(no subject)

[swatkat]

Look - people are talking about religion here. It is a very, very interesting read, if you're interested in this sort of a thing. One thing that keeps fascinating me about LJ is the fact that people can talk so freely and *rationally* about their faith and belief. It kinda reinforces my belief in the fact that sane people still exist in the world.

Comments

[jaybee65.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link.

I had already come across some of the other links she cites -- the wayfairer one in particular, but this had some great comments and links to new discussions.

I'm having a hard time articulating my thoughts on this issue -- in large part because what I want to say varies depending on my mood. Overall, I'm very gloomy, and most of what I have read has only served to exacerbate that tendency. But I'll do my best to write something coherent without lapsing into anger or pessimism, and I'll post it either here or on my own journal.

[nell65.livejournal.com]

The odd thing, to me as a historian, is how relatively recent this whole hard right, evangelical Baptist 'thing' is.

My mother was raised in the Southern Baptist church of the 1940s and 1950s, twice on Sundays and wednesday nights, summer bible camp and HS conferences with other 'youth leaders.' My grandfather, her dad, was a deacon and an elder his entire adult life.

She finds the current hard right Baptist church utterly unrecognizable - and I suspect so would have he. The novels that meant so much to some of hte folks like wayfairer came out waaaaayyyyy after my mother had moved north and away, and the whole notion of hte christian warrior fighting demons at all times makes her giggle incredulously. As does her duty to save all others outside her own church.

So - you know - the whole notion that it is a deeply rooted "southern baptist" culture is actually quite false. It is really very new - and it is sounding a lot like the second generation is having some trouble with it already.

[delle.livejournal.com]

I haven't had time to read all the comments, but the ones I read were most interesting.

It was nice to see another Catholic chiming in there - Protestant misconceptions abound about Catholicism and it was nice to see someone else explain some of the current Catholic teaching.

For example? Evangelization? Not the Catholic thing. Certainly the Crusades were all about retrieving the Holy Land from the Infidels and conversion on the point of a sword... but that's not the current Catholic teaching. We're much more about living our lvies as best we can and hoping to be a light and example.

I will admit to being very nervous about Pres. Bush and his religious cohorts - many of the more evangelical/charismatic branches of Protestants don't even acknowlege Catholics as Christians. That happened to me a few years back, when a boss (yes, my BOSS!) mentioned he "was a Christian and didn't practice Lent" (when I declined a piece of meat pizza on a Friday in Lent - a no-meat day for practicing Catholics). I looked him dead in the eye and said the last time *I* checked, Catholics were as Christian as the born-again non-denominationals.

I also found it *very* interesting that Pres. Bush (the Moral, Christian Man) rarely attends church while Sen. Kerry (the Immoral Man that Would Let the Terrorists Win) regularly attends Mass.

*sigh* As much as we've improved, we Americans are still very prejudiced. Religion's just another reason to hate each other.

[nell65.livejournal.com]

I've spent my life in the Episcopal church (Anglicans for those outside the US).

It is a Protestant demonation - but still very close to Catholicism in terms of rituals and practices and organiztational structures.

So I've spent my life on the hazy divide between Protestatant and Catholic traditions/understandings....

[delle.livejournal.com]

LOL~ My beloved grandmother was Episcopalian. I think the Episcopalians are more Catholic than the Catholics these days.