I'm so mad, I'm about to cry...

[bloodshift]

The picture I was trying to find was a photoshop of Palpy's face in Benny's hood, with the yellow eyes, etc. and firing Force lightning from his outstretched, blessing-giving hand. I lost it when my PC crashed some months back, unfortunately, but this'll have to do!

[ultimatemind]

carina said:

I, on the other hand , LOVE the one-on-one Reconciliations. I usually make a special appointment with one particular priest when my heart is especially heavy, and the Reconciliation is done in his office. We usually go waaaaay off-topic, and a couple times he's asked, "Is your confession complete? If so, let's do the absolution, then we can continue the conversation."

I don't know, I kind of miss the whole cold dark scary booth thing. Maybe that's my problem with the church, alot of the mystery is now gone. Well that, and how dictatorial they can be.

[somenewromantic]

I've considered RCIA of late. My parents were Pentecostal and Baptist respectively (not for me, especially the Pentecostal faith.....not going there......) My maternal grandparents were Pentecostals of the snake-handling category. (My Mom talked me into going to a revival meeting with her and Grandma once I got a little older. I told her if any snakes came out, they'd be getting a new door, about 5'7" and 18 inches wide.)

And Baptists, well, they're not quite as bad, but they still have absolutely primitive attitudes about women......but at least you can cut your hair, wear makeup, and wear pants without being damned to everlasting Hell........

I do, however, think that my kids need to be raised in a faith of some sort, and they're getting a little older, and I should do something about it.......Catholicism seems reasonable to me because they believe in the Trinity--and so do I--but the Catholic faith does not seem to require 'blind faith', if that makes any sense.

Until I do decide something, though, I suppose--because I do believe in the Trinity, and I have been baptized, I am a backslidden.............I dunno. I agree with whoever said true faith is what's in your heart. My father-in-law, for all his preaching and Bible thumping (and I don't mean for that to sound bad--I do read my Bible, just not as often as I ought) is one of the least compassionate people I know......I think that can be a pretty sorry representation of a Christian.

[Carina]

I attended a Pentecostal church (Assembly of God...that's Pentecostal, right?) shortly after high school graduation cuz I was dating a guy who went there.

For someone who had only attended a Methodist church and non-denominational church up until that time, Pentecostal services were very interesting and quite different. The speaking in tongues was a bit shocking.

About a year ago, I attended a Unitarian church service because I was exploring my options. I really missed the Catholic iconography and the ritual, but the whole environment reminded me of a Methodist church...plus the padded pews...wow, my butt felt good!

I spoke with one of the ministers afterwards, and we chatted for a bit. He said that actually it was difficult to bring his particular congregation together on issues. The nature of a Unitarian church just didn't allow it, so there were lots of divides within his congregation. Nearly everyone in his congregation came from "somewhere else" (he was a former Methodist minister) and they brought with them a lot of the beliefs of their former denominations.

I reassured him that it happens everywhere, even in a church like a Catholic one, in which the rules are set out before you. He sort of tittered and nodded his head.

[Denise7609]

I'm sorry you're upset Carina. *hug*
This is how I understand God's forgivness.....
Jesus Christ said some sins are unforgivable, “Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:31) So, then, blasphemy against God’s holy spirit, or active force, will not be forgiven. “Every sort of sin and blasphemy {abusive speech slander impious word} will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him.” (Matt. 12:31, 32) However, only God knows if a person has committed the unforgivable sin. Sin against the spirit involves acting knowingly and deliberately against the undeniable evidence of the holy spirit’s operation.

[Denise7609]

OH AND! I hope you're feeling better today toots.

[Carina]

However, only God knows if a person has committed the unforgivable sin. Sin against the spirit involves acting knowingly and deliberately against the undeniable evidence of the holy spirit’s operation.

Do I believe that I've committed that sin? Yes, I do. In my belief system, however, I have done/felt what is necessary to be given God's forgiveness, and I have gone far beyond what my penance was to try to make up for it.

I guess I'll only know after I die if it "stuck" or not. ;D

[somenewromantic]

Yes, Carina, Assembly of God is Pentecostal. And speaking in tongues is very shocking......

Especially when you consider that alot of Pentecostals believe, if you don't speak in tongues, you can't go to Heaven.

If that is true, well........

My father-in-law, while not compassionate, CAN be uproariously funny. I tell y'all this to give you a little story (I'm kinda long winded and famous for my anecdotes......)

Pentecostals believe some people have the gift of tongues; some the gift of interpretation (of tongues); some the gift of prophesying (see why I said 'no way?')

So, my father-in-law, the staunch Baptist, once went to a Pentecostal church service, and, along towards the end--when everyone was getting 'slain in the spirit'--and yes, that's what they call it, I am in no way making fun--and speaking in tongues--my father-in-law stood up and started shouting.........

.........in German. And someone with the gift of 'interpretation' translated what he said.......or so they thought. My father-in-law had said something about going to the store. It was translated as something completely apocalyptic I think he told us.

Now, I may not believe as the Pentecostals do, but to do something so outrageous in their house of worship I find offensive--if just a wee bit funny. I laughed in spite of myself when he told me about it.

It irritates me that Baptists think Jesus is a Republican, and he voted for George Bush.

I have been taught several things about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. As Denise said, the Bible is kind of vague as to this subject. I have been taught that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is when you feel the urge to receive salvation and do not accept it.

The other theory I have been taught about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a little more complicated. For any of you who have read anything at all about eschetology (the study of the end times)--there are various schools of thought on how the Apocalypse is going to happen. And I am not sure which theory I believe. (Some would make me believe I'm going to Hell because I'm not sure which theory I believe about this.) I DO believe that the book of Revelation is an extremely figurative book that is not to be interpreted literally. But the schools of thought regarding end times prophecy (in both the Old and New Testament) have created four schools of thought regarding the Book of Revelation. One theory (the least popular theory) about the book of Revelation is that the events in the book have already taken place. People who belive this are called preterists.

An overwhelming majority of Christians believe in 'the Rapture'. I'm not sure I do. Some Christians believe they will be Raptured before the Tribulation spoken of in the Book of Revelation. Some Christian believe they will be Raptured in the middle of the Tribulation (the Tribulation is divided into 3 and a half years of Tribulation, and 3 and a half of the Great Tribulation). Some Christians believe they will have to wait until the end of the Tribulation, when Christ returns to Earth to set up His millenial kingdom.

Back to the subject: Christians believe that many will be martyred during this Tribulation--when they are called to the court of the Anti-Christ to profess where their loyalty lies. The Bible forbids Christians alive during the Tribulation to even think about what they will say when they are called before the Anti-Christ; that the Holy Spirit will speak for them. And this is the other theory I have been taught about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit: Not letting the Holy Spirit speak through you when you are called before the Anti-Christ's court.

For what it's worth..........

[Denise7609]

OR...as I believe...God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled, that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of God and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings. AND God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind, that it is a real government, that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail. AND Jesus is ruling in heaven as we speak and has no reason to come back to Earth.
;D

[somenewromantic]

I hope I didn't offend you, Denise.......I'm not sure which of the theories I believe in, myself. I was just expounding on how it had been explained to me.

It seems ridiculous to me that Christians believe in the Rapture...for a couple of reasons. First, the word is nowhere in the Bible.

For another reasons.......why would God take Christians out of the world at the very time the world would need Christians the most? And wouldn't God really want to test these people? I think the whole Rapture theory is a cop-out, really.

I wasn't trying to be offensive......sorry if it seemed so.