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...
I know of only one occurrence of a person being kicked out of a Catholic institution (school, hospital. etc.) over an legal sin that wasn't related to sex. (That was that 12 year old girl who had leukemia and was expelled for missing to much time - After the out roar she was re-instated). If the Church was as serious about other sins as the sexual ones this would happen all the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm not aware of people getting 'kicked out' of Catholic institutions much at all, let alone 'all the time'. We are serious about sin - that's why we priests are available to hear confessions as we are. But it is not our job to punish or police sinners, only to heal and forgive them. People do get fired from jobs if they have taken a position in which they agree to represent the Church and its teachings and then make choices that misrepresent the Church, but is that really different from what any organization does? I wouldn't be able to work for the Conservative party and spend all my time campaigning for the NDP, would I?
DeleteI think the table had to be set, or using another terminology we had to lay the solid foundation on the truth. And taking a stand on abortion and homosexuality had to be clarified. But now that is established we need to move on from there and quit hitting everybody over the head with these truths. Let's move on and focus on the Jesus who came to save ALL humankind and his message of love and forgiveness. That is where the church currently struggles but rest assured the Holy Spirit will guide us in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteCliff