RE: What beliefs would we consider reasonable for a self proclaimed Christian to hold?
February 1, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I've been to a snake-handling service too. It was absolutely insane.
Re: the OP. Well, about 10 years ago I was assisting a Catechumen group - a bunch of adults who are undergoing instruction to enter the Catholic Church. I had brought in a musician friend to play a service and she decided to stay, and she wanted me around for some of the meetings. (Even though I told her clearly that they want dedicated Catholics as sponsors, not atheists!) But they put up with me, and I got to ask the priests and deacons and sisters questions - in private, not in front of the newbie group. One question I asked of four priests, two sponsors, and two nuns was this: "What do you have to believe to call yourself a Catholic?"
One priest said, "You have to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was literally god in the flesh, who died for the sins of mankind and rose again." Another priest said, "You have to believe the Nicene Creed - literally." One sponsor said, "You have to believe that Jesus died to cleanse your soul of original sin and want to follow his teachings." Another said, "You have to know that Jesus died for your sins, and want to accept Jesus into your heart. You have to dedicate your life to Him." My favorite answer was from Sister Elaine, who said, "You have to know that God loves you unconditionally." (Well, THAT was a very ecumenical response. That would even work for the Unitarians.)
I think that the "toe the doctrinal line" answer was the Nicene Creed.
But it's amazing how many different answers you can get for that simple question.
Re: the OP. Well, about 10 years ago I was assisting a Catechumen group - a bunch of adults who are undergoing instruction to enter the Catholic Church. I had brought in a musician friend to play a service and she decided to stay, and she wanted me around for some of the meetings. (Even though I told her clearly that they want dedicated Catholics as sponsors, not atheists!) But they put up with me, and I got to ask the priests and deacons and sisters questions - in private, not in front of the newbie group. One question I asked of four priests, two sponsors, and two nuns was this: "What do you have to believe to call yourself a Catholic?"
One priest said, "You have to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was literally god in the flesh, who died for the sins of mankind and rose again." Another priest said, "You have to believe the Nicene Creed - literally." One sponsor said, "You have to believe that Jesus died to cleanse your soul of original sin and want to follow his teachings." Another said, "You have to know that Jesus died for your sins, and want to accept Jesus into your heart. You have to dedicate your life to Him." My favorite answer was from Sister Elaine, who said, "You have to know that God loves you unconditionally." (Well, THAT was a very ecumenical response. That would even work for the Unitarians.)
I think that the "toe the doctrinal line" answer was the Nicene Creed.
But it's amazing how many different answers you can get for that simple question.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein