Why all religion is a waste of time!

[Lord Bracknell]

Why do Catholics believe in Confession?

"As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:21-23).

Or, if you prefer the King James version:-
"as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained".

 

[looney]

Now, I can't beleve I'm saying this, I agree with this statement. There, I've said it.

Whatever anyone thinks or says this is fact. The current Pope was in the Hitler Youth so Looney is right to classify him as being a "Nazi" (at least at one time) and The Catholic Church in Ireland, the US and Australia have been proven demonstrably to have sheltered paedophile Priests.

Whether or not this makes religion per se a bad thing is another matter which I have my own views on.

This was just a response to the idea of "real" churches, I seem to remember a scandal about a pedo ring at a Protestant childrens home in Ulster.

were ever you get unchecked power, especially "divine" power you get abuses, this isn't reserved just for the catlicks, although their celibacy rule is bound to attract certain types.

Proportional representation is another type of unchecked power, hence Likud in Israel have to form coalitions with the religous crazies.

 

[Acker79]

Heaven 17, the Riteous Brothers, The Saints, Judas Priest.

The Rolling Stones?

(both as a referrence to the resurrection, and to the fact they're old enough to have been alive at the time)

 

[bhaexpress]

"As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:21-23).

Or, if you prefer the King James version:-
"as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained".

Yes but my point is that some Catholics really believe that all their wrongs are forgiven for saving a couple of Pater Nostas and three Hail Marys. So often people comit the same sins week in week out safe in the knowledge that a quick 'Bless me father for I have sinned' will make them good as new. Having got absolution they then go out and do it all over again. Pointless.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

"As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:21-23).

Or, if you prefer the King James version:-
"as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained".

I know you are a bit of an intellectual big hitter on here LB but you are going to have to explain how these two quotations in any way answer the question..."why do Catholics go to confession?"

What does sitting in a dark box telling another man how you have had carnal thoughts about Susan Boyle have to do with admitting your sins to God.

Why not just get on with it in the belief that God probably does not concern himself with such pap.

And if he does get his knickers in a twist over such pap he is'nt much of a supreme being IMO.

 

[Mackenzie]

The only religion I'm interested in is the Church of the Albion, however I would be quite interested in watching those evil irish paedo priests and their bishops get a good old fashoned religious stoning.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I know you are a bit of an intellectual big hitter on here LB but you are going to have to explain how these two quotations in any way answer the question..."why do Catholics go to confession?"

What does sitting in a dark box telling another man how you have had carnal thoughts about Susan Boyle have to do with admitting your sins to God.

Why not just get on with it in the belief that God probably does not concern himself with such pap.

And if he does get his knickers in a twist over such pap he is'nt much of a supreme being IMO.

It's all to do with the power of the (biblically ordained) priesthood - something that "bible believing" protestants have a real problem in understanding. As do non-believers brought up in the protestant tradition.

Read more here - CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Sacrament of Penance

 

[wellquickwoody]

I was only commenting how funny I thought it was that someone could publicly announce that they believed it was possible that someone who may or may not have existed 2,000 years may or may not have visited these shores during that period. All got a bit deep now........

 

[bhaexpress]

I was only commenting how funny I thought it was that someone could publicly announce that they believed it was possible that someone who may or may not have existed 2,000 years may or may not have visited these shores during that period. All got a bit deep now........

3rd rule of NSC, no not criticise religion. Rule 2 is not not mention the BNP.

 

[looney]

.......how you have had carnal thoughts about Susan Boyle ......

You as well?

 

[beorhthelm]

This post needs to be explained a bit more.

You seem to be saying that your version of being a non-believer is all about not believing in the literal truth of every word in the bible? [In other words, you're an evangelical, protestant, possibly Calvinist, non-believer] Why's that?

Aren't people allowed not to believe in a more scholarly, mystical version of religion that has evolved over time, supported by contemplative meditation on the mysteries of life?

i fear you have pushed me out of my depth. however i feel that the "scholarly, mystical version" is the thin end of a big wedge. I wonder how many modern christians would even acknowledge that they are following a simple mysticism, i think they hold their faith in higher regard believing that its more tangible. mainstream politics and many areas of daily life seem to have the overriding need in to yield to religion all the time. i'd be quite happy if relgion was just about a few people quietly praying in their club houses not interfering with the rest of the world, in the manner of say an amature dramatics group. The CoE has a good go at this, but even they still feel the need to claim the moral high ground, based on the pretext they gain insight from their favorite book. I dont claim the answer is really 42, i recognise it for the joke it is.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I dont claim the answer is really 42, i recognise it for the joke it is.

Joke ? Sorry ?

That is the answer.

 

[Dandyman]

It's all to do with the power of the (biblically ordained) priesthood - something that "bible believing" protestants have a real problem in understanding. As do non-believers brought up in the protestant tradition.

Read more here - CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Sacrament of Penance

Certainly a problem for me as a culturally Prod Athiest. Where in the Bible, specifically the new bit, does it say anything about Popes, Bishops or the rest of the priesthood ?

The structure of the RC Church is a reflection of it's invention by a Roman ruler (and stunningly similar to the structures of fascist states). The disciples as depicted in the Bible are far closer to Rabbis than priests.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Joke ? Sorry ?

That is the answer.

It sure as HELL isn't 4-4-2.

Life is a bit more complicated than that. At least that's what the good book says.

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

I have not read every single post in this thread.

I am not a religous person.

Why can we not all be free to follow whatver chosen belief lets us sleep at night and also provides comfort in times of worry and stress.

Why can we not live in harmony with our neighbours who practice a different creed. Why do we need to judge them according to our own beliefs?

Live and let live.

Hmm... Should there always be absolute freedom of religious belief? Is the right attitude one of ‘live and let live’? I see it this way.

If a little old lady truly and sincerely believes that there are fairies at the bottom of her garden, then in a free society like ours, that's no concern of mine. But all that changes when those sincerely held beliefs lead her to threatening with murder any neighbours not sharing her dotty delusions. At that point, her behaviour becomes a matter of valid and urgent public concern; it is no longer tolerable on the grounds of beliefs sincerely held.

If our investigations subsequently reveal that the old lady has in fact been indoctrinated since birth, that her belief system obliges her to pray to the fairies no fewer than five times a day, and that she is planning to massacre the rest of us as worthless infidels, then even more urgent action is called for.

Even in a supposedly free society, we cannot afford to turn a totally blind eye to every brand of religious belief and practice.

 

[bhaexpress]

Hmm... Should there always be absolute freedom of religious belief? Is the right attitude one of ‘live and let live’? I see it this way.

If a little old lady truly and sincerely believes that there are fairies at the bottom of her garden, then in a free society like ours, that's no concern of mine. But all that changes when those sincerely held beliefs lead her to threatening with murder any neighbours not sharing her dotty delusions. At that point, her behaviour becomes a matter of valid and urgent public concern; it is no longer tolerable on the grounds of beliefs sincerely held.

If our investigations subsequently reveal that the old lady has in fact been indoctrinated since birth, that her belief system obliges her to pray to the fairies no fewer than five times a day, and that she is planning to massacre the rest of us as worthless infidels, then even more urgent action is called for.

Even in a supposedly free society, we cannot afford to turn a totally blind eye to every brand of religious belief and practice.

Exactly. Live and let live as long as you let people live.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Hmm... Should there always be absolute freedom of religious belief? Is the right attitude one of ‘live and let live’? I see it this way.

If a little old lady truly and sincerely believes that there are fairies at the bottom of her garden, then in a free society like ours, that's no concern of mine. But all that changes when those sincerely held beliefs lead her to threatening with murder any neighbours not sharing her dotty delusions. At that point, her behaviour becomes a matter of valid and urgent public concern; it is no longer tolerable on the grounds of beliefs sincerely held.

If our investigations subsequently reveal that the old lady has in fact been indoctrinated since birth, that her belief system obliges her to pray to the fairies no fewer than five times a day, and that she is planning to massacre the rest of us as worthless infidels, then even more urgent action is called for.

Even in a supposedly free society, we cannot afford to turn a totally blind eye to every brand of religious belief and practice.

Quite. Which is why I believe the 'live and let live' philosophy transcneds not only you and I but our neighbours and in your case the old biddy!

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

So what's your take on the Bishop of Rome saying most churches in the UK are not "real churches" ?

Probably because alot of them used to be RC churches, not CoE.

Kinda like stolen property.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Hmm... Should there always be absolute freedom of religious belief? Is the right attitude one of ‘live and let live’? I see it this way.

If a little old lady truly and sincerely believes that there are fairies at the bottom of her garden, then in a free society like ours, that's no concern of mine. But all that changes when those sincerely held beliefs lead her to threatening with murder any neighbours not sharing her dotty delusions. At that point, her behaviour becomes a matter of valid and urgent public concern; it is no longer tolerable on the grounds of beliefs sincerely held.

If our investigations subsequently reveal that the old lady has in fact been indoctrinated since birth, that her belief system obliges her to pray to the fairies no fewer than five times a day, and that she is planning to massacre the rest of us as worthless infidels, then even more urgent action is called for.

Even in a supposedly free society, we cannot afford to turn a totally blind eye to every brand of religious belief and practice.

But what should we do if there ARE fairies at the bottom of her garden?

 

[Dandyman]

Probably because alot of them used to be RC churches, not CoE.

Kinda like stolen property.

10/10 for spin, but 0/10 for accuracy.

Old Red Socks was using "Church" in the sense of religous community not building. His basic stance is that Protestants and Anglicans are not real Christians. Some might think it odd then that our PM should invite him to these shores.