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Did anyone here ever consider becoming a Priest?

135

Comments

  • #62
    Graces7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    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.

    In fact they have far far more than most other people. Far more materially..

    And a higher plane is not what religious life is about. A different way of life is all,with no worries, no needs that are not met easily with no effort on their part,,and fully, total secure in all aspects of life.A freedom from want

    Religious orders are wealthy.


  • #63
    Iwouldinmesack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 180 ✭✭Iwouldinmesack


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Far from dark times. Breaking sacred life vows is a very very serious matter indeed. It is a betrayal, a shameful thing to do. They have 8-9 years in formation/ training so should be mature enough by then

    Ridiculous thing to say. People change you know? 8-9 years is a long time in a persons lifetime. As you say they mature? Maybe the realisation that is not for them? Also maybe it wasnt their choice but they felt they had to so not to leave the family down? They see their siblings start families and may want that themselves? So much can happen over the years. Ive changed so much from the person i was in my late teens, my early mid and late twenties and so on. Why cant a priest do the same, theyre only human at the end of the day.


  • #64
    Yer Da sells Avon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,736 ✭✭✭Yer Da sells Avon


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Far from dark times. Breaking sacred life vows is a very very serious matter indeed. It is a betrayal, a shameful thing to do. They have 8-9 years in formation/ training so should be mature enough by then

    8-9 years in training, and then potentially another 30 or 40 years in their ministry after that. A lot can change during that time. It's far more shameful to continue preaching and celebrating the sacraments, day in, day out, when your heart is no longer in it, I would have thought.


  • #65
    Graces7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Deleted User wrote: »
    People change, and getting out of the Church used to be far harder than it is today. The attitude of the Church regarding those who sought to leave was far more shameful...

    I have a few relations who used to be priests, and who left the Church at various stages. They're good people with strong faith, but didn't want the hypocrisy that went with many of the holy orders.

    Vows are to God, I tis never OK and it is shameful as it is for anyone to betray a company etc

    Utterly shameful.


  • #66
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,208 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Religious orders are wealthy.

    Which doesn't translate into their followers being wealthy.

    Have you ever been to a religious retirement home for nuns? If not, perhaps you should. You won't be seeing much being spent on them.


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  • #67
    Graces7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Hapax Legomenon wrote: »
    8-9 years in training, and then potentially another 30 or 40 years in their ministry after that. A lot can change during that time. It's far more shameful to continue preaching and celebrating the sacraments, day in, day out, when your heart is no longer in it, I would have thought.

    Nothing to do with heart being in it. Vows are to God. End of.


  • #68
    Franz Von Peppercorn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,070 ✭✭✭Franz Von Peppercorn


    Hapax Legomenon wrote: »
    Imagine how silly he feels now.

    Hitchens did a lot of asserting without evidence himself.


  • #69
    Hermy
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 11,625 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hermy


    Candie wrote: »
    As there is no evidence of a god or gods, so there is also no evidence of a lack of god or gods. As I said above, absence of evidence doesn't mean evidence of absence.

    There's lots of evidence refuting the claims made by and about religions and the gods associated with them.

    But as faith is all that's required evidence is rather conveniently irrelevant to those who believe in this nonsense.

    Genealogy Forum Mod



  • #70
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,208 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Vows are to God, I tis never OK and it is shameful as it is for anyone to betray a company etc

    Utterly shameful.

    If God cannot understand the weaknesses of humanity, then he is not God. After all, we are God's creations. What you refer to are the Church laws, and not God's laws. Religion is a man made institution, and in many ways, is against what Jesus apparently wanted.

    And we can go 12 rounds on this, if you wish. There is a vast difference between God and the Church.


  • #71
    _Whimsical_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,992 ✭✭✭_Whimsical_


    I know a priest who has become a family friend and I have to say I find him very nice and quite an inspiring figure. He's very progressive in his attitudes to women in the church, gay people, divorced people even trans people, he really believes in the love of God and sees himself as a vehicle for that compassion rather than a block there to decide who is worthy of kindness. He doesn't really talk about religion, he has lots of interests, he's very well read, very intelligent and interesting on many subjects, open to reading stuff he doesn't agree with etc. You would never guess he was a priest talking to him. I have genuinely found his attitude to people and situations much more compassionate than average, he's one person who would stick out on my my mind as someone who doesn't see the world in black and white and appreciates the complexity of peoples lives.


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  • #72
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    Always like to stay in shape, a soldier of Christ._.._Lol

    Sure look at the main man himself. Any pic I've seen of Jesus he's been shredded or buff. 6 foot 2 and abs you could play like a xylophone. Absolute unit.


  • #73
    Yer Da sells Avon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,736 ✭✭✭Yer Da sells Avon


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Nothing to do with heart being in it. Vows are to God. End of.

    People change during the course of their lives. Those vows are worthless if they become a lie, not only to oneself, but also to a God in whom you no longer have the same level of faith. Priests are human too. End of.


  • #74
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 26,219 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Vows are to God, I tis never OK and it is shameful as it is for anyone to betray a company etc

    Utterly shameful.

    This shame business is the major issue I have with some organized religions. Shaming has been wielded by hierarchies for far too long to moderate peoples behaviour and bring them to heel for the enrichment and empowerment of others. Shaming someone for their humanity is something a loving God would surely abhor.
    Graces7 wrote: »
    Nothing to do with heart being in it. Vows are to God. End of.

    End of. The most arrogant and patronizing pairing of words.


  • #75
    Iwouldinmesack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 180 ✭✭Iwouldinmesack


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Vows are to God, I tis never OK and it is shameful as it is for anyone to betray a company etc

    Utterly shameful.

    I am glad that many in this country do no longer think like that. To think in that outdated way is what i would consider to be shameful.


  • #76
    Pelvis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,747 ✭✭✭Pelvis


    Candie wrote: »
    As there is no evidence of a god or gods, so there is also no evidence of a lack of god or gods. As I said above, absence of evidence doesn't mean evidence of absence.

    Oh please, if a person claims to have an invisible pet dragon on their shoulder, he'd probably be urged to get medical help, and you'd probably advise the same. So let's not go with that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" schtick, it's a lazy argument tbh.


  • #77
    Graces7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Which doesn't translate into their followers being wealthy.



    Have you ever been to a religious retirement home for nuns? If not, perhaps you should. You won't be seeing much being spent on them.


    Well no. When you take a Vow of Holy Poverty? They never lack for food, for clothing, for shelter, for heat, for a roof over their head, etc etc etc.,


    I have been to many in my work as a qualified monastic historian,

    Try the Mercy homes. Rich and luxurious.

    Leaving this now as you are talking a different language


  • #78
    Iwouldinmesack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 180 ✭✭Iwouldinmesack


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Well no. When you take a Vow of Holy Poverty? They never lack for food, for clothing, for shelter, for heat, for a roof over their head, etc etc etc.,


    I have been to many in my work as a qualified monastic historian,

    Try the Mercy homes. Rich and luxurious.

    Leaving this now as you are talking a different language

    You always seem to leave conversations when the going gets tough. You can take your outdated views with you, cant you not see that Irish society nowadays doesnt need or want those and has moved on.


  • #79
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,208 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Well no. When you take a Vow of Holy Poverty? They never lack for food, for clothing, for shelter, for heat, for a roof over their head, etc etc etc.,

    Which is not what you originally said... and lets be clear, different Orders have different vows.
    I have been to many in my work as a qualified monastic historian,

    Try the Mercy homes. Rich and luxurious.

    Ahh... we're talking extremes then?
    Leaving this now as you are talking a different language

    Ahh yes... leave when confronted. :rolleyes:


  • #80
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 26,219 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Pelvis wrote: »
    Oh please, if a person claims to have an invisible pet dragon on their shoulder, he'd probably be urged to get medical help, and you'd probably advise the same. So let's not go with that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" schtick, it's a lazy argument tbh.

    I'm not arguing anything, and I'm not supporting the notion of faith over evidence. What I am saying is that you can't dismiss one angle as being unsupported by evidence as though that's all there is to it, and use the angle to support your own.

    I don't believe in a God or gods. I can't prove they exist.

    I don't believe in a God or gods. I can't prove they don't exist.

    Evidence is a worthless concept in this context.


  • #81
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Vows are to God, I tis never OK and it is shameful as it is for anyone to betray a company etc

    Utterly shameful.

    There's plenty of shame to go around the church without the need to heap it on some poor fella who changed his mind and decided it wasn't for him.

    Or maybe he just wanted to have a bit of the auld sex, the most natural of all the urges. Or maybe the thoughts of a wife and family appealed to him. The fact a reverend or a vicar can have them and a priest can't probably makes them resentful on some level.


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  • #82
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 32,956 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Nothing to do with heart being in it. Vows are to God. End of.

    That's the discussion over so!

    This might shock you. People are people. They have feelings and they change their mind. If God is real, he'd understand that. Also, he made your quitting priest the way he is so it's really the Big Man's fault overall.


  • #83
    py2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,845 ✭✭✭py2006


    It always strikes me as bewildering that in 2018 we still have people believing in gods and following dogmatic religions.


  • #84
    indioblack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭indioblack


    Candie wrote: »
    I'm not arguing anything, and I'm not supporting the notion of faith over evidence. What I am saying is that you can't dismiss one angle as being unsupported by evidence as though that's all there is to it, and use the angle to support your own.

    I don't believe in a God or gods. I can't prove they exist.

    I don't believe in a God or gods. I can't prove they don't exist.

    Evidence is a worthless concept in this context.
    It becomes subjective then. We can think or feel or make things up - until we bump into the concrete reality of existence.


  • #85
    The One Doctor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,322 ✭✭✭The One Doctor


    In my teens and 20's I considered priests irrelevant and worse. Then I met a priest who was very, very good at his job (calling, vocation etc) He married my brother and his wife and he was thoughtful, intelligent and had a great sense of humour.

    When he christened my daughter a few years later there were another 3 children being baptised at the same time. He drew a thoughtful comparison between our children and those in other countries, and also between his role in christening healthy babies and his long experience with doing emergency baptisms (i.e, performing them on a dying baby) in The Rotunda.

    Little did I know that 2 years later I would be meeting my lovely little stillborn nephew, and how that priests' speech echoed in my mind as I patted that little purple baby locked in rigor mortis, the skin falling off his tiny face. It's easy to cast aspersions on people whose beliefs are not yours, but now, even as a atheist, I believe that priests have a valid place in our society.

    Have I ever considered becoming a priest? No, but I highly respect anyone who does.


  • #86
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,208 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    py2006 wrote: »
    It always strikes me as bewildering that in 2018 we still have people believing in gods and following dogmatic religions.

    As opposed to believing themselves to be the wrong gender in spite of having all the working bits?


  • #87
    uck51js9zml2yt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,253 ✭✭✭✭uck51js9zml2yt


    Planned on becoming a Christian Brother in my teens.
    Took a different path and find myself speaking in churches across continents.

    Left the RCC in my teens as well!


  • #88
    YFlyer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,713 ✭✭✭YFlyer


    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.

    You can be fond of material things and still be detach from them. The Gita explains this in detail.


  • #89
    py2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,845 ✭✭✭py2006


    Deleted User wrote: »
    As opposed to believing themselves to be the wrong gender in spite of having all the working bits?

    I don't follow. What has that got to do with religion and gods?


  • #90
    igCorcaigh
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 12,587 Mod ✭✭✭✭igCorcaigh


    py2006 wrote: »
    It always strikes me as bewildering that in 2018 we still have people believing in gods and following dogmatic religions.

    It's a worrying sign of human nature, isn't it?
    At least the most extreme political orthodoxies seem to be short lived.


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  • #91
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,208 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    py2006 wrote: »
    I don't follow. What has that got to do with religion and gods?

    It relates to believing in something "odd".

    But in hindsight, it doesn't match up with what you actually said. :o


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