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Rowshan Nemazee's avatar

“Or worse” would be even better!

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evelyn spiess's avatar

I was raised Catholic and that doesn’t change my opinion. Do religions really not understand the concept of separation of Church and State? Or do they just not give a hoot?!!

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Joanna Denis's avatar

I was raised Catholic too. All I've seen religion do is separate people. It rarely brings people together. I have no use for organized religion. Just treat people fairly and respectfully, that is my religion. I think if the Catholic Church is going to weigh in on politics, the very least they can do is PAY TAXES.

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David H's avatar

Joanna, when I was about six or seven years old, after attending a Methodist service in our nearby village, my Mom said I always seemed uncomfortable in church, and asked if I would prefer not to go to church on Sunday with her. It would be OK, because my Dad didn't attend church services and I could stay home. I jumped at the chance. It never made sense to me. I will be forever grateful to her for understanding me so well at that young age. Looking back, I know I spent far less effort "unlearning" what our culture was attempting to inculcate in me, and in everyone else. Eventually I arrived at a view of the divine aspect of the universe with which I am completely comfortable. I understand that the Catholic Church, and the rest of the religious establishment, are trying to do the right thing. But I wish that Genesis did not contain gender-specific pronouns. I wish there were a Mrs God in that story, fully equal in stature and power to Mr God. For starters.

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TCinLA's avatar

The first time my parents took me to Sunday school when I was five, I kicked the Sunday school teacher in the shins and called her a "Liar," starting my parents' voyage through Denver churches resulting from my "outrageous behavior" on Sundays. Outside of attending funeral services for friends, I haven't voluntarily darkened the doorway of a church since leaving home the first day I could.

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Laurie's avatar

So revealing my friend.

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dotsieradzki's avatar

It was men doing the translations.

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Joanna Denis's avatar

David, I'm glad you have come to some peaceful place and your mom was really terrific in understanding you. I like the idea of Mrs. God, I mean, why not? I have also come to a peaceful place in my life, and I believe one must find that place from within.

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Louis Giglio's avatar

Followers of that religion dominate the Roberts’ Stench Court!

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J L Graham's avatar

That which is Caesar's.

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TCinLA's avatar

...Is now mine! said the (un)holy fathers.

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J L Graham's avatar

From what I could see, Jesus was pretty ascetic. I think all the effort to cast him in a political role as a king, is an add on.

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Anne-Louise Luccarini's avatar

Yup. Deliberate disinformation. He never claimed to be king of anything When Pilate asked him directly, he said "You're the one saying it." (Freely translated from the Aramaic...) So Pilate ceremonially washed his hands and handed the victim over to the religious leaders.

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K Barnes's avatar

Jesus was Jewish and a religious socialist and an extraordinary figure, as far as I have read, and men wrote the ensuing chapters about his life and the organization they chose to build. And female religious were put in burkkahs for centuries.

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TCinLA's avatar

The Catholic Church has been a State Religion since Constantine gave them the power of the old Roman state religion 1700 years ago.

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Dianna Beers's avatar

Most churches want to BE the state, so no, they don’t see the need for separation.

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