I've spent some time on catholic.com in the past several days. I have taken away quite a few things.
1) It is generally deplorable in how we treat each other. We can all use some lessons in treating each other nicely. I've always known this but I have always overlooked it because I've learned so much on the net.
2) We need to realize that our religion is based on the miraculous and outrageous. I find it odd that, and using the catholic board as an example, a religion that believes in bread and wine changing into the literal body of Christ is stupified to consider that some believe that Christ might have been married. Conversely from my LDS point of view of belief in angels, prophets and revelation are confounded by transubstantiation.
Face it, we all believe in things that are unbelievable.
3) I am at odds at how we wish each other ill. I've seen this on many boards. I think some seriously hate each other. We constantly misrepresent what each other believes, or out of ignorance, state things that others might believe. For example, my religion was at one time populated by speculators of the extreme sort. They went far and wide on what is possible. While I find it entertaining and in many ways, enlightening, I don't find it particularly binding upon me. Many speculated on what theosis might actually mean. They were quite explicit and many times quite thought provolking on there logical progression. But that doesn't mean that I have to believe it. I don't feel bound by it anymore than a catholic feels bound by everything in the ECF.
4) I realize that I have very liberal ideas, many of which I have expressed here but many I've held back. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so restrained but I don't think many would tolerate some of the places I go. From what I've expressed at work with some co-workers, I feel quite out of place among most christians. I do feel comfortable among most LDS because I don't feel restrained in exploring what I will. I find it odd that most view mormons as being mind-numbed robots always toting the party line. However, I have encountered them, I just don't "hang" with them. Probably another reason I clash with "Utah culture". Its an oxymoron, I know but I don't know other words to express it. Where other people find the religion restraining, I find amazing freedom. I don't think my views are that uncommon among my peers.
5) We spend entirely too much time judging each other. If someone holds different beliefs, we label them harshly. I've seen catholics eat their own on those boards. I really understand SH's problems in that regard. I think every religion does it. It is sad really. I try not to take odds with other mormons that don't go where I go. My wife holds little to no interest in my religious explorations. I hope I don't look down at her because of it. I certainly try not to look down at my other non-informed mormon friends. Lord knows everyone shouldn't think like me.
More as I think of them.
1) It is generally deplorable in how we treat each other. We can all use some lessons in treating each other nicely. I've always known this but I have always overlooked it because I've learned so much on the net.
2) We need to realize that our religion is based on the miraculous and outrageous. I find it odd that, and using the catholic board as an example, a religion that believes in bread and wine changing into the literal body of Christ is stupified to consider that some believe that Christ might have been married. Conversely from my LDS point of view of belief in angels, prophets and revelation are confounded by transubstantiation.
Face it, we all believe in things that are unbelievable.
3) I am at odds at how we wish each other ill. I've seen this on many boards. I think some seriously hate each other. We constantly misrepresent what each other believes, or out of ignorance, state things that others might believe. For example, my religion was at one time populated by speculators of the extreme sort. They went far and wide on what is possible. While I find it entertaining and in many ways, enlightening, I don't find it particularly binding upon me. Many speculated on what theosis might actually mean. They were quite explicit and many times quite thought provolking on there logical progression. But that doesn't mean that I have to believe it. I don't feel bound by it anymore than a catholic feels bound by everything in the ECF.
4) I realize that I have very liberal ideas, many of which I have expressed here but many I've held back. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so restrained but I don't think many would tolerate some of the places I go. From what I've expressed at work with some co-workers, I feel quite out of place among most christians. I do feel comfortable among most LDS because I don't feel restrained in exploring what I will. I find it odd that most view mormons as being mind-numbed robots always toting the party line. However, I have encountered them, I just don't "hang" with them. Probably another reason I clash with "Utah culture". Its an oxymoron, I know but I don't know other words to express it. Where other people find the religion restraining, I find amazing freedom. I don't think my views are that uncommon among my peers.
5) We spend entirely too much time judging each other. If someone holds different beliefs, we label them harshly. I've seen catholics eat their own on those boards. I really understand SH's problems in that regard. I think every religion does it. It is sad really. I try not to take odds with other mormons that don't go where I go. My wife holds little to no interest in my religious explorations. I hope I don't look down at her because of it. I certainly try not to look down at my other non-informed mormon friends. Lord knows everyone shouldn't think like me.
More as I think of them.
