Sometimes I feel like a mean old man snatching teddy bears from the arms of terrified children, leaving them with nothing but their fears.
A commenter recently stated that the Roman Catholic Church has done way more good than bad in the world.
And we all sort of let that statement go. But it deserves to be harshly refuted, so:
I assert that the world would be a better place if the Roman Catholic Church had never existed.
What’s a Roman Catholic to do, who wakes up to find:
-the whole Bible story, from Eden to Pentecost, is poppycock,
-the RC hierarchy is corrupt, hypocritical, self serving
-the American (possibly worldwide) RC hierarchy has promoted and now covers up child sex abuse by priests,
-the RCC is totally messed up on the sex thing,
-the liturgy is no fun, and,
-most importantly, the love shared among the congregants is minimal.
Then what?
Find something else to do with your time. This could include the exploration of spiritual issues through philosophy, art, or other religious traditions. Find your karass(es). The RCC, according to Bokononism is a granfaloon.
A group I keep coming across is the UUs. They’re a non-religion in the etymological sense of ligature. They seem to be in favor of religious freedom and the sharing of spiritual truths and insights whatever their source.
I came across a website by a UU guy. I think he’s some sort of UU minister. His voice, in describing his visit to a Gay Pride parade, is cheerful and demonstrates the neglected middle virtue.
I followed a link on that site to a biography of Norbert Capek, a hero of Unitarian Universalism. You gotta love the bow tie, and he DIDN’T cooperate with the Nazi’s.
Capek started as a Catholic, became a Baptist, then became a powerhouse in the Unitarian Universalist movement.
A couple of quotes from the bio.
The church's task, he felt, "must be to place truth above any tradition, spirit above any scripture, freedom above authority, and progress above all reaction."
His was a sun-drenched, pre-Holocaust faith, one that sustained thousands of his compatriots during the darkness of Nazi occupation, 1939-45. His faith enabled him to endure his own martyrdom with an equanimity and heroism confirmed by survivors of the concentration camp in Dachau who knew him there.
UU won’t work for people who love the authoritarian structure of the RCC. For them there are plenty of other authoritarian organizations to choose from.
The homepage of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches (UK) contains this blurb:
WE BELIEVE THAT:
– everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves.
– the fundamental tools for doing this are your own life experience, your reflection upon it, your intuitive understanding and the promptings of your own conscience.
– the best setting for this is a community that welcomes you for who you are, complete with your beliefs, doubts and questions.
It sounds like a religion for grown-ups.
Contrast that with the Balitmore Catechism:
10. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us.
3 comments:
"The tone of Jesuit Watch can be sharp, even harsh."
Finally, something we can agree on.
"Sometimes I feel like a mean old man snatching teddy bears from the arms of terrified children, leaving them with nothing but their fears.
You give yourself way too much credit.
"A commenter recently stated that the Roman Catholic Church has done way more good than bad in the world.
And we all sort of let that statement go. But it deserves to be harshly refuted, so:
I assert that the world would be a better place if the Roman Catholic Church had never existed."
Just because you assert something, that makes it true? Isn't that what the RCC does?
"-the whole Bible story, from Eden to Pentecost, is poppycock,"
Proof please?
"-the RC hierarchy is corrupt, hypocritical, self serving"
There are bad apples in every organazation, including the Catholic Church. You seem to think that the small percentage that you hear about accounts for the entire Church. Unfortuantely, all of the other good Catholic priests and bishops get no recognition.
"-the American (possibly worldwide) RC hierarchy has promoted and now covers up child sex abuse by priests,"
This is completely unfounded. It is true that many of the sexual abuse cases were covered up and that should never have happened. However, the Catholic Church has never and will never promoted such deeds.
"-the RCC is totally messed up on the sex thing,"
Again, you make ridiculous statements without providing a shred of proof. My guess is that you are a gay man that has been burned by a Catholic at some point during your life and now you are trying to pay the RCC back for mistreating you. Believe it or not, the Church doesn't hate you.
"-the liturgy is no fun,"
The liturgy is meant to be prayer, not entertainment.
"-most importantly, the love shared among the congregants is minimal."
Apparently, you have not been going to the same parishes as I have.
"Find something else to do with your time. This could include the exploration of spiritual issues through philosophy, art, or other religious traditions."
Many Catholics do these things anyway without leaving the Church.
"A group I keep coming across is the UUs. They’re a non-religion in the etymological sense of ligature. They seem to be in favor of religious freedom and the sharing of spiritual truths and insights whatever their source."
It sounds like the Spirit is moving you in a positive direction with the Unitarians. I'm glad that you have found a place that you like.
"WE BELIEVE THAT:
– everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves.
– the fundamental tools for doing this are your own life experience, your reflection upon it, your intuitive understanding and the promptings of your own conscience.
– the best setting for this is a community that welcomes you for who you are, complete with your beliefs, doubts and questions."
By golly, that sounds like the Society of Jesus!
"Contrast that with the Balitmore Catechism:
10. Q. How shall we know the things which we are to believe?
A. We shall know the things which we are to believe from the Catholic Church, through which God speaks to us."
The Baltimore Catechism is silly and many Catholics don't like it, myself included.
I would encourage you to stop commenting on an organization that you clearly know nothing about. If you are going to provide an argument, please try to make it less hollow...
~A
Don't worry, I'm not going UU.
I'm a member of a karass I've named FOME, Familiars of Mineral Existence. It's like Chardin without the teleology, or that noosphere crap.
I think I stated before, this blog ain't about me, it's about the Roman Catholic Church
"I think I stated before, this blog ain't about me, it's about the Roman Catholic Church."
For a blog that isn't about you, you certainly mention yourself a lot.
~A
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