I wasn't raised a total heathen, in fact it was quite the opposite. My dad was a dyed in the wool Catholic. My mom was a Presbyterian convert. I still remember when she was confirmed into the Catholic faith. What on earth possessed her! I digress. Every Sunday and Holy day I was dressed up and led off to church by the hand. I dreaded these days. In my youth it was little dresses, itchy tights and shoes that pinched. Oh how a dreaded church! Sitting in a hard pew for at least an hour being bored to death. "Listening" to a homily that was always to long and rambled terribly. May God have mercy on your soul if you didn't behave and had to be "taken out" to learn some manners. (Yes it means EXACTLY what you think it does.) You only got your hide tanned a couple times before you learned to sulk and follow the mass on cue in your sleep and backwards. Up until the last few years I could still follow along in my sleep. Ah things they are a changing. Well in the Mass format at least.
Wikipedia has this definition of Catholicism.
Wikipedia has this definition of Catholicism.
The doctrine, faith, practice, and organization of a Catholic church, esp. of the Roman Catholic Church.
Catholicism. A secretive, male dominated, guilt oriented, organization filled with book upon book of rules and regulations to be followed so you MIGHT be allowed into heaven.
Seems if you're divorced you're not getting in. Doesn't matter if he/she was an abusive, alcoholic, cheating arse. You signed on. You're in it for life. Deal with it. If you're Gay you're not getting in either. Well maybe if you decide you aren't, but then there is the whole lying thing. Don't get me started on the gay priests, that's a whole other blog entry. (Not in a bad way, so keep your shorts on! I love the gay community.)
Oh I know I've heard it. "God is a merciful and loving God. The penitent man shall enter the kingdom of heaven." Well I sure hope the Pope, all those Arch Bishops, Bishops, Cardinals, Mon seigneurs, Priests (and any other ranking official I've forgotten) are on their knees promptly.
Maybe I'm just to much of a free thinker, always have been. Abraham Lincoln was a free thinker. He made great strides for humanity. Granted he was advised to bury his thoughts on God by his aides. (Look it up. I'm not making this up folks. You can Google it.) I think I'm going to stick with good deeds and compassion for my fellow man. I can't judge you until I've walked a mile in your shoes or down your path in life. Organized religion is as flawed as the man who leads it.
In the end it comes down to this: Do the right thing. Cause no harm. Raise up your fellowman no matter what race, creed or religion.
Anyone seen my book on Buddhism?
