Religion

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)

68. I suspect that for some people, Catholicism is equivalent to Christianity.

Sun Dec 9, 2012, 01:35 PM

Dec 2012

When their is little or no distinction between denomination and theology, the step *is* drastic. I say this as a former Christian, now more on the anti-theist side of the scale. It took many years of pondering the chasm of disbelief before taking the final, logical leap.

I find far less cognitive dissonance on this side of the divide, but that doesn't make the actual step any less drastic. It isn't painless to discard a belief system indoctrinated from birth.

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Why is quitting the Catholic church spoken of as some type of drastic, hard step? [View all] ButterflyBlood Nov 2012 OP

Because DonCoquixote Nov 2012 #1

I agree with you. rug Nov 2012 #2

I would view someone skepticscott Nov 2012 #8

I'm sure you would. Of course, that is not theology. rug Nov 2012 #10

No, it's not.... There's a lot more evidence skepticscott Nov 2012 #11

As a matter of fact, there is no evidence for a mythic Santa Claus. rug Nov 2012 #12

So the fact skepticscott Nov 2012 #13

Ok, backtrack. rug Nov 2012 #14

I win the bet skepticscott Nov 2012 #15

Don't cash in. rug Nov 2012 #16

Funny , I don't see God mentioned there at all skepticscott Nov 2012 #19

Comparing belief in a god to a belief in Santa has nothing to do with comparing a god to Santa. rug Nov 2012 #20

Comparing God to Santa finds many similarities Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #23

It's stupid. rug Dec 2012 #25

But? The description of Santa, exactly describes the shallow idea of many Christians, of their God Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #30

No it isn't. Why don't you put down your sterotypes and open your eyes. rug Dec 2012 #36

Been there; done that. Want to start with say, Plato's discussion of Parmenides, and the "One"? Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #39

Yes. Let's start with Plato's description of reindeer. rug Dec 2012 #40

Plato's "One" is a precursor of "high" Christian monotheism & defends it rationally. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #41

There is as much difference between Plato and Moore as there is between God and Santa Claus. rug Dec 2012 #42

No such acknowledgement: Plato's "allegedly" higher concept of God Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #43

Congratualtions. You have advanced from talking about Santa Claus to philosophy. rug Dec 2012 #45

Nope. Your beloved Catholic martyr, St. More, often quoted Plato favorably Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #44

There is much in Plato to admire. rug Dec 2012 #46

Bad Platonistic ideas found throughout More and "high" Christianity; the "Uncaused Cause" Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #47

I hope you permanently leave Santa Claus out of what is otherwise an interesting discussion. rug Dec 2012 #48

What created the universe? The best answer: we don't know. To pretend to know is childish. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #49

Except that is not an answer. rug Dec 2012 #50

You create a false dichotomy there... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #54

What's the third choice? If you claim a false dichotomy, prove it. rug Dec 2012 #58

You added something to one of the choices to make it invalid, that's the dishonest part... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #62

A comment on a choice is not an addition. rug Dec 2012 #64

Rorty, and the problem with Aquinas' "Being" as first cause: no "being" with no things existing Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #57

? rug Dec 2012 #59

Probably all allegedly profound "answers" on origins of the Universe, are all too simple. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #60

"Bad Platonistic ideas found throughout More and "high" Christianity; the 'Uncaused Cause" Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2012 #51

Mostly Aristotle - who was a student of Plato though. Brettongarcia Dec 2012 #56

Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #24

scotie, your error here is believing you have a point. rug Dec 2012 #26

Nice try, ruggie skepticscott Dec 2012 #31

Lol. rug Dec 2012 #35

Pot/kettle/black Fortinbras Armstrong Dec 2012 #52

Santa Claus is really god Angry Dragon Dec 2012 #92

12 years of Catholic school is a lot of brainwashing to overcome rox63 Nov 2012 #3

For you it was meaningless junk Dorian Gray Nov 2012 #4

I quit the Catholic church 30 years ago, when the priest refused to baptise my son because his dad & peacebird Nov 2012 #5

Of course the priest was more interested skepticscott Nov 2012 #7

i thought it said kids under 7 were innocent and went to heaven. ejpoeta Dec 2012 #78

Appears the church has changed its mind now... peacebird Dec 2012 #88

I was age 7, so it was pretty easy CanonRay Nov 2012 #6

The fact that you don't consider yourself a "cultural catholic" might cbayer Nov 2012 #9

There is this guy in my church .... kwassa Nov 2012 #17

Lots of ex-Catholics in the Lutheran church too Freddie Dec 2012 #27

My personal guess is identity. nt ZombieHorde Nov 2012 #18

Well yeah but I don't see myself as having that type of identity ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #21

I was raised in the Catholic Church, and I went to a Catholic school my first two or three years. ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #32

I think we see things the same way on this ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #33

In my childhood neighborhood we were all Catholics of varying degrees. Literally. pinto Dec 2012 #22

Similiar situation here, also in Massachusetts in the 60's and 70's rox63 Dec 2012 #28

I went to catholic school for a couple of years early. I tell you I remember being scared of southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #29

The Only Problem I Had After I Left The Church ChiciB1 Dec 2012 #87

I totally agree with you. I feel the same way. I still feel bad about not going but southernyankeebelle Dec 2012 #91

It's a hard step... Plantaganet Dec 2012 #34

If you haven't jamtoday Dec 2012 #37

That thing is fairly moot to me ButterflyBlood Dec 2012 #38

Not like a care about that, yeah I'm baptized, but they don't know where I live, and I haven't... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #55

I was confirmed in the Church, and it wasn't difficult for me... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #53

What is therapeutic deism? cbayer Dec 2012 #61

A term I saw on another blog that I thought was fantastic... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #63

Why is it called "therapeutic"? cbayer Dec 2012 #65

Probably because it had a calming or "feel good" affect on those who believe... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #66

Interesting. IMO, that may be one of the positive roles that cbayer Dec 2012 #67

To be honest, I wouldn't term it as positive.... Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #69

I'm not sure that convincing yourself that the unknowable is untrue cbayer Dec 2012 #71

Whatever is unknowable is unknowable, so "true/not true" are nonsensical concepts. Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #72

Agree. And the pretense can lead to both good and bad outcomes. cbayer Dec 2012 #73

Wait, aren't you a theologian? Isn't your job to keep up the pretense? Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #74

I am by no means a theologian. cbayer Dec 2012 #75

Sorry, got you confused with someone else. n/t Humanist_Activist Dec 2012 #76

Probably my father. He's a theologian. cbayer Dec 2012 #81

I suspect that for some people, Catholicism is equivalent to Christianity. LiberalAndProud Dec 2012 #68

Obviously, your early life was never scarred by vicious women Warpy Dec 2012 #70

It's not. Now OTOH, quitting the Mormon church or Scientology kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #77

I am a life long Atheist who was raised in a Catholic family but never believed in god. Walk away Dec 2012 #79

Same thing for me Kelvin Mace Dec 2012 #84

That's pretty funny! I just knew from the beginning... Walk away Dec 2012 #89

I Was Raised As A Very Strict Catholic... ChiciB1 Dec 2012 #80

Hi ButterflyBlood - Pendrench Dec 2012 #82

Can you go and just not give them money? -nt Bradical79 Dec 2012 #83

You provide support by your presence Kelvin Mace Dec 2012 #86

It is difficult, in part, because each diocese has cemeteries with the remains of ancestors AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #85

Yours is the most cogent response No Vested Interest Dec 2012 #90