Since the topic of religion has been discussed here it really got me thinking so here goes. Now I do not profess to have exact knowledge of all religions that are out there not do I profess to know exactly how people follow their own religion or whether or not they believe in any religion or several religions. I was born and raised a Catholic and all was fine until I reached adulthood, where I decided to not to follow my religion nor the bible word for word. Now in my personal views which I have based on how I view life and how I have grown up and how I choose to live my life, I personally do not see anything wrong with not choosing to follow it word for word. I totally believe in God and I totally believe in Heaven and Hell. I also believe in prayer and that prayers help me and so many others. However I also believe that God created us all and loves us all and does not love me any less because I do not follow his teachings word for word. Some might say I cannot have my cake and eat it too and that is fine if that is your choice, however I want to hear from other people on this subject because this really upset me alot. I was married in the my catholic church before the eyes of God and my marriage vows mean the world to me so was have a baptism and confirmation and receiving the body and blood od Jesus Christ when I attend church. OKay I am open to answers so lets see what happens. Peace. Catherine

I believe organized religion is a great way to assure large communities of people behave in the same way. That leads to order and predictability. Which, quite frankly, is a good thing and doesn't do a lot of harm until "my God is better than your God wars break out." One's religion is generally determined by birth. That, in itself, should tell us no one religion is the only way, the best way, or the right way.

So, don't let the Bible thumpers get you down. You are a good person, you live a good life, and you don't try to hurt others.

Cathrine, the important thing, IMHO, is not to go on feelings because they can be deceiving. I believe that it's critical to not just come to conclusions about what is right or wrong, good or bad, etc., on your own without going to the "Source".

If you believe God exists, then it makes sense that if he really and truly IS responsible for everything that exists - for every single existence of every single thing - then it's a very serious matter that shouldn't just be taken flippantly. If he says something, it's important enough to care *what* it is he says, and if you truly believe he IS the Creator, then as his creation, we have an obligation to try to stay in line with his plan for our actions and behaviors.

If we don't really think he is THE supreme power it really doesn't matter.

But for those who DO, it needs to be the most important thing in their lives. If Heaven and Hell exist and we're just here for the blink of an eye, I can suck up whatever I need to - even the things that in my human mind might make better sense to be another way.

An example: I'm to love my neighbor as much as I love myself. Why? Because God made us both, and God cares about us equally. That's a tough one because my neighbor drives me nuts... but it's what I'm commanded to do.

I'm to turn the other cheek and live at peace with others as much as it is within my power to do so, and let vengance belong to the LORD. That's tough, because sometimes I want to retaliate.

I'm not crazy about Obama as you know, but the Bible says we're to respect our leaders and that God had a hand in their placement there... so I try to behave that way, even when I disagree with his politics.

I just think this is too important a topic to just fly by feelings without investigating whether or not my feelings are aligned with what has actually been said by God - the one who by definition cannot lie. If he says it it's true. Period.

Good people may come to different conclusions about what different verses mean. I think that's where grace comes in. There are some things that I read and the conclusion I draw isn't always the one I *wish* was the right one, but it seems pretty plain that he is saying the thing I wish he *wasn't* saying. As an example, a very good friend of mine had an affair with the husband of another good friend. They have both left their spouses and plan to marry. She says, "Well, I feel badly about it so God forgives me and now we are free to be together!" I wish it was that simple, and I hope she's right and that God has forgiven her and it's all okay. I don't want her to not be right with God. But nothing I read in the Bible says what she has done is acceptable to him. I think it's pretty plain that God considers her to be living in adultery. I can WISH it said something different because it would make things 'okay' again between my friend and I, but I have to follow what it says, not what I wish it said... and I think she is walking on the wrong side of this issue. I hear her with my human ears about God wanting her to be happy and it does prick my heart and make it sad for her... but that doesn't change that despite my feelings, God didn't give her the option of having an affair with her 'true love' and leaving her husband. He just didn't.

I really wasn't trying to be hurtful in the other post. I just think faith is a very serious matter, and God himself makes it very plain that he will spit out lukewarm people, and that it is not possible to serve two masters. We can't serve him in the things that make us feel good but not serve him in the things that we don't like. He says it's an all or nothing deal. I'm not making that up to be mean - it's just a fact. He said it - not me. I'm just 'quoting' him.

ETA: My mind works in analogies, so I'll make a quick one. Say you built a house. It was yours. You designed it like you wanted it to be, and had rules for your house. No cooking in the bathroom. No smoking anywhere. No parking motorcycles in the living room. No turning the thermostat above 78 because it will blow a breaker. No turning off the computer system without properly shutting it down. They were rules that you needed people to follow while in your house. There were solid reasons behind them and you the maker of the house, were well within your rights to make those requests.

Say you were going to be out of town for awhile and had some houseguests who were going to stay there while you were gone. You were excited about them coming and welcomed their presence. You left a list of instructions about living in the house.

The houseguests happened to be cold natured. SURELY you didn't really mean not to turn the temp up to 79. I mean... if they feel cold, why follow the 78 degree rule? And hey, your cycle might get stolen and the living room is the most handy room to wheel it into, so yeah, I know it says not to put it in there but I don't think the little mud marks on the white carpet are a big deal. At least they aren't to ME, so they shouldn't be to the owner. And smoke? Hey, I need my cigs. I just don't believe the owner really meant that rule.

But... the feelings of the tenants aren't based in a 'full picture' because they don't have the full picture for everything. The owner is really the only one with the right to make any hard and fast statements, and the ones using the place have a responsibility to do their best to keep things in the way the owner would want,.

Wowitsdark I really enjoyed reading this last thread alot. I guess I have to come back and say while I do not agree with you on everything thats okay because I am me and you are you. Like I had mentioned in the other posts my religion does not accept gay people and gay marriage but I do , honestly you have to know by now this is very personal to me because of my brother. I have to believe God created him and loved him and I do believe that my brother did not die in vain and that God needed him more in heaven. I truly wish the Catholic religion did accept gay people and their union of marriage because like I mentioned my marriage vows mean the world to me. As far as abortion I know I already discussed that issue I am totally againist any women who decides to get a abortion just because she is not ready for a child, sorry but you speaking for 2 people and that unborn child does not have a say in the matter but under rape or serious medical conditions or the mother may die or the unborn child would be born with serious and life threathing medical issues then perhaps abortion is a option. As far as you mentioning being nice and respectable to neighbors and our president I too am very respectful person, however if someone is out and out mean and nasty and curses I just choose to not let negative people be in my life. I do believe God forgives all however I do not believe he lets all go to heaven, but again my personal views. I just cannot understand as example Hitler being let into Heaven, while I believe God forgave him to let him into Heaven is something I do not think happened if it did then I am wrong. Wowitsdark I wanted to just add something about the Duggars please listen I am all for well behaved children and respectable children that is how I raised mine however because I am liberal mine were raised a bit different. I never ever questioned that they have good children, however they are children and must obey their parents which they do. However for instance if I had say 10 children I would want them to grow up and have dreams and desires of their own not all of them to all wear dresses and skirts and the girls have long hair and the boys all dressed with short hair. I also would never expect my 10 so called children to help me raise the family or the amount of children I gave birth to . I sincerely hope you may understand my personal views towards the Duggars. Thanks so much wow a long post again. Peace. Catherine

Thanks, Cathrine.

One thing with the Duggars... I don't know that we can make the judgment that just because they wear skirts and have long hair that they aren't allowed to have dreams. I also don't think they spend all of their time tending to a younger child. My husband is one of many children (without saying the exact number, they numbered in the teens) and they were probably brought up with a lot of similarities to the Duggars. They went to public school and didn't wear dresses or have long hair (not mandated anyway) but they did all have a younger sibling (the older half, anyway!) that they were to be in charge of when it came time to go places or when they were at a potluck and fixing plates, etc. It really wasn't that big of a deal. One of my husband's older brothers was his 'point person' and to this day, they share a special bond and a lot of inside jokes that they would not trade for the world. They are ten years apart. As adults, they will tell you - all the siblings will tell you - that it was a benefit to them to have to learn from an early age that family is to look out for family, even sometimes at personal expense. They are all fiercely loyal to each other and love each other very much. All but one are upstanding citizens, and the one that isn't was a victim of some things unrelated to the parenting that he received, and those things scarred him to the point that he has had a lot of trouble in adulthood. The others are all great people. It worked out.

Thanks again Wowitsdark I just wanted to better explain my personal feelings or views on the Duggars, never ever said they were bad people not bad parents. I also firmly believe there are tooooo many sadly neglected children out there who have no one not even parents who care for their basic needs. I only assume time will tell how all the Duggar children grow and what their lives will be like as they become adults. On a personal note as being the only girl in my family I did always wish for a sister but it was not to be, I am not sure if I mentioned this but my dad has a son from a previous relationship that occured when he entered into the Korean War he was only 18 at the time . Anyhow he did conceive a son his name is James Dean he is now 61 years old only met him 2 times in my life. The last time we saw or talked was in 1995 and that was his choice. Who truly knows I only know I grew up with 4 brothers 3 remaining and then having found out in 1993 about this other half sibling I was so excited. My mom did have 3 miscarriges so who knows what would have happened. Glad we spoke and thanks so much. Peace. Catherine

I am Catholic. I don't agree with everything the Church says. I believe in God and I believe Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice of his life to try to show the world how much God loves us, that we are all brothers and sisters, that no matter what you've done if you are truly sorry in your heart you will be forgiven for your trespasses.

Although I see NightOwlRN's point of view and history does bear it out, my personal experience has shown me that when people are of the same religion (especially those who attend the same church) they build a community. They care for each other providing comfort and helping fill needs of their church "family" as well as working together to provide for others who live in their area.

My experience with the Catholic church is although the leaders of the Church speak out against certain things individuals are always welcomed into the flock. I have never seen anything but inclusiveness from the members of the parish I grew up in as well as others I've attended throughout the years.
That being said I haven't attended Mass for several years simply due to laziness and the Church being 25-30 minutes away from my rural community.
However I am in constant communication with God. I thank Him many times a day for blessing me and my life. I pray for guidance in making the right decisions in my life. I pray for strength and for Him to bless others and bring them clarity and enlightenment.

I will never forget the day I was filled with the Holy Spirit. It was in 2004 I was sitting in bed reading a book and in my head was asking God why this why that why not this or that. I was filled with a feeling of peace and love and enlightenment so intense it made me cry tears of joy and it stayed with me since then. It was so intense the room literally became brighter and there was no doubt in my mind after that God loves me in a way even my own Mother can't and that no matter what I experience in life there is place for me in Heaven.

I don't know what form we take after our human Earthly life ends however I know in my heart that there is something wonderful after this and that our souls, our entities will live on for eternity.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

The visitors notice the computer is smoking - should they just pull the plug, or carefully shut it down at the risk of it bursting into flames and allowing the whole house to catch fire?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a whole lot of people that consider themselves to be Christians to believe or to pay a lot of attention to everything the Bible says. I think if we lived the way the Bible says, nothing in America would be as it is today.

I think that's why it says that not everyone who says, "Lord! Lord!" will enter into heaven, and that the path is wide but the gate is narrow. For many people, their Christianity is more of a loosely-held cultural thing than something they've really invested time in.

Just a little tidbit to toss out there about the Duggars and what they do or don't do.
I had lunch with a friend this week that has a friend that was attending the first Razorback football game last Saturday. This friend was tailgating before the game and guess who was tailgating next to her? The older Duggar children! I'm not positive how many were there but I did see at least 3 girls in the picture.

There are many out there who believe, as I do, that the Bible is actually man's interpretation of the stories or "the Word".
I also believe the opposite of what you've said here. I believe that God is loving and compassionate and forgiving. I believe that most people do go on to a blissful eternal existence.

I believe most people are good at heart and go through life trying to do "the right thing". God gave us free will so we could come to our own conclusions. A loving, compassionate, forgiving God will not deny entrance to Heaven to people simply because they had doubts or because they don't believe what you or I or him or her believe.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I totally agree with the opinions shown here. My God is my God and we walk hand in hand in the good times and the bad.

I agree with that as well.

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Thanks everyone so far for all your input I sincerely and deeply appreciate it very much. I wanted to add another personal note I know I talk alot about my late brother Sonny but I cannot help it I loved him dearly. Anyway the day he passed away about 2 hours before he did, we were all in the garage turned apartment he lived in with him, all his brothers and nieces and nephews and his 2 close friends Anthony and Kyle and my late cousin Maria and my parents and me. Alot of us were praying while some were just very silent. I had gotten up and asked that Anthony and Maria come with me to my parents local church because my Brother lived with my parents on their property. Anyhow I wanted to go to church to please ask God to take my brother to Heaven for the last hours of his life he was suffering so much. We wanted to talk to a priest and we rang the bell but it was like 6 p.m. and someone did answer and say they were all eating dinner. So then we just went into the courtyard and knelt before the statue of the blessed Mary and asked. By the time we returned home my brother did past about 45 minutes later. Again thanks everyone peace . Catherine