Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)
Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
"One would think that filling the Cup with holy water would (a) cleanse it and (b) sanctify it—making it even more deserving of public adulation."
ReplyDeleteOnly a non-hockey fan would so think.
As for the attributes of baptism, apparently the writer of that article does not know that the primary philosophies of Sweden are atheism and Lutheranism, in that order. Why does he assume that the Holstroms are Catholic, with Catholics' attitudes towards a ritual that may not have been considered as "sacred" to them as he considers it to be to himself?
On the other hand, I wonder if the Holstroms and Sundstroms considered the curse that goes with the cup. If Alva Sundstrom ever has plans to become an NHL hockey player, her family members have just loaded her with an awful negative load to overcome! ;D
Reminds me of the time Tony Esposito was baptizing his child and he invited his friends Gordie and Mark Howe to attend the ceremony. The priest, who was a big hockey fan, got so excited he started the service with the exhortation : "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Goalie Host"
ReplyDeleteMichael
I like a good hockey game as much as the next guy.
ReplyDeleteSadly that metal cup has become a pagan idol for many Catholic families these days. Church and Christianity are tossed by the wayside in pursuit of little Johnny attaining the godlike status of a hockey star.
As I pass the parking lot brimming with cars at the local rink on Sunday morning to get to our near empty Church of silver haired Catholics, I wonder what it would be like if Catholic parents showed as much concern, and dedicated as much time and money into their children's salvation as they do chasing a black plastic disk.
Probably for most at the baptism, the fact the little girl was receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and initiation into God's family was insignificant compared the fact she was getting dipped in a shiny silver bowl called the stanley cup.
It's really a sad story if you ask me, and a metaphor for all that is wrong in the church today.
Cheers
Paul
Paul, the Cup is not Catholic. Neither are most fans. Enough, already.
ReplyDeleteLady Janus, i agree with your points entirely which makes it a rather odd rebuke.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Paul
In that case, why the slap?
ReplyDeleteJanus you seem confused. You're a Pagan, so nothing in my statement has anything remotely to do with you or anyone outside the Catholic Church. If you feel I slapped you or hockey fans with my statement I suggest you read it again.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Paul