Ramblings
I've been raised Catholic and I still follow it to some degree, but Catholicism has roots in a lot of Jewish/Roman culture, and some stuff should really be tossed out.
I mean, who wants to follow those wacky laws in Deuteronomy?
*pauses*
Maybe I don't want the answer to that.
I'm one of those wacky Catholic who believes only in what Jesus said and that's about it. I do love Catholicism for its 'cafeteria' religion aspect that I've heard some non-Catholics bash. We've got a prayer and patron saint and ritual for almost everything. I believe we need rituals in our modern lives. (Like Death Bear. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/fashion/07love.html)
That said, if your church and community doesn't support you, I'd say find another.
I also feel for some Christians I know who are told they HAVE TO go out and preach and convert. They feel they are failing somehow if they don't convert folks. It's not their failing. Sigh... Really don't like the idea of someone pressuring me to pressure someone else. (What are we, the Mafia?)
There was this really cute funny scene in Naughty Bits. (A comic by Roberta Gregory.) Marcie, the little very conservative Christian young lady (sometimes I'm tempted to call her girl) is happily singing in church and secure in her faith, until the preacher says something to make her insecure in her faith. This then sets off a whole crazy funny chain reaction where she's taking nerve pills, and puts a restraining order on a young UPS delivery driver she has a crush on. I don't remember what issue it was, I so have to try to dig it out again.
How dare the religious hierarchy make you feel insecure in your faith!
I'm also one of those wacky Catholics who believes God is too vast and big to fit into one POV.
I also know a lot of Catholic women who are very into serving the church community, way more than I know men who are part of the church community. I also know more Catholic women who have the Scholar's version of the Bible, and study such things, than Catholic men.
Sometimes I wonder if it is because the Catholic church tells us we're second class citizens, (and not as important to God as men are) that we are somehow trying to disprove that to ourselves. Or prove to the Church hierarchy that we're not incapable.
While the men, assured in the position of being on top, (thus favorites in the eyes of God) don't bother with serving the community or doing any sort of anthropology style study of the Bible and surrounding times/culture, 'cause, hey they're the favorites! The ones who get all the love and attention, even if they don't deserve it, just because they have a dick.
I often wonder if women could suddenly become priests within the Catholic church, would we suddenly drop all the service and study?
Anyway, enough ranting... I have to go to work soon.
I mean, who wants to follow those wacky laws in Deuteronomy?
*pauses*
Maybe I don't want the answer to that.
I'm one of those wacky Catholic who believes only in what Jesus said and that's about it. I do love Catholicism for its 'cafeteria' religion aspect that I've heard some non-Catholics bash. We've got a prayer and patron saint and ritual for almost everything. I believe we need rituals in our modern lives. (Like Death Bear. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/fashion/07love.html)
That said, if your church and community doesn't support you, I'd say find another.
I also feel for some Christians I know who are told they HAVE TO go out and preach and convert. They feel they are failing somehow if they don't convert folks. It's not their failing. Sigh... Really don't like the idea of someone pressuring me to pressure someone else. (What are we, the Mafia?)
There was this really cute funny scene in Naughty Bits. (A comic by Roberta Gregory.) Marcie, the little very conservative Christian young lady (sometimes I'm tempted to call her girl) is happily singing in church and secure in her faith, until the preacher says something to make her insecure in her faith. This then sets off a whole crazy funny chain reaction where she's taking nerve pills, and puts a restraining order on a young UPS delivery driver she has a crush on. I don't remember what issue it was, I so have to try to dig it out again.
How dare the religious hierarchy make you feel insecure in your faith!
I'm also one of those wacky Catholics who believes God is too vast and big to fit into one POV.
I also know a lot of Catholic women who are very into serving the church community, way more than I know men who are part of the church community. I also know more Catholic women who have the Scholar's version of the Bible, and study such things, than Catholic men.
Sometimes I wonder if it is because the Catholic church tells us we're second class citizens, (and not as important to God as men are) that we are somehow trying to disprove that to ourselves. Or prove to the Church hierarchy that we're not incapable.
While the men, assured in the position of being on top, (thus favorites in the eyes of God) don't bother with serving the community or doing any sort of anthropology style study of the Bible and surrounding times/culture, 'cause, hey they're the favorites! The ones who get all the love and attention, even if they don't deserve it, just because they have a dick.
I often wonder if women could suddenly become priests within the Catholic church, would we suddenly drop all the service and study?
Anyway, enough ranting... I have to go to work soon.