[BuddhaBrown]

First off, going to church is not what saves your soul.

Second, kids have always been rebellious. It’s the so-called “organized” Christian denominations that have deteriorated more than kids in recent times.

As a onetime Catholic, I’d say half the time the current pope is on dope. And most the times I see Catholic-oriented threads on FR, the topic is so full of legalisms as to make me think they are arguing over which is better, the Sad-you-sees or the Unfair-isees.

Several other denoms apparently don’t think sin is sin, so why go to church to learn what is sin? Or the equally ridiculous notion that once saved your future sins are already forgiven.

In general, Christian churches in America don’t concentrate on what was meant to be their primary function anyway: teaching. At the rate they cover text in the bible, if at all, your butt would have to be in that pew until your bones turn back to dust in order to hear the whole of His word.

Get the book. Find a decent preacher or two on TV or the internet who help you understand what you are reading. Also, if you can find one, join a decent church for the edification and community aspects.

And remember Christ’s most common criticism:

“Have you not read?”

[Ulmius]

get the book

Seconded. Much of the reason Islam is strong is its uncompromising emphasis on using the original Arabic terminology whenever possible in service, with words such as deen, taqwa, jihad, salat, etc. This reinforces basic concepts and the unity of their faith.

Since the adoption of the King James and Gutenberg bibles, many preachers in the Christian world remain untrained in classical languages, so they depend on the vernacular for what little education they get instead of learning the Hebrew for the OT and the Greek/Aramaic for the NT. They use words such as grace, faith, and salvation without understanding the original meaning in a systematic fashion. This encourages charlatans and new-agers to dilute modern services with the universalist hogwash we see today.

If a Christian truly wishes to arm himself with the truth about his faith, I advise him to pick up an interlinear Bible, a Young's Concordance, some basic understanding about the Semitic trilateral root systems. It may not be easy, but it will help you for the rest of your life.

[Salvation]

**As a onetime Catholic**

You are always a Catholic if you were baptized in the Catholic Church. That mark of baptism is on your soul.

You can come back to the Catholic Church any time. Just make an appointment with a priest and get your questions (gripes) answered.

PS. There have been bad Popes before and the Church has survived. It will this time, too.