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NakedOnMyChain -> RE: The Jesus Myth (5/3/2008 3:53:43 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ILsexyOne69
quote:
These people wished more so to appease the pagans and encourage them to join the "christian" church by adding these holidays. It was really a political move by Constatntine to retain peace in the Roman Empire, than any actual Christian conversion. Sort of a 'one size fits all' religion. The actual followers of Jesus at that point, were still following the Jewish traditions and reeling from persecution and then the later combining of their beliefs with pagan beliefs.
For me, Jesus and my relationship with Him,is one thing....religion and how people choose to follow Him, is another.
going to have to disagree with you on the "one size fits all" comment .... for the reason that the catholic church will shun anyone that even expresses thoughts in a same-sex relationship, poly relationships, or even a "pairing" from 2 different religions (with that, they require the non-christian to agree that any offspring produced from the pairing will be raised as christian - my mom, catholic; my father, athiest : married in a catholic church)
To take that a step further, I was raised Catholic and had my arm twisted into getting married in the Roman Catholic church, despite being blatantly pagan (five pointed stars tattooed on my arm hanging out at the wedding) for several years and marrying an atheist. (I could have said no and my mother wouldn't have come to my wedding. I made the choice. I take responsibility for it.)
They were very nearly unwilling to marry us because my husband isn't baptised and because of the little test they make you take. We matched up nearly perfectly in all areas except religion. For that, we both said we wouldn't necessarily raise a child of ours Catholic if they didn't want to be raised Catholic. (I don't like lying. I had to do plenty of it, but I didn't like it and I felt like a walking pile of crap afterward.) We got through that hurdle, but they gave us a LOT of grief about my honey not being baptised. At first the bishop, who I'd known since I was a baby, refused to sign the certificate of release for a Catholic to marry a non-Catholic. Apparently they're a little more easygoing provided you still worship Jesus in some form. Not so okay with anyone else.
We pulled through it and I am happily not lying to anyone about my religion anymore. I take proud responsibility for the path I chose. I'm happy, and that's what matters. I would never presume to judge anyone for choosing a path that makes them happy as well, regardless of what it is. I do, however, demand the same respect. My mother and I have had a long talk or ten since then, and she understands it's not going away.
On another note, I have a hilarious anecdote for you. My Granddad (a fabulous, wonderful, hilarious man who sometimes is a little too honest) and I were sitting around at my great-grandmother's (on the other side of the family) viewing a few months ago, and he leans over to me and loudly goes, "So when are you going to church again?" I looked him straight in the face and said, "I'm not Granddad. I have a religion and it's not Catholicism." He retorts, "I know what religion you think you have." I, of course, say, "There's no think about it, Granddad." And during a completely silent moment in the funeral home he quips, "What do you do? Ride around naked on broomsticks all night?" My mom and sister start giggling uncontrollably, and all I can do is smile wickedly and say in my sweetest voice, "Only when you're not looking, Granddad."
You probably had to be there, but it was hilarious.
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