Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Catholic Apologetics: Catholics don't read the bible.
Greetings and salutations.
As a Catholic, I come across many interesting and misguided questions and opinions. I usually take them in stride and answer them, or deal with them, with a smile.
I will address them as time goes on here on my blog.
Today, I will address a viewpoint given to my wife.
Catholics don't read the bible.
Where does this COME from!?!?!?!
WHO came up with the notion that Catholics, who comprise the original Christian church, don't read the bible?
This never made sense to me. Perhaps it is because we don't carry our bibles around with us?
Well, why would we need to? The day's bible readings (every Mass has three readings, an Old Testament reading, a related New Testament reading, and a related Gospel reading, as well as a homily based on said readings) are usually posted on pamphlets in the pews. No need to carry the bible.
Even this notion is wrong, since there are, in fact, MANY Catholics in the pews reading out of their own bibles.
Also, EVERY part of the Mass is based DIRECTLY on scripture. Even most of the songs and responsorials.
How does anyone figure we don't read the bible?
I really hate to do this, because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but usually it is the Protestants who attack Catholics.
And yes, it was a protestant that made the declaration today.
Protestants, for the most part, believe Catholicism is man made. That we make up traditions and ritual to follow. That we blaspheme by not believing in Sola Scriptura, meaning we don't follow the literal interpretation of the scriptures.
Sola Scriptura.
Lets address this for a moment, even though I have an entire blog post dealing with it.
From The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries:
Sola Scriptura is the teaching that the Scriptures contain all that is necessary for salvation and proper living before God. Sola Scriptura means that the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments (excluding the Catholic apocrypha) are the final authority in all that they address (1 Cor. 4:6) and that tradition, even so-called Sacred Tradition, is judged by Scriptures. Sola Scriptura does not negate past church councils or traditions. Those who hold to Sola Scriptura are free to consider past councils, traditions, commentaries, and the opinions of others. But, the final authority is the Scripture alone because the Scripture alone is what is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and not past church councils, tradition, commentaries, and opinions. Scripture is is above them all.
Ok, so, The Scriptures contain all that is necessary for salvation.
Fair enough.
However, protestants believe that we are "saved" through faith alone.
Yet the only time those two words are mentioned in the bible is in James 2:24:
"You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."
In James 2:20, he says:
"Faith without works is dead,"
Even Jesus himself gave us things to DO.
Help the needy.
Feed the hungry.
Shelter the homeless.
Love each other.
He never said "Yeah, you know what? Just believe in me. Thats all you need to do."
No, Jesus made people work for it. As did God throughout the Old testament. It is something that has never changed.
Lot.
Job.
Abraham.
The list goes on and on. God made people work for him, for his love. Nothing in the bible is free.
Jesus died for our sakes, to open the door to our salvation, but the work must still be done. In fact, he left us things to DO, not things to simply believe in.
If "believing" was enough, then the devil should be in heaven, as he believes in God and Jesus too.
So, Faith alone is not enough, ACCORDING to scripture.
Lets try another protestant "belief".
You are Born Again when you accept Jesus into your heart as your personal lord and savior.
Alright, look in the bible and see what it says about this.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
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.
.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nothing? I know, weird, right? That the written word of God, the one true means of salvation, mentions nothing about accepting Jesus into our hearts? Nor of him being a personal savior?
What it DOES say, what JESUS HIMSELF says, is that we can only be born again through water and the spirit. (John 3:5)
Water and Spirit.
Baptism. Another lame Catholic tradition.
So, neither the bible, nor Jesus, mentions ANYTHING about accepting him into our hearts as a prerequisite to being born again.
It also mentions nothing about him being a personal anything, since he was crucified for ALL our sins (not just some of us, but ALL of us).
So....... what bible are the protestants reading from that they get all this stuff from?
I mean, the bible is the word of God, no?
Unerring?
Infallible?
Completely true and should be taken literally?
Well....... not according to those very same protestant. After all, it was the protestants who decided, on their own, that some books in the bible didn't stack up, and decided to remove them. To "edit" the unerring word of God.
Silly creator of the universe. He made some errors. NOW it is perfect.
Ok, this has turned into what I didn't want it to become, an us vs. them post, and that is not the point. I have many protestant friends and love them all. My point originally was, protestants themselves are FULL of their traditions and man made doctrines. There are 30,000 protestant denominations. The beliefs/teachings of each Protestant denomination conflict with the teachings of the others, yet they all claim to be following the Bible. Truth cannot conflict with truth, and the Bible cannot conflict with itself, which is why Jesus Christ founded only ONE Church, and said it was to remain ONE. To say we don't read the bible, when the very church services we attend revolve AROUND the bible, is yet another silly protestant creation (tradition?). The person who said this to my wife is guilty of doing exactly what Jesus said NOT to do. Judging others.
And in case you are not up on your scripture readings, here it is, in his own words:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
So please be careful when it comes to a person's faith, belief, or practice. Unless you have done what they've done, been where they've been, or practiced what they have practiced, you have no idea.
Until next time, EXCELSIOR....... and God Bless.
As a Catholic, I come across many interesting and misguided questions and opinions. I usually take them in stride and answer them, or deal with them, with a smile.
I will address them as time goes on here on my blog.
Today, I will address a viewpoint given to my wife.
Catholics don't read the bible.
Where does this COME from!?!?!?!
WHO came up with the notion that Catholics, who comprise the original Christian church, don't read the bible?
This never made sense to me. Perhaps it is because we don't carry our bibles around with us?
Well, why would we need to? The day's bible readings (every Mass has three readings, an Old Testament reading, a related New Testament reading, and a related Gospel reading, as well as a homily based on said readings) are usually posted on pamphlets in the pews. No need to carry the bible.
Even this notion is wrong, since there are, in fact, MANY Catholics in the pews reading out of their own bibles.
Also, EVERY part of the Mass is based DIRECTLY on scripture. Even most of the songs and responsorials.
How does anyone figure we don't read the bible?
I really hate to do this, because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but usually it is the Protestants who attack Catholics.
And yes, it was a protestant that made the declaration today.
Protestants, for the most part, believe Catholicism is man made. That we make up traditions and ritual to follow. That we blaspheme by not believing in Sola Scriptura, meaning we don't follow the literal interpretation of the scriptures.
Sola Scriptura.
Lets address this for a moment, even though I have an entire blog post dealing with it.
From The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries:
Sola Scriptura is the teaching that the Scriptures contain all that is necessary for salvation and proper living before God. Sola Scriptura means that the Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments (excluding the Catholic apocrypha) are the final authority in all that they address (1 Cor. 4:6) and that tradition, even so-called Sacred Tradition, is judged by Scriptures. Sola Scriptura does not negate past church councils or traditions. Those who hold to Sola Scriptura are free to consider past councils, traditions, commentaries, and the opinions of others. But, the final authority is the Scripture alone because the Scripture alone is what is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and not past church councils, tradition, commentaries, and opinions. Scripture is is above them all.
Ok, so, The Scriptures contain all that is necessary for salvation.
Fair enough.
However, protestants believe that we are "saved" through faith alone.
Yet the only time those two words are mentioned in the bible is in James 2:24:
"You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."
In James 2:20, he says:
"Faith without works is dead,"
Even Jesus himself gave us things to DO.
Help the needy.
Feed the hungry.
Shelter the homeless.
Love each other.
He never said "Yeah, you know what? Just believe in me. Thats all you need to do."
No, Jesus made people work for it. As did God throughout the Old testament. It is something that has never changed.
Lot.
Job.
Abraham.
The list goes on and on. God made people work for him, for his love. Nothing in the bible is free.
Jesus died for our sakes, to open the door to our salvation, but the work must still be done. In fact, he left us things to DO, not things to simply believe in.
If "believing" was enough, then the devil should be in heaven, as he believes in God and Jesus too.
So, Faith alone is not enough, ACCORDING to scripture.
Lets try another protestant "belief".
You are Born Again when you accept Jesus into your heart as your personal lord and savior.
Alright, look in the bible and see what it says about this.
Go ahead, I'll wait.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nothing? I know, weird, right? That the written word of God, the one true means of salvation, mentions nothing about accepting Jesus into our hearts? Nor of him being a personal savior?
What it DOES say, what JESUS HIMSELF says, is that we can only be born again through water and the spirit. (John 3:5)
Water and Spirit.
Baptism. Another lame Catholic tradition.
So, neither the bible, nor Jesus, mentions ANYTHING about accepting him into our hearts as a prerequisite to being born again.
It also mentions nothing about him being a personal anything, since he was crucified for ALL our sins (not just some of us, but ALL of us).
So....... what bible are the protestants reading from that they get all this stuff from?
I mean, the bible is the word of God, no?
Unerring?
Infallible?
Completely true and should be taken literally?
Well....... not according to those very same protestant. After all, it was the protestants who decided, on their own, that some books in the bible didn't stack up, and decided to remove them. To "edit" the unerring word of God.
Silly creator of the universe. He made some errors. NOW it is perfect.
Ok, this has turned into what I didn't want it to become, an us vs. them post, and that is not the point. I have many protestant friends and love them all. My point originally was, protestants themselves are FULL of their traditions and man made doctrines. There are 30,000 protestant denominations. The beliefs/teachings of each Protestant denomination conflict with the teachings of the others, yet they all claim to be following the Bible. Truth cannot conflict with truth, and the Bible cannot conflict with itself, which is why Jesus Christ founded only ONE Church, and said it was to remain ONE. To say we don't read the bible, when the very church services we attend revolve AROUND the bible, is yet another silly protestant creation (tradition?). The person who said this to my wife is guilty of doing exactly what Jesus said NOT to do. Judging others.
And in case you are not up on your scripture readings, here it is, in his own words:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5
So please be careful when it comes to a person's faith, belief, or practice. Unless you have done what they've done, been where they've been, or practiced what they have practiced, you have no idea.
Until next time, EXCELSIOR....... and God Bless.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
So, THIS is what Jesus died for?
Greetings and salutations everyone, and happy Easter to all.
On this most joyous of Christian holidays, I present to you the exact opposite of what Jesus died for. From an article I read online today:
UGANDAN CATHOLIC EASTER MESSAGE CALLS FOR GENOCIDE OF GAYS
CATHOLIC CHURCH MESSAGE IN UGANDA - blessings to all Christians who have been working so hard to make Jinja a land free of gay persons
The Bishop of the Jinja Diocese of the Catholic Church, Bishop Rt. Rev. Fr. Charles Wamika, in today’s Easter Message delivered at St. Chalres Lwanga Catholic Church, praised the Members of Parliament for the Anti-Homosexuality Act that provides life in prison for gay (LGBTI) people in Uganda. The Bishop called for a blessing for Uganda’s Christians who worked so hard to ‘free the land of gays.’ The Bishope also asked for parents to hand over their gay children to authorities, so they would be rewarded in heaven. I would call that a statement praising and calling for a genocide.
Since the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people have gone into hiding. The law, which institutionalizes homophobia and affirms the persecution of LGBTI people, has been held in esteem, the highest reverence and praised by Christian leadership in Uganda, to the point of holding rallies to reward parliamentarians and the President, Yoweri Museveni. The Ugandan Churches and Christian community, (except for a handful, who have been banished and shamed for their compassionate and affirming stance,) have led the assault against gays.
AMWe have challenged noteworthy Christian leaders such as Joel Osteen and others to come forward and condemn the law, and to distinguish their brands of Christianity from that been touted on the stages and streets of Uganda, yet none have done so.
Now a young man in hiding, challenges the Pope, Pope Francis, as the Catholic Church’s official stand in Uganda, on this Easter Sunday seems to send a message of extreme hate, exacerbating the terror felt by gays in hiding.
As this law in Uganda seems to copy the course of Nazi Germany, the scapegoating, and the forcing of a minority into camps and death, the Ann Franks of Uganda remain in terror, questioning whether the Pope will repeat the mistakes of the Catholic Church during the Hitler Holocaust?
From the voice of a young man “accused” of being gay who is in hiding in Uganda:
“The Bishop of Jinja Diocese – Bishop Rt. Rev. Fr. Charles Wamika, in today’s Easter Message delivered at St. Chalres Lwanga Catholic Church, praised the Members of Parliament for taking a stand to see to it that the Anti-homosexuality bill passed into law, he went ahead and called on the faithful to vote for President Museveni in 2016 general elections for signing the bill into law.
He reminded the Christians that, it has been a law and he sent blessings to all Christians who have been working so hard to make Jinja a land free of gay persons. He said throughout human history the catholic church has fought evil and blood has been shed, he called on all the Christians to do whatever they can in their own means to clean this city.
I am surprised that a well educated bishop, well traveled and studied in different western countries uses his position to justify killing. He asked parents with gay suspected children to handle them over to authorities and their reward is in heaven. This is too much hatred. I wonder if we will hear from the Pope on this. If not, I lose all hope.”
To my way of thinking on this Easter Sunday the Ugandan Catholic Bishop of Jinja has indeed called for the extermination of gays. I hope Pope Francis has a great Easter while Ugandan Gays have to hear this hate sputtering from his Bishops. I think this Bishop should be recalled and put to pasture. Perhaps a petition is called for. And what about an apology and a clear message from Pope Francis on this tragic issue.
Alrighty, so now, it's my turn.
This backwards thinking is what gives the Catholic church, and indeed ALL of Christianity, a bad name!! It amazes me how people, in this case a Bishop who should know better, still choose to bend and manipulate the scriptures to express their personal views and opinions.
Some points about the bible:
There are 8 Covenants. From the Covenant of Eden, through the Covenant of Moses, and finally the covenant of Christ, each covenant makes the previous one obsolete by giving the lord's followers SPECIFIC rules to follow. This is easy enough to realize by simply reading the bible.
We don't live according to the rules of the Garden of Eden.
We don't have the responsibility of fathering a nation full of children (The covenant of Abraham) nor of repopulating the Earth (The Covenant of Noah).
We are no longer required to sacrifice animals in the name of God, or even to circumcise our children in His name (the signature of the covenant of Moses).
So we DO understand that the rules of the old covenant are replaced by those of the new.
We also KNOW that Jesus came and gave his blood, the "blood of a NEW and EVERLASTING covenant". Why everlasting? Because he is seated at the right hand of the Father, where he reigns forever and ever.
Ok, so, Jesus is the priest of the final, and everlasting covenant. Yet people are still following the rules of the Mosaic covenant! And not even God's law, but the law of the Levitican priests!! Where oh where in the bible does Jesus say it is wrong to be "gay"? If someone can PLEASE show me, it would sure clear things up!
Now, it DOES say, in the Levitican law (1 of over 600 laws) that a man should not lay with another man, as he does with a woman, that it is an abomination and is punishable by death.
Ok, so, lets look at that.
The abomination is a man laying with a man as with a woman.
Laying with a man.
Interesting how it says nothing about a man being emotionally in love with another man like he is with a woman.
Emotions are never mentioned.
Just the act.
So, when is the act of man on man sex done without involving feelings and emotions?
Probably the same way it is with a man and a woman.
It is called rape.
And back in the days that the old testament was recording, it was a common ocurrance for men to rape other men in order to break them and establish dominance over them. Usually an invading and conquering army would rape the conquered. Other times, the men from one village would want at any visiting men, not because they were gay, but because they wanted to show the visitors who was boss.
If you don't believe me, look it up. It is common in secular history of the area (and still quite common in prisons around the world today.)
You can also look it up in the bible.
Genesis 19:5
They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
This took place in Sodom and Gomorrah, when the two angels came to warn Lot that he had to leave because the city was being destroyed.
So, right there in the bible it mentions men wanting to rape other men.
Not exactly gay behavior, since rape is NEVER consentual.
Considering the reputation this city had, it would make ALL the sense in the world for the Levitican Priests to want to ban such behavior.
Sodomy/rape is still considered an abomination today.
However, this is not what this bishop is talking about.
He is talking about "Gay" people. An altogether different animal.
Being gay or lesbian, means having feelings and emotions toward someone who is of the same sex.
Is it unnatural? Perhaps. After all, nature (Or God, depending on how you look at it) specifically made man and woman compatible for mating.
But again, mating and love are two altogether different animals as well.
So, ok, back to the bible. So, Christ's Covenant, the reason he died, abolished the previous covenant.
In Christ'as covenant he has 2 commandments.
1)Love God above all things.
2)Love each other as we love ourselves. Indeed, love each other as Jesus himself loved us.
And he summed up all the prophets and all the laws with the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.
So, as Christians (followers of Christ, not of Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc), where does Jesus talk about murdering and slaughtering people who are different?
This Bishop is a disgrace to the cloth, and to the church. I understand the social views of his country, but he is a CATHOLIC Bishop. He is responsible for following and teaching CATHOLIC law
I do not want to judge, since Jesus warned us against that as well, but...... well, there you have it.
EXCELSIOR......... and God bless.
On this most joyous of Christian holidays, I present to you the exact opposite of what Jesus died for. From an article I read online today:
UGANDAN CATHOLIC EASTER MESSAGE CALLS FOR GENOCIDE OF GAYS
CATHOLIC CHURCH MESSAGE IN UGANDA - blessings to all Christians who have been working so hard to make Jinja a land free of gay persons
The Bishop of the Jinja Diocese of the Catholic Church, Bishop Rt. Rev. Fr. Charles Wamika, in today’s Easter Message delivered at St. Chalres Lwanga Catholic Church, praised the Members of Parliament for the Anti-Homosexuality Act that provides life in prison for gay (LGBTI) people in Uganda. The Bishop called for a blessing for Uganda’s Christians who worked so hard to ‘free the land of gays.’ The Bishope also asked for parents to hand over their gay children to authorities, so they would be rewarded in heaven. I would call that a statement praising and calling for a genocide.
Since the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people have gone into hiding. The law, which institutionalizes homophobia and affirms the persecution of LGBTI people, has been held in esteem, the highest reverence and praised by Christian leadership in Uganda, to the point of holding rallies to reward parliamentarians and the President, Yoweri Museveni. The Ugandan Churches and Christian community, (except for a handful, who have been banished and shamed for their compassionate and affirming stance,) have led the assault against gays.
AMWe have challenged noteworthy Christian leaders such as Joel Osteen and others to come forward and condemn the law, and to distinguish their brands of Christianity from that been touted on the stages and streets of Uganda, yet none have done so.
Now a young man in hiding, challenges the Pope, Pope Francis, as the Catholic Church’s official stand in Uganda, on this Easter Sunday seems to send a message of extreme hate, exacerbating the terror felt by gays in hiding.
As this law in Uganda seems to copy the course of Nazi Germany, the scapegoating, and the forcing of a minority into camps and death, the Ann Franks of Uganda remain in terror, questioning whether the Pope will repeat the mistakes of the Catholic Church during the Hitler Holocaust?
From the voice of a young man “accused” of being gay who is in hiding in Uganda:
“The Bishop of Jinja Diocese – Bishop Rt. Rev. Fr. Charles Wamika, in today’s Easter Message delivered at St. Chalres Lwanga Catholic Church, praised the Members of Parliament for taking a stand to see to it that the Anti-homosexuality bill passed into law, he went ahead and called on the faithful to vote for President Museveni in 2016 general elections for signing the bill into law.
He reminded the Christians that, it has been a law and he sent blessings to all Christians who have been working so hard to make Jinja a land free of gay persons. He said throughout human history the catholic church has fought evil and blood has been shed, he called on all the Christians to do whatever they can in their own means to clean this city.
I am surprised that a well educated bishop, well traveled and studied in different western countries uses his position to justify killing. He asked parents with gay suspected children to handle them over to authorities and their reward is in heaven. This is too much hatred. I wonder if we will hear from the Pope on this. If not, I lose all hope.”
To my way of thinking on this Easter Sunday the Ugandan Catholic Bishop of Jinja has indeed called for the extermination of gays. I hope Pope Francis has a great Easter while Ugandan Gays have to hear this hate sputtering from his Bishops. I think this Bishop should be recalled and put to pasture. Perhaps a petition is called for. And what about an apology and a clear message from Pope Francis on this tragic issue.
Alrighty, so now, it's my turn.
This backwards thinking is what gives the Catholic church, and indeed ALL of Christianity, a bad name!! It amazes me how people, in this case a Bishop who should know better, still choose to bend and manipulate the scriptures to express their personal views and opinions.
Some points about the bible:
There are 8 Covenants. From the Covenant of Eden, through the Covenant of Moses, and finally the covenant of Christ, each covenant makes the previous one obsolete by giving the lord's followers SPECIFIC rules to follow. This is easy enough to realize by simply reading the bible.
We don't live according to the rules of the Garden of Eden.
We don't have the responsibility of fathering a nation full of children (The covenant of Abraham) nor of repopulating the Earth (The Covenant of Noah).
We are no longer required to sacrifice animals in the name of God, or even to circumcise our children in His name (the signature of the covenant of Moses).
So we DO understand that the rules of the old covenant are replaced by those of the new.
We also KNOW that Jesus came and gave his blood, the "blood of a NEW and EVERLASTING covenant". Why everlasting? Because he is seated at the right hand of the Father, where he reigns forever and ever.
Ok, so, Jesus is the priest of the final, and everlasting covenant. Yet people are still following the rules of the Mosaic covenant! And not even God's law, but the law of the Levitican priests!! Where oh where in the bible does Jesus say it is wrong to be "gay"? If someone can PLEASE show me, it would sure clear things up!
Now, it DOES say, in the Levitican law (1 of over 600 laws) that a man should not lay with another man, as he does with a woman, that it is an abomination and is punishable by death.
Ok, so, lets look at that.
The abomination is a man laying with a man as with a woman.
Laying with a man.
Interesting how it says nothing about a man being emotionally in love with another man like he is with a woman.
Emotions are never mentioned.
Just the act.
So, when is the act of man on man sex done without involving feelings and emotions?
Probably the same way it is with a man and a woman.
It is called rape.
And back in the days that the old testament was recording, it was a common ocurrance for men to rape other men in order to break them and establish dominance over them. Usually an invading and conquering army would rape the conquered. Other times, the men from one village would want at any visiting men, not because they were gay, but because they wanted to show the visitors who was boss.
If you don't believe me, look it up. It is common in secular history of the area (and still quite common in prisons around the world today.)
You can also look it up in the bible.
Genesis 19:5
They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them."
This took place in Sodom and Gomorrah, when the two angels came to warn Lot that he had to leave because the city was being destroyed.
So, right there in the bible it mentions men wanting to rape other men.
Not exactly gay behavior, since rape is NEVER consentual.
Considering the reputation this city had, it would make ALL the sense in the world for the Levitican Priests to want to ban such behavior.
Sodomy/rape is still considered an abomination today.
However, this is not what this bishop is talking about.
He is talking about "Gay" people. An altogether different animal.
Being gay or lesbian, means having feelings and emotions toward someone who is of the same sex.
Is it unnatural? Perhaps. After all, nature (Or God, depending on how you look at it) specifically made man and woman compatible for mating.
But again, mating and love are two altogether different animals as well.
So, ok, back to the bible. So, Christ's Covenant, the reason he died, abolished the previous covenant.
In Christ'as covenant he has 2 commandments.
1)Love God above all things.
2)Love each other as we love ourselves. Indeed, love each other as Jesus himself loved us.
And he summed up all the prophets and all the laws with the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.
So, as Christians (followers of Christ, not of Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc), where does Jesus talk about murdering and slaughtering people who are different?
This Bishop is a disgrace to the cloth, and to the church. I understand the social views of his country, but he is a CATHOLIC Bishop. He is responsible for following and teaching CATHOLIC law
I do not want to judge, since Jesus warned us against that as well, but...... well, there you have it.
EXCELSIOR......... and God bless.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
R.I.P. Ultimate Warrior
Greetings and salutations everyone.
A somber blog entry, if you will. It's taken me a couple of days to write about this, since I wasn't sure quite what I was feeling. Obviously, shock and saddness. Shock because I had just seen him the night before on Monday Night RAW. Saddness because of the family he left behind. However, the thing that struck me the most about the Ultimate Warrior's death was the parallel I noticed with me. No, I am no where near the shape he was in. No, I have never been anywhere near as successful or famous as he was. However (and this is speculation for the time being, as the official cause of death has not been given yet), my heart can go out just as quickly as his did.
The Ultimate Warrior was a known steroid user. That is a given. He had the absolute most impressive physique in wrestling. There were wrestlers who were bigger then he was, like your Hulk Hogans and Road Warriors, and there were wrestlers who were more ripped, like Rick Rude. However, Warrior's was a unique combination of size AND vascularity. He was big AND shredded. He was an amazing physical specimen. However, he was always exhausted, or "blown up" when he got to the ring. Granted, his entrance included him sprinting to the ring, around the ring, and shaking the ring ropes. That would tire ANYONE out. Yet he never seemed to catch his breath. In all the years of watching him wrestle, I never saw him not blown up. This probably means that for all his bulging muscles, he never did a lot of cardio work. In other words, his heart was not fully exercised. Like Warrior, cardiovascular wise, I am in HORRID shape. I used to be an alligator wrestler, and strong as an ox, but I never had a lot of stamina. My heart is not in the best shape.
Now, in the Warrior's case, you had a dangerous combination of a weak heart and a body full of steroids, which put MORE pressure on that very same weak heart. In my case, it is a weak heart and a body full of fat from eating too much crappy food. At 41 years old, I really need to watch what I eat, and exercise my heart more. Dropping dead at any moment, as the Warrior did in an Arizona parking lot while walking with his wife, is a very scary, and real, possibility for me.
Now, I am not going to sit here and talk about what a wonderful man the Warrior was, because I personally did not know him, and can only rely on the testimonies of his fellow wrestlers, many of which I have met and worked with in person. Very very few ever had anything nice to say about the man. They all claimed fame came too soon for him and went right to his head. There are stories of him stiffing people in the ring (hitting them too hard), and of him just being an all around curmudgeon. An extremely hard to work with grouch. And for years he waged legal war against the WWF/WWE for a variety of reasons. He also had a history of returning, only to leave the company without notice, leaving us fans in a lurch.
However, the wrestling fan in me longed for the day he would return. He was my childhood hero, a real life superhero. A larger then life hero who fought insurmountable odds and came out on top every time. He had the heart of the Warrior, and let me know I could be a warrior too. Having him return to the WWE, get inducted into the Hall of Fame, and hearing him cut a promo on RAW was amazingly nostalgic. For all the history and bad blood that went down, it was definitely good to see him back.
And now he is gone again.
This time forever.
As a Catholic, I can only pray for his soul. I pray he has returned to the source, and I hope that one day, on top of some thunderhead far up in the sky, I will be standing in a ring, surrounded by angels cheering, as that unmistakable guitar riff hits. From out of the fog, there he will come, running at full speed, blown up as always, charging the ring for our main event match. The Geek vs. The Warrior.
RIP Ultimate Warrior. Thanks for the memories.
EXCELSIOR........ and God Bless.
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