I was born a catholic, but it hasn't been part of my life since I was a kid.most people I  know don't go to church or even pray anymore..so has the almighty dollar taken over as our idol???
127402
I think a lot of people have a negative reaction toward religion because a lot of really ignorant and aggressive religious people give it a bad name.  Religion's biggest enemy isn't money, it's the hypocrisy of some of its most loud and outspoken practitioners. (I'm not saying all religious people are like that; however, the nice religious people generally don't proclaim their religion as loudly and so they aren't as visible.)
43481
wow. that's not a question people usually ask. it's so personal... i would have to say, now that i think about it. i'm embarassed by my answer. i think i go days at a time without praying! that's aweful!!!\n\nwe're raised to pray every morning, night, and at meal times. i went to a christian school and we prayed before every class began. but since i have gotten to college it's been a... volentary thing. and it's been hard to force myself to do something i have always taken for granted.\n\ni've fallen into some bad habbits since being away from my christian school and my church, and my family. i just hope that i can convince myself to change back to the GOOD habbits they tried to instill in me when i grew up.
560865
No, they really don't,  and sadly, i doubt they ever will.  It's a fundamental part of their religion now, not to understand what they do.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say to worship saints, or to confess to another sinner about your sins--whether he's wearing a fancy robe or not.\n\nThat's why I'm non-denominational, I go to a Bible Church and I read exactly what the English translation says.  Nobody has a right to teach their own opinions on God and what he says and does.\n\nAnd Catholics worship Mary becausethey think that Jesus is God, and Mary was the mother of Jesus, so Mary is the mother of God.  Hate to break my tone of intelligent commentary, but that's just silly.  Mary was a sinner like everyone else, she was probably thinking when they kicked her out of the inn, "buncha l3@$T@ l^D$, i'm about to pregnant with your savior and you can't find room!?  Well then kick somebody out, I'm Mary dammit!"\nShe was just the mortal chosen to bring him into the world, that's all.\nIt was a holy game of chess, and Mary was a pawn used to put the king of the red team in check and send him running in fear behind his last pieces, but that doesn't mean the pawn deserves any worship--she's just a pawn.  She followed God's will, (she's so lucky).  No crying he makes!? WTF!, that's not fair at ALL!  she got to be the mother of the perfect child, not the well behaved one, not the nice one, not the smart one; she got to be the mother of the perfect child, that should be payment enough for her.
495435
lee, while i understand your statement and request - many others do not.  the Blessed Virgin has appeared numerous times to people begging for their prayers - for the conversion of poor sinners, peace int he country and other things.  Her greatest request is that people know and love her Son Jesus Christ.  I am a staunch Catholic, named for our  Beloved Lady, however, i was never taught or thought that she ever wanted her own recognition - her requests have always been that people love and come to Jesus - for He is the saviour.\n\nIn regards to the rosary - it is a powerful prayer tool.  my favorite is the Scriptural ROsary. it's a way to fully walk and remember the life of CHrist through HIs loving mothers eyes.  here is just one of the decades and a link to the rest below.\n\nGod BLess\nYSIC.\n\nThe Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Presentation\n\nOur Father ... \n\nObserving the Law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem/ to present him to the Lord. \nLuke 2:22 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nNow in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon./ He was an upright and devout man. \nLuke 2:25 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nIt had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death/ until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. \nLuke 2:26 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nAnd when the parents brought in the child Jesus, he took him into his arms/ and blessed God. \nLuke 2:27-28 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n'Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,/ just as you promised.' \nLuke 2:29 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n'Because my eyes have seen the salvation/ which you have prepared for all the nations to see.' \nLuke 2:30-31 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n'A light to enlighten the pagans/ and the glory of your people Israel.' \nLuke 2:32 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nAnd he said to Mary his mother, 'You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel,/ destined to be a sign that is rejected.' \nLuke 2:34 \n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n'And a sword will pierce your own soul too-/ so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.' \nLuke 2:35 \n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nAnd they went back to Nazareth, and the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom;/ and God's favor was with him. \nLuke 2:39-40
256508
there are really selfish people in the world today. I do believe in taking care of the ones around you before anyone else. Reality check do people keep updated on disaters and over seas missions? if so are they true. It's just the waty the world is today. More people need to turn their eyes back on their creator Lord God Almighty. What if people had to live back in those days,they wouldn't make it.
60698
i was also raised catholic. didn't go to catholic school, but parents strict catholic and i'm one of seven (living). no way does the church represent me!\ndid you know that catholic priests used to be able to marry and have children? the priests were given a home but because the priest would give the home to family when he got old and died the church lost MONEY on the home and had to buy a new home for a new priest.\ni also don't agree with moving child molesters around to different churches. child molesters belong in jail. for life. period.(in my opinion).\ngay or straight priests can't have sex. i just don't think that's right.(my opinion)\ni also think that if you are going to belong to a specific religion and that one alone - you should believe with no question.\ni was also put off when a friend told me about her story of moving from n.e.coast to west coast by NO help from the catholic church. her dad left the family (pregnant wife and7 children) on the side of the road with a broken down car to go get help. never came back. after spending the night in the car she walked with kids to next town and walked into the first building she saw - a catholic church. "thank you lord!" she cried. after telling the priest what had happened he sent her walking across town to the salvation army who got in touch with the mormon church. the people there took her and her kids in. never talked about what church they were from never talked religion; they were only there to help. a collection was taken through the phone lines (this was 40 years ago in a small town) and a car and enough money was raised to get this family to mom's aunts house in wash. state.\nTHAT IS A CHURCH. any community who can do that for complete strangers in need of help - that's my kind of church. that's what i want to belong to. as for religion - sorry into that.
301955
I think it is asking too much from you. Catholic or Jewish or protestant, no matter what the faith and activity if a person can't make it to a wedding, baptisme etc...because it will cause a hardship then no one should be a judge on them showing up or not. Each one of us have to do what we have to do in life. Some of us have to work harder to stay on top of bills, some of us may be ill that day and can't come. Truly the family Catholic or not are asking too much from you.
107256
Sorry Bobby, it is - just around the corner in fact.  So you'd better get religious real quick.   Or else buy one of my Apopalips Now Insurins Pollicies.  Send $100 to my Yahoo!Answers page.  Hurry : offer expires when the rumbling begins !!
201906
I haven't gone to church for about 8 yrs.\nI stopped going and I am not planning on going back.\nBut, me and that spirit in the sky are on good terms... we have an understanding. \nlol\n:)
366527
It will be so hard to keep this answer short, but....\n\nYes, it is extremely rare to see or hear of Christian martyrs/persecution in western countries. That is because we Christians have become apathetic, and stuck in our comfort zone of tv, fast food and general living standards that are much higher than that of the poor/3rd world parts of the globe. We rely on savings, loans and well-paying jobs to prepare our way rather than trust in God. See the last letter to the 7 churches in Revelations that says 'you think you are rich, but I say you are poor' and you will get a description of the modern church.\n\nBUT, having said that - there are places in the world not seen by the media where there are healings, miracles and people raised from the dead. It is happening even now, and if you don't believe that this is possible, then you don't truly believe the message in the Bible.\n\nAnd yes, I know there are plenty out there who will say that this is ludicrous - but I speak what I know of, and admit that I too am apathetic, so I am in no way trying to bignote myself.
637771
I'm sorry that you had so much trouble and pain in your life.  I am Catholic also.  I was away from the church for a long time because I just kinda wanted to do my own thing.  It was about 4-5 years ago that I started feeling something missing in my life.  I couldn't figure it out.  Initially I started looking for a sense of meaning in my life.  Tried a couple churches, even a Methodist church.  Nothing felt quite right until I found the church I attend now.  It's a Catholic church.  It is truly amazing when I look back now on things that happened in my life and to people I love.  I looked at things very much like you.  My son went to jail, I was in financial hell, didn't have the greatest relationship with my wife which caused us to separate for a year.  Looks pretty gloomy huh?  Where was God during all this?  Well, my son was running with some pretty bad people.  He was put in jail where he had time to reflect on where his life was going and he now attends mass with me and my wife who are now together with a relationship stronger than ever because we needed time apart to see how much we needed each other.  As for the finances, we still live week to week, but when I look back, there is always enough there.  There is always a sum of money that comes from somewhere right before we really need it.  Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want.  Sometimes that's a good thing because we rarely know what we want and our mind is always changing.  Mostly God gives us what we need.  Because he knows us.  I doubt what I said will change your mind about God right now.  But please keep in mind what I said.  Please give Him time to work in your life.  I don't know what you have been through, but maybe some of the things were for the better.  For your better.  Maybe they weren't what you wanted.  Maybe they were what you needed.  God is always there waiting for you to turn around and talk to him.  Start small and tell Him how you feel.  Even if it's anger.  Tell Him that you hurt and need healing.  I know it's cliche' but even if you don't believe in him, he believes in you and he loves you very much even if you don't feel it.  Faith isn't a feeling.  Faith is what keeps us praying when we have no feeling to grasp.  If everyone had that feeling of God's love and presence, there would be no need for faith.  Hang in there my friend.  God Bless you.
85321
It may just be a case of me not paying attention to religion when I was younger but I think most religous groups are pushing the envelope more than ever.  When I quit organized religion one of the reasons I listed was due to religion and war.  At that point I thought we may have seen the end of war based on religion and a turn towards nationalism but instead was has intensified as religion has intensified their fight for self-survival.\n\nWhen Pope John Paul II died, I was really hoping that the Catholic church would make a dramatic change and try to go in a new direction, instead they chose to go with a hardliner in terms of the church's teachings (some of which to me are contrary to Jesus's teachings).  As the Catholic church and other churches have attempted to retain a hardline base, they continously conflict with non-christian groups.  \n\nI think religion in the United States and in the world has been pushing the envelope in an effort to stay relevant as more people turned to more evangical style ministry and general disdain for religion.  The power that religous groups have over the populous (and the politicians) in the US is unforetunate.  Instead of working towards noble Christian goals, too many have opted to focus on one small detail and in the process have blindly supported those who support that one cause.  Foes of abortion have chosen to ignore war, death penalty, poverty, hunger, equality, and kindness to win a pyrrhic victory.\n\n\n\nWould have answered earlier but I knew it was going to be an answer I wanted to take some time with.
413353
Hi, you are not the only person who does not understand, a great many Catholics are confused as well, you already know I`m sure all the facts about Opus Dei so I wont waste your time by going through it all, what I think people want to really know is what Opus Dei actually does and why it`s founder was canonized so quickly when a lot of other holy men and women had to wait for decades or longer.\nIt seems to me that it has enormous power in the church and this was a factor in Josemaria`s quick canonization, as you know it boasts Cardinals and Bishops along with people in the secular world who are regarded as VIP`s and so we have to say that finance is also a reality of it`s status in the church too.\nbasically the aim of this work is to spread the Christian message that God calls everyone to become a saint and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity, but isn`t this always been the role of the Catholic church anyway and didn`t St.Teresa the little flower already state the saintliness of the ordinary life?\nas far as I can see the church has been struggling since the reforms of Vatican ll and needed another society like the Jesuits to defend it in the modern secular world and Opus Dei certainly fits the bill, why else would our late Holy Father canonize Josemaria Escriva so fast.\n\nGod bless you.
612843
Roman Catholic and I attend mass almost every week. I do go with my friends to their Christian Fellowships, some being born again. I also attend the occasional Jehovah's Witness meeting, when friends ask. I don't try to be ignorant to other belief system and I do think the underlying theme with most faiths are similar. Everyone believes in the same God but have different versions of him :)
118919
If common people had real money, they would act and think completely different. They would be different people than they are today. They would cease to exist as we know them today. To cause this end of people's lives as we know them today, the government would have to comply to the Constitution, and the Church would have to comply to the Gospel. When this happens, things that are wrong with this world now will fix themselves, people will have real money, and your new beginning is the end of this world. Maybe 2012 or there about. It would take election of someone with great knowledge of the economy etc. to the office of President, it would take the election of Jesus, only the sinful man, the un-Jesus because of his sins. Will it ever happen? Will it be a good thing for you, the end of the world as I describe? More questions, I think, does your answer breed.
541634
Yea I went to church today. We learned how Jesus impacted our lives and what he think of us?  Those that don't attend church miss a good change to fellowship with believers and to come to know Christ more. I find those that don't know anything about the Lord avoid going to church. Only Satan makes you avoid church.
664314
how can they when they are expected to give 10% of their life savings every time they go to church. You can bet GOD is not seeing this money and where is brother art thou taking his family on vacation?