Is Satan Real

Quote: FrGamble

Okay then read the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12.

We're going in the wrong direction. My question
is still 'since when has the Church been interested
in the happiness quotient of the congregation.'

I've heard many sermons, even the Xmas masses
by the pope. Never heard one that was about the
happiness of the church goer's.

Are we going in the wrong direction because you are more comfortable with your own personal subjective feelings? Anyway, I've heard many sermons too and I always hear and preach myself a message that is about the happiness of the parishioners.

Quote: FrGamble

Are we going in the wrong direction because you are more comfortable with your own personal subjective feelings? Anyway, I've heard many sermons too and I always hear and preach myself a message that is about the happiness of the parishioners.

Yes! But it wasn't always so. This is a new
thing. I never heard sermons on happiness
and feeling good when I was a kid. The church
was all about not sinning, not being happy.
And being afraid of the devil.

Please understand, just because I have disdain
for the religion, I don't have disdain for those
who practice it. I understand why they do. People
have questions, and it supplies answers. It's
really that simple. And it has history on it's side.
It's grandfathered in, so to speak. We laugh at
Scientology now, just like we laughed at Mormons.
Nobody laughs at Mormons anymore, hardly
anybody anyway.. Time accepts all things.

Quote: FrGamble

If God forbid it become physically impossible for your friend to ride horses would all possibility of happiness be ended in their life?

If you had a stroke and couldn't read or speak anymore, would that impact the possibility of being happy?

I dare you to say no.

Can there be a being with no respect for you, only getting pleasure seeing you suffer? Sounds plausible to me. There is so much to grasp in the universe, with some never graspable even if trying for an eternity, we know we are incapable of ever being sure. Those who can be sure are either arrogant, ignorant, or foolish.

Quote: Nareed

If you had a stroke and couldn't read or speak anymore, would that impact the possibility of being happy?

I dare you to say no.

Would it impact my happiness, yes. Would it destroy the possibility of my being happy, no.

Quote: Evenbob

Please understand, just because I have disdain
for the religion, I don't have disdain for those
who practice it. I understand why they do. People
have questions, and it supplies answers. It's
really that simple. And it has history on it's side.
It's grandfathered in, so to speak. We laugh at
Scientology now, just like we laughed at Mormons.
Nobody laughs at Mormons anymore, hardly
anybody anyway.. Time accepts all things.

The appeal of Christianity is it's pre-packaged for
you. Every question you could possibly have has
been answered by some scholar centuries ago.
Just get onboard and buckle in and you're set.
No thinking needed. It's like one of those tropical
vacations you see on TV. Everything is paid for
in the package. Meals, drinks, spa, day trips, you
don't spend a dime once you're there. Easy peasy.

All religions are different. Zen Buddhism, for example,
has no answers. It makes you do all the work by
asking you questions and forcing you to come up the
answers. This can take years, and there's always another
question waiting.

Fascinating..

All knowledge is us standing on the shoulders of giants. If we all had to individually rediscover electricity to power our homes we would be in trouble. Throughout the centuries or millennium we have increased in knowledge and have proven many things to be true. The key is to move forward and always improve and apply our knowledge in new ways. The Pope is heading to Philadelphia later this year to ask more questions about the Lord's teaching on family and marriage.

When you stop asking questions you are in big trouble. When you deconstruct everything and think you have to do all the work for yourself you are really going backwards. You don't need to reinvent the wheel and anyone who forces you to is either being mean or doesn't really understand how the wheel works. The key is to move forward and think together how we can best put the wheel to good use. This can take years, and there's always another question waiting.

truly fascinating...

Quote: FrGamble

When you stop asking questions you are in big trouble. .

You see questions in your line of work,
but as a rule Christians are not very
curious. I've tried countless times over
the decades to engage them in discussions
and most, 97%, are unwilling to go further
than spouting a few Bible quotes. It's a
boring subject for them, a major yawner.
That's what they like about it, all the heavy
lifting has been done.

My own wife, who's a smart cookie and has
a minister for a father, never will go further
than Bible quotes. There's nothing about
the religion she doesn't know, yet discussing
it is a waste of time to her. I dare not question
anything, like I do here, she'll look at me like
I'm an utter moron. Of course it's all true, why
would I ever doubt it.