Posted on 06/14/2008 7:03:50 AM PDT by markomalley
I was curious in measuring the interest of Catholic FReepers to starting a weekly discussion on the Catechism. The format would be to post a small selection of the Catechism (starting with paragraph 1) and post as many of the sources of the footnotes as possible (those that are online). As far as discussion goes, if folk have any articles, homilies, or other resources regarding the particular section being cited. If there are agreements, disagreements, general discussion on the subject, or whatever, I would think it appropriate. My inclination, as with other things, would be to make these discussions [OPEN] threads (as per the RM guidance on the subject). My feeling is that if the Faith is genuine and authentic, it should be able to stand up to any tirade that is given against it. You can either argue from facts, tell the detractor he is full of cr@p, or ignore him/her. I might be able to be persuaded to make them [ECUMENIC], though, if there is simply too much distraction. However, I really don't want to make them caucus threads, as non-Catholics who might actually like to constructively participate might be driven away because of that. But the big thing is to find out if there are people who are actually interested in actively participating in these threads that I'm proposing. I DON'T want an amen corner (if that is what happens, my motivation to continue will be greatly dampened) I would like to create a ping list for those folks who are interested in actively participating in this. Catholic or interested non-Catholic. So let me know if you are interested. I Tim 3:15-16 …sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.
ping; in interest
” it should be able to stand up to any tirade that is given against it.”
Make it ecumenical if we are to discuss the Catechism. There is one thread that is over 4500 posts reiterating the same blather over and over and over. I’d like to discuss and learn without the usual suspects repeating their talking points ad infinitum.
I think the entire world (hyperbole alert) is aware of some of the more strident gabble reposted and reposted and reposted constantly that precludes any and all discussion.
Interested Catholic.
bump
“My inclination, as with other things, would be to make these discussions [OPEN] threads (as per the RM guidance on the subject).”
It’s difficult to have deep discussions of theological topics once the anti-Catholics show up. Their... “input” - such as it is - tends to keep the discussions trivial and shallow. As well, the vain repetitions of anti-Catholic mantras make it difficult to move through threads, as often, one must scroll through many screenfuls of sewage before finding the lone, occasional nugget of worthwhile posting.
The difficulty is that the forum’s rules permit bad posting to drive out good, and for “Open” threads to essentially turn into “Open Sewer” threads.
Only if we can ban about 15 posters, just kidding...sort of.
It seems to me you rather enjoy the Catholic bashing posts because you post so many open threads. I am beginning to think you thrive on them, just like the usual suspects who constantly berate and mock the Pope, Blessed Virgin, and the Euchrist. What good becomes of them?
I think it’s an interesting idea, but I wouldn’t have the time to participate in a productive way.
Fair enough question. The reason why I do OPEN threads, for the most part, is twofold:
So what's the result: I ask, how many well-informed Catholic FReepers have renounced Catholicism as the result of the bashers here? I can't frankly think of any. How many former Protestant FReepers have swam the Tiber...partially as a result of the beauty of the Faith posted here? I can think of a few.
I continue to refer to Psalm 2:
1 Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things?
2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.
3 "Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us."
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them.
5 Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage.
6 "But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment."
7 The Lord hath said to me: "Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
10 And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth.
11 Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling.
12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way.
13 When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him.
Their criticism is like air...unless you let them get under your skin.
“..talking points ad finitum”...
I agree with that. Sometimes when I see—first—who the poster is, I just scroll past without reading because it is almost always the same mantra. “Strident gabble reposted and reposted and reposted”.
So while I think I would truly be interested in this proposal, I have the same reservations that have been pointed out here by Opus.
“..tends to keep the discussions trivial and shallow...”
“...vain repetitions of anti-Catholic mantras...”
I agree. The proposal would interest me very much, as I’ve already indicated, but I, too, don’t want to wade through the inevitable, repetitive and tiresome talking points and herd-pinging.
“...only if we could ban about 15 posters...”
I was thinking that, too—sort of. :-)
Third time—I would be very interested in this propososal because I think that it would be a very good way to put what Catholics really do believe (and are encouraged to practice and live) right out there on the table. Everyone could find something to learn.
However, I can’t deny that inevitable processes that will rear their heads and that makes me wonder if such a project would just open the floodgates of what I have already learned to stay away from or ignore.
I’ll be looking with interest to further input on this.
Ping
I’m with you all the way. There is so much that we could continue to learn and reinforce about our faith, I tell my Catechism kids all the time, “Never stop studying your faith”.
Non-Catholics could learn about real Catholicism, not the caricature that has come out of hate sites and, as others have called it, psuedo-evangelism.
The really bad thing are those pesky “you worship Mary” folks who wouldn’t allow us to stay on task.
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 1: Religion
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 2: The Bible and Tradition
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 3: God and the Holy Trinity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 4: Prayer
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 5: Public Worship of God
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 6: Angels and Devils
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 7: Human Beings and the Purpose of Life
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 8: Sanctifying Grace
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 9: Heaven
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 10: Mortal and Venial Sin
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 11: Hell
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 12: Purgatory
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 13: Original Sin
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 14: Jesus Christ, Our Savior
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 15: Jesus Christ, True God and True Man
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 16: The Catholic Church is the Only True Church
A Brieft Catechism for Adults - Lesson 17: Qualities of the Catholic Church
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 18: The Pope, the Vicar of Christ
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 19: The Seven Sacraments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 20: The Sacrament of Baptism
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 21: The Sacrament of Confirmation
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 22: The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 23: The Sacrifice of the Mass
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 24: The Sacrament of Penance (Confession)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 25: How to go to Confession
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 26: Indulgences
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 27: The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 28: The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Priesthood)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 29: The Nature of Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 30: The Sins Against Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 31: The Sacrament of Matrimony
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 32: How to have a Happy Marriage
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 33: Duties of Parents Toward Their Children
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 34: The First Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 35: The Second Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 36: The Third Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 37: The Fourth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 38: The Fifth Commandment (w / special prayer request)
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 39: The Sixth and Ninth Commandments
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 40: The Seventh and Tenth Commandments
A Brief Catechism for Adulst - Lesson 41: The Eighth Commandment
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 42: Charity
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 43: Fast and Abstinence
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The Second Edition English Translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church includes the corrections promulgated by Pope John Paul II on 8 September 1997. These corrections to the English text of the Catechism of the Catholic Church were made to harmonize it with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II on the same date. For details of the corrections, see the editio typica modifications to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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Your points are well-taken if the primary purposes of the threads are to expose the anti-Catholics for what they are. If the primary purpose is to give the sado-evangelist mob the ability to reveal their true colors, then this is a good idea.
But it would be nice to have discussions of the Catechism where we could dig deeper into the teaching presented. It would be even nicer if that could be stimulated by the presence of non-Catholics in the thread who would offer challenges to Catholic teaching, but not to engage in verbal abuse of other posters by mocking, ridiculing, and otherwise tearing down what Catholics believe.
Unfortunately, Open [Sewer] threads can only deal with theological topics in superficial ways, as the presence of the sado-evangelist swarm reduces real dialogue to a caricature; little more than kabuki-like, well-rehearsed, well-scripted food fights with mostly only one side throwing the food. Everyone knows their roles, everyone knows their lines, the sado-evangelists get that good old-time religion feeling of [self-]righteousness for repeating their basely vain repetitions.
And real conversation ceases.
And decent folks go take a shower.
And again, bad posting drives out good.
sitetest
LOL. Now Open threads are "sewer threads?!?"
I would be happy to participate in discussions on the RCC catechism.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." -- Matthew 12:36-37"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
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