Calling all people who think they know a lot(religion wise)

I had an interesting experience when I started university.  After 18 years of Catholic church and kindergarten through grade 12 in Catholic school, I was told by a Baptist and an Alliance church member that I'm not Christian.  I have, therefore, since been under the impression that fundamentalist Christians don't view Catholics as Christian regardless of the dictionary definition of Christian meaning someone who believes in Christ.  I was told by these girls that I'm not Christian because I experience my relationship with God through Mary and the saints and not with Jesus and God directly.  I don't think they appreciated the fact that I can go directly to God or Jesus if I so desire, or I can ask someone else to intercede for me.

My experiences being raised Catholic are fairly liberal.  My schooling didn't spend a whole lot of time in the Old Testament.  We were taught most of the basic Bible stories from Adam and Eve through Noah and such.  Way more time was spent on the 4 Gospels and being a good person.

The way Adam and Eve was taught was with an apple as the offending fruit. I was also taught (by my mom rather than school) that those who died before Jesus came were in purgatory (limbo) until saved through Jesus' death.  But when I was in school, not a lot of time was spent on purgatory (which I believe they've done away with) or venial vs mortal sins.

Things change.  I'd probably make a pretty good protestant but at this time in m life, I choose not to physically attend any church but I do try and lead a good life.  If and when I have kids, I will likely raise them Catholic in order to give them a good foundation in Christianity as so many literary and historical references are rooted in religious struggles.  At the same time, I hope to teach them to be open minded and respect all belief systems. (Should be an interesting challenge for me as I would likely be excommunicated for my actual beliefs i.e. I don't believe the pope is infallible; I believe priests should be allowed to marry, I don't believe Mary was a virgin forever and the list continues.)

if mary ever had a hymen, and managed to get pregnant without braking it then jesus broke it on the way out

On a side note:: How many religious people believe in gay/lesbian rights? and believe in abortion?

Well, since not all religions are as conservative as Christianity, you might find a wide array of answers to this question. As a pagan, I support both gay rights and the right to choose an abortion.

Lutren wrote:

Ellie0792 wrote:

if mary ever had a hymen, and managed to get pregnant without braking it then jesus broke it on the way out

Baby gods cannot break hymens, thats a very well known fact.

they liquidize and flow past them?

Vampie wrote:

Expired wrote:

Orthodox church developed more in the middle east and there about (I think in the Eastern part of Europe but I'm not sure I don't really know anything about them) while the Roman catholic church developed in Europe.

For those who want to know more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church

You are mainly right. It dates to the division of Roman Empire on Eastern and Western. that's how bishop of Rome was a leader of Western part of Church, and the bishop of Constantinople - of the Eastern Part.

Most of the information I have on them comes from history of art classes

MissCoco9 wrote:

Cryzilla wrote:

MissCoco9 wrote:

I don't believe Mary was a virgin forever.

Of course Mary wasn't a virgin forever.  She was betrothed to Joseph, and perfectly healthy after birthing Jesus.  Actually, I think in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jesus has a brother.  >.>

That's why I would make a better protestant.  There is still a prayer said in Catholic mass that includes the following line:

"And I ask blessed Mary, ever-virgin, all the angels and saints "

This line implies to me that we are supposed to believe that Mary remained chaste forever.

I suspect this is a man-made construct to keep women subjugated.  To this end, I also agree with many scholars who are able to demonstrate how the bible has been influenced and changed by "man" to support the wishes of those in power through the ages.

And, as far as the Dead Sea Scrolls are concerned, the various churches have still chosen not to include any of this information in their teachings.  (My goodness, what would happen to Catholic girls if it was made known that Mary slept with her HUSBAND!)

Hard to deny that the bible is certainly one of the most influential pieces of literature, ever!

(And I would like to add that my Catholic school taught evolutionism, not creationism.  We were never led to believe that Adam and Eve literally happened.)

Yeah, the Dead Sea Scrolls are pretty much unknown to any religious person without an interest in scholarly stuff.  I just happen to like documentaries a lot, so I learn about the most random things.

"The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation." - Elizabeth Cady Stanton

What I find most interesting is how people break laws in the OT all the time, because Jesus changed everything.  But Jesus himself said "I did not come to change the law nor one letter of the law." Meaning that everything in the OT is still true.  So Christians should not be eating at Red Lobster.  XD  But I'm glad it's not the case, too, because of the horrible degradation of women in it.

I won't answer that cuz actualy I have another question

If Jesus was god, they why did he need to sacrifice himself, why didn't he just just stop all that?

and the second question, well no I don't believe in it, cuz If I did then what was the point in creating male and female why not just one sex?

MissCoco9 wrote:

Cryzilla wrote:

MissCoco9 wrote:

I don't believe Mary was a virgin forever.

Of course Mary wasn't a virgin forever.  She was betrothed to Joseph, and perfectly healthy after birthing Jesus.  Actually, I think in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jesus has a brother.  >.>

That's why I would make a better protestant.  There is still a prayer said in Catholic mass that includes the following line:

"And I ask blessed Mary, ever-virgin, all the angels and saints "

This line implies to me that we are supposed to believe that Mary remained chaste forever.

I suspect this is a man-made construct to keep women subjugated.  To this end, I also agree with many scholars who are able to demonstrate how the bible has been influenced and changed by "man" to support the wishes of those in power through the ages.

And, as far as the Dead Sea Scrolls are concerned, the various churches have still chosen not to include any of this information in their teachings.  (My goodness, what would happen to Catholic girls if it was made known that Mary slept with her HUSBAND!)

Hard to deny that the bible is certainly one of the most influential pieces of literature, ever!

(And I would like to add that my Catholic school taught evolutionism, not creationism.  We were never led to believe that Adam and Eve literally happened.)

I agree that treating so called Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) as a model for Catholics causes much stress and is generally nonsense.

But the thing protestants often don't realise is that virginity of Mary was not only considered perfect or a model for feminity by men, they were also many female nuns, some of them thologists and I think in times of Middle Ages for many women monastery was a hiding place from masculine sexuality and aggression. Mind that nuns didn't have to do what laic women had to, which is giving birth (which also made them live longer). They didn't have a male master, though of course were submitted to convent.
Actually I read a convincing study that Reformation started a trend of seeing women just as wives and mothers, while Middle Ages had it's model of female saints.

I often get an impression that cult of Mary as a virgin, having one perfect son is mostly cherished by middle aged and older women, who sees in her what they miss.

Do you really think that there would be much of a purpose for Jesus to come during Adam and Eve's time? They were the only 2 humans on the earth.

But everything happens for a reason rightt? If Jesus came when Adam and Eve were around then would we have all the disciples? the ressurection? mary & joseph? NO! because there were only 2 people on the earth! All the things of Jesus's life, all the stories you know wouldn't be able to exsist!!

As for the Gay Rights, really it's your choice. Do whatever you wanna do. My job is not to judge you. I honestly don't really know what is the right answer to that! There is none! That's why I say it's "whatever"

Sam_Ts wrote:

I won't answer that cuz actualy I have another question

If Jesus was god, they why did he need to sacrifice himself, why didn't he just just stop all that?

and the second question, well no I don't believe in it, cuz If I did then what was the point in creating male and female why not just one sex?

Jesus was the Son of God. He was human?

Sam_Ts wrote:

I won't answer that cuz actualy I have another question

If Jesus was god, they why did he need to sacrifice himself, why didn't he just just stop all that?

and the second question, well no I don't believe in it, cuz If I did then what was the point in creating male and female why not just one sex?

Jesus was the Son of God. He was human?

cheerlove wrote:

Sam_Ts wrote:

I won't answer that cuz actualy I have another question

If Jesus was god, they why did he need to sacrifice himself, why didn't he just just stop all that?

and the second question, well no I don't believe in it, cuz If I did then what was the point in creating male and female why not just one sex?

Jesus was the Son of God. He was human?

He did not Sacrifice himself because he wanted to prove a point to the people. he wanted them to know that there is truly someone up there watching over them, who cloves and cares for them. the fact that Jesus died gave people hope that there really is someone up their who cares for them and wants to save them from their sins. Go wanted to send a message to the people. If God just stopped it all, the people would have learned nothing

People didn't believe in God before Jesus (and a few years after). So, they are considered sinners and now they all burn in hell. All 541638173687377368 of them.

I don't really know how to express myself correctly, because english is not my first language, so I suggest you watch the movie Zeitgeist to get a clearer picture of what I meant to say.