Catholic Church

Thank you for your answers. I find Jedi path more interesting, it's challenging, although Catholic path is also, but more suffering one. I identify more with Jedi, I prefer to meditate. I will pick the best in Catholic Church, not following it blind.

There are many old teachings that cant easily be justified in a modern world, but the old messages still hold value and will for all time. its not the words from any book....... but the meaning of the words that are still valid. : )

I myself am a Catholic, along with being a Jedi. I have for years thought about leaving the Catholic Church, and very well might do so once I get my own place (for my own reasons). Though as Christ said, and in the nature of the Jedi, we are not to judge one for his past, present or future sins/mistakes.

I have been a Catholic all of my life, raised Catholic, my parents were originally Baptist and Nazarene converts. During my teen years I lost my faith, going honestly down a very dark path, including spiritually. I was very angry, even when it was not justified. I eventually found God again, through my own path (Before it was mostly religion being forced down my throat). In the end we all have to find our path in life. My personal beliefs though, I do not see why the Jediism and Catholicism can not co-exist. I personally find most of the teachings go hand in hand. Now, to the Catholic violence in the past. We must keep in mind that yes, there was terrible violence done by the Church, in the name of God. However, as Catholics we must closely look and study the teachings of God, as humans are very flawed creatures. That is why the violent acts took place, it was the leadership and the obedience of miss guided humans. In every instance in the bible, Jesus taught peace. Even when he was being taken before Pontius Pilate from the garden, his disciples were ready to fight. He could have easily used to disciples, or even his Angels in heaven to quickly end the threat to his life. However, he was true to his teachings, and again used peace.

Revan Falton wrote: In every instance in the bible, Jesus taught peace.

In every instance...

Except in
- Matthew 10:34
- Luke 12:49-53
- Luke 22:35-38
- The infamous Cleansing of the Temple in
- Mark 11
- Matthew 21
- Luke 19:45-48 and 20:1-8 (right after a parable wherein he told of his second coming when he would order for all those who will not follow him to be slain - my personal favourite - 19:27)
- John 2:13-16

Read your bible. It is a very long and boring book. But you just might find it somewhat enlightening.

Gisteron wrote:
Read your bible. It is a very long and boring book. But you just might find it somewhat enlightening.

Please watch your tone...

While I have not read the references you quoted in rebuttal, your added slight does not contribute to the conversation...

Are you referring to the "long and boring" or "somewhat enlightening" bit?
It is long in the sense that it has a lot of content and it is boring in the sense that most of it is repetitive in one way or another while other parts are law books, history chronologies and other unexciting text types, leaving only a reasonably small part of the whole entertaining in a literary sense.
As for the "somewhat enlightening" bit: I agree, that did sound patronizing, now that I look at it again... I apologize.

Wow guys! I have to say that I've read a lot of stuff on the forum here that I don't necessarily see eye to eye with (reason I'm here actually) but you just genuinely impressed me with your peaceable and understanding nature as a community.

Having a keen interest in history I saw a red rag waved at a bull. The response? Well it reminded me a lot of "Ferdinand The Bull". Not only this but recognition of the difference between the beliefs of the many and the ends to which self serving leaders can sadly twist them. Then just to cap it all off understanding that if they aren't careful the same may happen to them in the future. Violence will not prevail where such deep wisdom is present.

Needless to say that if my main concern was violence then the members commenting here have just laid those concerns to rest.

Pedroky I'm a guest like you and I'd call myself a Christian. I've been to a lot of different churches and as someone who has studied the bible in depth I see a lot of disparity between what is said and what is written. While the intentions may be good like you I can find it unsatisfying.

Of all the bad names Satan could have been called he is called the deceiver and of all the ways God describes himself he says that he is the "truth and the light". God says in scripture many times that he hates a lie and the hypocrite but loves the truth. Despite some of the crazy belief I've heard here most people seem to genuinely be searching for the truth and openly willing to adjust their beliefs when they find it. If god is then the truth they are certainly on the path to find him. So I'd say don't be afraid to search for the truth here but as always be mindful of the leaven in the bread.

Gisteron wrote:

Revan Falton wrote: In every instance in the bible, Jesus taught peace.

In every instance...

Except in
- Matthew 10:34
- Luke 12:49-53
- Luke 22:35-38
- The infamous Cleansing of the Temple in
- Mark 11
- Matthew 21
- Luke 19:45-48 and 20:1-8 (right after a parable wherein he told of his second coming when he would order for all those who will not follow him to be slain - my personal favourite - 19:27)
- John 2:13-16

Read your bible. It is a very long and boring book. But you just might find it somewhat enlightening.

Gisteron, thank you for the reply. I however feel I must further elaborate on this subject with the following verses you brought issue to. By taking bits and pieces of scripture from almost a 2000 page Holy Book, there are ways to be able to make any untrue belief seem truthful. It has been done numerous times, even with people saying the bible forbids inter-racial marriages. I ask only that instead of dwelling on one particular verse you read more, and look and the previous verses as a whole, to fully get a true understanding of the word of God.

I will not be doing this for all of the verses you posted. This is but one example of what I was referring to.

Let's take a look at the first one, Mathew 10:34.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Also, keep in mind that there are many different translations of the Bible, and the wording might be a tad different between different editions and such.

Anyways, back on track here. Now, to the undeveloped eye, that would make the Christ appear to be a War Mongering Tyrant, who came to cast the world in war, turmoil and conflict. That is not true. Please remember that throughout the bible, the speech was not as cut and dry as it is today. There were a lot of symbolism, analogizes, and such.

Now, here is an exert from John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Basically what it does, it takes misinterpreted passages, and corrects the myths about them.

I came, not to send peace, but a sword. By the "sword" may be meant the Gospel, which is the means of dividing and separating the people of Christ from the men of the world, and from their principles and practices, and one relation from another; as also of divisions, discords, and persecutions arising from it: not that it was the intention and design of Christ, in coming into the world, to foment and encourage such things; but this, through the malice and wickedness of men, was eventually the effect and consequence of his coming; see Luke 12:51 where, instead of a "sword", it is "division"; because the sword divides asunder, as does the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

Now, with keeping the above in mind, the original verse becomes must more clearer as to the true meaning. It was not that he came to the world, to use a sword and make war. Simply that through the malice of men, persecution would arise and follow his disciples and followers, for at that time, and even today, the teaching of Jesus Christ are considered controversial.

Again, I'm not going to post more expansions of those verses on here, for I am sure that there are size limits on posts, and doing so one would make a length post. lol. However, if you would be interested in discussing those verses more, you can always message me, and I would be more then happy to discuss them further with you.

Again, thank you for the reply Gisteron, and May the Force be with you.

Thank you for the answer, I consider myself a Christian, from ancient Christianity, it makes no sense to me Christ believers made separations between them, by personal relationships. I search for being better, win over my failures. I feel peace in Church connecting with God, in silence. Sometimes I am too hard with myself, I get tense with that. I question the words spoken at church, as the Bible was altered by man, it is not pure. The most important is to love God with all heart and soul and your neighbour as yourself. Take care.