Posted on 01/17/2014 4:45:21 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
I'm most likely an atheist, leaning to the agnostic side of the spectrum. I know I'm a sceptic, in the true sense of the word. Or shallow. One of the two.
[snip]
About five years ago, work took me, my fellow-journalist wife and our then three-year-old child from eastern England to southwest France. We enrolled our little girl at a local Catholic school, selected purely on the recommendation of a colleague for the quality of its education.
[snip}
Being a Catholic school, an hour is set aside each week for catechism. A friend takes the class. She has often told us that our daughter is keen to learn and is visibly moved on holy days when the pupils are taken to church.
[snip]
Our little girl, however, has made a life-defining decision by herself: not only does she believe in God (capital G), but she also wants to be baptised into the Catholic faith.
[snip]
Looking back, we realised we had regularly discussed our differing beliefs. Our daughter brought us Genesis. We gave her the Michael Bay-friendly Big Bang. She brought us the Nativity and peace and goodwill at Christmas. We gave her family, friends and good food. She brought us the crucifixion. We gave her the Easter Bunny. She brought us heaven, god and an afterlife. We gave her 21st-century life and a brief future as worm fodder.
... she still had the courage of her convictions to say to both of us, to our faces and again in front of the priest, that our world view isn't enough for her. She believes. She wants to be baptised and she wants to be Catholic.
[snip]
She's taken a first step down a road that, ultimately, she'll have to travel on her own. ... She's heading where I cannot follow.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I see that the usual Jesus Project crowd are now claiming that Josephus has interpolations (which is the same thing they claim wrt any supernatural event in the New Testament). But they're going to have a hard time getting around Tacitus . . . .
Obviously the parents failed to raise the child wrong!
Maybe the child will now be a Godly influence on the parents.
My whole life is about giving it a fair try.
You should know, most things are temporal. They come and go: governments, leaders, fads, trends, beliefs, nations. The Catholic Church does not come and go. It has been here since the beginning, for almost 2,000 years, the oldest sustainable institution on earth. All else is transitory and may not be here a hundred, two hundred, a thousand years from now. “...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” It has survived heresies, corrupt popes, emperors, wickedness, persecutions, Nazis, you name it, yet it is still standing. Even more importantly, Christianity has survived,and will endure. Little else does.
No one knows, that's why it is called Faith.
You either believe or not, when you finally know, the die has been cast.
As a one time Alter boy, and still a believer, I'll say a prayer for your travels on the road back.
“She’s taken a first step down a road that, ultimately, she’ll have to travel on her own.”
More probably correct is: “The parents have taken first step down a road that, ultimately, they will have to travel alone on their own.”
Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.
How can anyone in their right mind believe in ghosts?
“What do you think?”
I think very highly of the parents for permitting her to do this, many would not do that. And I hope this girl continues to live a happy faith-filled life.
That’s good!
If you are interested in Spiritual things, pray to Him and He will reveal Himself to you in an unmistakable way. The problem with agnostics and atheists is they are really "dead" spiritually and can't hear God as he is Spirit. The only prayer He can hear from you is the prayer calling Him into your life. If you pray to win the lottery or save your sick child, He can't hear you unless you are alive to Him. Spending 6 years as an alter boy listening to Latin has nothing to do with building a relationship with God. You get the relationship, then serve Him willingly.
“Well at least someone in the family will be praying for them once these 2 hit purgatory.”
They’re not likely to make it. Purgatory is NOT a second chance. You have one chance, this life. That’s all you get. These two twits are blowing that chance.
I disagree,.......I know. I've seen and heard. My faith is not blind.
I’m a conservative yet I know that liberals believe differently. They are happy to hate me as I am them. Neither expects to convert the other. My spiritual beliefs are personal. I feel no need to convert anyone. I am offended by those that try to convert me.
God becoming a human is a pretty hard concept to accept. I think if everyone here asked Him to reveal Himself to you, only He can do that, you would then understand. It is pretty overwhelming when it happens.
I have my spiritual beliefs, they are personal. Why is it so important to you that I believe the same as you do?
My family has recently begun attending a new church for us. The pastor speaks in a way which conveys unmistakable truths. The pastor also has a daily radio show of his sermons on stations across the country. In case anyone should wonder, he seems not to have any pride or inflated ego about this radio exposure. Last Sunday we attended the Welcome Luncheon whereby newcomers like us were invited to learn more about this church and its ministries. Several people had heard the radio show and had decided to try this church. Three people in a row were brought almost to tears to have been able to find a church being led by this man who was clearly inspired by God himself and the Holy Bible. Those who reach this point in life when they find God and know his word to be true are very fortunate indeed. I know that is how I feel. Even a young person, like this little girl, can be in this position. I would hope and pray that her parents will one day cross into the same glorious place.
I’m happy if you’re happy. I’m even happier if I’m happy. I don’t care what beliefs (beliefs, matters of faith, ie. unprovable tenets about which we live our lives) make you happy and I wish you would extend to me the same courtesy.
Gorush, are you talking to me?
Gorush, are you talking to me?
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