The two taboo subjects. Let's talk about one of them!

Easter time and that means all of us Christians are dressed in super-chromatic outfits bearing eggs and chicks. Among us Christians, we have some rivalry. Most commonly known is that of the Catholics and the Protestants. Having been both in my lifetime, I find both camps simultaneously worthy and silly.

Like with Democrats and Republicans, they're filled with awesome hearts and minds that seem to (almost desperately) exaggerate the little differences in order to show just how much they aren't like them. Each side trying to do good while demonizing the other. Neither side is evil and both sides just want the best for their people. It seems that mankind has an innate need to have an enemy, an "other" to drive themselves to be better. Now, except for a few loose nuts, the rivalry isn't too bitter. When Martin-Luther split with the Church, there was definitely a precedence. At the time, the Borgia Popes were in power and they were notorious with selling "indulgences." For a price, you could purchase a waiver for a sin you haven't committed yet. I somehow doubt that is "what Jesus would do" and neither did Martin-Luther. It was a wake-up call for everyone and for the first time challenged the Church's authority. Good-on-ya Martin!

Yes- I'm a history buff. If you find this stuff interesting as well, read A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance: Portrait of an Age- it's an easy short read about the extremely transitional time of Magellan and speaks much on this subject.

I was baptized Presbyterian, raised Methodist and converted Catholic. I converted mainly because I married a cradle-Catholic and it was a lot easier for a protestant to convert than the other way around ;) The strangest thing I found about Catholicism, coming from Methodist, was the whole idea of the Saints. As a protestant, we were taught that you shouldn't pray to anything else except directly to God. Catholicism says you aren't praying to the saint, but rather asking the saint to pray for you to God. Kind of a "can you put in a good word for me to the big guy?"

Holy networking.

Ok, sure- whatever.

I like the ritual of the Catholic mass. For me, it's comforting. I grew up with loosely formatted services and longed for something different. For me that's good- for others it may not be. I feel that's why we have different churches for different spiritual needs. I think God knows what she's doing (yeah- I just did that- if God is sexless he can be a she, or an it, Are your really going to argue with him? ;).

I'm not pushy with my faith and I won't sell you on it. There are enough messages about Jesus is our society and if they (or the Mormons) won't convert you, I certainly won't ;) It works for me and you should follow what works for you. If you happen to be Atheist though, you'd better not be hate'n! If you're that passionate about your belief that there's no God, it shouldn't matter to you if I believe there is. If you really believe that, then when we both "pass on" neither one of us will be conscience of the results of that belief. However, if there is a God... Let's just say it just seems to be on the safer side of the empirical method to believe there is a God ;) #pragmaticBelief

There it is. That's what I believe. It's just a belief, an opinion.  Because I am a Christian, I can't speak to any of the other religions in the world. I won't pass any judgement- that's not my job. I do believe that God doesn't want anyone to kill, and I do have a problem with faiths that have that in their creed. Every faith has their crazies they have to apologize for. I think killing in the name of God is the surest way to send you to "the other place" (and I don't mean not Wisconsin).

BTW- on behalf of the Catholic Church, I apologize for the Crusades ;)

Happy Easter!