Hey, Matt
The best way I've come to understand the Roman Catholic Church is to
remember that for many centuries, priests were the only folks who were able
to read the Bible either because common people couldn't read anything, or
there were just no books available (no printing press to print Bibles), or
because it was written in a language (Greek, Hebrew or Latin) that most
folks couldn't understand. The average man and woman were considered
something like children who had to be treated carefully so they would only
be told what they needed to know and these very deep concepts of the Bible
were explained in ways they could understand. That's why there were stained
glass windows, so folks could see and understand the stories the priests
were telling them from the Bible.
As you know (or will soon find out, smile) as a father, discipline is very
important. By giving a routine and a discipline in rituals, many many
people could learn the same things, the right things, in a uniform way that
most of them would understand. That went on for generations, literally.
Then, suddenly, with the coming of the printing press, and Martin Luther
translating the Bible into common language of the people (German), people
could read and interpret things for themselves and the world changed.
I do think some of the nonliturgical churches tend to go too far the other
way and have a lack of respect for the Bible that Roman Catholicism
instilled. The answer is somewhere in the middle.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: exorsism
> Interesting.
> I like how the catholic religion seems to be saying that it is a
priviledge
> and a disaplin to practis the religion.
> Or, that's the kind of message I get.
> They seem to be more searious about their religion or maybe it is that
there
> are more visible disaplins or rituals.
> Neiling, conffessionals, the cross sign or whatever it is I have heard
> discrived, diatary guidelines that sort of thing.
> I did not view that movie until later in life but my brother and his
> girlfriend were in highschool when they went to see it and it scared him
to
> death. hahahahah
> He was 18 or 17 I think.
>
> Take Care,
>
> Matt
|