It's Crazy Catholic Time Again!

I love that film though 'The Da Vinci Code'

Religion is different from the spirituality whence it originated though. Religion is undoubtedly man-made and uses analogy, story-telling, the written word and "parables" etc to teach lessons for life.

All the religious books written by people and religious services/sermons delivered people are fallible, ambiguous, culturally-anchored and open to human corruption.

So we end up debating interpretations of religious works - and people's propensity to make an individual assessment of what the words mean whether they take it literally (as in e.g. the Christian Creationists) or put a more politically or culturally-relevant spin on it as some mullahs - and born again Christians do.

Ultimately, no two people on the planet share the same beliefs even though many are roughly grouped into "religions" because they like to think they share the same beliefs as their neighbour and moreover are seen to do so (a fundamental survival strategy common in the even the most primitive tribes)

Religion is merely a social structure built around human words and it's strength and weakness is that people interpret those words and take from them what they personally need - and act accordingly.

I am Catholic and attended catholic schools. In Religious studies we were taught by a priest who obviously was pushing the idea that God created the world etc. walk down the corridor to the science department and they will tell you about how the world was created in the big bang and has scientific facts to back up the story. The priest has a book someone wrote. I know who I believe and it certainly isn't he priest. All religions are cults IMO and are designed to brainwash others into following whatever ideals they wish to impose. I would definitely put myself in the atheist catagory. The problem is my son comes home from school and starts spouting about God even though I think he's talking bollocks. I will just have to let him make his own mind up after he leaves school, who are also complicit in brainwashing kids. Why are there no schools that are not religious? Who only deal in scientific fact for those who don't wish their children to be forced to believe in a God that, IMO, doesn't exist.

In a similar vein to what 58's just said, I was mortified a few years ago to hear my 7 year old (Catholic) nephew talking to my wife about God and Jesus and stuff, saying "I can't wait til I die and go to heaven" and "I love Jesus more than I love my Mum and Dad."

Seriously, this is tantamount to child abuse in my book.

Breadman wrote:In a similar vein to what 58's just said, I was mortified a few years ago to hear my 7 year old (Catholic) nephew talking to my wife about God and Jesus and stuff, saying "I can't wait til I die and go to heaven" and "I love Jesus more than I love my Mum and Dad."

Seriously, this is tantamount to child abuse in my book.

That is one strange child but he has probably changed his perspective on the matter already.

I tend to associate crazy people with the Presidency of the United States so it's relevant to note that there has only ever been one Catholic President of the USA (Kennedy)

We've discussed this before but the concept of a "Creator" - or rather a creative force if you want to get all Star Wars - is usually acceptable to atheists inasmuch that it is generally accepted in the scientific world that  in order to effect change from stasis, and thereby effectively create something (matter and anti-matter etc) from nothing some form of creative force must have been involved.

In the beginning "God" initiated a chain reaction as it were.

He was a perfectly normal 7 year old boy who, unfortunately, had his thirst for knowledge, absolute belief as a 7 year old that anything a teacher tells you must be true and interest in mythology and fantasy exploited by the God-bothering idiots masquerading as teachers at his primary school.

When I challenged him on his comments he replied along the lines of "Miss said that you've got to love God and Jesus more than your parents because God will be unhappy with you if you don't."

In my opinion, it was the adult "teacher" in that situation who was the strange one, not the naive, gullible, innocent child.

The teacher needs a slap.

He'll be fine Bread. I too was happily swallowing all I was told at that age.
My teacher believed in a virgin birth,walking on water,turning water into wine,feeding over 5,000 people with a few loaves and fishes,making the lame walk and the blind see,bringing the dead back to life,and, having been killed on a cross,returning to life 3 days later and ascending to heaven.
He then had the nerve to tell me that my interest in the Loch Ness monster was silly,and that the idea of such a thing was too far fetched for words.

Cheers KP & Boncey.

He's now a perfectly normal 13 year old who thinks my telescope's brilliant and is taking a keen interest in all things scientific, so on reflection, all that catholic dogma shite during his formative years may actually have back-fired spectacularly.

Take that Pope!

1-0 to Science.

Stop bigging up your telescope. Mine is much better.

Breadman wrote:Cheers KP & Boncey.

He's now a perfectly normal 13 year old who thinks my telescope's brilliant and is taking a keen interest in all things scientific, so on reflection, all that catholic dogma shite during his formative years may actually have back-fired spectacularly.

Take that Pope!

1-0 to Science.

So he has changed perspective then - I'd be worried if he still swallowed that gubbins at 13.

Does he love your telescope more than his parents though?

If so, it would be about normal at that age on account of the fact that parents know absolutely nothing.

boltonbonce wrote:Stop bigging up your telescope. Mine is much better.

What would Herr Doktor Freud have made of that one, I wonder......?

Hmmm........

My nephew rates mine, but it doesn't take him to Alton Towers, so his parents are currently edging it.

Fair enough. I'm sure yours is fatter than mine,but I think I could do you on length.

boltonbonce wrote:I think I could do you on length.

I nearly choked on my croissant then!

karlypants wrote:

boltonbonce wrote:I think I could do you on length.

I nearly choked on my croissant then!

Is that the new chap in your life KP

Nothing wrong with a discussion about telescopes. There should be more scientific debate on here.

A healthy interest in science can only be a good thing. Who knows, after fiddling with telescopes for a bit he might move on to one of these bad boys.

Even though we got there via a completely random route, I think there's something deeply appropriate about discussing telescopes on a thread entitled "It's Crazy Catholic Time Again!"


Galileo would be very proud.

If he could read and understand modern English.

And had access to the internet.

And wasn't dead.

Obviously.