How does that go? Faith, Hope, and Shunning Charity?

[wednes]

Grrrrr.

I own a Bible. In fact, I own several and I even read them from time to time. I especially read the words of Jesus himself because even a witch can see that Jesus was "Right On".

How the Catholic church decided that contraceptives were bad is beyond me. If anyone would like to enlighten me, I would be only too happy to hear about it. Jesus never said contraceptives are bad. Come to think of it, he never spoke out against abortion either. I understand that condoms indicate the hand of man interfereing where the hand of god alone should be. But come on, we interfere with the hand of God every day. Turning on an electric light means we want light when God says it should be dark. Why isn't this a sin? In fact, why do we live indoors instead of out in the beautiful elements God created? Surely if God wanted us to live in buildings, the garden of eden would have been full of them.
The difference? Sex. The Catholic church loves to punish people for sex, always has. It's one of the main things that separates them from the pagans, who (for the most part) celebrate the union of man and woman as well as the spreading of love among all people. Jesus never said anyone needed to be punished for having sex, even gays. *pretend gasp*

He did, however, extoll the virtues of helping the poor. He often spoke of treating others with kindess even if you don't have to, with classic Jesus lines like "That you do unto the least of my brothers, so you do unto me". So guess what, Catholics? By shunning a charity helping Katrina victims when it costs you nothing monetarily to help, you are shunning Jesus.

I'm having difficulty expresing how disgusted I am that a church would speak out against a charity providing help to people who have just lost their homes. Further, I am horrified that the impetus for this is the fact that this charity helps stop the spread of AIDS in Africa. Why God would give a rat's ass who uses condoms and who doesn't is beyond me. My Bible doesn't mention condoms at all. May I borrow yours, Catholic church?

I guess that's what you get when a Nazi becomes the Pontiff.

Comments

[jenx.livejournal.com]

The Catholic Church says contraception is wrong, for one simple reason - it makes more Catholics. If you obey the church and are 'pure' until marriage, their reasoning is that you won't have to worry about diseases - and those who do have diseases are to be pitied and prayed for. But helping them isn't an option, that would compound their sin - and yours.

None of this is in the Bible, this just is the word of the Church - there is a difference.

Christianity was fine until people got mixed up in it.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Oh I certainly agree that the issue is with the church at large and not with Christianity in general. My fiance and his whole family are devout Christians and i have tremendous respect for them.

[liadra.livejournal.com]

It probably has less to do with purity to avoid diseases (in the Christian sense; I can't speak on OT as many would say it actually dictated Jewish law for reasons such as purity, desease control, etc) than it does with than an ideal held by the Church at one time that one did not make oneself or one's things 'pretty' because it took away from God. One should only worship God. Only God should have glory/beauty, etc. You'll find periods where churches were very austere and empty because of this. It was supplanted later by the ideal that the outside could also magnify the Lord and you find the use of much more onamentation - there was a reason the Catholic Church was so rich.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

The Catholics church also encouraged poor people to buy their way into heaven. Before Martin Luther and the big split, peasants could buy certificates that would ensure them and their loved ones (for a small additional fee) a place in heaven. Sacrilege of course, but people who had never read the bible themselves had no way to know this.

[everythingtold.livejournal.com]

This is one of the best posts I've read from a friend in awhile. As long as I totally credit you with it, can I cut and paste so that my other friends can see it? That would be totally awesome. I totally agree with you. I really hate it when charities do not accept money from people because they don't like where it came from. I mean, if I were to rob a bank and try to donate the money I could see that but please! What's wrong with charity from a group who honestly wants to help people? *shakes head* I know that the Salvation Army did not accept money from a group in San Francisco once because it was a gay group. I really don't get people. All I could think was, "God forbid they actually do something to make themselves look good!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the support.

I would ask though that you link to this post rather than cut/pasting it. People should always know that there's plenty more of my lip where that came from ;-}

[everythingtold.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I thought it was rather rude of me to ask you if I could do that but I can go ahead and post a link - definitely. :)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

It's never rude to ask, especially not for you, my dear.

[liadra.livejournal.com]

I believe the origins come from a passage that says (paraphrasing) "Let not a man spill his seed upon the ground" (like the heathens). Taken to mean that masturbation is wrong (does not produce offspring) and that sex that does not produce is wrong (ergo, contraception is against God's wishes).

No, not sure /where/ it is, but I'm pretty sure I read it.

Do I think it's right? hahahahaha

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I am familiar with that verse, but doubt that is comes straight from the mouth of God.

[liadra.livejournal.com]

I somehow doubt that it comes from the mouth of God myself. Sadly, humans are quick to point out the impossibility and improbability of numerous things and still think the the old man himself sat down and dictated.

*sighs*

[madush69.livejournal.com]

No shit. My cousin thinks evolution didn't happen because it isn't in the Bible.

[liadra.livejournal.com]

Tell your cousin that the Gospel of Luke was written quite a bit after Jesus' death, on an Island near/in Greece (if I remember correctly).

I wish more people weren't threatened by the idea of the Bible as mytholody - a very important mythology, but mythology regardless. (Okay, portions of the OT might rock that boat a bit, but you know what I mean)

[groovesinorbit]

I think they base it on a literal reading of the "be fruitful and multiply" line in the Old Testament. But obviously Xtians are pretty choosy about what parts of the OT they want to follow. Why they want to follow any of it, since it has nothing to do with their main man, who supposedly told people that the way to the Kingdom of Heaven was not the Law, is a whole 'nother topic.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

I especially read the words of Jesus himself because even a witch can see that Jesus was "Right On".

Unfortunately, much of what organized "Christian" religion has come up with has little or nothing to do with what is attributed to Jesus.

I think jenx got it right:
Christianity was fine until people got mixed up in it.

[madush69.livejournal.com]

That's why Wednes is so cool. She takes the good parts of things and appreciates them and uses them to form one of the most awesome philosophies and THE most awesome persoinality!!!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I see the point being made there. Sadly, there were always bad people mixed up with Christianity. Even when there were only a dozen Christians, one of them turned out of be a traitor. At the same time, the good people have always outnumbered the bad, but the bad ones are often the loudest.

[lostsatellite.livejournal.com]

heh...I'm participating in the Crop Walk in October...I had no idea that the funds went towards anything relating to contraception or AIDS, but I wouldn't have a problem if it did...heck, the first time I ever participated in the walk, it was through the Catholic Church my mom made me go to and get confirmed in...and as far as I know, they are still one of the churches that helps take part...I never saw any kind of protesters like I have when I've done the AIDS Walk, though it's been many years since I did the Crop Walk...(even the AIDS Walk doesn't draw very many protesters anymore)...

if people want to earmark their money towards a specific branch of charity, I have no problem with that...but I also don't see how preventing AIDS and unwanted pregnancies is a bad thing...

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I also don't see how preventing AIDS and unwanted pregnancies is a bad thing..

Because God wouldn't like it, silly. If it's in the newspaper, it must be true. ;-}

[lostsatellite.livejournal.com]

oh bah...I don't believe in the cruel inhumane discriminatory god that those fundamentalists have created...I don't believe that diseases and hurricanes and terrorist attacks remove the evil in our midst either...

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I concur.

[ex-jenniepan481.livejournal.com]

I love you for saying this..especially the last line!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Why, thanks.

*wink*

[spiralwitch.livejournal.com]

That is some crap! (not what you said, the link)

[mason-le-flamme.livejournal.com]

someone can feel free to correct me if I'm at all wrong here, but wasn't paganism (probably spelt wrong) around before christianity? and wasn't also of whats in the bible taken from pagans?

[spiralwitch.livejournal.com]

well, i am no authority. however, yes paganism was around before christ was...but i don't think the bible was taken from pagans. mostly because the bible was written so long after christ died. a lot of the christian holidays are on pagan holidays (it was easier to convert people if they kept the sam holidays). but that's about all i know in that connection.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. Polytheists dominated before Christ. The Bible was written by Christians and/or Hebrews; most (like the gospels) were written long after the fact.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[klynnfrost.livejournal.com]

"I understand that condoms indicate the hand of man interfereing where the hand of god alone should be."

I don't want god's hand there.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Even on the third date?

Just to put a twist on it.

[nate101000.livejournal.com]

Here is a comparison for you. The Bible is to the Constitution as Papal doctrine is to the Bill of Rights, and as the dogma is to the city ordinances. Just because the speed limit isn't in the constitution doesn't mean I don't have to follow it. Your speaking as the christian equivalent of a Libertarian.

But as the chain e-mail points out, if it's a sin to spill my seed, then it's ok to sell my daughter, or purchase a canadian.

You can't have it both ways. You can't both say "Follow the Bible, it's the word of your GOD!", and ignore half the rules while making up your own.