PaladInChrist

Yes, its a difficult teaching to follow. Narrow road and all that...

PaladInChrist

Whats up Hubble head-

Thanks for the tip.

Paladin = A Holy Knight

So, yeah, its kind of like "soldier in christ," as you said.

hinduwoman

I read about two Hindu converts compalining that when they asked their priest to sign a certificate officially releasing them from the church the priests and their superiors refused.

But some others got them ok.

ComestibleVenom

I too am bothered by the notion that I'm still being counted as Catholic.

I think I'm going to do something about it given that I have some spare time. Tomorrow, I'm going to start the process of removing the last support I provide for the Catholic Church.

Because I realized that I could generate a ficticious relationship within my own brain. I realized I could delude myself into talking with a non-existent invisible friend.

When I learned these things, and the full force of their implication, I found myself unable to find anything but the echos of my own hopes, fears and dreams within the vast expanse of my mind.

I felt like a child straining to hear voices in a windblown house. The voices were still there, but I was suddenly alone. A scary feeling, but my Catholic parents taught me better than to believe that comfort is a reliable substitute for truth.

Have fun in the Catholic Church. There's a lot to learn within it, and I hope you make use of it. Just remember that there will be errors you need to ignore just as surely as you'll find wisdom to embrace. Use your mind, and you'll do ok.

Godless Dave

More to my point, there's no good reason to follow it.

ComestibleVenom

Even more to the point, there is good reason not to follow it. Oh, you should see all the catholic girls I knew who are now raising children for whom they are utterly unprepared.

PaladInChrist

Did they follow ALL of the rules? Such as not having sex outside of marriage in the first place? Or were they making it up as they went along?

Godless Dave

I think it just demonstrates how unrealistic those particular rules are, and the ineffectiveness of any system of moral teaching that relies on obedience to an authority instead of individual judgement.

Meanwhile those of us who follow neither rule get to have sex when we and our partners want, but not have children until we feel we are ready. Without feeling guilty about it.

PaladInChrist

Ok

Shake

I wrote an email earlier today to the secretary at my former church, asking that I be removed from all rosters or membership lists. I was tactful and just said that my beliefs had changed.

Let's see ... yup, already got a reply. My parents are still active members, and my wife started taking my son to the 3 yr. old class, even though he's only 2 1/2. So I wanted to ensure confidentiality. I know I'll still be welcome to visit of course. It feels great now knowing that my name will NOT be counted as a member of any church. Also, that it will reflect in any sort of census that may occur.