Poll of the Day > I like being a Catholic again.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just fun. Life doesn't seem quite as scary. It sucked being such a nihilist, now I feel like I have a support system.

Sucks that people will question your beliefs when you mention it. Like they can't possibly believe that someone who hasn't shown interest in religion suddenly finds interest in it again.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

Sucks that people will question your beliefs when you mention it.

Do you actually believe in that religion or are you just using it as a support group, or is it more of a cultural thing for you? Did you go from "nihilism" to Catholicism over night or was it a process? Were you ever really a nihilist?

kind9 posted...

Do you actually believe in that religion or are you just using it as a support group

see this is one of the questions people always ask and they don't like whatever answer you give them.

kind9 posted...

Do you actually believe in that religion or are you just using it as a support group, or is it more of a cultural thing for you? Did you go from "nihilism" to Catholicism over night or was it a process? Were you ever really a nihilist?

Who cares nothing matters anyway

How do you feel about the rampant sexual abuse of children in the Catholic church?

I got that feeling from joining my union.

was raised catholic, lost any interest in being involved in the church when I was about 13 and the youth minister forced us to watch a snuff film of a bunch of dead babies, she told our parents the video was about the dangers of abortion. Nope none of that just a bunch of dead chopped up babies in trash cans. Thanks religion

You went back to Christianity and chose Catholicism, of all things? I'm not about to pretend that other denominations are without their issues, but the Catholic Church as an organization is pretty unambiguously the most corrupt of any of them and most of the doctrine differences are more about enforcing subservience to that organizational structure than about any sort of actual personal betterment. Confession's pretty nifty, I guess, but that's about it, and there's nothing stopping somebody of another denomination from popping into a Catholic church and confessing as needed.

adjl posted...

You went back to Christianity and chose Catholicism, of all things? I'm not about to pretend that other denominations are without their issues, but the Catholic Church as an organization is pretty unambiguously the most corrupt of any of them and most of the doctrine differences are more about enforcing subservience to that organizational structure than about any sort of actual personal betterment. Confession's pretty nifty, I guess, but that's about it, and there's nothing stopping somebody of another denomination from popping into a Catholic church and confessing as needed.

I get what youre saying but there are some Catholic Churches that really make you feel part of a group. I dont know firsthand, its just what Ive witnessed.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

Just fun. Life doesn't seem quite as scary. It sucked being such a nihilist, now I feel like I have a support system.

Sucks that people will question your beliefs when you mention it. Like they can't possibly believe that someone who hasn't shown interest in religion suddenly finds interest in it again.

Ah, clearly I haven't been doing my job.

Have fun being manipulated by politicians and the voices you talk to in your head. Also, it's now mandatory that you become more homophobic, and no more masturbating. Don't just take the good side, remember, hell is real and 90% of people will burn forever and ever and ever and ever

Every time you look at a waifu picture too long that's a sin and you must confess it to the old man. I'm fucking serious dude, you're going to go to hell if you don't.

Yellow posted...

Ah, clearly I haven't been doing my job.

Have fun being manipulated by politicians and the voices you talk to in your head. Also, it's now mandatory that you become more homophobic, and no more masturbating. Don't just take the good side, remember, hell is real and 90% of people will burn forever and ever and ever and ever

Every time you look at a waifu picture too long that's a sin and you must confess it to the old man. I'm fucking serious dude, you're going to go to hell if you don't.

God gave me free will for a reason LMAO I'm gonna do all that and just worry about it later.

Maybe pinging between extremes is the problem.

THEGODDAMNBATMA posted...

see this is one of the questions people always ask and they don't like whatever answer you give them.

uh just answer it lmfao

ReturnOfFa posted...

Maybe pinging between extremes is the problem.

Eh, personally I'm pretty set on my idea of how it works and the effects it has on the world, and I don't think I'll ever change that idea. I'm sort of an "if people can't figure things out on a base level how can they be expected to figure out anything complicated" kind of mindset.

I don't understand those sentences.

HornedLion posted...

I get what youre saying but there are some Catholic Churches that really make you feel part of a group. I dont know firsthand, its just what Ive witnessed.

Oh, I have no difficulty believing that. The Catholic Church as an organization is horrible, but there are plenty of individual Catholic congregations that are made up of delightful people, same as any other denomination (or community of any sort, really). The social aspect of church is something that a lot of non-churchgoers often underestimate. It just seems odd to me that anyone who chose to seek out a new congregation (that is, they didn't already have one they liked that they were returning to) would specifically seek out a Catholic one.

Admitting you believe in a higher power on this board is like high tier blasphemy. It's one of their core tenants to be atheist. That's like one of the only things their pariah Zeus has in common with them.

But, you're The Goddamn Batman though.. soo...

1. Theatrically smoke bomb
2. Escape
3. Go make babies with Batgirl

liking cats isn't a problem, you don't need to seek help.

adjl posted...

Oh, I have no difficulty believing that. The Catholic Church as an organization is horrible, but there are plenty of individual Catholic congregations that are made up of delightful people, same as any other denomination (or community of any sort, really). The social aspect of church is something that a lot of non-churchgoers often underestimate. It just seems odd to me that anyone who chose to seek out a new congregation (that is, they didn't already have one they liked that they were returning to) would specifically seek out a Catholic one.

If modern American infrastructure wasn't a maze-like suburban hellhole and we actually had town squares maybe people wouldn't be so isolated.

I mean you sit there for an hour in a hot room and they basically threaten you with supernatural threats if you don't come back all to talk to people for 10 minutes?

People can normalize it all they want like they have been doing for all of history, but at the end of the day they keep people under their thumbs with threats.

Yellow posted...

If modern American infrastructure wasn't a maze-like suburban hellhole and we actually had town squares maybe people wouldn't be so isolated.

I mean you sit there for an hour in a hot room and they basically threaten you with supernatural threats if you don't come back all to talk to people for 10 minutes?

People can normalize it all they want like they have been doing for all of history, but at the end of the day they keep people under their thumbs with threats.

I've never felt particularly threatened in any church I've attended. Bored, sometimes, but never threatened. There are certainly fire-and-brimstone preachers out there, but my experience has overwhelmingly been a matter of interpreting gospel to provide advice on how to live better, not on avoiding Hell.

Yellow posted...

Ah, clearly I haven't been doing my job.

Have fun being manipulated by politicians and the voices you talk to in your head. Also, it's now mandatory that you become more homophobic, and no more masturbating. Don't just take the good side, remember, hell is real and 90% of people will burn forever and ever and ever and ever

Every time you look at a waifu picture too long that's a sin and you must confess it to the old man. I'm fucking serious dude, you're going to go to hell if you don't.

Anime didn't exist in biblical times.

Mensis posted...

just a bunch of dead chopped up babies in trash cans.

so....abortion.

Wanded posted...

so....abortion.

No these were full on developed babies. Some looked like they couldve been as old as 18 months

Wanded thinks sperm are babies. Never mind Wanded.

how did you get un-excommunicated?

adjl posted...

The social aspect of church is something that a lot of non-churchgoers often underestimate.

Right: there is truly significant value there. It's an interesting set of pros and cons.

Pros of churches:
1) Being part of a community of people who (if you attend the right one) care about you.
2) Setting aside time to be self-reflective
3) Accepting that there is something greater than your individual desires to strive for
The latter is good more on a societal level than the individual level, granted, but it's a big deal: religion largely set the original basis for law abiding societies...and possibly democracy as well. Without it...we'll see how we do.

Cons of churches:
1) The "factual" basis of the philosophy they are presenting is almost certainly untrue
2) Some churches focus their energies on telling people what to do as opposed to being self-reflective. This is very damaging.
3) Some of the "good behavior" rewarded by some churches is nonsensical (i.e. dietary restrictions) or harmful (sexual issues).
4) Some churches abuse their moral authority to abuse children or defraud their members.

In broad strokes, the right sees only the pros and the left sees only the cons. Both pros and cons are very significant, however.

For my part I (irregularly) attend a Methodist church that is focused on togetherness and service (and welcomes everyone without judgment). Many such churches exist (often Methodist IMO). Do I share the core beliefs of Christianity and accept the stories as true as written? No, not really: I attend for the community and because the values being presented are something I agree with. I would say I remain in some awe of the mysteries of the universe i.e. the Big Bang and I can view those as kind of God-like: I don't think it's harmful to direct some energy towards being reverent of the big picture. But that's about as far as I go.

As for my kids: I'll let them attend the events and choose what they believe for themselves as they grow up, just as I did. I plan to have a discussion with them before they go to 'confirmation' and tell them what I believe.

ANYways: the point is I agree with Batman that there is significant value in attending churches, even though there are some significant issues with them.

My wife left me the catholic church looked down on divorcees so i fled that scene

I was raised catholic and now whenever someone says "may the force be with you" I have the strangest urge to say "and also with you"

Action53 posted...

I was raised catholic and now whenever someone says "may the force be with you" I have the strangest urge to say "and also with you"

Lmao same honestly

Action53 posted...

I was raised catholic and now whenever someone says "may the force be with you" I have the strangest urge to say "and also with you"

Lol yeah i use to think that too

Catholics are probably the chillest Christians, aside from maybe Methodists

wpot posted...

Right: there is truly significant value there. It's an interesting set of pros and cons.

Pros of churches:
1) Being part of a community of people who (if you attend the right one) care about you.
2) Setting aside time to be self-reflective
3) Accepting that there is something greater than your individual desires to strive for
The latter is good more on a societal level than the individual level, granted, but it's a big deal: religion largely set the original basis for law abiding societies...and possibly democracy as well. Without it...we'll see how we do.

Cons of churches:
1) The "factual" basis of the philosophy they are presenting is almost certainly untrue
2) Some churches focus their energies on telling people what to do as opposed to being self-reflective. This is very damaging.
3) Some of the "good behavior" rewarded by some churches is nonsensical (i.e. dietary restrictions) or harmful (sexual issues).
4) Some churches abuse their moral authority to abuse children or defraud their members.

In broad strokes, the right sees only the pros and the left sees only the cons. Both pros and cons are very significant, however.

For my part I (irregularly) attend a Methodist church that is focused on togetherness and service (and welcomes everyone without judgment). Many such churches exist (often Methodist IMO). Do I share the core beliefs of Christianity and accept the stories as true as written? No, not really: I attend for the community and because the values being presented are something I agree with. I would say I remain in some awe of the mysteries of the universe i.e. the Big Bang and I can view those as kind of God-like: I don't think it's harmful to direct some energy towards being reverent of the big picture. But that's about as far as I go.

As for my kids: I'll let them attend the events and choose what they believe for themselves as they grow up, just as I did. I plan to have a discussion with them before they go to 'confirmation' and tell them what I believe.

ANYways: the point is I agree with Batman that there is significant value in attending churches, even though there are some significant issues with them.

I bet Batman is actually atheist.

Zareth posted...

Catholics are probably the chillest Christians, aside from maybe Methodists

Lol are you serious?

Muscles posted...

Lol are you serious?

Uh, yeah?
You never see Catholics picketing funerals or holding signs saying how everyone who isn't them is going to hell.

Muscles posted...

Lol are you serious?

He's not wrong I think. Catholics are very moderate... and that's relative.

adjl posted...

The social aspect of church is something that a lot of non-churchgoers often underestimate

mhm mhm

i'm agnostic, but when i was homeless i still sought out a church and attended simply because it was just a place to be. after a while the pastor noticed me and literally got me back on my feet. i'm straight up indebted to this man and he only did what he did because "it was just the right thing to do"

i still go to his summer barbeque

though there was this bitch who also attended mass, who tried getting me kicked out once because "i didn't belong" or some shit. actually that's probably what made him notice me

adjl posted...

You went back to Christianity and chose Catholicism, of all things? I'm not about to pretend that other denominations are without their issues, but the Catholic Church as an organization is pretty unambiguously the most corrupt of any of them and most of the doctrine differences are more about enforcing subservience to that organizational structure than about any sort of actual personal betterment. Confession's pretty nifty, I guess, but that's about it, and there's nothing stopping somebody of another denomination from popping into a Catholic church and confessing as needed.

I don't know about that. The Evangelicals have been corrupting politics for years and it's only been getting worse. Alot of anti-abortion and anti-LBGTQ+ stuff in Politics comes from them. And then you have their worship of the almighty dollar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5KU34DrrPI

Yellow posted...

He's not wrong I think. Catholics are very moderate... and that's relative.

Catholics are the crazy, uptight ones, I grew up Lutheran and it was always way more laid back than any catholic service I went to

Catholic church always seemed culty to me, even when I still believed, but every other denomination was chill and normal by comparison

Muscles posted...

Catholics are the crazy, uptight ones, I grew up Lutheran and it was always way more laid back than any catholic service I went to

Catholic church always seemed culty to me, even when I still believed, but every other denomination was chill and normal by comparison

Relative, of course. I know there are more laid back ones than Catholics, many denominations accept gay people, but not Catholicism. They don't quite attack gay people, they just say it's sinful.

Muscles posted...

Catholics are the crazy, uptight ones, I grew up Lutheran and it was always way more laid back than any catholic service I went to

Catholic church always seemed culty to me, even when I still believed, but every other denomination was chill and normal by comparison

Baptists definitely never have protests at soldier's funerals.

Antbregante posted...

I don't know about that. The Evangelicals have been corrupting politics for years and it's only been getting worse. Alot of anti-abortion and anti-LBGTQ+ stuff in Politics comes from them. And then you have their worship of the almighty dollar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5KU34DrrPI

Meanwhile, the Vatican has spearheaded multiple genocides, has its fingers deeply entwined in the governments of dozens of countries, actively covers up and facilitates some truly horrific abuses, and structures all of this like a cult in that all authority is given to the higher-ups and anyone questioning or defying it is pretty quickly ushered out.

You're not wrong that the Evangelicals are probably the worst offenders within America, since Catholicism doesn't have nearly as much of a foothold in the US as it does in many other places, but on a global scale and throughout their very long history, it's pretty easy to hand the crown to Catholicism. Heck, a large chunk of the Reformation boiled down to "we don't like how corrupt you are as an organization so we're going to make better churches" (with varying results), so that's not exactly a hot take.

Again, though, that's the Catholic Church as an organization and not necessarily individual Catholics or Catholic congregations. Plenty of those are perfectly lovely.

I guess I should have emphasized that I was talking about American Catholics.

I would describe modern day American Catholicism as...OK.

They're sloowly recovering from the child abuse: I think the abuse has largely (finally!) ended, but IMO Catholic priests still often have weird (opaque/fake, repressed gay, "I might be abusing kids if the church was still turning a blind eye") personalities. And when you attend they feel a little cultish with all of the ceremony and chants.

But if you get a good congregation (and priest) I've seen it work for a lot of people.

Just let priests get married already!

Yeah so growing up with the Catholic church, they do two things that cause this problem.

They say it's ok to "have attractions" to men, but not to act on it. Their 4 vocations that every Catholic should fall into are married, single, nun, or priest. They say you should not get married if you do not intend on having kids.

It's said that every Catholic fits into those 4 vocations, so gay men are more inclined to become priests. They like to take sexually repressed gay men and put them in the company of young guys all day long. They also tell young men it's a mortal sin to masturbate, if they do it without confessing and then they die they will go to hell, end of story. So half the time a priest is interacting with a young man it's to discuss the young man's sexual experimentation.

So all the young Catholic boys are also going to pews and telling these old sexually repressed often gay men that they are masturbating in a private setting, all because everyone involved is taught from a young age not to use their critical thinking skills or question how things work, because that's a sin.

Then they handle all incidents internally, because why would they go to the law? They're taught that they are the ultimate moral authority, so they in their eyes they are the ones to hand out punishments and reform people. And of course, they don't do a good job, they just shuffle the predators around after the predators grovel for forgiveness.

It's almost like every problem in the entire thing all comes back to people trying to build a functioning social network from fundamental beliefs and not embracing research at any point. They just put two magnets together because that's the way the system works and they keep wondering why they keep sticking together.

And yeah one of our priests was arrested for this sort of thing, only because he was caught.

Ah, modded for trolling. Guess I got too edgy, sorry.