2-0-Sixx said:
Question for you comrade (and please don’t take this in the wrong way), if you’re fully aware of all of the lies/crimes the Catholic Church is responsible for, how can you willingly be a member?
I guess because I've received the sacrements and the teachings and whatnot, I consider myself a member of the Catholic Church, but in all honesty it doesnt really matter. Unfortunately for the large cross tattooed on my back, it will be reflected in me despite my beliefs.
My take on religion, as I've investigated things more closely, is that Islamics, Jews, and Christians all have the same "one message" that I was alluding to earlier: be a good person, believe in a higher power, hope for an afterlife. I don't think it really matters what religion I say that I have, because I don't think a Jew or a Shiite is any more incorrect than I am. I believe in the power of religion. I believe, whether it be by creation or evolution, life started somewhere, planets started somewhere, and life ends. I do not know what happens after life ends, but I put my faith that whoever/whatever created life may possibly have a plan for me once it ends.
So yes, I am a Catholic, but I did attend a non-denominational Christian church for a few years. The reason I haven't changed my religion or say that I am no longer Catholic is because its just a label, and I dont really care how people label me. I abandoned many Catholic traditions years ago, such as confession and church, but I still hold true that there is a God or creator of some sort.
I guess, as holds true for any organization, that once you are a member for long enough, you grow to respect it. I may not have the same beliefs as the lady sitting in front of me in church, however I respect the fact that she believes in something and that she has hope, so as I often say, to each their own. I'd hardly bring down someone for having an incorrect religion, as most people are incapable of enlightenment. The thing I dont like about religion is that it causes people to be controlled, however, this is more of an unfortunate consequence of religion than an actual element. Religion in itself, to me, is a good thing.
As for going off topic...there's no reason to try to control the flow of conversation haha.
I'll get back to all the other points later maybe, but Im home now and I gotta life to live!!
(As for the "quotes" from Jesus that you picked from the Bible, once again, you have to remember that I understand the Bible was manipulated by those who wished to control the people. That fear of God is exactly the thing that was intended by them. I just believe moreso in the message of being a good person than the message verbatim. We can agree verbatim doesn't exist.)