Monstrous

Apocalypse Soon => Religions, Cults & Sects => Topic started by: Alexander on January 22, 2009, 02:23:11 AM

Title: Christendom vs. Christianity
Post by: Alexander on January 22, 2009, 02:23:11 AM
This thread is dedicated to popular 'Christian' dogma as opposed to what the Bible actually teaches.  When making a claim, support it or it holds no value.  Unless you state specifically otherwise, use the Bible Canon.

To start off the discussion, let's go with Catholicism's practice of conversing or praying to Mary, Saints, or the dead.  What does Catholicism say vs what the Bible says?  I'll chime in with my two cents once a few people respond.

Keep in mind, just one scripture (among many): Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

-Alexander du Galle
Title: Re: Christendom vs. Christianity
Post by: jordyn on January 22, 2009, 08:32:11 AM
sadly i don't think there's enough  pro-christians here to make this thread work, but i'll give my two cents...

i think established christian dogma would be a better usage than popular, popularly more basic ideals of christianity are coming around, small house churches, singing and potlucks over discussion and group understanding rather than the traditional model of mass, stand, pray, sing, sit, listen, stand, pray, sing, sit...wash and repeat. 

Now it's small groups meeting in comfy homes with children, a dish of food and an acoustic guitar, young pretty people with the punk band worshiping through music and couches talking finding refuge and fellowship, free from those who don't understand the validity of a young person's faith  because they have tattoos, piercings and would rather not get dressed up to worship, there's a lot changing in christianity today with a form of fellowship for any life a person may live...that would be my first point.

as for it's negative aspects, i don't agree with the judgemental nature traditional christianity pushes, what right do silly humans have to judge people based on sexuality, interests and other aspects that by God's own decree is our "free will."   Those religious people that expect christianity to be held to the standards of their life...i believe in the bible were the ones Jesus was most harsh when criticizing, their God should dictate their life, not humans that have the same problems...the old testament with it's "don't do as they do" attitude i feel demonstrates that God didn't have issues with the gods of other people, but the  story of the person he had marry a prostitute, love her, send her away and take her back again demonstrates what He deeply feels for any who call Him Lord.

i favor the old testament though, i understand the importance of the new testament but it doesn't call to me as Abraham's God does.  He chose those who could celebrate Him, like David who'd dance through towns celebrating in his loin cloth to exalt the Lord who kept him safe and victorious, women like Haddassah that while didn't directly deal with God, represented such a virtue for Him through her intelligence, humble beauty and ability to charm a king becoming his queen, that it allowed her to save the Jews from complete destruction, something unheard of for a woman of her time.

i also tend to favor the women in the bible, having grown up with the traditional "women are repentant whores" pushed by roman Catholicism, i find it fascinating that women like mary were prefered company, happily listening to His lessons, rather than dwell on material expectations and fleeting things.  Even chastising her sister for tending more to her "woman's work" rather than learning from Him.

as for the roman catholic church, personally i find it hard to separate their beliefs and practices from the pagan rome that birthed them...demeter becoming mary and Jesus a tortured appollo spread out focusing more on His death than the reason He died, their saints and angels have really become their patheon, idols and prayers going to them rather than He who deserves that glory.

i'm sorry i can't give you exact quotes from the bible, but i fail to remember them, it's the lessons i learned that i remember, but i've never been a traditional christian, listening more so to God in my ear then the men polluting my soul.