Very gracious, thank you. I understand sacrelidge pretty much amounts to blasphemy. If I'd felt anything blasphemous had been in the post, it would never have come in here. My object is to use anything - anything at my disposal to make a point to people without going overboard. I work in a very stressful job and spent the day being chased four times around the block on something I opened myself up for in trying to prove another point. I think I made that one too; but, at some expense. I don't regret that expense; but, I underestimated it's ability to get under my skin. It takes an awful mountain of stuff to get me irked. The exceptions to that are two - sin in general, and blasphemy.
Forget that I am a Catholic and imagine that all I want is to see Christ's life (& death burial & resurection) preached. If you agree with me on that priority... is the level of our dialog aiding the cause of Christ? or hurting it.
I don't have to forget you're a Catholic to imagine that. But I can't forget the system you're following and it's beliefs - which is what requires the brick between the eyes arguments at times. Some people just blindly believe things without ever questioning and then feel their entire world threatened if they find the first bit of it false. So they'd rather defend an error to the death - and the detriment of others, than to ever admit it. I've known Catholics all my life. Which is why I have no problem with Catholic people. I have a problem with the beliefs that their clergy feeds them. Most either cannot or will not differentiate between the two things. Differentiation means that you see the other guy as a person rather than an evil they. Refusal to differentiate for those who have an agenda means the ability to throw prejudice claims, vulgarities and any thing else under the sun at the other guy in order to discredit rather than listen to what he has to say. Most do that as a defense mechanism for a number of reasons. I've been at this stuff for a while now. And I know people pretty well.
If I have offended, I beg forgiveness
I don't beg; but, I do know humility. Fortuneately, and with God's help, I got over the things that taught it to me a long time ago.
BTW - Would you mind if I hold onto your inspired cat dropings story? It's bound to come in useful in the future :o)
Is this where I smack you? LOL. As upset as that argument got you, you really want to use it? Just be sure to tell whoever you relay it to that this is what happens when you listen to the cat instead of waiting on God to answer.
One response:
I understand sacrelidge pretty much amounts to blasphemy
The two are often seen as synonyms, but they are not quite the same thing. It would be Blasphemous to say that Christ fathered 24 children by 8 women (forgive the example). It is sacrilege to speak in an irreverant way about the Lord. I do not now claim that that was your intention.
BTW - what's your job?
Oh... and I certainly would use the cat story. I can see myself relying on some Church authority for a belief that I cannot explain fully myself...then I can see you questioning that authority...and I can then compare the Magisterium favoribly to your devining the Lords will through your cat droppings.... You could probably come back you'll stick with the cat over the Magisterium and I will be chagrined. If you take a long time to respond to a particularly good point I can ask if your cat is constipated? Yes, I think I can get a lot of mileage out of this one :-)