Cow of Shame Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Why wouldn't a religion based on the worship of nature appeal to a Catholic? Catholics are already innocuated with beliefs of mystical/near occult happenings. It would be an easy slide from Catholicism to druidic beliefs.
crusader1234 Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 St. Patrick converted the Druids in Ireland to Catholicism. Maybe he knows the trick. Use him as an intercessor maybe.
Socrates Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 [quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 2 2005, 11:20 PM']Why wouldn't a religion based on the worship of nature appeal to a Catholic? Catholics are already innocuated with beliefs of mystical/near occult happenings. It would be an easy slide from Catholicism to druidic beliefs. [right][snapback]744182[/snapback][/right] [/quote] What's your religion, Cow? You sound like either a Protestant or "Rationalist" here. In any case, you show a very poor understanding of the Catholic Faith.
Cow of Shame Posted October 4, 2005 Posted October 4, 2005 (edited) Naw, look at it from a more objective perspective. You 'talk' to dead people (communion of saints) You believe that you eat the actual flesh & blood of a human that died over 2K yrs ago You believe in angels & demons You believe in apparations You believe God became a fully human being You believe in the utter sanctity of human life (ok, nothing supernatural about this one, but I could see it sliding into nature worship for some) These are just a few things....keep in mind, you really have to take a step back. Wipe your 'bible-speak' slate clean & honestly read that list. Don't you think it's just a tad bizarre? Catholics are conditioned to feel comfortable with rituals (mass), rites of passage (1st communion, confirmation)....for Catholics who don't have a firm (& accurate) grip on Catholic (heck, sometimes Christian) beliefs, being 'in tune with nature' can seem like a natural next step. Should it be so strange, with all the bitter ex-Catholics out there in Protestantland, that there aren't some tree-hugger druid ex-Catholics as well? Edited October 4, 2005 by Cow of Shame
hopeful1 Posted October 4, 2005 Author Posted October 4, 2005 [quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 4 2005, 12:02 AM']Naw, look at it from a more objective perspective. You 'talk' to dead people (communion of saints) You believe that you eat the actual flesh & blood of a human that died over 2K yrs ago You believe in angels & demons You believe in apparations You believe God became a fully human being You believe in the utter sanctity of human life (ok, nothing supernatural about this one, but I could see it sliding into nature worship for some) These are just a few things....keep in mind, you really have to take a step back. Wipe your 'bible-speak' slate clean & honestly read that list. Don't you think it's just a tad bizarre? Catholics are conditioned to feel comfortable with rituals (mass), rites of passage (1st communion, confirmation)....for Catholics who don't have a firm (& accurate) grip on Catholic (heck, sometimes Christian) beliefs, being 'in tune with nature' can seem like a natural next step. Should it be so strange, with all the bitter ex-Catholics out there in Protestantland, that there aren't some tree-hugger druid ex-Catholics as well? [right][snapback]745344[/snapback][/right] [/quote] you know, from that perspective, it might make alot of sense. as for sanctity of human life-i do know that she is still very much prolife, because i wrote about how upset i was about a planned parenthood ad on myspace after she had moved and she left a comment saying she agreed with me. and at one time i know she was even against contraception, however i don't know if that part is still true
Socrates Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 [quote name='Cow of Shame' date='Oct 3 2005, 11:02 PM']Naw, look at it from a more objective perspective. You 'talk' to dead people (communion of saints) You believe that you eat the actual flesh & blood of a human that died over 2K yrs ago You believe in angels & demons You believe in apparations You believe God became a fully human being You believe in the utter sanctity of human life (ok, nothing supernatural about this one, but I could see it sliding into nature worship for some) These are just a few things....keep in mind, you really have to take a step back. Wipe your 'bible-speak' slate clean & honestly read that list. Don't you think it's just a tad bizarre? Catholics are conditioned to feel comfortable with rituals (mass), rites of passage (1st communion, confirmation)....for Catholics who don't have a firm (& accurate) grip on Catholic (heck, sometimes Christian) beliefs, being 'in tune with nature' can seem like a natural next step. Should it be so strange, with all the bitter ex-Catholics out there in Protestantland, that there aren't some tree-hugger druid ex-Catholics as well? [right][snapback]745344[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I definitely don't think it's an "easy slide from Catholicism to druidic beliefs." Saying this makes you sound like a Protestant who thinks Catholicism is pagan and superstitious. The Church has long been firmly opposed to polytheistic or pantheistic pagan beliefs, and as religions go, these really have little in common. The comparisons you offer are really quite a stretch, and by this logic, it should be an "easy slide" from any religion to another. One could just as easily (and more logically) say that it is an easy slide from Catholicism to Judaism or Islam. (Both are monotheistic ritualistic religions related to Christianity - one is its foundation, the other is a distortion of some of its teachings.) Or even Hinduism or Buddhism (both believe in transcendant, supernatural realities, the importance of compassion to others, and of self-sacrifice, the value of contemplation and monastic life, etc., etc.) By your logic, any religion should just slide naturally into another. This does not deal with the real issue. I doubt this person (or anyone) became a "Druid" because of the Catholic beleifs she had in the supernatural and sanctity of life - more likely she was reacting against the dogmatism of Christianity for a free-form, do-it-yourself "spirituality." I think neo-paganism appeals to those without religion, or who have rejected or fallen away from practicing Christianity, rather than those who are devoutly Catholic.
Aloysius Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 people in western societies built by the Christian religion tend to impose their view of what a religion is on many pagan religions. The Christian Religion was really the first thing to unite the myth and the philosophy, to take a fantastic poetical story and claim it as something true and base an entire worldview around it. the ancient mythical religions had poetic stories... but you cannot argue that they believed in them in the same way a Catholic believes in the story of Christ. there were also many ancient philosophies, like confucianism, but those philosophies didn't unite and claim a myth as true. the fact is, the pagans didn't view their "religion" the way we view religion, and as such it is a very unfair comparison. ancient druidism was a very mythical idea not held in belief the way we hold religion in belief. they were searching... all pagan religions were searching. anyway, have no doubt: every human person created in any culture at any time does understand human sacrifice as wrong. they were looking for something to happen for them, they were searching for some spiritual intervention in their world. and deep down we all suspect that evil is the stuff that will get things done quicker and not ask any questions. they were not stupid, they knew it was wrong to do human sacrifice, just like the Aztecs knew in their human hearts that child sacrifice was wrong. they were searching for something spiritual to get things done for them.
Cow of Shame Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 (edited) [quote name='Socrates' date='Oct 4 2005, 07:46 PM']I definitely don't think it's an "easy slide from Catholicism to druidic beliefs." Saying this makes you sound like a Protestant who thinks Catholicism is pagan and superstitious. The Church has long been firmly opposed to polytheistic or pantheistic pagan beliefs, and as religions go, these really have little in common.[/quote] Heh...may I quote myself back at you? I don' t think you read it [quote name='Cow of Shame']for Catholics who [b]don't have a firm (& accurate) grip on Catholic (heck, sometimes Christian) beliefs[/b], being 'in tune with nature' can seem like a natural next step.[/quote] [quote name='Socrates'] by this logic, it should be an "easy slide" from any religion to another. One could just as easily (and more logically) say that it is an easy slide from Catholicism to Judaism or Islam. (Both are monotheistic ritualistic religions related to Christianity - one is its foundation, the other is a distortion of some of its teachings.) Or even Hinduism or Buddhism (both believe in transcendant, supernatural realities, the importance of compassion to others, and of self-sacrifice, the value of contemplation and monastic life, etc., etc.) By your logic, [b]any religion[/b] should just slide naturally into another. This does not deal with the real issue.[/quote] Sounds good to me...for people with a poor understanding of Catholicism, I suppose they could easily find several other religions more appealing...ones that are more in sync with today's society, are more pc, more popular, or perhaps just have hotter chicks. I [b]don't[/b] believe that any religion could slide into another. There are plenty of Protestants who choke on the more 'mystical' sounding beliefs of Catholicism, whereas it's easier for Catholics to toss aside these 'spiritual extras' of the faith. [quote name='Socrates']I doubt this person (or anyone) became a "Druid" because of the Catholic beleifs she had in the supernatural and sanctity of life - more likely she was reacting against the dogmatism of Christianity for a free-form, do-it-yourself "spirituality." I think neo-paganism appeals to those without religion, or who have rejected or fallen away from practicing Christianity, rather than those who are devoutly Catholic. [right][snapback]746238[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I agree with this. Shall I say again, this hypothesis is for [quote name='Cow of Shame'][b]Catholics who don't have a firm (& accurate) grip on Catholic (heck, sometimes Christian) beliefs[/b][/quote] Edited October 5, 2005 by Cow of Shame
hopeful1 Posted October 5, 2005 Author Posted October 5, 2005 i'm not sure of the details, but i'm speculating that maybe one of the reasons why she left could have to do the church's teaching on sexual morality
Old_Joe Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 [quote name='crusader1234' date='Oct 3 2005, 06:38 PM']St. Patrick converted the Druids in Ireland to Catholicism. Maybe he knows the trick. Use him as an intercessor maybe. [right][snapback]745009[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I like the Veggie Tales take on the story of St. Patrick. "All Hail Mighty Twig!"
Old_Joe Posted October 5, 2005 Posted October 5, 2005 [quote name='Raphael' date='Sep 29 2005, 06:30 PM']Well, since the ancient druids used to make giant manlike effigies out of wicker, fill them with human sacrifices, and burn them...yeah...let's hope your friend comes home. [right][snapback]741384[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Kinda like burning man?
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