I thought I'd try again....LONG
jerber160
Posts: 2,607 Member
Ok. Long story is, I use MFP as a diet site geared to making my life better through better health AND I use the COMMUNITY boards and friends to help me with that. Chatting with friends and checking the boards helps keep me focused on logging food and keeps me interested in watching my diet.I get exercise tips and food tips and it’s a fun thing.. I call it facebook for fat people. I joined the CATHOLICS group thinking I’d click with other catholics on a weight loss journey while touching on catholic issues so I’d have the added benefit of being drawn closer to my faith.
A few months ago I was lambasted for questioning scripture, to the point where I felt compelled to leave the group. Since then I’ve been striving to maintain the diet, and have been struggling with the faith too. I thought I’d pop back in to the group, to see if it was ‘safe.’ I noticed that the self-righteous person responsible for my leaving had only one other post. It was snarky and similar in attitude to the one that drove me away...It was almost as if she didn’t exist before interacting with me and pretty much hasn’t contributed since... She popped in to drive me away and then vanished, sort of like what angels do in reverse.... They sometimes appear when needed, help clarify a situation or provide insight and then, go their own way. I have a new friend who is doing just that for me right now.
So I’m thinking about evil, which is synonymous with the devil. The devil’s goal is to separate people from God and that’s MY definition of evil. This self righteous person hasn’t quite succeeded with me, but came close for months. I was unaware of the ‘ignore’ button. So I’m thinking, this new world of the internet, with its guaranteed anonymity-where people feel free to spout opinions and press ‘send’ with little thought- the internet can be a dangerous place where good people can be led into wrong ways, and not even know it. ( you can count me as guilty here too, but hopefully I’m learning.)
A few months ago I was lambasted for questioning scripture, to the point where I felt compelled to leave the group. Since then I’ve been striving to maintain the diet, and have been struggling with the faith too. I thought I’d pop back in to the group, to see if it was ‘safe.’ I noticed that the self-righteous person responsible for my leaving had only one other post. It was snarky and similar in attitude to the one that drove me away...It was almost as if she didn’t exist before interacting with me and pretty much hasn’t contributed since... She popped in to drive me away and then vanished, sort of like what angels do in reverse.... They sometimes appear when needed, help clarify a situation or provide insight and then, go their own way. I have a new friend who is doing just that for me right now.
So I’m thinking about evil, which is synonymous with the devil. The devil’s goal is to separate people from God and that’s MY definition of evil. This self righteous person hasn’t quite succeeded with me, but came close for months. I was unaware of the ‘ignore’ button. So I’m thinking, this new world of the internet, with its guaranteed anonymity-where people feel free to spout opinions and press ‘send’ with little thought- the internet can be a dangerous place where good people can be led into wrong ways, and not even know it. ( you can count me as guilty here too, but hopefully I’m learning.)
0
Replies
-
Welcome back. I look forward to discussing scripture with you again. Your questions took me deeper into that passage than I had ever gone before.0
-
Thank You. very much......Welcome back. I look forward to discussing scripture with you again. Your questions took me deeper into that passage than I had ever gone before.
) 0 -
welcome back and may your journey be more pleasant this time around..
I look forward to your thought provoking posts...0 -
thank you too!welcome back and may your journey be more pleasant this time around..
I look forward to your thought provoking posts...0 -
If you want to participate in the forums, you have to be like a duck, and let the cold water splashes roll down your back. That being said, Jerber, I'm glad to see you back.0
-
Jerber,
I knew exactly what post you were talking about and I have to admit, I went back and pulled it up to make sure I did not sound snarky. But after reading it, I saw the troll whose only goal for being there was obviously to be rude and rile up you and anyone else who read it! Please do not allow satan to drive you away from your faith! Thankfully, she taught me how to ignore her!????
I too have struggled. I can offer suggestions of things that have helped me strengthen my faith. I attended a study during Lent. I only went because my oldest son was in youth group and I needed something to do while I waited. At first, I was a spectator. Then my church gave out a booklet called "The Word Among Us". It has the daily mass readings with a short explanation of the meaning of at least one of those readings and a short prayer. I love this book and have been reading it ever since. I also started chaperoning the youth trips. One of the trips was to the Abbey Youth Fest in Covington, LA. WOW! It was such a spirit filled trip! I started attending more retreats and studies, but as a participant this time. And reading as much as I could find. My church has plenty of things to read. I also attend the Abbey Fest as often as possible over the past 10 years. And every year, I am moved! I also taught religious education. It really helps reading about my faith on a 2nd grade level, even though I am a cradle Catholic and attended Parochial schools. I learned a lot of things that were long forgotten!
I am so glad you came back. I know you are not ready to just give up your faith. But I encourage you to work on strengthening it as often as possible. You can check out The Word Among Us at wau.org. I didn't mean to write a big novel here. I am just trying to help, if I can.
Have a blessed day!
Nancy0 -
THANK YOU TOO.. SO VERY MUCH. isn't it amazing where obstacles can pop up?Jerber,
I knew exactly what post you were talking about and I have to admit, I went back and pulled it up to make sure I did not sound snarky. But after reading it, I saw the troll whose only goal for being there was obviously to be rude and rile up you and anyone else who read it! Please do not allow satan to drive you away from your faith! Thankfully, she taught me how to ignore her!????
I too have struggled. I can offer suggestions of things that have helped me strengthen my faith. I attended a study during Lent. I only went because my oldest son was in youth group and I needed something to do while I waited. At first, I was a spectator. Then my church gave out a booklet called "The Word Among Us". It has the daily mass readings with a short explanation of the meaning of at least one of those readings and a short prayer. I love this book and have been reading it ever since. I also started chaperoning the youth trips. One of the trips was to the Abbey Youth Fest in Covington, LA. WOW! It was such a spirit filled trip! I started attending more retreats and studies, but as a participant this time. And reading as much as I could find. My church has plenty of things to read. I also attend the Abbey Fest as often as possible over the past 10 years. And every year, I am moved! I also taught religious education. It really helps reading about my faith on a 2nd grade level, even though I am a cradle Catholic and attended Parochial schools. I learned a lot of things that were long forgotten!
I am so glad you came back. I know you are not ready to just give up your faith. But I encourage you to work on strengthening it as often as possible. You can check out The Word Among Us at wau.org. I didn't mean to write a big novel here. I am just trying to help, if I can.
Have a blessed day!
Nancy0 -
So Glad you came back and I know God is smiling about you coming back also. Welcome back to us Catholics!
0 -
I didn't see the offending post (I'm new). I'm just thinking back on when I first pursued knowledge about my faith on the internet. This was around 1998 (I was using a 2400 bps modem, and accessing the internet via a shell account).
I got involved in a usenet newsgroup (I'm showing my age) called alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic. I figured this was a place for me to reconnect with my church and increase my faith. It was the wild west. There were about three charitable and knowledgable Catholics there, and the rest were Protestant and atheist trolls with the smattering of good hearted Protestants who only wanted to "lead us Catholic heathens back to Jeeeeeeesus".
I realized at that point, that even after going through 7 years of Catholic elementary school, I was woefully under-catechized. I had a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible and Biblical justifications for Catholic doctrine, including the sacraments. Contrary to hurting my faith, these trolls were instrumental to my digging in and doing the research on approproate sites (vatican.va, USCCB, etc.) and learning why my separated brothers were wrong. Not bad, or evil, or heretical, simply wrong.
After 10 years of self-study, I have 2.5 years of Formation for Ministry under my belt (helps when someone asks: "Do you believe the Bible is literal or allegorical" and I can answer "Yes"). And I am currently in the application process for deacon formation.
What I'm trying to say is... Welcome back. Take what's thrown at you, sit back, absorb it, research it and use it to increase your faith. And remember, when done charitably, teaching the ignorant and admonishing the sinner are spiritual acts of mercy.
As a side note, I have a problem with being snarky myself. So if anyone sees me being uncharitable, please bring it to my attention. 0 -
I didn't see the offending post (I'm new). I'm just thinking back on when I first pursued knowledge about my faith on the internet. This was around 1998 (I was using a 2400 bps modem, and accessing the internet via a shell account).
I got involved in a usenet newsgroup (I'm showing my age) called alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic. I figured this was a place for me to reconnect with my church and increase my faith. It was the wild west. There were about three charitable and knowledgable Catholics there, and the rest were Protestant and atheist trolls with the smattering of good hearted Protestants who only wanted to "lead us Catholic heathens back to Jeeeeeeesus".
I realized at that point, that even after going through 7 years of Catholic elementary school, I was woefully under-catechized. I had a rudimentary knowledge of the Bible and Biblical justifications for Catholic doctrine, including the sacraments. Contrary to hurting my faith, these trolls were instrumental to my digging in and doing the research on approproate sites (vatican.va, USCCB, etc.) and learning why my separated brothers were wrong. Not bad, or evil, or heretical, simply wrong.
After 10 years of self-study, I have 2.5 years of Formation for Ministry under my belt (helps when someone asks: "Do you believe the Bible is literal or allegorical" and I can answer "Yes"). And I am currently in the application process for deacon formation.
What I'm trying to say is... Welcome back. Take what's thrown at you, sit back, absorb it, research it and use it to increase your faith. And remember, when done charitably, teaching the ignorant and admonishing the sinner are spiritual acts of mercy.
As a side note, I have a problem with being snarky myself. So if anyone sees me being uncharitable, please bring it to my attention.
thank you... it's sooo hard to come across as charitable whilst typing.. without voice inflection and facial expression I'd say 80% of stuff comes off a bit skewed ..I'm almost afraid to mention current sermons and stuff...but I LOVE when I run across a priest who looks at life on an angle. I'll keep plugging.. thanks0 -
In reading your post my first thought was "Oh crap! I hope it's not me!"
I'm also returning to the group as well Jerber160. I have just fell away
from MFP, need to get back AND STAY on track.
You are right to question scripture. We ALL are. That is why our
faith is called FAITH! Believing without never fully knowing :flowerforyou:
God did not create robots. God gave us free will and a brain. Why not use it?!
I love questioning scripture!
Who wrote this? When? Why? What was the purpose then?
How could we interpret it now? How does the meaning change depending on who you ask?
What does the Vatican say about this verse? How do I live this out? What does my HEART tell me?
What debates and arguments are going on about this Gospel and why?
My personal opinion is that none of us will ever fully know until we meet our Creator in Heaven.
Even people who think they know will never really know, so why not dive deeper into scripture?! Why not
ask the tough questions?! Why not debate about it?
I find that when I see a heated discussion it ends up not only strengthening my faith but
the other persons' as well.
I don't believe I was part of that conversation, but my prayer is that we all may find support and tolerance with
this group. I pray that even when people disagree we may recognize our humanity.
Sending love to you Jerber160
0 -
Welcome back!0
-
GRAZIE0
