Pheatius

I could not disagree any stronger.

Certainly there are those in the Church that are the 'mindless sheep' variety, but that can be said of any religion or atheist, deist or someone who ditches religion out of rebellion or peer pressure. If you are an adult and part of an organized religion, it is your choice. If you say you are only a Jew, Methodist or whatever only for your wife, mother or anyone else, you are lying to them, yourself and God (If you believe in Him). If you choose to leave because your values are no longer in step with those of the religion you previously espoused, that is also your choice and a choice I respect more than someone that sticks to a religion for reasons other than faith. If you are religious, it is your duty to always question and search deeper in your faith. It is also your duty to be true to yourself and to your religion. If you disagree with an aspect of your religion, it does not nullify the rest of the body of faith. If %0.25 percent of your clergy do evil or protect the evil others have inflicted, cast them out. Do not blame every Clergy and member of the church for their failing and proceed to ignore the good of those in your community of faith and the good your religion does. And to say that "the Catholic religion is great for people who don't want to make their own decisions about how they will relate to a higher power" means that you see nothing but a pretty building, a book with nice readings and place to meet singles. That is your opinion and perhaps your experience, but some people have studied the Catholic teachings and see them as a way to make their worship complete not because they are lazy or don’t want to have to think about it. Some people have researched the history of the Church (good and bad) and see it as the best way for them to relate to a higher power. It is not easier to be a Catholic in these times, it is harder. People have the stereotype that Catholics worship Mary, pray to statues, thinks they will go to hell if they eat meat on Fridays, thinks everybody else is going to hell and they don’t read the Bible. These stereotypes are re-enforced by bitter former or poorly educated in the faith Catholics (for whatever valid reason or not), who instead of searching for their own path of spiritual enlightenment, would rather complain about the religion they have left behind. Your experience may have been a bad one and for that I am truly sorry, but it does not reflect the whole Church or everyone else’s opinion in the Church. Some people study long and hard to be Catholic or make decisions as adults to convert to Catholicism after researching the faith for years. Once again, someone may choose to leave or join any faith for any reason without need to explain why to anyone and they may also express those same reasons to whomever they choose when and if they want.

All that being said (long winded, I know)...

I was also raised Catholic and began to question my faith in my latter high school years. I eventually fell away from the Church and became an agnostic. I saw no reason for the existence of a god and if there was a god, I saw no reason why he really needed me to tell him what a great guy he is, he should already know it, after all he is omniscient, right? I was quite comfortable with this belief for over seven years and my sense of right and wrong did not change nor did my 'values'. Around that time I had a 'Saul on the road to Damascus' moment that made me reconsider my faith. I will not go into that moment as it is even longer and tedious than this post, however I will say that it led me slowly back to religion and to the Catholic Church again. I feel that my faith is better for having left and rediscovered it again on my own. To me, it became the completeness of my spirituality without using it as a crutch that so many are blamed of doing. I realize that my religion (or any religion) is not for everyone. My time outside the Church taught me that my way is not the only way, just the best way for me (and a few others). It does sadden me when I hear bad things about my faith (especially when they are true) and I hope I can be a good ambassador for my religion. I am a Christian first, Catholic second. If anyone has a question about Catholics, I will try to answer from my own perspective and perception of the Church. I would much rather someone ask me why I do or don't do something rather than believing a stereotype that has not been true for over a hundred years.

Well, I will try to participate in the Philosophy forum more often. It is hard to post in here because I believe it to be the most personal of all. I would rather bear my body to all than my soul and it is hard for me to post a quick statement in here without seeming shallow or trite. (The same reason I have only lurked in the Political forum) Take nothing personally (unless I insult you by name and make faces) and remember we all have opinions, but only yours is right. (Or why else would you believe it?)