tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post5592409245081112926..comments2024-03-12T19:57:41.861+00:00Comments on THINKING CATHOLICISM: WHAT I BELIEVEThinking Catholicismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-58566747498037800862015-03-06T17:44:58.873+00:002015-03-06T17:44:58.873+00:00Natural? Thank God for that! For my mum is a woman...Natural? Thank God for that! For my mum is a woman of her word.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-83485650956880695782015-03-06T15:03:46.125+00:002015-03-06T15:03:46.125+00:00I understand what you say.
The amazing things abo...I understand what you say.<br /><br />The amazing things about "supernatural experiences" is that when they are happening they seem so NATURAL.<br /><br />Its only afterwards that it hits you - in a good way.<br /><br />Pat Thinking Catholicismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-6105767447978472902015-03-06T14:22:05.200+00:002015-03-06T14:22:05.200+00:00Pat, those supernatural experiences you recounted ...Pat, those supernatural experiences you recounted must have brought you trememdous comfort.<br /><br />My mum, who's still alive, once told me that when she passes over, she'll try to reassure me in the ways you experienced. I told her that if she managed this, not to <br />do it in the middle of the night in my darkened bedroom - otherwise she'd find me immediately on the Other Side through heart failure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-49043700445641442502015-03-06T13:30:24.371+00:002015-03-06T13:30:24.371+00:00Yes, MMM, the psychiatric/neurological disorder kn...Yes, MMM, the psychiatric/neurological disorder known as hallucination can account for SOME of the phenomena you mention, but not the entire spectrum of such experience. To think that it can is to present a mind <br />that is not truly open and not truly scientifically rational.<br /><br />Many people with such experiences have been medically tested and found <br />NOT to be suffering with such disorder. If there is no medical explanation <br />for them, then what are we left with?<br /><br />By the way, the companions of Saul of Tarsus may not have experienced <br />Saul's vision on the road to Damascus, but, according to Acts of the <br />Apostles, they DID hear what Saul heard. <br /><br /><br />I suppose dogmatic scientists like Professor Richard Dawkins, in <br />desperation to vindicate their atheism, would argue that this experience was just an instance of collective hallucination, without offering (or being <br />able to offer) any sensible scientific evidence.<br /><br /> Doubtless Professor Dawkins will spend Eternity trying to convince God <br />that he doesn't exist. But then, I'm told God has a sense of humour. He would need to have - he created all of us!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-19213264476445230542015-02-21T20:43:28.707+00:002015-02-21T20:43:28.707+00:00Fair commentFair commentFly on Th Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520198020314816276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-88799046946408429252015-02-21T20:42:11.325+00:002015-02-21T20:42:11.325+00:00Rev Donaghy was not dismissed. One is a priest for...Rev Donaghy was not dismissed. One is a priest for ever. In R C terms he had his operating lisense revoked. SeanFly on Th Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520198020314816276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-76172062573704092692015-02-21T20:37:30.843+00:002015-02-21T20:37:30.843+00:00Makes me think-this lot! Have you wondered why hum...Makes me think-this lot! Have you wondered why humanity in prehistoric times was drawn towards Animism & later more complicated forms of "God Seeking" I believe in the hierarchy of creation and that working with and treating animals with respect helps us to see how we are "god" to the animal & natural world. Understanding the hierarchy of creation through reflective knowledge can make us more aware of Gods working in our lives SeanFly on Th Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520198020314816276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-62828352249152695302015-02-21T20:26:14.920+00:002015-02-21T20:26:14.920+00:00I believe God is an Extra Terrestrial but much muc...I believe God is an Extra Terrestrial but much much more. I believe calling God Father (or mother) helps us communicate but God is not a sexual reproducing entity as we understand the concept. That being said Jesus is/was truly human and is part of the Trinity. I believe those who spout one true church are consumed by their own inadequcies. I believe concentrating on the scientific aspects of transubstantiation misses the point. Eucharist is what it is-The mystery of the Risen Jesus among us. I believe that the little voice that told me not to insist jenny (pregnant stepdaughter) put her seatbelt on when our car was written off was the voice of God. If she had the belt on her unborn twins could have been lost or seriously injured. She was unhurt and they were un effected and are well and happy. SeanFly on Th Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520198020314816276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-50510943454560588632015-02-21T20:07:12.226+00:002015-02-21T20:07:12.226+00:00Such occurrances as the visiting presences you des...Such occurrances as the visiting presences you describe Pat are said to be common. But difficulties arise when explanations and interpretations of them are made from within a limited framework of understanding. And human knowledge and understanding is continually developing and in the broad brushstroke of history, is relatively primitive and as yet very basic.<br />Concerning senses, dogs for example often show an awareness of what humans don't perceive. Birds have been known to fly en masse a considerable distance to avoid some impending natural disaster of which humans are unaware until the event takes place. There is a hierarchy and multitude of animal senses from which the human species possesses but a limited number, yet commonly and arrogantly assume a completeness and totality to our perceptions.<br />The wonderful mechanisms of human ears developed from ancestral fish lateral line receptors. Dolphins astonish humans with an intelligence which interprets information through skin receptors completely different yet functioning similar to some human senses like ears.<br />And on it goes, and will continue: the whole wonderful continuing complexity of adaptation and evolvement of our senses and knowledge through countless aeons.<br /><br />So here we find ourselves as humans arrogantly assuming that we are the ultimate end product, the finished article, the ultimate perfection enlightened with a belief and 'knowledge' of a creator we symbiotically revere and acquiesce to his/her wish for our recognition of his/her position at the apex of creation.<br />At this stage, words fail me!<br />MourneManMichael.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-55865232583481891392015-02-21T17:49:10.208+00:002015-02-21T17:49:10.208+00:00I would like to disassociate myself from the comme...I would like to disassociate myself from the comments of the above at 11.41 am - the so called: "Faithful and True Priest - Down and Connor".<br /><br />In the 21st century I am shocked and sad that a priest colleague of mine would be calling anyone a heretic and threatening them with hell.<br /><br />Priest D&CAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-50380290384611468182015-02-21T11:50:56.011+00:002015-02-21T11:50:56.011+00:00Father, I'm afraid that all that steam in the ...Father, I'm afraid that all that steam in the Gay Sauna has affected your grey matter. You need to give up that steam for Lent. Hopefully by Easter Sunday the mist will have lifted. <br /><br />By the way did you hear that our es-steamed colleague, The Very Reverend James Donaghy PP, VF, Bangor was dismissed from the priesthood this week by Pope Francis. <br /><br />He was a Faithful and True priest of OUR ONE TRUE CHURCH too.<br /><br />PP D&CAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-41373067115616093672015-02-21T11:41:58.200+00:002015-02-21T11:41:58.200+00:00Buckley you are a heretic. The Catholic Church is ...Buckley you are a heretic. The Catholic Church is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ. You will burn in hell for your heresy!<br /><br />Faithful and True Priest - Down and Connor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-20140324849123923882015-02-21T11:37:32.706+00:002015-02-21T11:37:32.706+00:00What an intelligent and rational comment.What an intelligent and rational comment.Thinking Catholicismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-11932501000703381972015-02-20T21:18:28.896+00:002015-02-20T21:18:28.896+00:00Dear MMM,
Thank you for your rational, challengin...Dear MMM,<br /><br />Thank you for your rational, challenging and logically focused comment.<br /><br />I agree with you that ALL of us are prone to hallucinations and I am no exception.<br /><br />But what about when you are part of a small group and have the same experience? I say this being well aware of power of mass hysteria.<br /><br />Can I give you two examples?<br /><br />My mother Jo died on 3.8.2006.<br /><br />On 3.8.2007 I was having dinner here at home with 4 friends - none of whom had met my Mum.<br /><br />At 10.40 and 11.20 pm all 5 of us sawJo at my front door - actually activating all the security lights outside. My friends just reacted very calmly at 10.40 by saing: "Pat - I think there is a woman at the door looking for you". <br /><br />On another occasion my sister, a friend and I were having a cup of tea one afternoon in my kitchen. I felt the presence of a figure standing beside me and my sister and friend saw the figure. The room was filled with an exceptional sense of peace for 20 minutes.<br /><br />These things have only happened to me on a small number of occasions in my 62 years. <br /><br />There were and are as REAL to me as being physically in the presence of a human being - and others witnessed?<br /><br />I am sure various people can offer explanations.<br /><br />I cannot deny this reality.<br /><br />Pat.Thinking Catholicismhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16589713565062075036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-38973497868307449532015-02-20T20:46:49.588+00:002015-02-20T20:46:49.588+00:00Pat, you say you believe in god because you have e...Pat, you say you believe in god because you have experienced god in your mind, heart and spirit. It may be very real to you, but I'm obliged to wonder how objectively real was this experience and what evidence is there to support it?<br /><br />I ask this not to ridicule or negate, but to provide some points for reflection.<br /><br />Neurologist Dr Oliver Sacks has described patients' experiences and how they have thereby been affected. In his recent book, "Hallucinations" (Picador 2012), he defines hallucinations as seeing hearing or feeling things which are not actually present. This phenomena is often linked to certain deficits in other senses, eg auditory, visual or smell systems. Physical deficits too, such as amputees experiencing 'very real sensations' in absent limbs provide potent examples of the power of hallucinations to convince their subject of a reality not actually/objectively present.<br />Brain imagining studies, with and without hallucinating drugs are now beginning to understand both how common are hallucinations, both major and minor, and how powerfully real they are to their subject. <br /><br />Where hallucinations are of a religious nature, they often become such powerful convictions as to lead to life changing attitudes and behaviour. But how 'real' are they outside the brain of the subject?<br />For some, undoubtedly, the change can be dramatic. But I return to the question of objectivity. To take one well known dramatic "conversion", biblical scholars have argued about what actually happened to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. Whatever it was, the various versions of Acts of the Apostles Ch 22 seem to agree that nobody else but Saul actually heard/understood the alleged voice. Was it a real or imagined voice?<br />It was certainly real enough for Saul as Paul, to completely change from persecutor to disciple.<br />MourneManMichael.<br />PS. C'mon folks, don't be shy. Stick your oar in and let's have your pennyworth of thoughts too. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3543129696041324861.post-51770251189902916352015-02-20T20:44:52.776+00:002015-02-20T20:44:52.776+00:00What a load of self serving clap trapWhat a load of self serving clap trapAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com