Posts by new22day

8

Christian and a Hindu prayed for me today

by new22day in

i had an accident wed. night and dislocated my knee while walking the woods.

took the paramedics 45 minutes to find me in the bush.

friggin' hurt but i learned morphine is your friend.

new22day

OK - to all you bitter people - an edit:

Right now I'm so hungry that I'm praying to the Spaghetti God. But that's not the point. In my day's travels I should also acknowldege the lovely couple (two gay men) who gave up their cab for me. And the kind people who offered all kinds of (non-religous) support such as advice on how to walk with a leg brace and go up and down stairs without breaking my neck. At the end of the day - probably more helpful. Point is simply that people are kind and decent, so there.

Stop ruining my buzz - sadly, morphine doesn't last forever. PHHT!

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

OK I don't want to participate on my own thread anymore because it's just gotten stupid.

One final point: doesn't the new Pope's girlfriend look a lot like Betty White?!!! C'mon - does anyone else see that?

8

Christian and a Hindu prayed for me today

by new22day in

i had an accident wed. night and dislocated my knee while walking the woods.

took the paramedics 45 minutes to find me in the bush.

friggin' hurt but i learned morphine is your friend.

new22day

I had an accident Wed. night and dislocated my knee while walking the woods. Took the paramedics 45 minutes to find me in the bush. Friggin' hurt but I learned morphine is your friend. :)

At doc's in full leg cast today and was feeling blue as I learned recovery will take longer than i hoped. While waiting there this woman (also in a leg brace) spotted my blues and came to lend an ear. She was well-dressed, in her 50s and in her own kind of trouble. After talking for a bit she quietly asked me if she could pray for me. (I thought she meant pray for me as in later that night, but no, she took my hand and said a prayer to Jesus right there while her husband waited (it took awhile). I felt embarssed even though the waiting room was empty but I was touched. She never asked anything from me, never invited me to her church, simply asked if she could say a prayer, hugged me and left.

After I saw the doc. I was on my way home in the company of a grumpy cab driver. I needed help to the door and was apprehensive to ask him but he saw I needed a hand and thankfuly stepped right up. When I got to the door he paused and said some words in Indian, not to me directly just kinda spoke into the air. When he was finished he smiled shyly and told me he's just asked God to bless me.

I don't have a formal faith, as in religion, and doubt I ever will. But part of me has always had a bit of envy for people who do. The ability to think someone beyond us can make things better is comforting I suppose. But one thing I do retain faith in is that most people are good, regardless of what they beleive. And I saw evidence of that again today from these strangers with two very different belef systems.

No profound thoughts to share other than that, and I still may be a little high from the drugs. ;)

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

Unless of course you're an advocate for repressing natural desires. If that's the case, then I kind of get your point. Just repress yourself and then you're good with the church. And now we can move on to the sexual abuse problems in the RCC. This is a great example of how well man repressing his natural sexual desires works.

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

However, the attraction to the same sex is not a sin for, any more than an attraction to people to whom you are not married is a sin. So, the Church says homosexual acts are sinful in exactly the same way that acts between anyone else who is not married are sinful. But we don't suppose that the church is anti-hetero because of this. Neither is it accurate to say that the Church is anti-gay.

Sulla: No offense to you, but your arguement isn't logical. The RCC says homosexuality is sin. The church also says adultery is a sin. Two different sins.

Ironically, because the RCC says homosexuality is a sin gays can't marry so therefore don't have the luxury of committing adultery. (LOL)

Following your train of thought, one could say, murder is a sin but thinking about murder is not a sin. Stealing is a sin but thinking about stealing isn't a sin. Church doesn't approve of murderers or thieves either. I think you're stretching.

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

Still thinking -- The great positive I saw in that article is that people are going elsewhere for their religious fix. Shame they still feel the need. But hey, at least they are voting with their feet and sending a message to the church that they are NOT happy with their rules.

Isn't this the crux of the matter? People have the freedom to leave. I'm not so willing to look at them as victims of the big bad church. People have a choice. As noted above, there is a LGBT group loyal to the RCC. So educated and informed people are making a choice. That's freedom of speech and choice.

Trans Human: "It is the Catholic (universal) church, after all, and many South American countries have a naturally 'macho' culture anyway, and the Catholic Church historically adapts to local cultures quite well."

Agree with you. A lot of the chauvinism is a reflection of the culture however, I suppose one could ask how much faith shapes the culture.

Sulla: But have we all agreed that the Church doesn't teach homosexuality is a sin?

I'm lost on this point. I think you and FHN are saying that homosexual thoughts are not a sin but homosexual acts are a sin. If that's the point then sorry, but I think it's weak. One can think sinful thoughts but don't act on them. Why? Because homosexuality is a sin. That's really what they are saying. Am I missing something?

98

It,s time to fight back, this is getting out of hand.

by jam in

any suggestions to bring a end to the attacks on us who have.

left the borg and continuing efforts to alienate our love one still.

in the borg.. how about this, we all send letters to hq, flood the mail room with.

new22day

Lisa Ling host of 'Our America' does interesting documentarys and has had a large focus on weird American religions. Seems to fit her storylines. I can hear it now...

"Most of us simply know them as the people who knock on our doors and talk about the end of times and how we can live forever. The Jehovah's Witnesses typically fly under the radar but what don't we know about their beliefs and pracitces. And why do so many people, including those who have left, call this religion a dangerous cult..."

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

Thanks Flying High Now for bumping us off that scrolly page. I think you two were in agreement for a while! I was reading between the lines. :)

Still Thinking "Does one person's comfort and culture override the underlying detriment to society and many individuals? Does the continued bigotted belief about homosexuals and women not matter when we are finding personal comfort within it's framework?

These are some main reasons why religion doesn't fit for me. I was sent to a Christian college (against my will - LOL) for a few months for a math class and we were required to take bible studies. As a female I was dumfounded regarding the gender roles and expecations to be submissive. I figured God gave me a brain and if HE/SHE didn't want me to use it, why make me this way. I spent much time arguing with the father who taught the class. Cause I wasn't going to follow/submit - not my nature. So I made an easy personal choice, which anyone can make, to not particpate. Religion doesn't speak to me but the postive spiritual aspects I appreciate..

But check out this website for LGBT Catholics called Dignity

These believers want reform from within.

LGBT Catholics offer Prayers, Caution for New Pope

Boston, MA, March 13, 2013. DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke has made the following statement on the election of Pope Francis:

“We join our fellow Catholics in praying for the ministry and leadership of Pope Francis. We applaud the cardinals for their recognition of the rising energy of the Catholic Church in the global South and the new possibilities and perspectives that may come from that region.

We are encouraged by Pope Francis’ clear commitment to the poor, and to the social justice tradition at the heart of our faith. At the same time, we acknowledge that as archbishop and cardinal the man who is now Pope Francis has made some very harsh and inflammatory statements about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. We recognize that sometimes this new job on which he embarks can change the man called to it. We call on our new Pope to recognize that he is now head of a Church that includes a huge number of LGBT people, their families and friends around the world. We invite him to take the time to learn about our lives, our faith, and our families before he makes any papal pronouncements about us, and we stand ready to enter into dialogue with him at any time.”

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Still Thinking "WTS too which is arguably no where near as extensive as the Catholic church?."
How do you know that? The cover ups are just starting to come out now. JWS have no idea how rampant abuse is in the org. because it's been swept under the rug and there's fear to talk about it.
The RCC has a lot to answer for on chld abuse. It's up to followers to walk away or be vocal about this and demand change.

Anyhow I've lost the point of the discussion? Are you arguing that the RCC is the worst, or are they (JWs) equally bad?

I think everyone has agreed the orgs overall have major problems, including corruption.

(This is my last post for the day)
Thanks for the convo

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

Flying High Now - any chance you can edit your post? It's messed up the thread with running text...?

303

New Pope about to come out

by new22day in

maybe she'll be really progessive..

new22day

Still Thinking "One has to wonder why they continue to support these religions though doesn't one? With Islam it's understandable...fear silences many and keeps thim under heavy handed control. But for Catholics...whats their excuse?"

I think it has to do with looking at these beliefs with more than just one lens. Religion obviously provides community, comfort, peace and order for some people. It's also cultural in many parts of the world.

I don't follow any religion but I respect people who do as long as: 1) they don't force their beliefs on me (atheists included), 2) they personally don't discrminate, believe in or promote hatred or harm others. Thankfully many people reject discriminatory doctrines and practices and I get that. So I look at the person not the label of their religion.

Live and let live and society will evolve. The times are a changing.