Comments for Post-Christian America at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 51 out of 20 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Wed, 22 May 2013 20:26:48 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13093 America is still very much a christian nation in that it is still dramatizing the collective mind-set pictured in this one stark image: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~spanmod/mural/panel13.html And described here: http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/cruelty.html http://nas.ucdavis.edu/Forbes/CANNIBALS.html Which is also to say the christian-ism as a would be world conquering power-and-control ideology did not become THE world dominant religion by practicing the virtues, intrinsic in Reality It-Self, of cooperation, tolerance and peace. On the contrary its worldly corporate power grew entirely via the business end of swords, guns, cannons and bombs. - John Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:12:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13092 Well, well; each one of our opinions doesn't matter. Are we doing the will of the Father in our lives? ... May His Holy Spirit ever inspire us and may Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Mary be proclaimed the resurrected, merciful High Priest for all men's salvation. - Lucy Repovz Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:36:56 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13068 Tom writes about scientific knowledge of the universe. "The universe is estimated to be around 13.7 billion years old and the earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion" True, as far as I know. I also know that science has kept increasing earth's age as new evidence suggests that evolution e.g. could not have happened within the former estimates. "astronomers calculate that there may be as many as 60 million earthlike planets in our galaxy alone," and "life most likely exists on at least some of those extrasolar planets." If you look at detailed research, beyond the headlines, you'll likely discover that 'earthlike' hardly ever means 'livable by earthmen', and 'life most likely exists' is not a statement by researchers but by reporters. Evolution says that man crawled out of the slime a gazillion years ago and has been improving ever since. Genesis says that man [not the universe!] was created about 6000 years ago and has been going downhill ever since rejecting God's leadership. Which scenario, do you think, most closely matches the headlines and newsfeeds today? - Doug Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:21:27 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13065 One of our biggest problems in the Church is that our leaders are obsessed with social justice globaloney instead of passing on the one, holy, catholic and apostolic deposit of faith. The Jesuits, for example, who preserved the faith in Europe in the 16th century, have found social issues much more fun to pontificate about than the tenets of true religion. One would have thought they would provide the intellectual firepower to integrate eternal truths with modern understandings, but no they wander away from doctrine to engage in political posturing. Oh how the social justice crowd loves government! You SHALL be charitable--I demand it! And don't bore me with how the economy really works. Or anything about individual virtue, sin or personal responsibility. Jesus was a community organizer, wasn't he? Or was that Judas? - Chris Mulcahy Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:10:17 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13064 Then why do you read "The Catholic Thing," Tom? A skeptic visited a great and learned rabbi to discredit his faith. He found the rabbi walking up and down in his study, reading a book and very deep in thought. After a few minutes, the rabbi looked up and said quite calmly, "But perhaps it is true after all." And then, "My son, the great scholars of the Torah with whom you have argued wasted their words on you; as you departed you laughed at them. They were unable to lay God and his Kingdom on the table before you, and neither can I. But think, my son, perhaps it is true." Perhaps it IS true. (a paraphrase of an anecdote from "Introduction to Christianity" by Joseph Ratzinger, pp45, 46.. - Maggie Louise Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:00:18 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13062 I used to be a Catholic but have come to the point where I no longer believe in God, heaven, or hell. This has been a lifelong transition but has become a stronger position based most recently on the discovery of numerous planets around other stars. The kepler sateliite has discovered over 2000 potential planets in one very small area of the sky. A number these planets have been determined to be within the habitable zone of various stars. Many other planets have been discovered using other telescopes. The universe is estimated to be around 13.7 billion years old and the earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old. Based on the data received to date, astronomers calculate that there may be as many as 60 million earthlike planets in our galaxy alone. Further, Astronomers calculate that there may be as many as 400 billion galaxies in the visible universe. Many of the chemicals that exist on earth have been shown to exist in space. We have even been able to identify chemical components of the atmospheres of a few of these planets. Life most likely exists on at least some of those extrasolar planets. The evidence shows that humans evolved from lower life forms and that modern humans spread out of Africa - and possibly Asia - starting approximately 200,000 years ago. If it happened here, it can happen elsewhere. I say none of this to attack the moral truths taught in the bible. If the earth existed floating in a void with only unknowable lights in the sky and no evidence for evolution, it would be much easier to believe. And even a universe potentially full of life does not preclude the possibility for some higher being with an interest in our existence. Maybe the biblical stories reflect an attempt by such an entity to impart wisdom. But I just don't accept the reward and punishment part of it. I think that that aspect of it is too human a concept and reflects our own fears and hopes. - Tom Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:31:54 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13060 Who was that Italian who said that the Protestant morality doesn't stop anyone from sinning, it just stops them from enjoying it? - The Sanity Inspector Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:49:19 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13059 Yes, our society is 'going to hell in a handbasket'. What do we do? We start with ourselves. A holy soul makes a tremendous difference in this world; it is a light that cannot be overcome by the darkness. We are called upon--each of individually--to live out our baptismal promises, stengthened by our confirmation. We must pray, sacrifice, and live an intense sacramental life. This will prepare us for the action called for. - Magdalene Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:25:53 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13055 Corruption in the Catholic church gave rise to Protestantism (Protest). It is Catholicism that has been in free fall since VCII. While the pope spends his time pursing peace agreements w/corrupt Episcopalians and Lutherans and worshipping strange gods, the faithful Catholic has either gone back to Pre-VCII Catholicism or become an evangelical/non-denominational protestor against the corruption of all the Christian denominations. I don't see them coming back any time soon to the corrupt Cardinal Dolan Catholicism where the largest land owner in NY gets the job for transferring assets around illegally so children who have been anally raped (boundary violations as Bishop Chaput euphemises) by priests won't get their legally entitled damages. Where the money collected for the priests' retirement, goes to pay homosexual rape suits (or into the Cardinal's mansion or homosexual vacation (Lynch) or trinkets for his sex partner, or blackmail payola Weakland). Where Cardinal Dolan serves the McCarrick Homosexual Democrat McManus club and spreads a "charity" banquet for the champion of baby murder in the sight of his victims (50 million dead babies and counting!) and then apologizes "IF he's offended "anyone""... "Jesus of Nazareth" died back in AD 33, the fetuses aren't human til they're born, and the "protestors" are terrorists who need to be gunned down by Obama's gay military... - ItIStheorientation Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:02:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13054 There is so much Catholic info on the internet and other places. Does anyone not know how to find a church. The problem is not finding info, but our hearts. So many have turned away from God. Our Father is always waiting for us to return to Him. - Lisa G Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:41:29 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13052 The article makes reference to some of the early settlers who came fleeing religious persecution in their home countries. Arguably, some of the best known might be the 'Pilgrims' of Plymouth Rock fame. People who value truth in history should be reminded that the pilgrims did indeed flee Britain seeking religious freedom for themselves. And they found it, ....in Holland. But they also found across the board freedom of religion for all faiths, & weren't about to tolerate that, so they headed for .....Plymouth Rock? - H. (Bart) Vincelette Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:14:38 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13049 I find it quite odd that any man would think that the Christian view is to force a woman who has been raped to have any child so conceived. It also seems somewhat bizarre to forbid couples the use of contraceptives and yet deny them other any means of birth control such as the abortion of unwanted babies. This would appear to be a policy designed to add to the world's misery, suffering and poverty rather than reduce it and takes a decidedly un-christian approach to empathy and compassion. Oh, and unborn babies are not citizens. - Martin Mon, 20 Aug 2012 22:28:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13046 I believe Nov. 6, 2012 will be our last chance to proclaim the U.S. as a Judaio-Christian nation. The erosion of our Judaio-Christian values since 8-15-1969 [Woodstock] have accelerated to near destructive levels in the past 3.75 years, similar to our national debt. If the Planned Parenthood President is re-elected electorally and/or by fraud, Christianity's days in the U.S.A. are numbered. In your lifetime, there has never been a more urgent time to proclaim your support for the sanctity of life and marriage than by voting against the Planned Parenthood President and voting for Mitt Romney. Our financial descent will properly reverse itself after we cleanse our souls and return to a Judaio-Christian nation striving once again to live the Ten Commandments. Christi Fidelis ! - TtT Engine Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:47:31 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13044 Once again DeTocqueville shows himself to be a prophet. Apparently so was Melville in respect to this issue. I find it interesting that the tendencies and conflicts between Catholicism, Protestantism and atheism, and how those conflicts and tendencies would resolve, were already well understood in the 19th century. I don't think that the definition of a Christian nation is 'a country that has a majority of citizens who believe in and publicly profess the Nicene or Apostles Creed, as these creeds have come down to us from the Ancient Church – people who at least attempt to live according to the Ten Commandments.' Rather, a Christian nation is that where the ruling elite is persuaded of the truth of Christianity and of the necessity of applying Christian truth at the level of our institutions and laws. Clearly, by that definition, we are no longer a Christian nation. - yan Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:03:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13042 Most of the Catholics are no different in beliefs and behaviors than the Protestants. I have yet to find a Catholic who has not WILLFULLY denied one of the Ten Commandments and the faith. So leave the other faiths alone because we Catholics are in really bad shape. I am a Catholic convert, please do not confuse me with the cradle Catholics. Raymond - Raymond Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:09:55 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13039 Ahhh. The Catholic Church in decline? Not so fast. Don't forget the Keys. The Keys are still firmly in the hand of the one to whom the promise was made. We believe that the One who made the promise has the ability to keep the promise, and, although the numbers may be fewer, the Keys are still in the hands of Peter's successor, the Vicar of Christ. We know the end. We know that the battle is won. We just don't know how or when. That's why God made faith. - Maggie Louise Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:07:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13038 Does this prophecy, from Dan 2:44, Douay, apply? "But in the days of those kingdoms, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and his kingdom shall not be delivered up to another people: and it shall break in pieces, and shall consume all these kingdoms: and itself shall stand for ever." Has it been fulfilled sometime in the past? If not, is there a message for any of today's "kingdoms"? - Doug Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:43:05 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13037 I agree that we need to become Evangelists for our Catholic faith. I admit that I am often afraid to speak out about my faith because I think I lack the knowledge to combat the errors espoused by many Protestants. So, I am going to take this free online course and hope many of you will consider doing so as well. It may not give me the courage (I will leave that to the Holy Spirit) I need to evangelize, but I hope it will give me the knowledge to first of all, live my life as a better Catholic and secondly to counter the errors I often hear espoused by my Protestant friends. Here's the website: http://pillarsofcatholicism.com/ Blessings to all of you. - Connie Patterson Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:23:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13035 The author seems to ignore one large fact which causes his main argument to collapse. Though mainline Protestantism is certainly in a fast decline in America, much more so than Roman Catholicism, which is in a much more slower decline, he ignores the third main group of Christianity in the US. Evangelical Protestantism is not only in no way in decline, but it is fastly growing. If you lump these two groups of Protestantism together (Mainline and Evangelical), Protestantism is actually barely declining (less so than Catholicism). Additionally, Evangelicals tend to be more religious and devout than their Catholic counterparts in terms of church attendence and beleif in the 'essentials'. Now, I see plenty of problems in Evangelicalism, but the author's wishful thinking puts an unrealsitic spin on the statisitics, which actually point to a less Catholic and more Evangelical future in America (but also a more secular America). Additionally, if it wasn't for immigration from Latin nations in the future, Catholicism's long-term presense in the U.S. would be far more grim. - jay Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:59:17 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/post-christian-america.html#comment-13034 seems to me the lapsed catholics are the largest cohort to be evangelized. also seems to be this cohort is the most ardently opposed to RCC. otherwise i agree the decline of protestant demoninations will move see true believers discover RCC. Now, if only we are careful and do not cram latin down their throats. - mike flynn Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:25:54 +0100