What's your opinion on religions that don't think you, if single, should have a 'love life' even with yourself?

[porridgeisbae]

Just that really.

I converted to Catholicism but I think that bit's a bit harsh.

@Toddlerteaplease
"My friend is an Archbishop and is completely in favour of gay marriage for example"

That's quite a scoop! Which one?

@Toddlerteaplease Also-how does he feel about not being able to take communion?

Hi all, thanks for your opinions.

I'm sorry that I said the wrong thing at some point.

I need to take my time to work these things out, but I'm taking it all on board. x

Wanking, same sex attraction, sex outside marriage, gluttony and bitching about people - I'm so glad that all these things that make life worth living are available to me as a non Catholic. I don't believe in hell in any way shape of form so have zero worries there for leading a fabulous and hedonistic life.

I don’t know why anyone would CHOOSE to be Catholic when you could have become a Quaker. I don’t think you even have to believe in God to join, and they’re always the very best people. No evangelising, no stupid rules, no ridiculous hang-ups over sex and wanking. You should have googled a bit more first when browsing for a religion.

@MavisMcMinty I did know about it before I signed up, I just thought I could handle it.

Quakerism is well boring to me- my mum got into it in later life.

Some of the Catholic buildings are really beautiful and also some of the prayers etc are gorgeous.

I think you will be ok OP, I don’t think anyone is going to be peeking in your bedroom window at night to check

@Somewhereovertherainbowweighapie God doesn't have to, he's right there in the room with me. Poor sod.

@Rudderneck I know all that you say is right when it comes to Church teaching, my issue is just that it's difficult to stick to and asks a lot of us.

@Simonjt Of course she meant that some type 2 diabetes is developed partly due to people's lifestyle.

OP, can you please tell me how you managed to suddenly stop being attracted to women? Because I tried everything when I was younger and nothing worked.

How odd of you to convert to a religion that makes you unhappy!

You can't necessarily know what's something's like to be in, until you're fully in.

And the passages about homosexuality? Up until the King James revision it said "pederasty""

@OrderOfTheKookaburra No that's a myth. In the Greek it mentions as banned homosexual sex, either taking the active or the passive role. The bible does mention female homosexual sex as not ok, unfortunately.

Romans 1:26

'For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another'

I am not happy about it but that's what it says.

The Catholic Church sets up ideals that people should aim for but also recognizes that we are human and will fall short.

That is true, the problem was that I was unrepentant earlier this week. It's in our nature to fall short but we're supposed to repent of it and try not to. But I'll have another go.

I appreciate that some people who have more of an interest in Catholicism have commented.

Not OP but this was my method (spoiler it didn't work)

I prayed it away---- usually avoided the female in question bc of temptation and then when it was over- ta da - miraculously cured

Until the next time

OP, can you please tell me how you managed to suddenly stop being attracted to women?

@Anthillveggie I haven't of course, but I no longer see it as my identity and don't often deliberately indulge it. For instance, if someone happens to be in front of me and has their figure on display and it is attractive, I might notice it but then I try not to dwell on that thought and will deliberately not look at whatever features are prompting that reaction. That stops it being a mortal sin, as you can't 100% help that initial response, though I will repent of it.

We have a fallen nature and so can have particular sins each of us find difficult to avoid. Homosexuality isn't any worse than people who are prone to gluttony, adultery, lust, anger etc, any other sin.

Some people find security and community in the KKK or neo-nazi groups, should we tolerate them and their views? Or will you come back and say of course not, we don't tolerate hate, while defending organisations that teach being homosexual is a mortal sin?

Religion is about control, that's all it has ever been about, and that's all it ever will be about. That's exactly why the interpretation of religion changes from culture to culture, country to country and even place to place.

As for who am I to judge? No one really, but the religious cast judgement on me and I feel entitled to judge back.

It's clear to anyone who thinks about it for more than a second that if someone genuinely, 100%, believed there was an all-knowing, all-powerful being who would judge the fate of their eternal sole based on how they acted in this life in against a set of contradictory and arbitrary rules, they'd be absolutely paralysed with fear. The fact that most religious people are not suggests they're not completely sold on the idea.

You became Catholic due to the architecture and nice prayers.

What did you priest say to you in your pre-baptism classes ?

Fascinating thread.

Love the euphemism “ringing Satans doorbell” ….. I believe that a self administered orgasm - or any come to that has measurable physiological benefits….

I tend to lean towards the Gnostic concept of the Demiurge, and the idea that if the entity revered by so many faiths exists it’s a bit of a sadistic nutter. Who creates a species, gives them consciousness and free will, access to pleasurable feelings via their own bodies and then says “Don’t do it. I’ll be cross and condemn you to eternal damnation” . (Obviously I’m talking about consenting adults etc, before anyone thinks I’m in any way advocating anything repulsive).

Likewise the concept of “testing” - I mean, why would some entity create you and continuously test your faith… because they love you?

It’s all a bit bonkers….. the active pitting of people against each other, prompting persecution, genocide and all manner of ills ….. you end up in a circular argument every which way…. Why doesn’t “Our Father” step in like the benign parent he allegedly is and keep offering guidance? Oh yes, free will again…..

As PPs have mentioned religion is a tool of control created by men to keep people in order through fear of an unprovable phenomenon.

Power, money, sadism…. all sought out by the leaders of religions worldwide for utterly secular reasons.

Anyway, according to the US Congress, it might be aliens….

What a time to be alive.

Oh and I think Stephen Fry nailed it a few years ago.

”Don’t harm children” said Jesus (allegedly) because apparently that’s his Dad’s job, via poverty, disease, famine and abuse via religious leaders…. Makes absolutely zero sense….

I really would encourage you to study for yourself what the bible ‘says’ about same sex attraction and homosexuality and look at both sides, also look at the history of when these parts were written and debate about who wrote them. It really really isn’t all that clear cut. Having once thought the bible was the inspired pure word of God having now actually looked at the facts of it I no longer think that’s the case. And that then calls into question the conservative stance on homosexuality.

In the case of men they are wasting the seed. But given that millions are wasted every time a man has sex anyway…….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk&pp=ygUiZXZlcnkgc3Blcm0gaXMgc2FjcmVkIG1vbnR5IHB5dGhvbg%3D%3D

One of the things that amazes me is that we are criticised for being raised in something that has certain ideas, yet the moment we say ‘I don’t believe that’ we are criticised for not sticking to the often ignorant view the person has of the Church.

I’m kicking myself for giving you the time of day - you’re responses are idiotic.

I came on this thread as the OP sounded vulnerable and instead the first few posts slammed her for choosing the RC Church instead of hearing the underlying voice.

OP, you can’t become something you are not. Changing religions won’t give you inner peace with who you are but, if you are drawn to a faith because you feel you would like to be like the people in it, please know that those who merge their faith with their sense of self do so through critical thinking - you are you first. If you believe in Jesus and the Trinity then it was about showing people that they were born flawed - that is our default position if you like - both good and evil, selfishness and selflessness. Through faith, we might tip the balance in one direction but it doesn’t change the underlying premise that you are loved for who you are in existence - simply just as a body of life. The rest is peripheral and I think if you start from that core position, you can’t go too wrong xx

take care of yourself. Find one small thing about yourself to love and build from there. It’s a lot easier to deal with the difficult stuff when emotionally, you are on an even keel and strangely enough, half of the difficult questions go away anyway. You don’t have to play catch up with others xxx

Funny how you complain about being criticized for your beliefs but are happy to dismiss other people's views as "idiotic".

But nothing you said had any substance - can you say the same about my posts?

@CurlewKate that would be very outing! He won't refuse communion to anyone who puts their hands out to receive it. He's not going to question anyone during mass. And since he doesn't know most people's personal circumstances. He's not going to ask. He's s very kind and pastoral man.

@Toddlerteaplease well, him being an archbishop is pretty outing-there aren't many of them. And I meant how does he feel about not being able to take communion himself.

@CurlewKate what do you mean?

You think OP sounds vulnerable because she's complaining that she can't wank under her new self-imposed rules?

You became Catholic due to the architecture and nice prayers. What did you priest say to you in your pre-baptism classes ?

@ExtraOnions All sorts of things of course. OK I had random reasons for getting involved at first, but then I had 9 months of instruction once a week or something.

Power, money, sadism…. all sought out by the leaders of religions worldwide for utterly secular reasons.

@MistressoftheDarkSide I enjoyed your post. I don't think we can say all higher-ups in religions have worldly motives of course. Some/most might believe their schtick.

OP, you can’t become something you are not.

I get what you're saying but one way or another, every religion or self-development path thinks we can change/improve. Even those that just believe in self-actualisation/acceptance.

He won't refuse communion to anyone who puts their hands out to receive it. He's not going to question anyone during mass

Obviously a mate of Francis. People can come back in/join whenever they want if they go through the process, but they do have to sign up to the beliefs and try to practise Catholicism for it to mean something. It actually damns people to Hell if they take Communion when they're not in communion with the church, so Priests doing that aren't doing people any favours.

Priests should join the Unitarian Universalists or something if that's what they believe. It's not the Catholic Church.

I meant how does he feel about not being able to take communion himself.

what do you mean?

Well if he's giving people Communion when he knows they're not in communion with the Church then that's a sin and he's not in communion with the Church, so he shouldn't take Communion.

No one is quite the expert like the recent convert.

I watch a lot of traditionalists on YouTube.

Yes, I can see you're falling deep down that particular rabbit hole. Converted a few months ago for a man and now your lecturing people on the right way to do Catholicism because of what some right wing homophobic culture war guys day on YouTube.