Greendawn, I think you're right. Religion is not just religion, it is culture and traditions. I know for me, the Church's traditions are beautiful. Some find it so distasteful, to me, though. The Mass was one of the most beautiful things I had ever attended. I remember how the priest read from the Psalms and the scriptures that were read and homily being about love. It was so foreign. Yes they read the bible at the Kingdom Hall. I know that. But it was different at the Church.
Mind you, I have yet to experience another Christian church.
<<shrugs>>
Religion just doesn't work for me.
Kudra,
Anyway,
Yes, I was talking with a catholic friend the other day and she had a lot of insight into the protestant movement and how the celibate preist thing came about, and the corruption in the catholic church at the time, the "hatred" of mary-worship etc. etc.
I have learned a lot from my Catholic friends about religion. That is really not meant to take away from Protestants, it's just I've had more opportunity to talk to Catholics on a personal level than Protestants.
Seems like the protestants (and dubs) still harbor a lot of resentment about the practices of the catholic church. Is this something that the church does NOW that angers the protestants or is it a hold-over from reformation times??
I think that's what I'm trying to figure out. Why all the anger or just general hostility over something like the way Catholics petition Mary? That's their thing.
All religion sucks!
It's time to cast off the Oppressor.
Nvr, you make me smile ya know that?
My only imput in this discussion is that my ex-wife was a Catholic, and converted to JW. She was the most screwed up biotch that I ever knew.
Sorry for mooning you, I'll go edit it after this post.
Hey I've mooned my fair share of people, so I probably deserved this one huh?
I don't know why Catholics get such a bad rap here. I can only guess from personal experience. My mom was as strict a Roman Catholic as she is a zealous JW. After my brother was DF'd and became a Roman Catholic it started a chain of events within my family that resulted in my mom taking the hard JW line on shunning. Now she shuns all but one of her children but my brother is the only Catholic.
Maybe it's a residual effect from once being JW that brings out some of the mockery in people. Just a guess.
Isn't that interesting? I'm curious as to how he went from JW to Catholic. And yeah, you have a point. I wish it didn't though. We have so many exwitnesses who are Catholic who come round these parts, and you know, all of them have been so unbelievably kind to me. They've never judged me and have been the ones to help me see the other side of various social issues.