kingsol

I totally understand where you're coming from. There are churches that have turned Christianity into monotonous rituals and legalistic dos and don'ts; however, that is the fault of people-- there are others that pursuit God.
And although, weekly church attendance is not required for believers, someone who has trusted Christ should have a desire to worship God, be taught His Word, and fellowship with other believers. I go to church every Sunday, go to Bible Studies, and do my own stuff, because i want to own my faith, learning more in order to be more, like Makato said, "Christ like." Without the Church believers are left by themselves, often picking and choosing their beliefs, mixing Godly and human wisdom, which, indeed, does not follow Biblical teaching.

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There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
-Emerson

kingsol

you have to understand, the early Catholic Church, right after Christ's death, was how the Church was intended to be; however, over time, i think even you will agree, the RCC veered from that path. The Reformation was a calling back to the Biblical Church that the RCC didn't follow; hence, the separation between Protestant Christianity and the RCC.

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There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
-Emerson

Yoshi

Okay... so more on topic, and away from multi theological discussion...

can someone explain to me, or better yet, post a link, that will teach me why a cardinal's name changes once he becomes pope? I don't get that at all.

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www.360realms.com/S13-S15

kingsol

here you go: http://people.howstuffworks.com/papacy3.htm it's at the end

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There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
-Emerson

mixxamike

-Kreator

this comment makes me sick

yes, it just may as a matter of fact. have you any idea how influential JPII was in duing the past century...do some research. He was a world leader and responsible for a LOT concerning the world. He has been a voice of reason. He played a HUGE role in the collapse of communism and the Berlin Wall. Shortly after his papal election, his opposition to Poland's communist regime proved him a leader and man of action rather than just a 'holy man' in cute hat. After 9/11 he encouraged the world to not associate Islam with terrorism. JPII was a great man...the pope IS important. knowledge is good, ignorance is not...be informed.

SilviaNinja240

I still think Johnny 5 would be an excellent pope

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Marty

That was the Romans. The Catholic church didn't come into existance until after Jesus died when Peter became the first pope.

Andrew Bohan

that doesn't mean catholicism isn't christianity though..
it just means protestantism isn't catholicism.

nismo2491

exactly, they are all a division of christianity, southern baptist, protestant, roman catholic, etc are all a division of christianity. think kind like the different branches of the military, they are all a bunch of one huge group call the department of defense, but they are also their own little subgroups in and of themselves, I know that doesn't really make any sense, sorry. all catholics are christians but not all christians are catholics.

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To quote the great Ron White: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. and try to find somebody who's life gave them vodka, and have a party

Romeyo07

I'm not catholic, so I'm speaking from a christian view (non catholic christian...I know it's a part of it...blah blah)

The church isn't the guide to christianity, CHRIST is the guide to christianity. I'm not handed a handbook when I enter a church and told I must go by the rules we made up. However, I carry my own "handbook" and follow it instead. I'm not too sure what you're getting at by the church not having authority, so I'll leave it for further explaination.

I'm a firm believer that when a preacher is speaking, he's not reciting the bible, yet his message is directly from God, just quoting places in the bible. Speaking for myself, my pastor doesn't go completely word for word in the bible, but he will reference it, and apply it to real life situations. Not once does he mention "at our church you must be like this and that", but instead says "this is what Christ did", or "this is what happened to me in this or that". Examples of what was done, not commandments of what is to be done.

Reading the bible and it being spoken multiple times is like watching a movie more than once. You're bound to find something you didn't catch the first time. I enjoy doing bible studies...but where are you going to find other people who are interested in joining the bible study? It sure isn't going to be at the bar. This is why you go to church. Not just to listen to the word of God, but to have fellowship with those who believe what you do.

Breaks over...gotta work.

nismo2491

exactly, I am a catholic and while I sin on some stuff, which I won't get into, I try not too. I go to church usually once to twice a month, and of course all the major church holidays, I go to confession once a year, does this mean I'm any worse than the guy who goes to church 3 days a week? or does it mean I'm any better than the guy that goes to church never? not really, church is there for you to hear god's word, what you do with it, which is the important part, is up to you. I may not live fully "by god's word" but I think a big part of god's word is do unto others as you would have done unto you, and thats what I try to do. I don't steal, I don't cheat, because I don't want to be stolen from or cheated myself. alright off to work I go. ttyl

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To quote the great Ron White: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. and try to find somebody who's life gave them vodka, and have a party

Phlip

Um... Guys... Pope Benedict XVI was announced on tuesday, does anyone remember that this was what the thread was about? It can go away now if we let it

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MakotoS13

simply being a good person should not be confused with having faith.

Romeyo07

this is a common misconception by many people today

Kreator

Last i checked church has seized to be part of politics or economy at least a 100 years ago. Now as far as i'm concerned, not the pope, nor the church itself are going to put bread on my table or fill up my gas tank. So for all i care, all your cardinals can screw each other to death, and i won't give a shit.

It's not called ignorance. It's called common sense, 21st century and a darwinistic apporach to life.

ps: who said communism was bad? utopian?... yes. bad?... hmmm

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кто болеет за Зенит, у того всегда стоит!

KoukiMonster

sLip techniques

^ agreed. there is a reason why people follow religion and those who dont. There is a balance to everything.

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people on Zilvia need a big ol

nismo2491

being a good person has a lot to do with faith, not having faith doesn't nescessarily make one a bad person though. I can't claim to be a practicing catholic, and go to church, and believe in god and jesus if I don't listen to his teachings and take heed. now yeas I can claim everything above, except for the practicing catholic part which was the big part. just because I don't go to church ever sunday doesn't make me not have faith.

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To quote the great Ron White: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. and try to find somebody who's life gave them vodka, and have a party

MakotoS13

correct. not going to church every sunday does not mean you lack faith. however, going to church every sunday does not mean you DO have faith either. it works both ways. i don't go to church as much as i should and its between me and God. we all have our demons and we all have our losses.

mixxamike

WAKE UP. Do you have any IDEA how many state leaders the pope meets with??? No, the pope will probably not put bread on your table, but he has helped quite a few people eat in his day. Have you no empathy for people other than yourself? No one said communism was bad...its great if opperated correctly. BUT, the communism the pope brought down was not the "good" type you speak of. Try studying the Cold War and the condition of the Warsaw Pact states before you start talking about Communism. Stay in school.

Phlip

Um... Guys... Pope Benedict XVI was announced on tuesday, does anyone remember that this was what the thread was about? It can go away now if we let it

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holisticbeatz

I saw a comic about the new pope today.

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Trust and I don't mean GReddy.

MakotoS13

hellz yes, another diehard MAK fan. your flattery really is too much.

Phlip

At least this one spelled it right

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Kreator

Lol. f00. I was raised in a communist country. I know all about it. So STFU.

Indeed, lets forget about all the negatives that religion has brought us. Lets forget the holy wars, forget 9/11, hell lets forget that georgy dubya refuses to give money for stem cell research because its "inhumane" and "ungodly".

Dude, itt's 21st century. Back in the day people used to be afraid of the unexplained. Death was an unexplained. So they came up with a solution: "Hey everyone, when you die, you go to heaven. Which is a much better place then this shithole we are in right now, so what this really is, is a test, and what happens after we die is what we all should be waiting for." and everyone happily bought it, because it was an explanation to the unexplained. I think we are a bit more advanced by now, don't you think so? When you die, you die. End of story.

You may believe whatever you want, but trying to pass it as an important aspect of everyone's everyday life is childish. Maybe in the middle of the 20th century the church was still influential enough to cause something here and there, but it was a rather unstable time anyway. Its not anymore today: nomatter what the pope said about 9/11, US still invaded afghanistan, and islam is still considered a millitaristicly offensive religion. But whatever. back on topic.

Kreator

PS: I really wish i was the genious back in the day, because i swear, the bible and the god are the best3st most concieved lies a man has ever invented.

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кто болеет за Зенит, у того всегда стоит!

nismo2491

igor that's your belief and thats fine, I personally believe in heaven and such, whether or not its scientifically backed, nobody has disproved that heaven exists nor has it been proven to exist on the same note.
you grew up in marxism, true communism is great, everybody does their share of the work and lives happily, but true communism forgot one variable, laziness....

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To quote the great Ron White: if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. and try to find somebody who's life gave them vodka, and have a party

Phlip

Um... Guys... Pope Benedict XVI was announced on tuesday, does anyone remember that this was what the thread was about? It can go away now if we let it

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And I write too!

s14 blacktop

man you guys just need to sit down and read the bible...
there it will tell you what a christian should do.. It doesnt matter what religion you are...

it says in the bible that god likes it when his people gather to praise him(church or you can call it a gathering)...so this means its a good thing to go to church...

the catholic church is a little out there with all their ceremonies but its ok I guess..

if you guys read the bible it will guide you in life, and read the bible like it is a guide....

dont get mad just take it as helpful advice.

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I'm here to inform not to conform...

S14DB

Well this thread seems to not be able to stay on topic. No matter how many times the thread starter asks.

Shut down before it becomes a Jihad.