I am a Catholic. Just because I am Catholic does not mean I believe everything that the religion puts forth. Because my religion is Catholicism, does that give you the right to judge me? Have you even tried to get to know me. It's bad enough that the first glance of me, you immediately assume that I'm Hindu and I'm already destined to marry a guy I have never met, but when you find out I am, in fact, Catholic, your eyes widen and shift away. It is almost like you would prefer to talk to a Hindu than a practicing Catholic. You make an excuse that is so lame, a 5 year old wouldn't believe it. If I say I'm Christian, it's more accepting. Why? Do you think it's because they seem to be more open to new ideas and beliefs? Who's to say I'm not? Just because I was raised a Catholic does not mean I am against same-sex relationships/marriages. It does not mean I think birth control is stupid. It does not mean I follow the pope like a fanatic. In fact, I'm the total opposites. I do believe in same sex marriage. I do believe in birth control. I do not follow the pope around like a hungry puppy. In fact, I'll be so blunt to say I hate the current pope. I think he is way too conservative and he doesn't do his job right. If I say these things, you gasp and say I'm going against my religion. I hardly think that's true. I am Catholic but I am a Liberal Catholic. There are people like me in the world, believe it or not.
So even if I say all these things, why do you still judge me? It's just a label. Being Catholic is not WHO I am, it's part of me. Who I am is a variety of different things. I assure you to find out all those things first, then I think you should have the right to judge me.
You're Christian...guess what? I am too.
i have a friend who describes himself as Roman Catholic Exisentialist. it sounds like you fall under the same catagory. good job.
When it comes to religious topics, it's quite difficult for me to judge what the other person believes because I don't regularly study their beliefs. Yes, there are a lot of people who stereotype Catholics and Christians (are they the same?). Just stand up for what you believe in. If your point of view must change, then at least follow what you want. You should go into more details about the differences because I'd like to know why many people are against it as well. Oh, I think it might be because many Catholics or Christians try to force their religions on to others. I've read a couple of blogs about it and they all have similar views on this. What do you say to that?
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I am often amazed that people will juge christians and catholics for acts done centuries ago more harshly than other religous groups which engage in more horrible acts today.
I should not be suprised, but I often am.
Do not worry when the world judges and hates you. Their opinons and thoughts are not the ones that matter in the grand scheme of things.
I agree with what you are saying about the people who find out that you're Catholic and kind of look away and try to change the topic. It very well could be that they think that because we are Catholic, we will be close-minded and immediately impose all of our "sacred" beliefs on them. I think it's really sad and that people need to grow out of it. We can move forward with the times as well. I guess the only real way to show them that not all Catholics, or Christians for that matter, are the ever preaching kind, that we have thoughts and ideas that may stray from teachings a hundred years old, is not to get up in their faces about it, but to let them figure it out through little things we say.
i kind of have the opposite reaction out of people.
They ask how I got so open-minded, and I tell them i was raised catholic. and then they say "well that explains it."
i think they are going with the fact that i no longer really practice catholicism....but i just thought it was interesting.
I completely understand where you are coming from though....however most of the people i know who are close minded are going to go bomb the local planned parenthood aren't practicing catholics at all, they are Christian.
*not to insult any Christians, just going my MY PERSONAL experience.
ps: dont you just hate that glare you get from Christians who ask why you worship Mary and idolize statues?? ugh. people need some religious education ad tolerance!
no one should have to defend their religion. especially when they're not harming anybody else with it.
First of all, being a Catholic does define you-not just a label, just like any other religion defines it's followers. It defines your beliefs, your morals, and your religious pracices. It teaches you what's right and what's wrong.
Second, You cannot 'pick-and-choose' what you believe in the Catholic faith (Cafeteria-style Catholics...)-it doesn't work that way. You wrote that you "don't think brith control is stupid." Did you know that most controceptives don't actually prevent the egg and sperm from conceiving? Instead, they cause the uterus to eject a fertililzed egg (an embryo-HUMAN BEING). Most contraceptives are actually something called abortifacients. (That's just one thing many people are ignorant about).
However, I do understand where you're coming from when saying that some people treat you differently when you express to them that you are Catholic. The main reason people come to quick conclusions is because they have been given false information and are ignorant about the faith...and probably a whole lot more too.
So you're saying because I'm Catholic, I HAVE to believe in all aspects of my fatih?
I suppose i am a cafe catholic by your definition of it. I believe in same sex marriage and birth control.. but i like the current pope okay (he's nothing great) and im against abortion. I refuse to blindly believe... i can back up all my believes with why i think that.
So what im saying is that i agree with you, i know how you feel with the looks and everything. but i just sorta smile and remind myself that if that person is judging me based solely on that... i probably wouldnt get along with them very well anyhow... im not a fan of judgemental, closed minded people