Did anyone here ever consider becoming a Priest?

DEFTLEFTHAND

I've an uncle who is a Priest. lovely fella who was very instrumental in my upbrining.

At 17 I thought I had a calling. My mother was appalled but my Dad and his bro the Padre encouraged it.


I was brought up to Maynooth and given a tour of the Seminary and met all sorts of Church officials.


In the end after a lot of reflection and prayer I decided that it wasn't for me.


I ended up going a very different way in life.


Would still consider myself to be a strong Catholic though.

Wanderer78

What's the pay like?

DickSwiveller Returns

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I've an uncle who is a Priest. lovely fella who was very instrumental in my upbrining.

At 17 I thought I had a calling. My mother was appalled but my Dad and his bro the Padre encouraged it.


I was brought up to Maynooth and given a tour of the Seminary and met all sorts of Church officials.


In the end after a lot of reflection and prayer I decided that it wasn't for me.


I ended up going a very different way in life.


Would still consider myself to be a strong Catholic though.

Interesting thread but I fear the bilious mob will descend any minute.

Giraffe Box

I believe it's a great way to meet boys.

Sunny Disposition

I didn’t, definitely not for me, but I know a few priests who are the salt if the earth. I think this is a generational thing, v few born from say the mid 70s or so would have considered it.

DickSwiveller Returns

Giraffe Box wrote: »

I believe it's a great way to meet boys.

didn't take long

DEFTLEFTHAND

I would never have had the discipline to become a man of God.

I was always too fond of the material things.


I respect all who go through with it. These men devote their entire lives to the Lord's work.

Hermy

I honestly don't know why anyone in their right mind would even consider becoming a priest.

But if you buy into the half truths and mythology of religion it might not seem so absurd.

The monk who was principal of my secondary school stuck his head in the door one day in maybe fifth year and asked if anyone had considered the religious life.

I considered it for fifteen to twenty seconds and decided it wasn't for me.

Sephiroth_dude

and be miserable for the rest of my life? no thanks.

Cleopatra_

I'm a woman so hadn't considered it.

Giraffe Box

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I would never have had the discipline to become a man of God.

I was always too fond of the material things.


I respect all who go through with it. These men devote their entire lives to the Lord's work.

Where did you get the idea that being a 'man of God' and being fond of material things are mutually exclusive? That's mad Ted so it is.

DEFTLEFTHAND

You could join an Order of Sisters maybe.

begbysback

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The monk who was principal of my secondary school stuck his head in the door one day in maybe fifth year and asked if anyone had considered the religious life.

I considered it for fifteen to twenty seconds and decided it wasn't for me.

I once watched a documentary on monk living, really liked the look of a peaceful life, meditation, simple wardrobe, ringing bells and chanting - not a care in the world.

I was sold, where do I sign up? Then they showed the part where they rise at 4 am to go pick dinner from a field - meh I thought, probably not for me.

badabing106

Josef Stalin studied to be a priest in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia

arybvtcw0eolkf

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Would still consider myself to be a strong Catholic though.

Do you even lift bro?.

Cleopatra_

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

You could join an Order of Sisters maybe.

Ah no, the celibacy thing is a deal breaker right there.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Marvin Nice Racketeer wrote: »

Do you even lift bro?.

Don't lift Mak. I do heavy reps of situps and pressup every day. I also do a 3k run twice a week.


Always like to stay in shape, a soldier of Christ._.._Lol

DEFTLEFTHAND

Cleopatra_ wrote: »

Ah no, the celibacy thing is a deal breaker right there.

This was my main issue too.

Giraffe Box

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

You could join an Order of Sisters maybe.

Which of the orders were in charge of the Magdalene Laundries?

DEFTLEFTHAND

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

and be miserable for the rest of my life? no thanks.

But they're not miserable.


It's about reaching a higher plain of thinking.


I know a few Cistercian Monks and I'm really jealous of them. They're so happy but yet they have nothing in a material sense.


I want to reach that plain one day, nirvana, as the buddists say. Peace of mind.

Cabaal

Hermy wrote: »

I honestly don't know why anyone in their right mind would even consider becoming a priest..

Going back decades It was generally because the older brother went to be a doctor or got to go to college,

They could only afford to send one, so the least favourite became a priest in order to get further education

Ave Sodalis

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote:

I want to reach that plain one day, nirvana, as the buddists say. Peace of mind.

You can do that without religion though, so I don't see how joining a priesthood would be of much benefit in that regard.

Cabaal

I had a relation that became a priest.

After a few years he decided it wasn't for him and wanted out, he succeeded with a lot of work! .

But in doing so he was told by the Bishop he could never return to where he first said mass (his home town) and the local priest visited his mother and told her to burn every photo of him (she didn't).

As he couldn't make a life in Ireland he went to the UK. There he met a woman and started a family.

He did eventually revisit his home town but it was decades later and even then some people didn't want him coming in their front door for the shame of interacting with a man who left the priesthood.

Dark, dark times in this country.

Hermy

Cabaal wrote: »

Going back decades It was generally because the older brother went to be a doctor or got to go to college,

They could only afford to send one, so the least favourite became a priest in order to get further education

As a family historian I am familiar with the old practice of having a member of the family in the church. Quite a few nuns and priests in my tree and even a few bishops.

But in these supposedly modern times it is genuinely absurd to me that religion still hasn't been cast aside in much the same way as a child who comes of age disposes of the need for Santa or the tooth fairy.

Samuel T. Cogley

I wouldn't have been able to deal with the constant sex.

_Kaiser_

Nope, would never have considered it. I didn't even have to sit through religion class in school.

My mother's view was that we should be free to make our own choices when we were old enough rather than have it pushed on us as kids.

Of course Ireland was changing rapidly at time (80s and 90s) so it was even less relevant by the time I did finish school, and as I got older and learned about some of the damage the Church has done in this country it became something I'd have absolutely no time for myself.

That said, my late grandfather was extremely religious - Church twice a day, pictures of Jesus everywhere (typical of his generation to be fair) and obviously it fulfilled something for him, so each to their own.

AckwelFoley

I did when I was very young. Before puberty.

Then, I realised my love of vagina and cocaine was far too strong.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

I honestly don't know why anyone in their right mind would even consider becoming a priest.

But if you buy into the half truths and mythology of religion it might not seem so absurd.

I do and I´m atheist. I imagine that if you have very strong faith, maybe overwhelming at times then it makes sense that you´d want to follow that faith further.

Mint Sauce

When I was an Alter Boy at the age of 10 maybe, before I discovered girls. But then I also wanted to be an airline pilot, and an architect.

Thoughtform

Giraffe Box wrote: »

Where did you get the idea that being a 'man of God' and being fond of material things are mutually exclusive? That's mad Ted so it is.

Agreed! My uncle is a priest - absolutely fantastic man, works so hard for his parish - but he's mad for his electronic gadgets.

I'd have thought the celibacy aspect was the main off-putting factor for most.

Hermy

Deleted User wrote: »

I do and I´m atheist. I imagine that if you have very strong faith, maybe overwhelming at times then it makes sense that you´d want to follow that faith further.

Faith in what though? Essentially faith in make-believe.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

Faith in what though? Essentially faith in make-believe.

That's how you see it and that's fair enough. I see it a bit differently. There are those who don't feel it's make believe. I respect that.

Chaos Tourist

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

But they're not miserable.


It's about reaching a higher plain of thinking.


I know a few Cistercian Monks and I'm really jealous of them. They're so happy but yet they have nothing in a material sense.


I want to reach that plain one day, nirvana, as the buddists say. Peace of mind.

Do they still have to fall in line with the hierarchy though? A local one or one further away in Rome.

Not being tied up worrying about that hot new finance deal on Suzuki Jeeps or keeping up appearances must be nice though. For them you seemingly have to avoid society generally to obtain this piece of mind. Which tells you what they must really think about how most people live.

EPAndlee

I'd rather start my own cult instead of joining someone elses

Hermy

Deleted User wrote: »

That's how you see it and that's fair enough. I see it a bit differently. There are those who don't feel it's make believe. I respect that.

They may 'feel' it's not make-believe but surely without evidence to the contrary it's hard to see it as anything else.

Giraffe Box

Hermy wrote: »

They may 'feel' it's not make-believe but surely without evidence to the contrary it's hard to see it as anything else.

Agreed.
Christopher Hitchens: ''What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.''

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

They may 'feel' it's not make-believe but surely without evidence to the contrary it's hard to see it as anything else.

Evidence is not always needed when it comes to faith. In fact it's not always needed for a whole host of things. Have you unfairly compared yourself to others or assumed something that had no basis in reality? For example I could say "I wish I was as happy as them" or "nobody understands". Yet what evidence is there for such thoughts? None.

Life and how we view it and how we live it is never black and white. I slept with the light on last night because I was spooked for no real reason whatsover. There was zero evidence for me to feel that way but I did.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

They may 'feel' it's not make-believe but surely without evidence to the contrary it's hard to see it as anything else.

Ahh... so you're the guy that loves telling children that Santa and the Easter Bunny don't exist...

Their faith doesn't affect you. So, why piss on their parade?

Star Bingo

I enjoy more quiet and solitude into older age and definitely need a stricter regimen but will always be too much of a boyish scamp to be taken seriously in any role. In the right light more like a choirboy more typically a wicked imp but never a priest.....

just don’t fit the profile! Bane of my life really; oh well what can you do but laugh n be a rock n rolla. And better yourself in your own time

Taytoland

I'm not a papist, so no of course not.

Thoughtform

Taytoland wrote: »

I'm not a papist, so no of course not.

I'm not a man, so no of course not. Pretty self explanatory that "papist" - also known as "catholic" - men were the ones being addressed.

suicide_circus

Taytoland

Thoughtform wrote: »

Taytoland wrote: »

I'm not a papist, so no of course not.

I'm not a man, so no of course not. Pretty self explanatory that "papist" - also known as "catholic" - men were the ones being addressed.

The OP assumed too much then.

StereoSound

Some people have a calling to be a man of God, they still have a calling in their pants to though. They should be allowed marry probably.

No I never considered being a priest, I'm sure its lovely but nah lol.

endacl

Work every Sunday?

Ask me hole...

Hermy

Deleted User wrote: »

Ahh... so you're the guy that loves telling children that Santa and the Easter Bunny don't exist...

Their faith doesn't affect you. So, why piss on their parade?

Well there's a great example of somebody not needing evidence.
What makes you think I'd do something like that?
Of course I don't tell children that Santa doesn't exist.
Why would anyone do such a cruel thing?
I'm talking about children who in good time make up their own minds about Santa, just as many of us in good time recognise religion for the fiction that is is.

Deleted User wrote: »

Evidence is not always needed when it comes to faith. In fact it's not always needed for a whole host of things. Have you unfairly compared yourself to others or assumed something that had no basis in reality? For example I could say "I wish I was as happy as them" or "nobody understands". Yet what evidence is there for such thoughts? None.

Life and how we view it and how we live it is never black and white. I slept with the light on last night because I was spooked for no real reason whatsover. There was zero evidence for me to feel that way but I did.

But faith itself is part of that make-believe.
And the lack of evidence is almost a necessity for any religion.
Without the mystery there's no show.

As to wanting to sleep with the light on I'm sure there's some electrochemical activity in the brain to account for that.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

Well there's a great example of somebody not needing evidence.
What makes you think I'd do something like that?
Of course I don't tell children that Santa doesn't exist.
Why would anyone do such a cruel thing?
I'm talking about children who in good time make up their own minds about Santa, just as many of us in good time recognise religion for the fiction that is is.


But faith itself is part of that make-believe.
And the lack of evidence is almost a necessity for any religion.
Without the mystery there's no show.

As to wanting to sleep with the light on I'm sure there's some electrochemical activity in the brain to account for that.

What? It's a fear of the dark I've had because of past things. We will have to agree to disagree because I see the human condition as being so much more than a bunch of synapses firing and don't always need evidence to feel what I feel and do what I do.

My mothers brother spent two years in the seminary in Ireland. In the end he left as the reality of a life without a partner and children became more stark, and he emigrated to the US where he taught theology until his recent retirement. He was married for decades until my aunts death, had kids, and remains one of the nicest, cleverest, sweetest human beings I'm likely to ever meet.

My gran was relieved when he left the seminary as she wanted a more 'normal' life for him, but she was expected to be disappointed as having a priest in the family bestowed a great deal of status in those days.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

Well there's a great example of somebody not needing evidence.
What makes you think I'd do something like that?
Of course I don't tell children that Santa doesn't exist.
Why would anyone do such a cruel thing?
I'm talking about children who in good time make up their own minds about Santa, just as many of us in good time recognise religion for the fiction that is is.

Evidence? Your attitude both previously and contained within the above paragraph is evidence enough.

And TBF when it comes to religion, perhaps you should be proving that it is fiction, rather than them having to prove that it does... after all, religion came first by a long shot. They've always said that religion is based on faith rather than temporal attributes, except where the Church dabbled with politics.

Don't get me wrong. I'm Agnostic. I don't like religion myself, although I do believe in the possibility of God. Still... I don't really understand this need by people to cast stones when they, themselves, can't prove anything.

Hermy

Hermy wrote: »

And the lack of evidence is almost a necessity for any religion.
Without the mystery there's no show.

If you had evidence you wouldn't need faith. That's why it's called faith.

I'm a strong agnostic myself but I don't think anyone of faith is stupid either, which is the self aggrandizing insinuation when someone starts talking about make believe and fairies or whatever.