You’re right, you don’t need a connection to a building to have a connection with God. The thing is, though, that a Church is the House of God. That is the place where it is easiest to get a connection because that is where God is in His most substantial form on Earth.

This is especially true for Catholics, and I’ll tell you why. We believe that the consecrated Bread and Wine contain the real Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. He is really there, and being there with Him strenthens the spiritual connection.

I like to think of it this way. The Sacrifice on Calgary (which is made present by the Consecration) is the New Covenant. We treat it the exact same way as the Jews used to treat the Old Covenant. Countless times in the Bible, the Kings, priests, and prophets of the Old Testament would go before the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple and listen to God’s word. It’s the same kind of deal in a Catholic Church, with God’s New Covenant being present and stored in the tabernacle.

In the comment of people going thirty miles to go to Church in Africa, I often use the term “church” and “mass” interchangably. And yes, according to the Ten Commandments, we are ordered to “keep the Sabbath Day holy,” and to us Catholics that means going to mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.

Interestingly enough, Mass in Africa is often not said inside a church. The people there are too poor to afford to buy one, so some priests will pull up a stump for an altar, say mass, several thousand people show up, and after Mass they spend the rest of their time administering other sacrements. In the end, everything in the Catholic Church is aimed at the glorification of Jesus in the Eucharist, including the buildings in which we hold mass.

I want free choice… and I want to only pay for what healthcare I want… and also I don’t want to pay forcibly for other people’s healthcare. Ultimately, healthcare is not a right. It sounds tasty to say “hey, we’re the greatest country in the world… everyone should have healthcare here”… but that’s a bad argument, because using that logic we could argue that everyone in this country should have a safe car, a safe house, a top school, etc. etc… and where would this money come from? The producers.

No great country ever stayed great when the government started squeezing the productive to pay for the unproductive. Welfare and such is a great example of this… because it is such an abused system with people purposely trying to stay ON the system when they have the ability to get off of it.

As a Christian, I would help those who need it… but it should be at a personal level, where I can know who I’m helping and provide relational support and oversight… so I’m not just giving money to a drunk or giving healthcare to someone with clothes that cost 4x what mine do and has a TV 3x bigger than mine. Gov’t is in no position to really monitor where the money goes… so abuse is rampant. Charities are where I would say people could get help… because charities represent the free will of thh people to help others, this is what it means to be a Christian – to WILLINGLY help. Forcible help by way of tax-and-spend programs does not show any charity on the heart of the giver, and just lends to problems.

A semi-related case in point is Africa. Africa, thanks to over a trillion in Western Aid, is now WORSE off. Yep. Because money wasn’t the answer. It rarely addresses any problem. There are articles I won’t go into here that address why Africa is worse off… just Google.

Okay, this was longer than I expected… but I think government is wasteful, and I know from the Constitution that healthcare is not a right. There are things we could do to improve healthcare – for sure – but they won’t be done… mostly because to lower costs you’d have to pass tort reform and cut WAY back current government medical “entitlements” that already artificially drive up the costs. You ever wonder why drugs are cheaper in Canada than for the SAME THING here in the US? Because in the US the companies can get guaranteed bucks from HMOs, Medicare, and Medicaid for the drugs. If we would get the government out of it, and allow US citizens to buy drugs on a GLOBAL market (ok, mostly just with Canada), then drug costs would plummet, seriously. NOW, the R&D costs would dry up a bit, too… meaning that new breakthrough drugs would take longer to be developed and get on the market… but that’s fine, really. If there was a drug that would GUARANTEED add 3 years to anyone’s life, but cost 3 Billion per person… I would just as soon like for that drug to have never been discovered. Do you see why?

Some may define anarchy as ‘political disorder’, I would say that has been achieved, and it only proves your point; It does not work.

Republicans and Democrats used to define themselves by the difference of government control. One wanted little gov and the other big gov. Today it seems that the only difference is who gets ‘taken care’ of in the end. Socialism and communism are amazing concepts, yet utterly ridiculous in reality.

I do find it comical that CASEY brought up Norway as an example of a stellar socialist economy. Norway is my go to example for gun control. Norway has the highest rate of gun ownership in Western Europe and has the lowest murder rate. If Norway wants to live a certain way far-be-it for me or anyone else to say no to them, because the old woman on the corner is packing serious heat.

And for more on the socialist country that thinks its a capatalist nation check out this article;
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919401,00.html

I was merely responding to your statement that Socialism has NEVER worked, and won’t work. Norway is one of the Scandinavian countries employing social democracies, so to call them an exception would be a bit of an overstatement.

Yes, different circumstances than us, doesn’t change the facts though.

Yes, they take more from your paycheck, but you also get more, like healthcare. We’re the greatest country in the world and we can’t provide healthcare to all our citizens? That’s not being too lefty, that’s being downright Christian.

Anyway, one other thing. Why do we need more people in church? You don’t have to go to church to be a standup religious person. Maybe that’s personal opinion. I don’t think you have to have a connection with a building, when it’s all about a connection with God.

it is simply my opinion, but I believe that the sense of purpose comes before the devotion.

If everyone of us Christians would just have that much devotion, everybody would see the sense of purpose that we feel in our lives. In wanting it for themselves, the pagans and neo-pagans would join in, and we would have churches overflowing. Unfortunately, people like me fail on such a regular basis.

I want to write more, but I have to go out of town for a bit. I’ll finish this post when I get back.

I would rather not have any government.

But SOME people cant control themselves. unfortunately anarchy wont work.

@simple

Personally i think the female body should be allowed to take its course. Doctors should intervene when stuff goes down.

Not being a doctor i couldnt begin to draw a line between safe and unsafe.

the ultimate decision should not be left to one person

please dont call me a pro-lifer. I’m not quite sure what i am and dont necessarily need to be labeled anything

@Casey

A. Dont let an exception become a rule

B. Norway has a long list of contributing factors that allow it to have such a great economy. And it does have and awesome economy. A few of these factors would include its size, lack of diversity (compared with other countries), abundance of natural resources, being surrounded by economically prospering nations.

C. However i would not want to live there. I can honestly say that i do not want to be taken care of. The more ability you give an entity to take care of you the more control you have to give it. I’m bitter about what the government takes out of my meager paycheck now, i cant imagine what Norway takes from its citizens.

I guess its a little of the Alexander Supertramp, Thoreau, or pioneer coming out in me that wants to go at it alone without help (except maybe a companion)

Whatever statistic or fact you say about socialism, communism, collectivism, and to a far lesser extent capitalism you cannot deny the fact that it placates people.

When stuff goes down…..and it will….i will be able to fend for myself.

On the abortion question- Do you believe they are the same because of the belief in a soul? I can’t think of how else they could be the same.

As far as the socialist stuff,
Communism is a different subject than socialism.

The quote from the great Winston Churchill is all fine and dandy. All of your commentary about how socialism never worked, and won’t, is kind of confusing.

“Norway maintains a Scandinavian welfare model with universal healthcare, free higher education and a comprehensive social security system. Norway was ranked highest of all countries in human development from 2001 to 2006.[16] It was also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by Global Peace Index.[17]”

Seems like it has been working for quite awhile. I never said anything about a totalitarian socialism, and never mentioned communism. Socialism isn’t a bad word, and as much as some people like to lump it in with Fascist dictators, they are just completely overlooking some things.

Scandinavian countries are social democracies, and have some of the highest per capita GDP’s in the world. Are they perfect? No, but they’re doing fine.

So, gotta say I disagree with your comments about “socialism”.

Hope we aren’t high jacking your post WarAxe. Also, I just mentioned that it’s alright to sound socialist, and this is the response I get? lol I wonder what would happen if I actually say something next time? =D

The female body has different hormones and chemicals that have the ability to abort a fetus that the body doesn’t feel comfortable with. If a doctor were to come up with a medicine to hinder that and force pregnancy would PRO-LIFERS insist on that?

Is it ok for the human body to naturally abort a fetus?
Where do you draw the line between safe and unsafe? Who gets the supreme power of the judgment call?

Winston Churchill

Yes….a baby being aborted 1 day from birth is the same as one being aborted 8 1/2 months from birth

Whether that abortion is “justified” “necesarry” or another term depends on the circumstances of the abortion.

If a girl was raped when she was young and became pregnant i think an abortion can be tolerated. For example

about your other comment. Socialism, communism, or anything of that nature doesnt, hasnt, and wont work. It is human nature to want and because all resources are scarce sharing everything is not going to work.

Thanks for the correction Simple. While I’m happy I know some about broad Muslim culture, obviously I don’t know it all.

@waraxe

Do you consider a baby being aborted 1 day from birth the same as one being aborted 8 1/2 months from birth? Just a question of curiosity.

PS
@simple
There’s nothing wrong with sounding socialist. =D

People want to have others murdered for all kinds of reasons. Some seem more sympathetic than others. It’s been going on for a while…

Rap does exist in the Muslim culture, and it is similar to the American Gangsta rap. I agree that comment should not have been made by Sobieski. Just be careful with the statements you make.

I do however completely and truly agree with you on parenting. Nothing else in this world would stifle abuse, abortion, drug use, violence, rape then proper parenting. Rap music does not teach disrespect, it very simply attracts the masses of children who are already keen to the idea of rebellion and violence. The rapper is not to blame. The fact that such a horribly disrespectful song is so overwhelmingly popular is scary.. It shows how many young men across this globe are “in tune” with those lyrics.

So anyways back to the article; Scott Roeder is the accused murderer of Dr. Tiller. He was mentally unstable, he was charged with acts against our government in the 90′s and he had an entire list of red flags against him.
“Roeder reportedly subscribed to Prayer and Action News, a magazine that advocated “justifiable homicide” as a way of protesting abortion.”
And honestly the most tragic story out of all of this is that he has two sons. One of which was born in 2002. Lets talk about consequences and justifiable actions after each person on earth does there best to raise their own children properly. You are not giving your children a better tomorrow by killing some guy. You are hurting them by excluding yourself from their lives.

“Justifiable Homicide”……. What the hell is wrong with people?!?!?!?! Are you serious. That is a magazine published in this country that has numerous subscribers??? That is petrifying to me.

@Waraxe

I am sorry but I can still not see your point on blaming the doctor. Erasing the medium is arbitrary. A serious person will find a way. Identifying the problem and seeing that it lies within the individual and correcting it their at the source is a positive solution. And if you are not looking for a positive solution then you are to blame too. It takes two to tango, two to have a war. This mindset that you are protecting babies who dont have a choice in the matter is null and void if you dont feel the exact same way about the mother. Why doesnt she deserve help? Why wasnt she saved? If I were born into a life of torture, abuse, and tragedy I am sure that I can only imagine every child goes through that, so why would I want to bring another into it. Which leads me into my 3rd response

@John3Sobieski
You are not aware of the life of millions of people. You are a spectator amongst them, but after those remarks about happiness trickling down from one another I can not sit here and see how you have experienced life as so many unfortunate souls have.

AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I WISH WE WERE ALL SO FORTUNATE. I wish I could believe in that much hope. You seem like you have alot of love. And that is apparent in your proposed judicial system of quarantine and rehabilitation. Very novel.

I just had an idea; if a person under the age of ‘X’ breaks a law of certain seriousness than not only is he quarantined and rehabilitated but so are the persons responsible for his upbringing. Mom and Dad are going in with their delinquent children and will be taught proper reform. They slipped under the radar but thank fully their children did not.

SIMPLE FOR PRESIDENT!

haha just kidding. that was beginning to sound a little to socialist for me. But I think you caught my drift.
Hope everybody is having a great Monday.

We are such a nation of REACTIONISTS.

Note that while I say this, I’m not saying I agree with you, just wondering if your personal view should be directed towards why these women would have an abortion, rather than the scapegoat of blaming the doctor.

BTW, you’re doing fine on the moderation stuff, I don’t think any of them have had to wait too long. *thumbs up*

As for gangster rap and porn, you’re right, they aren’t the underlying cause. The parents are. At the same time, they do perpetuate the idea of females merely being sexual playthings. Gangster rap also advocates other things, like doing drugs and violence in general. My point is that if you get rid of things that help perpetuate the attrocities, then the number of them will go down and the problem becomes easier to handle. Therefor, I would have no problem with the government eliminating porn and gangster rap, since they are evil in the first place.

As for neo-pagan world, that is another point of misunderstanding between us. Just because somebody says they’re religious, doesn’t mean that they really are. I’m Catholic, and there are problematic people within the Church that would deserve the title of neo-pagan. A priest that used to be at my own parish could be classified as one. This was so long ago that I don’t remember it, but it happened. This priest wanted the parish “renovated,” which in liberal terminology means that the statues of the saints would be removed and the Communion rails taken out; in effect taking out much of the reverence to God. Also, we heard that he got married a week after his retirement, and priests of the Roman Rite are not supposed to get married.

Then, and I’m sure that War-Axe will agree with me on this, there are people like the Westboro Baptist Church (I think I got the name right) who only care about hating people. Those guys for sure are neo-pagans.

It’s a simple case of words vs. actions. Do their words professing Christianity match their actions or do they not? I know that at least in the area where I live, it’s usually not. They just say, “yeah, I’m Christian” and go about living their lives practically oblivious to the deep meaning of that title.