Hercule Poirot wrote: » I may be a bit behind the times but is there not a Catholic Register or something that you can request to be removed from - if it is something you are serious about?
etoughguy wrote: » wahooo a religion bashing thread
beach_walker wrote: » I really think you're in loo-laa land if you think the Church keeps an active tally of the amount of Catholics in the Republic of Ireland. Consider what they would need to actively track 1) The amount of baptisms per year. 2) Somehow keep a track of each of these throughout their lives so as to properly remove them from the tally on their death. (again remember, there is no Catholic directory which makes this step neigh on impossible) 3) Pay particular attention to parishes/archdioceses which straddle the border and update the tally with same (who's living on which side) That's just off the top of my head, not to mention the idea of "rejecting the census" is a bit off and something which in this country is seemingly solely the preview of atheists.
Walter H Price wrote: » I think the CSO are missing an interesting stat by not putting in a question about actual participation in religious service.
Jayop wrote: » Ah to be fair it's largely not been like that.
Hercule Poirot wrote: » I may be a bit behind the times but is there not a Catholic Register or something that you can request to be removed from - if it is something you are serious about? I personally have been baptised and the whole shebang but will be recording no religion on my form - there are only three reasons you will see me in a church, hatches, matches and dispatches - and only if I'm invited, on a few occasions I have found an excuse to skip the church part altogether As far as I'm concerned if you are not a practicing Catholic who goes to mass and genuinely believes in the Catholic dogma then you have no business ticking the Catholic box on the census form or even identifying as Catholic - it's a religion and should be treated with respect, you either are one or you are not
Jayop wrote: » The last few times I went to mass I didn't have communion because I'm not sure where I stand. I disagree with so much of what the church preaches but I don't think I'm at the point where I can declare I have no belief yet. I've raised my kids as Catholic, got married in the church but I don't know where I want to have my funeral.
leakyboots wrote: » You're not a Catholic if: You don't believe that is the ACTUAL body and blood of Christ up there on how ever many thousand altars across the country/world daily (if you think it's merely symbolic and representative, then you're a Protestant)Yep You don't believe the Pope is infallible (if you do, you're a Protestant)The popes infallibility is only on certain issues and not everything every day. You don't believe in Purgatory (like the rest of the Protestants)They seem to have dropped that one from when I was a child. Never hear much about that place anymore Mary is without sin and can hear the thoughts and prayers of everyone, all at once, from all over the world, in different languages. (If you think she was a woman who gave birth to Jesus and was very special but still a sinner like the rest of us... well, yep, you guessed it, you're a Protestant.)The "virgin" thing is in dispute. Some translations from the original text not think that virgin may have referred to before her first period rather than an actual virgin. Salvation is obtained through baptism, keeping the Commandments and participating in the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick). Having 'faith' alone is NOT good enough (that's for Protestants)That's all good, but if you do none of that then go to confessions you';re back to square one again. Those few things there are the cornerstones on which the Roman Catholic Church is built and are what separates it from other religions. Just to clarify cos I was doing it in a joke-y manner, I genuinely don't have a problem with people having Faith and I do think some of the Church's teachings are to be commended. I had Faith once and it got me through bad times but for various reasons I no longer believe and absolutely despise the Catholic Church. I do have a problem with people who go A La Carte with their religion... and also with militant Atheists - they annoy just as much as the Godbotherers. But live and let live and all that, I just tune out. Respect your fellow man/woman/elders and don't be a dickhead to them.
eviltwin wrote: » Maybe you're a more general Christian rather than the specific denomination of Catholic.
Walter H Price wrote: » Other than Funerals , Christenings , Weddings and family / Friends kids communions or conformations , i haven't been to mass , like just a Sunday mass or Christmas Easter whatever, since i was about 10. Given the only reason i'm ever in a church is for a Family member or friends event rather then the actual religious aspect of it, i will be putting down no religion. I think the CSO are missing an interesting stat by not putting in a question about actual participation in religious service.
Letree wrote: » The usual response from atheists is that they don't care what their loved ones do with their body when that die. But this is obviously a cop out.
Letree wrote: » I would class anyone who uses the church for weddings, christenings and their funeral as still a Catholic. Its disingenuous for people to loudly proclaim as many do that they are not a catholic yet will still let their family have a Catholic funeral for them. I knew a lady a who died a few years back and she told her family before she died that she didn't want a Catholic burial as she was no longer religious. They had a non religious funeral for her. I really respected that stance. She had integrity. The usual response from atheists is that they don't care what their loved ones do with their body when that die. But this is obviously a cop out.
Jayop wrote: » Yeah probably. I still go to mass a few times a year but I find more and more that I sit there sighing or just not listening at all.
Walter H Price wrote: » similarly I've had friends only baptise kids to ensure they can get a place in local schools or because they were being bullied for being the only kid in class not making communion.
Jayop wrote: » The "virgin" thing is in dispute. Some translations from the original text not think that virgin may have referred to before her first period rather than an actual virgin.
smash wrote: » So why do you go? The only time I step foot in a church is for a funeral, wedding or christening. And even then I don't participate in anything.
Fian wrote: » Surely you are not suggesting any ambivalence on the part of the RC church with respect to pedophilia? Nah couldn't be. I have seen some far fetched theories in this thread but that one just stretches credibility beyond breaking point.
Fian wrote: » I am an atheist. My wife is a christian. If she wants to bury my corpse that is fine with me, whatever makes her happy. Just because I am an atheist doesn't mean I have to deny her any comfort she might get from that, it costs me nothing. I won't be around to see it and i will never know whether she does so or not. For exactly the same reason when I attend a funeral or a wedding, so that I am present during a mass, I am respectful towards the ceremony going on around me. It is not necessary for me to loudly announce that "by the way I am calling bull**** in this religious nonsense" because it is not about me. I am there to celebrate a wedding or a funeral, which I consider to be important occasions for entirely non-religious reasons, and my sitting through a ceremony I think is a waste of time is not something that costs me so much I should impose my views on the others present. So I sit there quietly and I will even happily shake the hand of someone who offers their's during that bit of the ceremony, again it doesn't really cost me anything. Why on earth would you think allowing a funeral after you are dead is a cop out? Do you honestly think these people are "hedging their bets" in case there is a god and this is the price of an admission ticket into heaven? If you do that is absurd.
DanielODonnell wrote: » atheists are just brainwashed people who cannot see the light
Patww79 wrote: » This post has been deleted.
