I grew up Catholic. I love Catholic people. They are wonderful and God loving.
But...I think Catholicism is akin to a cult. I believe that it was established by the Roman government to control people.
Catholicism is rife with ritual and idol worship and discourages patrons from reading the bible, directing them instead to seek counsel with nuns and clergy, for they are supposedly the only true “saints”.
When I finally began to read the word, I discovered that I don’t need Mary to talk to the Lord. I can do it for myself.
Hope nobody is offended. I think that Catholics love Jesus, and that is what truly counts at the end of the day. I just prefer the more casual, less religious approach.
You have much to learn. Or should I say "unlearn."
If you really grew up Catholic it is obvious from your post you were sleeping during the whole journey.
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Sacrae Scripturae lectio
§ 1.59 Plenaria indulgentia conceditur christifideli qui Sacram Scripturam, iuxta textum a competenti auctoritate adprobatum, cum veneratione divino eloquio debita et ad modum lectionis spiritalis, per dimidiam saltem horam legerit; si per minus tempus id egerit indulgentia erit partialis.
§ 2. Quod si rationabili de causa quis legere non valeat, indulgentia, plenaria vel partialis prout supra, conceditur, si textus ipse Sacrae Scripturae, vel alio legente vel ope instrumentorum, quae « video » vel « audio » vocantur, percipitur.
From the Enchiridion indulgentiarum, 4th Edition, published by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
The short version is that you gain an indulgence by reading Sacred Scripture. Why in the world would there be an indulgence for reading Scripture if they didn't want you to do so???
No offense...just makes no sense to me.
"patrons"?
A clear sign of the Catholic Church's discouraging the reading of Scripture is the indulgence granted for reading the Bible for half an hour.
If you want to discourage something, the best way is to reward it, I always say.
• A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who read sacred Scripture with the veneration due God’s word and as a form of spiritual reading. The indulgence will be a plenary one when such reading is done for at least one-half hour [provided the other conditions are met].here
Yep, sho' 'nuff is discouraging!
You are describing different “styles ‘ of worship..by that analogy, we should be praying in secret caves or our homes only ..certainly NOT in churches, cause that’s how the early Christians did it.