tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2251099004261449712.post3857973608047849315..comments2011-08-17T21:44:12.905-04:00Comments on Catholic Rainbow: Atheism, Inclusiveness, and ReasonEuripideshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14021480312246891954noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2251099004261449712.post-4439919438461589372011-08-17T21:44:12.905-04:002011-08-17T21:44:12.905-04:00Oh dear. I never know that comments get put on her...Oh dear. I never know that comments get put on here. I have my thoughts on this, because there have actually been surveys done that show Catholics, with a far more rigidly traditional theology, are far more politically liberal in general. One is found here: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1755/poll-gay-marriage-gains-acceptance-gays-in-the-military and I'm currently starting a new entry about it. You have to scroll down a ways to find the breakdown showing the Catholic perspective, but it's there.<br /><br />My general thought is that, rooted in Catholic theology concerning sin is that, unlike more mainline Protestant and Evangelical groups which believe in Once Saved Always Saved, Catholicism inherently requires an active struggle against sin. Early mystics maintained that struggle can only happen when you interact with that which you struggle against. There is also in Catholic teaching a recognition that sin happens, and it is a natural part of the human condition, but it should be suppressed. This results in a very strange sociological outlook that almost necessitates the very promiscuous and "sinful" behavior of Catholic youth in their teens and twenties. We are, underneath it all, engaging what we are supposed to be fighting. We are actively participating to understand it and learn from it.<br /><br />When you talk to younger Catholics, we tend to be very liberal and accepting. As we age, because we have learned, we develop a very well-balanced approach to the nature of sin and the way of the sinner. We may not be as actively engaged in that same behavior, but we understand it a lot better. That's my view, at least. And I'm putting that all up in a full-blown blog post. Yay!Euripideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14021480312246891954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2251099004261449712.post-27703878973815708522011-08-03T07:18:20.768-04:002011-08-03T07:18:20.768-04:00Here, here. I've almost always seen the atheis...Here, here. I've almost always seen the atheism/theism debate run completely binary with Christian or the family of Judeo-Christian faths, without consideration for the fact that there many, many other paths that people follow.<br /><br />Also, question: all of the Catholics I have known to be Catholics seem to be generally more socially liberal than their Baptist, Methodist, etc. counterparts. With old beliefs like transubstantiation and an older interpretation of the Bible, why do you think this is so? Is it simply a social demographic reason, or that Catholics actually dedicate more time to academically learning about their faith, or is it something else? Also explain Dispensations and their role to me, in another blog post if need be since I have a feeling that is all going to be a long discussion.Tencrownshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17980153351617955329noreply@blogger.com