Alien Life: The Mockery of Jesus

[George-ananda]

Except Pope Francis did not say Jesus would save atheists, he said that he had redeemed them, and everyone, through his sacrifice.

Sounds like nice dancing footwork to make something sound more acceptable to modern reason. I applaud this type of effort as I am a non-Christian but not anti-Christian. The attitude I was trying to point out is the one where anti-Christians want to hold Christianity's feet to narrow interpretations for the effect of mocking as in the OP.

I hate to see the baby (Jesus) thrown out with the bathwater (flawed dogma). That's because the image of Jesus is such a force of goodness and hope for so many. And I DO believe we live in a spiritual universe.

 

[gsa]

Sounds like nice dancing footwork to make something sound more acceptable to modern reason. I applaud this type of effort as I am a non-Christian but not anti-Christian. The attitude I was trying to point out is the one where anti-Christians want to hold Christianity's feet to narrow interpretations for the effect of mocking as in the OP.

I hate to see the baby (Jesus) thrown out with the bathwater (flawed dogma). That's because the image of Jesus is such a force of goodness and hope for so many. And I DO believe we live in a spiritual universe.

But that is just it: This is nothing but a PR move. Emphasizing doctrines that can be misinterpreted to give a false impression of the actual beliefs taught as Catholic doctrine. Nothing has changed substantively, and the dogma is as irrational as it always has been.

Is it unfair to point that out?

 

[George-ananda]

But that is just it: This is nothing but a PR move. Emphasizing doctrines that can be misinterpreted to give a false impression of the actual beliefs taught as Catholic doctrine. Nothing has changed substantively, and the dogma is as irrational as it always has been.

I'm saying more and more the 'doctrines' are becoming less important and the 'spirit' becoming more important. A good thing. Christianity has a right to evolve. It seems anti-Christians want to harp on flawed doctrine more than the Catholic faithful. As you said, non-adherents sometimes know more about doctrine than the faithful and the faithful are not harmed by doctrines they don't really understand. How important is it that 'flawed ignored doctrine' is on the books?

Is it unfair to point that out?

It's not unfair to discuss anything, but it is inappropriate to mock with a thread titled Alien Life: The Mockery of Jesus.

 

[picnic]

Another possibility is that somebody name Paul might board one of those starships full of atheist aliens and spread the Good News throughout the galaxy. The Klingon pain stick should make a good addition to Lenten practices.

 

[Neo Deist]

It's not unfair to discuss anything, but it is inappropriate to mock with a thread titled Alien Life: The Mockery of Jesus.

Relax, skippy. The thread title serves as an attention grabber. The actual statement is a question, and people are offering their opinion on it.

 

[Skwim]

So, what would happen to the Jesus story once alien civilizations were discovered? Would religion evolve? Would there be a mass exodus of believers? Would alien life make a mockery of Jesus?

Nothing much at all. Christians would ignore the implications of the discovery just as they ignore the implications of problematic scriptures and beliefs today. People aren't looking for reason or logic from their religion, only continued comfort and reassurances. They would be content to let the few who cared about the implications to thrash it out among themselves, while they turned to hymn #121, and sang How Great Thou Art.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm saying more and more the 'doctrines' are becoming less important and the 'spirit' becoming more important. A good thing. Christianity has a right to evolve. It seems anti-Christians want to harp on flawed doctrine more than the Catholic faithful. As you said, non-adherents sometimes know more about doctrine than the faithful and the faithful are not harmed by doctrines they don't really understand. How important is it that 'flawed ignored doctrine' is on the books?

Catholicism is a highly dogmatic religion. There's competing factions in the Catholic Church - one that is more liberal and another that is very conservative (with varying degrees of each). You can't really practice or be a Catholic without adhering to the established doctrine. Truthfully, most Catholics aren't actually completely practicing the religion and very few actually understand the doctrines to begin with (honestly, no one really does because they simply don't make much sense). A lot of them just view it as a cultural thing. They'll go to church on Easter, Christmas, for weddings and to have their kids baptized, but that's about it. You won't see many going to confession, but people won't mind receiving the Eucharist in a state of "mortal sin". Basically, most Catholics are pretty lax. Church attendance has dropped off a lot. The Church is in decline in the West.

Pope Francis is appealing to more liberal and moderate Catholics because of his change in tone, but that's all it will ever be. He can't make substantial change.

 

[George-ananda]

Catholicism is a highly dogmatic religion. There's competing factions in the Catholic Church - one that is more liberal and another that is very conservative (with varying degrees of each). You can't really practice or be a Catholic without adhering to the established doctrine. Truthfully, most Catholics aren't actually completely practicing the religion and very few actually understand the doctrines to begin with (honestly, no one really does because they simply don't make much sense). A lot of them just view it as a cultural thing. They'll go to church on Easter, Christmas, for weddings and to have their kids baptized, but that's about it. You won't see many going to confession, but people won't mind receiving the Eucharist in a state of "mortal sin". Basically, most Catholics are pretty lax. Church attendance has dropped off a lot. The Church is in decline in the West.

Pope Francis is appealing to more liberal and moderate Catholics because of his change in tone, but that's all it will ever be. He can't make substantial change.

I understand this, but my point was 'does God or the universe care if these Catholics are not really practicing or fully understanding all of Catholicism'?? I believe true advancement is in the hearts and minds of the people (such things as the brotherly love for all, etc.). I was saying 'so what' if there is flawed and openly ignored dogma on the books. I applaud the new Pope because I think he knows there is much on the books that he is flat out stuck with but he works to make the best of it.