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Originally posted by xo_kathy
Totally off the sex/divorce topic, but I find this so odd. I hear of so many Catholics who say there are lots of things they don't agree with, but they "choose" it anyway. Now, I understand it might be a little hard to decide "Never mind, Jesus isn't the savior" and convert to a non-Christian religion - though I know people do. But often the things that Catholics don't "like" about their religion are things I think of as being more "liberal". So I guess I often wonder what it is that the other, more liberal denominations DO stand for that the Catholic folks don't like. Hmmm, GeelyPenguin would be a good mind to pick about this...
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The rules of the Catholic church that I don't agree with are some of the "man-made" rules that they've chosen to enforce with no religious reason for it. Such as interpreting "Be fruitful and multiply" as meaning "Don't use birth control ever". That is an interpretation of one line in the Bible that the church leaders decided is very important. They don't allow women to be priests because none of the disciples were women, they claim. Huh? Well of course at that time in history, none of the disciples were women because women were second class citizens then. They couldn't be disciples and be taken seriously. That has changed though.
I do think you'd have to create your own religion to find one which you agree with in every way. Each person who reads the Bible finds different meaning and interpretation in it, but we look to others to find out what it means. It will even mean something different if you read it when you're in a different state of mind.
That said, I have nothing against other Christian religions but I am most comfortable worshipping in the manner that Catholics worship during mass. When I feel a need to worship publicly, I am most comfortable doing it during a mass which is solemn, serious and which involves active participation on my part. The part of the Catholic mass where someone is interpreting the Bible for me is very short. And, the Eucharist is the absolute main reason that when I attend church, it is a Catholic church. There is no where else that I can receive the Body and Blood of Christ and when I am seeking that spiritual nourishment, that is where I go.
By the way, it's not a sin to be divorced if you're Catholic. In fact, they don't recognize divorce. You are still married, even if you're divorced. Therefore, it's only a sin if you actually cheat on that person you're still married to. If you get your first marriage annulled, then your first marriage was never sanctioned and doesn't count, so then you can re-marry.
Matthew 5:31-32: No divorce, except for fornication: "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
1 Corinthians 7:10-12: No divorce, on any grounds: "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. Paul wrote this passage in response to questions raised by the church at Corinth about divorce and remarriage. He says that God does not allow divorce. If a couple divorces against the will of God, then their only options are to remain single, or to reconcile and restore their marriage..
Found this cool link that compares the beliefs of numerous religious denominations. Very interesting stuff:
Religions are Different
Dee