Does God exist?

[Lostforkate]

wonder if more woman are open to the idea of a menstrual hut. I know I wouldn't mind the seperation either. 

[Katiebee]

How about a separation from menses entirely, just for us women?

[Lostforkate]

I am only for open for a temporary seperation. I like rugrats.

[Lostforkate]

In my house, we don't do Santa clause or the Easter bunny.

I know Santa wasn't real at a very young age, and lied to my parents about it, as I was afraid if they knew I did not believe, I would not get any presents. Selfish, yes, but what is expected of a young boy.

I did not to lie to my children, nor do I want them to feign belief for my sake.

All in all, no major psyche problems for my 17 year old because he was Santa deprived.

[MissBarbara]

In my house, we don't do Santa clause or the Easter bunny.

I know Santa wasn't real at a very young age, and lied to my parents about it, as I was afraid if they knew I did not believe, I would not get any presents. Selfish, yes, but what is expected of a young boy.

I did not to lie to my children, nor do I want them to feign belief for my sake.

All in all, no major psyche problems for my 17 year old because he was Santa deprived.

I've never heard of a parent doing this before, and I find it fascinating. If nothing else, it proves you're utterly consistent.

Props to you.

[Lostforkate]

I've shared this with a few people at work, and well, they look at me like I am from mars.

I had a guy who is really very intelligent, tell me, "my 12 year old girl still believes in santa, and I will kill anyone that tells her any different." So, I wasn't going to debate him, and changed subjects.

We do the tooth fairy a little bit, because it is so funny telling a kid, that when his first tooth falls out, put it under your pillow, and the tooth fairy will give a dollar. They look at you at you like I you're from mars again. LoL.

The tooth falls out, and they show me, and I tell them it is gross to put a tooth under your pillow, and then I give them a dollar.

In my house, we don't do Santa clause or the Easter bunny.

I know Santa wasn't real at a very young age, and lied to my parents about it, as I was afraid if they knew I did not believe, I would not get any presents. Selfish, yes, but what is expected of a young boy.

I did not to lie to my children, nor do I want them to feign belief for my sake.

All in all, no major psyche problems for my 17 year old because he was Santa deprived.

I've never heard of a parent doing this before, and I find it fascinating. If nothing else, it proves you're utterly consistent.

Props to you.

[Lostforkate]

You're using human logic to try and define God again.

In my house, we don't do Santa clause or the Easter bunny.

I know Santa wasn't real at a very young age, and lied to my parents about it, as I was afraid if they knew I did not believe, I would not get any presents. Selfish, yes, but what is expected of a young boy.

I did not to lie to my children, nor do I want them to feign belief for my sake.

All in all, no major psyche problems for my 17 year old because he was Santa deprived.

I tell my children, "God is like Santa for grown ups.  He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake.  He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness's sake.  If you find a fat man delivering toys to every house on the planet in a single night to be improbable, how probable is a bearded man on a cloud answering the prayers of 7.5 Billion people being sent up daily?  God is a good belief, and a good belief system, but Het's also a fantasy that Lenin called 'the opiate (drug) of the masses.'  Believe in yourself, because you are the creator, or co-creator, of your own reality.  Accept that you have the power to make the life you want for yourself."

They haven't killed anyone (yet).

[Lostforkate]

If you try explain that to a believer, the God is santa for adults, it is just totally illogical them. They do not see God as santa, and must believers understand they have free will. Your view is actually very closed minded to a believer. As well as the statement, God is made in man's image.

The confusion of God lies in the numerous different beliefs makes it appear that man created God, when man simply created religion. Of the different christian faiths, catholicism is the most religious of christian sects, which probably explains the frustation of religion vented by ex catholics (or recovering catholic) posts.

[Gina Marie]

How about a separation from menses entirely, just for us women?

AMEN SISTER!

[Fish]

How 'bout separating from a few of those multiple orgasms while you're at it?

[Katiebee]

NO. Those stay where Mother Goddess intended them to be.

[MissBarbara]

Of the different christian faiths, catholicism is the most religious of christian sects, which probably explains the frustation of religion vented by ex catholics (or recovering catholic) posts.

And when you're done answering Toe's question, I'd like you to help me understand what you mean by the above. What do you mean by "religious"? In terms of the religion itself, or the faith (or lack thereof) of its adherents? How is Catholicism the most religious religion? Do you mean that it has the most extensive set of doctrines and traditions? Or that it has one head for all believers worldwide?

I'm not questioning your assertions, I'm just trying to understand...

[Fish]

Judaism would likely have the strictest doctrines, though Islam would be fairly close. Sikh and Shintoism would be up there, Mormonism might be ahead of Catholicism... I'm not sure what LFK meant, but perhaps it isn't that.

[Katiebee]

Toe, you are the eternal cynic.

[Lostforkate]

As being religious, catholicism has the most traditions, and developed the most extra-biblical doctrines.

Of the additional beliefs is the near deification of Mary.

There is the whole confessional thing, and saying our fathers corrects the sin.

Then the there is the fact priests can't marry.

It end up making a hypocritical faith born on tradition.

Then there is excessive use of of imagory, and tweaking the ten commandments to soften idolatry.

Purgatory is another invented idea, or place.

Then there is the belief that the sacraments and baptism can save your soul.

What I is see is religion in the catholic church, is not an analysis of faith, but what the priest or the pope says.

Then when people understood what was in the bible, and that catholic traditions are extra biblical, the pope issue a new doctrine that says in Latin, tradition over the bible. Thus it is a man made religion.

I know those are a lot of random thoughts, and I did not order them well as I am typing with thumbs.

So I feel that the religion confuses people's search and understanding of God is.

Are there christian sects more religious? Could be, but catholicism is the largest in number.

[Fish]

On a side note... as continuing this discussion might annoy others, here is a different perspective: Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson on intelligent design (starts at about 4:26)-

[Gina Marie]

Let's talk Dogma/Doctrine!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogma

and WOO for bringing Dr. DGT into the thread at this point!

[MissBarbara]

As being religious, catholicism has the most traditions, and developed the most extra-biblical doctrines.

Of the additional beliefs is the near deification of Mary.

There is the whole confessional thing, and saying our fathers corrects the sin.

Then the there is the fact priests can't marry.

It end up making a hypocritical faith born on tradition.

Then there is excessive use of of imagory, and tweaking the ten commandments to soften idolatry.

Purgatory is another invented idea, or place.

Then there is the belief that the sacraments and baptism can save your soul.

What I is see is religion in the catholic church, is not an analysis of faith, but what the priest or the pope says.

Then when people understood what was in the bible, and that catholic traditions are extra biblical, the pope issue a new doctrine that says in Latin, tradition over the bible. Thus it is a man made religion.

I know those are a lot of random thoughts, and I did not order them well as I am typing with thumbs.

So I feel that the religion confuses people's search and understanding of God is.

Are there christian sects more religious? Could be, but catholicism is the largest in number.

Thumb-typed or not, that's certainly a very complete answer to my question. Thanks for taking the time to, well, thumb-type it.

Your answer demonstrates a clear lack of knowledge and/or understanding of the Catholic Church, its teachings, its practices, and its history. But this is hardly the time or place to go into all of that.

And, for the record, I find Toe's "my religion's better than your religion" response to both of our faiths to be very disappointing. He's usually better than that.

[Lostforkate]

As I left for some family time, I think I may have bashed the catholic religion too much. I have several catholic friends who have compassion for others and a servent heart.

Two of my favorite book I have read were written with a catholic perspective. One was "for the sake of the kingdom" about the vows of chastity, poverty, and obediance, and made a good case fo as to why people would pursue that lifestyle. The second book was "dead man walking", by Helen Prejean. The movie was good, the book was better.

[joe_and_michelle]