Welcome to The Cave of Dragonflies forums, where the smallest bugs live alongside the strongest dragons.
Guests are not able to post messages or even read certain areas of the forums. Now, that's boring, don't you think? Registration, on the other hand, is simple, completely free of charge, and does not require you to give out any personal information at all. As soon as you register, you can take part in some of the happy fun things at the forums such as posting messages, voting in polls, sending private messages to people and being told that this is where we drink tea and eat cod.
Of course I'm not forcing you to do anything if you don't want to, but seriously, what have you got to lose? Five seconds of your life?
It's really annoying when people put forward arguments they have no intention of sticking around to defend. If you're going to "withdraw", just do it, without the "please note though"; if you're not going to continue the discussion, then the unreadable block of text in the middle of your post is a waste.I'm going to withdraw out of this (I've changed my attitude) because Phantom made a very good point in his second post.
Please note though: The two stories of creation are compatible if you look at the second in non-chronological order; I don't smoke; the Bible does tell a mostly-consistent story; the "us" in Phantom's first verse is referring to the Trinity; see this page (especially 4 and 10) for recently-fulfilled prophecies; any religious text verifies a hypothesis (the doctrine of its religion), not itself; what is CCC2125?; there are dozens of versions of the Bible out of necessity, because each translation does not touch the heart of everyone; ascended in John 3:13 means, by one's own power where Elijah (and Enoch) were taken up to heaven; I suppose that there was a period of time between when Pilate gave the death order and when Jesus was actually crucified, which happens to be 21 hours; you should do good for the glory of God, while alms should be secret because if you're dumping massive amounts of money in public, you're just glorifying yourself; Jesus is using hyperbole when he says, "when thout prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut thy door, pray", while Paul encouraged prayer whenever, even in public, but not "showing off" to others as "Lifting up your holy hands" is a metaphor; I'd like to see some links which back Phantom up (for the first part of his post); I don't see how the Holocaust is a religious war; there is evidence to back most religions up (it's a matter of the amount of and the quality of evidence, as you pointed out); when Newton first formulated his theory of gravity, he had to give evidence of it - he might have said that gravity not existing was "cock-and-bull" but in the end, he was the one who had to provide evidence for gravity; how did "indoctrination" derail my argument?
I'm sorry that you have no option to "unconfirm" or anything, Phantom. Have you talked to your minister about it (or made him do CCC2125)?
I'm going to withdraw out of this (I've changed my attitude) because Phantom made a very good point in his second post.
I'm very sorry; it won't happen again.I am a 'she' first of all.
I can't speak for them, sorry. But I can answer with John 10:30 ("I and my Father are one") and this link: http://www.evidencetobelieve.net/the_holy_trinity.htm (scroll most of the way down or search for "The Early Church")Second, I am going to respond to the best of my ability, but I am on a cellphone so bear with me please...
[...]
Uh I can safely say, Uh.... no. The Trinity is a recent "creation" (or at least as recent asfar as the church is concerned) also there are denominations of Chirstianity that deny the Trinity, how do they feel about it?"
Sorry.It is an segment taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as I already said in the post. Please at least bother to Google something before questioning it.
Yes. But let's face it, not everybody here knows Hebrew, Greek, or even relatively modern KJV English.The fly in the soup here is, wouldn't god want his worshipers united?
They're translations. See above.The other is that the Bible is supossedly written by god, how can there be different versions that were plainly written by men that still claim to be written by god?
There's verses that surround it that also use hyperbole obviously (Matthew 6:2 and 3) so it's not exactly heresy.Saying something was a hyperbole is entirely heresay, and derails your point.
Sorry, but Google gave me a bunch of links to stock photo sites and a shop when I searched it up.Do CCC2125? Seriously. Did you even read or research ANYTHING? That's like saying did I do the second amendment or something lol.
No you have to be excommunicated. And it's 'priest' not minister.
Maybe someone can better support what I said earlier.... damn me not having a computer.
I do intend to defend the middle part, perhaps learn a bit. I do not further intend to assert that Christianity is plausible.It's really annoying when people put forward arguments they have no intention of sticking around to defend. If you're going to "withdraw", just do it, without the "please note though"; if you're not going to continue the discussion, then the unreadable block of text in the middle of your post is a waste.
Wait, is there something I'm missing here? I never had any trouble leaving the Catholic Church, as far as I know. I just filled in some papers and presto, no more church tax. Is this yet another one of those things where the US and Scandinavia are super-different for seemingly no reason, or are they keeping something from me? Huh!Dātura;581463 said:To add to ex-communication point: I, like Phantom, was pretty much forced into the "sacrament" of Confirmation. I am a registered member of the Catholic Church.
What does this mean? It means that they can use my membership, and the membership of every registered Catholic, for political leverage. My membership indirectly fuels discriminatory laws that range from denying myself the right to marry another man to de-funding programs that promote women's health and wellness. It means that they can solicit me for money. It means that I'm on their mailing list, so I'm sent things like DVDs telling me that same-sex marriage, which I hope to partake in one day, is sinful and should never be made legal. It means I belong to a group that actively protects child rapists, that wishes to deny contraception to nations in Africa that desperately need it, that advocates intolerance toward people of other faiths (or no faith at all).
And I cannot do anything about it. Attempts have been made to peacefully ex-communicate oneself from the Catholic Church, but they are generally unsuccessful. The Catholic Church stands by its "once a Catholic, always a Catholic" motto, and they hold your spiritual identity hostage. The only sure-fire way to have yourself removed from the church is to assault the Pope, which is certainly easier said than done.
I will be writing letters to the bishop whose diocese I am registered with, as well as the bishop whose diocese I was baptized in, formally requesting ex-communication on the grounds of ideological differences and general disgust with the church. I'm not holding my breath, but I must try, because the Catholic Church sickens me more and more every day.
If you have to force people to remain registered members, what does that say about your church (and your religion)?
Are you referring to the Roman Catholic Church, or the Church of Sweden? I've never had to pay any sort of "church tax," and I don't think my family has either.Wait, is there something I'm missing here? I never had any trouble leaving the Catholic Church, as far as I know. I just filled in some papers and presto, no more church tax. Is this yet another one of those things where the US and Scandinavia are super-different for seemingly no reason, or are they keeping something from me? Huh!
To all religious people, I tell you...
"Do not mistake coincidence for fate." (Mr. Eko, LOST)
No, it's the Catholic church alright.Dātura;581485 said:Are you referring to the Roman Catholic Church, or the Church of Sweden? I've never had to pay any sort of "church tax," and I don't think my family has either.
I guess I can only speak for ex-communication in the United States, although I wouldn't think the church's policies would vary from country to country. A subreddit called /r/excatholic documents numerous instances of members being unable to leave the church (although there are some success stories there too, which is always encouraging!).
I'm very sorry; it won't happen again.
I can't speak for them, sorry. But I can answer with John 10:30 ("I and my Father are one") and this link: http://www.evidencetobelieve.net/the_holy_trinity.htm (scroll most of the way down or search for "The Early Church")
Yes. But let's face it, not everybody here knows Hebrew, Greek, or even relatively modern KJV English.
Deduction, Phantom.
There's verses that surround it that also use hyperbole obviously (Matthew 6:2 and 3) so it's not exactly heresy.
"Or you could.... uh.... google the Gospels?"
That doesn't explain "There is also evidence of lots of civilisations being older than Noah's flood."
"Lol wut? It wasnt a 'war', maybe......."
It was spurred by race, not religion, right...?
Sorry, but Google gave me a bunch of links to stock photo sites and a shop when I searched it up.
Win for quoting Mr Eko, fail for realising that character was, as it happens, religious :)
Not really, he was a fake priest! And, in the end, he did not repent his sins.
"American Catholic Church" isn't what you think it is. The Roman Catholic Church is what most people are referring to when they call themselves "Catholic," and it transcends national boundaries.@ Music Dragon: The American Catholic Church is extremely conservative, even for the church.
Dātura;581561 said:"American Catholic Church" isn't what you think it is. The Roman Catholic Church is what most people are referring to when they call themselves "Catholic," and it transcends national boundaries.