem to touch such things as our medical ‘wonders’, our surgical skills, our ability to ‘raise the dead’, our own man made longevity, our engineering and mathematical prowess … etc. I assume you live in a Home and drive an automobile of some sort all created from the warped dysfunctional mind of men. Would you understand a tech manual on the workings of an internal combustion engine? If not, how does your not-understanding change anything at all? You do not question the fact that the engine works as guaranteed and you do not have to figure it out to the most meniscal particle … your belief and support are just not required here (as in so many other areas) . What matter where the particles came from as this also has no bearing. But you at all times drag everything presented to (always perceived as against) you to your alter that is the RCC for theological dissection and outright rejection … forgone conclusions I might add. I know I am going to hate myself for asking this … where exactly in the Bible is it written that only the RCC and its followers may speak for God in all matters period … just as if God spoke it Himself? You really cannot see what’s wrong with this picture?

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 10
"The world" hates the CC and Catholicism for the very reason they hated Christ before they hated His Church.
Maybe you missed my reply #8 ... this hatred is almost completely self-inflicted so quit whining about it. How could the world of man hate ‘Christ’ before he was invented by the RCC will forever be a mystery, hahaha?

Reply #12 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 1
Morality needs religion.

 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
Why do you call atheism a religion since by definition they do not conceptualize any god at all? .......I do not have religion and there is nothing wrong with my morality our only difference is that I do not need the Church to explain it to me.

If Almighty God and His religion is not the basis of morality, what is?

 

Reply #13 Top

How about some common sense and the laws we govern ourselves by for a couple of ways. Come on now, we are animals and none of the other species practice ‘type’ suicide. How long would we last as a species if we all went about killing our neighbors without cause, raping or fornicating with their children and wives, stealing their possessions, practicing infanticide and ritual sacrifice etc. [The RCC is guilty of all of this and many other atrocities as they spread (by the sword) the word of your RCC God.] If you need some kind of mysticism or a Book to so inform you religious folk, you guys are too simple to understand right from wrong.  You guys are dangerously undernourished from a lack of horse sense, fair terms, courtesy, humbleness, compassion, forgiveness, intelligence and most of all understanding of anything un-Catholic or requiring basic math or science. And somehow you feel you can justify this lacking through your self-imposed ignorance, with the pomposity of God himself and a complete disregard for all other humans (not under your influence) or their desires and wants … well it sure doesn’t work for me is all. Not very neighborly in anyone’s book!

Reply #14 Top

 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
What in the world is "universal" about religion???

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 6
Religion cannot be universal just because you say so ... especially considering it was invented here on Earth by people with agendas and infinite knowledge of everything of course. Just a pebble in the bigger scheme of things I am afraid. Gravity is universal as well as the speed of light, but religion … I think not.

What I meant by "universal" is from the beginning of time in every culture some form of religion is practiced. Study the history of the world and those tribes or primitive peoples even to the present day and you'll find they all practice some form of religion. 

Religion is necessary to human nature and entirely natural....religion is universal in the sense that it always existed in some form or another.

You touched on the universality of religion when you wrote:

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 8
Religion: people's beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life.

 

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Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
 I just watched a movie about Martin Luther and I am afraid he had it right … as far as religion and its purpose goes. He had his own opinions of the RCC and especially Pope Leo X … and they weren’t good. (Note: he was there and we were not).

I just saw this. 

So you watched a movie and came to the conclusion that Martin Luther had it right on religion and its purpose. 

I've read his biography and own several books on Protestantism of which Luther is one of its founders. Why do you think he had it right as far as religion and its purpose goes?

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Reply #15 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 12
If Almighty God and His religion is not the basis of morality, what is?

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 13
How about some common sense and the laws we govern ourselves by for a couple of ways. Come on now, we are animals and none of the other species practice ‘type’ suicide. How long would we last as a species if we all went about killing our neighbors without cause, raping or fornicating with their children and wives, stealing their possessions, practicing infanticide and ritual sacrifice etc.

OK, you're on to something here. So where does the sense of right and wrong of our words and actions such as you describe here come from?

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Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
Why do you call atheism a religion since by definition they do not conceptualize any god at all? What in the world is "universal" about religion??? I do not have religion and there is nothing wrong with my morality our only difference is that I do not need the Church to explain it to me.

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 13
You guys are dangerously undernourished from a lack of horse sense, fair terms, courtesy, humbleness, compassion, forgiveness, intelligence and most of all understanding of anything un-Catholic or requiring basic math or science.

Now here you take you own virtue as a standard and proceed to find other people wanting when measured by it. It often happens that those who canonize themselves as models of perfection and regard Catholics as lacking these things you describe above.

It's impossible to truly be moral and honest without being religious. Religion is the highest form of honesty and morality, a strict duty to God. I'm going to try to get my point across by giving this example:

Jones owes one man $100.00 and another man $1.00. He pays the $1 but not the $100. Smith also owes $100 and to another $1, but pays the $100. but not the $1. Whose is the greater dishonesty? Now each one owes a tremendous debt to God and a lesser one to his neighbor. 

One may pay the lesser but neglect the greater. One's neighbor who fulfills his religious duties at least tries to pay the greater, though he may seem to you to neglect the lesser. But he is the more just, moral and honest at least in so far as he attempts to pay the greater. The one who is just to his neighbor, but does not bother in his duty of religion, is the kind of person who pays the baker for his bread he puts into his body, but nothing to God for the body he puts the bread into.

Another definition of religion...religion is a strict duty of justice to God acknowledging our indebtedness to Him. If religious people sometimes fail in morals, honesty and these things you name above, I don't justify it.  

Reply #16 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 14
Reply #14   lulapilgrim
Speaking about the beginning of time … when did you say that was? What primitive peoples are you referring to here? Human nature is something the RCC will not allow in any form. You were a little shy on anything specific above. The reference (#8) is a layman’s textbook description … however I call your attention to the last part, the crux of the matter “… divine involvement in the universe and human life” part that bothers me as you claim only your one God is capable of doing this without a shred of evidence??? I think the RCC ‘religion’ and the just human religions of old have this trait in common as none of them could produce anything real about their god (s) either. Coincident or by design … is a valid question?
 
Luther humm, I cannot say I know that much about him beyond the obvious. 1- He had the wherewithal to oppose your RCC at a time when heresy was often a terminal charge and amply demonstrated its corruption, its capitalism of god’s word and its overabundances in the extreme. 2- He interpreted that the purpose of religion had no meaning if everything was just about God … a better gage of ones love of God was how you treated your fellow man … the sheep of God. I agree … philosophically anyway. And 3- He saw the RCCC as a work of man, a fiction as God did not need a self-appointed caretaker and full time interpreter. Beyond that I’ll take your word on anything at least reasonably possible that you may think of him after all, you are the expert in slanderous religious matters.

Reply #17 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 15
OK, you're on to something here. So where does the sense of right and wrong of our words and actions such as you describe here come from?
It comes from the same place it always has ... the one with the biggest stick. Self-preservation alone given ample time (to overcome irrational superstition) is enough for people to weed out their own bad apples. Too bad we are incapable of holding governments or Churches to this lowly ideal of man.
Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 15
Now here you take you own virtue as a standard and proceed to find other people wanting when measured by it. It often happens that those who canonize themselves as models of perfection and regard Catholics as lacking these things you describe above.
Are you serious ... I had to look up the word ‘canonize’ just to be sure and I refuse to allow you to use such Catholic terms when referencing me … hahaha. It is simple remember … I write, you read and you correct comment on everything I say … business as usual. What do my ideas have to do with perfection … an impossible state of affairs, RCC excluded of course? Are you trying to say that Catholics are lacking in those things I described above for no other reason that “I” find them virtuous and universal???
 
Jones and Smith will have to deal with their ‘plight’ without my help, but I would say they need to pay all their debts or face the consequences for their actions. I have trouble with your hypothetical parables so I will pose a more realistic example for you. You are a Catholic zealot living in Germany and you have ‘Jewish’ refugees in your attic. A Nazi patrol knocks on your door and asks you if you know where the refugees are hiding … how will you answer? I am sure you know what I would say with my hedonistic morals such as they are … but how about you?

Reply #18 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 6
Lula, you know we differ on man's beginnings. But we cannot even have this conversation if you do not acknowledge that man existed before biblical times ... there is proof.

What is the so called "proof" that man existed before Biblical times? 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 16
Speaking about the beginning of time … when did you say that was?

To me, the beginning of time as we know it has gotta be when God created it, space and matter and specially created each kind of animal, plant and human life and set genetic variation into operation to allow subsequent changes within kind as explained in Genesis.

God created time as we know it somewhere in the vicinity of 6 to 10,000 years ago.  

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Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 14
Study the history of the world and those tribes or primitive peoples even to the present day and you'll find they all practice some form of religion. 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 16
What primitive peoples are you referring to here?

The ones who dispersed after Babel and then after the Flood of Noe.

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Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 16
Human nature is something the RCC will not allow in any form.

What do you mean?

Every human being has human nature. That's the way God created us; He gave us a human nature and an immortal soul. 

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Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 16
however I call your attention to the last part, the crux of the matter “… divine involvement in the universe and human life” part that bothers me as you claim only your one God is capable of doing this without a shred of evidence???

The universe and all that's in it, including animal, plant and human life is evidence. They reveal God to us as the First Cause. The order of nature itself affords us thousands of instances of proof of an Intelligent First Cause God.  We've discussed this before.

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Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 13
Come on now, we are animals and none of the other species practice ‘type’ suicide. How long would we last as a species if we all went about killing our neighbors without cause, raping or fornicating with their children and wives, stealing their possessions, practicing infanticide and ritual sacrifice etc.

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 15
So where does the sense of right and wrong of our words and actions such as you describe here come from?

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 17
It comes from the same place it always has ... the one with the biggest stick. Self-preservation alone given ample time (to overcome irrational superstition) is enough for people to weed out their own bad apples.

Nah, you gotta think deeper than that. 

Look at what I've highlighted in what you said. I asked you how do you know these actions highlighted are right or wrong?  Where does the universal sense of morality come from? 

 

Reply #19 Top

Lula, you guys have had your go with things for a thousand years ... the top dog ... the biggest stick (you are silly). Well that time is long gone now so get used to it. You have failed to prove anything besides the fact that you are the most outlandish and hypocrital excuse artist I know. Proof requires more that quoting some parables from your bible ... let alone the internal nonsense your Church created to authorize its rape of the world. Voluntary conversion is one thing but conversion by force and by the sword is another matter indeed. You make no sense when you talk about "The universe and all that's in it, including animal, plant and human life (as if you are somehow gifted with ‘universal’ knowledge) is evidence (evidence of what???). They reveal God to us as the First Cause." (What first cause are you babbling about???). Why do you disregard the obvious proof all around you? I don’t care what your superstitions are … only a fool would blatantly refuse to even acknowledge the prowess of man in his own right. I can offer you proof aplenty … but you will not acknowledge any of it as such preferring to believe some words written centuries ago by idiots (by today’s standards) who believed the world was flat and completely discovered. You try to take what we know today through the efforts of man and pretend this knowledge had been evident to your founders too … and this is codswallop. This is just the Catholic way of pretending that the ancients were actually intelligent and capable of knowing everything we know today … poppycock indeed. And if they didn’t (couldn’t) know what we know today, then they were obviously misinformed by your powers that were (are). This is no different than your claim that you yourself are blessed with this absolute knowledge of your God and the whole universe … absurd I say. I know you don’t know much (if anything) about the real universe simply because you do not even know how to discuss it. If you actually believe that the Earth is less than 10,000 years old … then you have told me everything I need to know about your inherent knowledge and your reasoning skills.

The Bible is made up of the OT (book of the Jews) which wasn't changed and writings about the time/life of Jesus that the “Catholic Church” selected from (amongst themselves only) many, many writings of the day some within fifty years of the death of Jesus) … and called that compilation the NT. The 'historic fact' that the Bible was made 150-300 years after the presumed events is true only because that was the period when it was compiled into one book. The Roman Catholic Church wasn’t in existence when this compilation was done and consequently the words “Catholic Church” do not exist in the bible itself simply because it is a compilation of events/writings, many hundreds of years prior to the existence of the Catholic Church. One would have to question your self- anointed powers over all of mankind as I do. The Catholic Church as an insult was called the “Roman catholic church” by British Protestants who rejected the omnipotence of the Bishop of Rome (Papa) as does much of Christendom today. The Roman Catholic Church today has many idiosyncrasies that are not shared with the rest of the Christian Church. The Great Command of Mission work demanded that the apostles "go into the entire World and preach the gospel" (what a misnomer that) … but this is where Catholicism began and where the RCC diverged from true Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church did not even exist as we know it today until the Schism … so stop telling me how you guys were first.

Now I know where the phrase “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Comes from … The RCC is pack full of ‘good intentions’ even though Heaven can only be reached through possession of a pure soul (your words) … which of course is humanly impossible. From the Pope down to and including yourself, all Catholics have the innate authority to sell salvation and make impossible promises to those that can deceive most easily … the downtrodden, the homeless, the forlorn, the uneducated, the crippled and the aged. This could be what is meant by “The weak shall inherit the Earth” … if it weren’t just another RCC scheme to raise money and to pretend they are gathering sheep (SINO) into the fold.

Please tell me you actually want to discuss Noah and family as this is one of many indefensible claims in the bible!

Reply #20 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 11
This complete disregard for men and their knowledge doesn’t seem to touch such things as our medical ‘wonders’, our surgical skills, our ability to ‘raise the dead’, our own man made longevity, our engineering and mathematical prowess … etc. I assume you live in a Home and drive an automobile of some sort all created from the warped dysfunctional mind of men. Would you understand a tech manual on the workings of an internal combustion engine? If not, how does your not-understanding change anything at all? You do not question the fact that the engine works as guaranteed and you do not have to figure it out to the most meniscal particle … your belief and support are just not required here (as in so many other areas)

No Catholic has complete disregard for men and their knowledge. We just understand that man's knowledge is finite and in the end for all their knowledge in the sciences, etc. the big questions still remain....here is a short clip of what I mean by that. 

http://www.realcatholictv.com/daily/?today=2011-11-11


Reply #21 Top

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 20
Reply #20   lulapilgrim
Lula, I watched the clip but there was nothing substantive in it. All Mr. Voris does throughout is pander to us mere people on how our belief in God will explain everything in the universe to us (so easy, no school) … and that knowledge as foreordained in your myths by the significance of the “Tree of Knowledge”, is the only thing in the world that can fight superstitions and advance us up a step in evolution. It seems that Your God erred as he only made two people and they both preferred knowledge to superstition … so now the RCC steps in to do what God himself couldn’t do … perfection indeed, hahaha. What in the world does finite have to do with anything? There is nothing infinite about the RRC or the Bible except your insistence on believing in ghosts. I know, I know … God works in mysterious ways which are totally beyond man’s cognitive skills … for only the RCC (which came 8,000 years after well everything) claims to know the Mind of God,  ... how quaint is that, hahaha.

 

 

Reply #22 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 11
I know I am going to hate myself for asking this … where exactly in the Bible is it written that only the RCC and its followers may speak for God in all matters period … just as if God spoke it Himself?

First, the CC certainly doesn't speak for God in all matters (although in the final analysis all matters have to do with God)!  

Only the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church was given Christ's infallible authority to preach, teach and speak in matters of the Christian Faith and morals.

As far as the individual lay members---when we say some doctrine or meaning of Scripture is true, we only repeat what the CC's official teachers (The Magisterium, the Pope and the bishops) have taught. 

 

Christ chose His Twelve Apostles and established only one Church with St.Peter as its leader.  He taught them the Faith and the way to practice that Faith. Just before He ascended into Heaven, He gave the Apostles His authority to teach and preach all nations and told them He would be with them until the end of the world.  He also said He would send the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them. 

 

The Bible says the Church is the bride of Christ. Eph. 5:23-32. Jesus can have but one spouse and that one spouse is the Catholic Church. His Church also teaches and practices one Faith which was taught and practiced first by the Apostles. St.Jude 3. This is the unity of belief to which Christ calls us. Phil. 1:27; 2:2.

 The CC is the Mystical Body of Christ.....a divine body, an organic and spiritual entity. The true faithful make up the members of body while Christ reigns in Heaven as the Eternal Priest and Head.   

The Bible passages that bear this out are:

Col. 1:18, "Again, He is the head of His body, the Church." 

"Now you are the body of Christ, member for member." 1Cor. 12:27. 

Christ's one Chruch must be a unified body. Not segmented as all the Protestant churches that began after Martin Luther in 1517. 

The Bible passages are:

"There shall be one fold and one shepherd" St.John 10:16. 

"And the glory that thou, Father, has given Me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one." 17:22. 

"You were called in one body, ...one Spirit...one hope...one Lord...one faith...one baptism." Eph. 4:4-6. 

.........................

Again, Jesus chose the apostles to be the earthly leaders of His Church. First, He gave Peter special authority among the apostles. St.John 21:15-17 and signified this by changing his name from Simon to Kepha (Aramaic), Petros (Greek) and Peter (English), which means 'rock' 1:42. Christ said Peter was to be the rock on which He would build His Church.

St. Matt. 16:18-19 

And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. 

Explanation of those things underlined are as follows: 

[18] Thou art Peter: As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

[18] Upon this rock: The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, St. Matt. 7. 24, 25.

[18] The gates of hell: That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.

BT,

Note in verse 19, Christ gave St.Peter "the keys to the kingdom" and the power and authority "to bind and loose". 

The Bible often calls the Church "the kingdom"...and Peter was given the keys to Christ's Church, His kingdom. The keys are symbols of Christ's authority given to Peter to rule the Church in His absence.  And He promised Peter's decisions would be binding in Heaven. 

In St.Matt. 18:18, Christ gave the other apostles the same power of "binding and loosing".

SHortly before He acsended into Heaven Christ directed His teaching and preaching authority and mission to the Apostles.

St.Matt. 28:18-20, 

" All power in Heaven and earth has been given to Me, go therefore teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." 

The Bible teaches the teaching and preaching authority of Christ's one Church would not, could not ever err beacsue fallible teachers would not be doing the teaching.

Christ pledged divine protection to that teaching authority...

"These things I have spoken to you while yet dwelling with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you...when the Advocate has come, whom I will send you from the Father, He will bear witness concerning Me, becasue from the beginning you are with Me."  St.John 14:25-26, 15:26-27.

In other words, the infallible Holy Spirit, the infallible Christ, would be doing the actual teaching, speaking through the human teaching authority of His Church. Christ made this quite clear when He said, 

"He who hears you hears Me." St.Luke 10:16. 


The human teaching authority is of His Church is the Magisterium which is the pope and bishops, the successors of the Apostles. 

That's why we call the Church, Apostolic. 

Christ appointed the Apostles to be the first leaders and their successors were to be its future leaders. The Apostles were the Church's first bishops. The pope is the successor of Peter as bishop of Rome. The Church's other bishops are successors to the Apostles in general. Since the first century, there has been an unbroken line of Catholic bishops faithfully handing on what the Apostles taught the first Christians in Scripture and oral tradition. 2Tim. 2:2. 

Reply #23 Top

 

Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 18
Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 13
Come on now, we are animals and none of the other species practice ‘type’ suicide. How long would we last as a species if we all went about killing our neighbors without cause, raping or fornicating with their children and wives, stealing their possessions, practicing infanticide and ritual sacrifice etc.


Quoting lulapilgrim, reply 15
So where does the sense of right and wrong of our words and actions such as you describe here come from?

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 17  It comes from the same place it always has ... the one with the biggest stick. Self-preservation alone given ample time (to overcome irrational superstition) is enough for people to weed out their own bad apples.


Lula posts: 
Look at what I've highlighted in what you said. I asked you how do you know these actions highlighted are right or wrong?  Where does the universal sense of morality come from? 

Let's try again. You obviously have a sense of right and wrong. In reply #2, you said 

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 2
I do not have religion and there is nothing wrong with my morality our only difference is that I do not need the Church to explain it to me.

You don't believe in God, don't practice religion, etc. ....

So that's why I asked, Where does your sense of right and wrong (morality) come from? 

 

 

 

 

Reply #24 Top

Quoting BoobzTwo, reply 11
How could the world of man hate ‘Christ’ before he was invented by the RCC will forever be a mystery, hahaha?

Sometimes BT, you say the oddest things. 

Christ was certainly a historical Person. That can't be denied. Find out about His life, work and teachings and you will discover He established a Church, the one that was later named "catholic" by St.Ignatius in 107AD. Silly, it was not the other way around as you suggest. 

 

Reply #25 Top

Lula the word Catholic doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible. It was not even mentioned for many years after the NT was compiled by who else … The Catholic Church (RCC wasn’t in existence then), but what are a few facts against superstition? Apostles, that’s a Catholic thing in the NT, right? This is the book compiled by Catholics for Catholics with just their own council … come on here; you guys just compile yourself into the role of “God incarnate” (for all Catholics … ONLY?) on Earth … and beyond, go figure.

Where does my morality come from … this you need an answer for, hahaha. How did tribes once unknown to the pleasures of an association with the RCC, everywhere actually … procreate and grow deprived of your silver tongues, without killing themselves and everyone else too for that matter. You see, the chaos you try to blame man for does not exist and never did in the real world. It only exists  in superstition where Man probably was fine till such time as he learned how to control everything with a god and of course the accompanying rule book on how to survive the experience. This superstition stuff is serious business because nary a one of them was able to produce one scrap of proof either … and they all refused to allow anyone to question their authority as they spoke for their god of choice too. I would have thought you guys could at least try to be authentic instead of repeating the same story line of many gods that preceded your choice.

I really don’t understand this question beside an innate desire to survive in society and from the auspices of The RCC, Inc. I am well read and educated Lula and I am not blind or stupid. I was impressed how you guys shut the Jews down though … classic that, hehehe. Lula, it would be easier and less time consuming if you could skip the RCC-C bible school lessons for obvious reason I would think, but that’s just me. Who in their right mind would want to everything is beyone me??? Is that even possible???