That's because it is.

The name given to the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar in its twofold aspect of sacrament and Sacrifice of Mass, and in which Jesus Christ is truly present under the bread and wine.

That's why we genuflect if there is a Tabernacle on the Altar where the consecrated hosts are kept. Because it is truly Jesus there. However, most modern Catholic Churches no longer keep a Tabernacle on the Altar. They put in the back room somewhere. Which is why I don't like to go to modern Catholic Churches.

Soli Deo honor et gloria

Yes, and many Christians think that Catholics do not do this because of their veneration of The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints.

That is a shame. It has been on my family crest since 1109.

It's just a misunderstanding that non-Catholics have.

No two people ever experience exactly the same situation. I am told that the point of the Bible is to present all the moral material necessary for people to make their own decisions.

In the scheme of Christianity, that makes sense. If God is testing the ability of individuals to take responsibility for what has been learned, and to apply that knowledge to making decisions in all of life’s situations.

We learn from our mistakes, but how can one learn if one does not accept the responsibility for personal decisions?

Making decisions about what action to take in any given situation requires hard work and many steps must be taken. But if you take these steps regularly, they become second nature.

The first step requires self-reflection to ask “what do I highly value and why, and how does that relate to my situation?”

The second step is necessary because it clarity of perspective, a sort of mental check list (or a written one) that helps determine what behaviors best align with what is valued.

The third step is imagine all the different things that could happen (the outcomes) if you take a certain action.

A. If all the outcomes align with one's values and the person is confident in and satisfied with the outcome then the decisions is made.

B. If the outcomes are not acceptable, if any of the outcomes conflict with any of the personal set of values, then there is a conflict within the system of values the individual holds. (a conflict might be that an outcome may cause harm to someone or something and that may be against one's own set of values) Procede to Step one.

Step one needs to be repeated until the individual has found the values that conflict and one or more values must be adapted until they align.
The process of making the decision then begins again at the second step.

I don’t understand why people should pray for you? What is it you want them to pray for, I mean what do you expect?

Do you think that the number of people asking God to give you an answer is more important to God than if you ask alone?

If the belief is that God has given rules and parables of moral quality, then certainly it must follow that God’s intention was for individuals to use their own thought processes and apply those rules and morals to individual situation in order to make personal judgment regarding one's own behavior.

In other words, thinking for one’s self by evaluating values, gained through experience, and then considering all possible outcomes of a particular course of action. If outcomes are not good, and conflict with one or more of the set of values, then values must be reassessed and conflicts found and adjusted and the thought process begins again.

Of course the easy way out of hard work is to attribute any individual action, regardless of outcome, to God. Even if the outcome is bad, an individual denies their own responsibility by saying that God must have a plan.

Well, what if God’s plan was for people to accept responsibility for behaviors that stem from their own decisions?

If God is responsible for every decision one ever makes, then what purpose would Jesus serve?

The bible points us to a Saviour...

a Saviour for the whole wide world.

Again...

it was never meant to be turned into a religion...

it's about relationship....


not about joining a religion...

but about joining Jesus.

I don’t understand why people should pray for you? What is it you want them to pray for, I mean what do you expect?

Do you think that the number of people asking God to give you an answer is more important to God than if you ask alone?

For me it would be that I pray that they can get a better answer than I can give them. It is my own personal cop out and can be taken as humility, too. I am not superman. I would rather surrender to keep my serenity.

I think the number of people asking God to give 'them' an answer is more important than God giving me an answer. I would say this because the prayers of a righteous man availeth much but then I am not always righteous. I have been self righteous a lot. I believe it is good to give honor where honor is due but then I am not always honorable. Discretion is suppose to be the better part of valor and it can come in handy if you are a coward like I can be at times.

I would pray that people would pray for me that I don't throw a temper tantrum and become asinine which happens a lot. I expect that I would probably screw it up. I mean after all my dad gave me an anvil for my birthday once and told me not to break it. My bull in a china shop mentality has got me into trouble before. My favorite cop out is I will go get the nurse. But the nurses have instructed me to do so so that I don't over extend my own liability. I can remember my dad telling me that I couldn't pour piss out of a boot even with the instructions on the heel.

Here's my 2 cents.

From my Christian perspective, Jesus said that "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." I do not believe this means God is not with you when you are alone, but it was a specific instruction because of the power of a group over an individual.

From my New Agey perspective: Thoughts are things we put out into the Universe that manifest into reality. What powers those thoughts? Our emotions. Our emotions are real energy. I'm sure you've experinced being able to feel someone else's emotions. Some of us can do it really well and some not so much. But, everyone has been able to feel another's emotions to some extent. Anger and love being the two strongest. Emotions are to thoughts like gasoline is to a car.

Creating enough emotion to power our thoughts into reality takes a lot concentration and energy. But, if you have more than one person adding their energy and emotions into that thought...it becomes easier.

I hope that makes sense.

If he really wants to make it work and your religion is extremely important to you then perhaps he will convert to your religion and agree to raise your children in your religion. It might be difficult for his family and your family but if everyone likes each other then it could still work out as long as there is mutual respect. You are right to think that it can be an important consideration.

Its always interested me that ~38,000 denominations can sprout up from disagreements on how to worship or what is important ritual wise, and that the adherents never ask the really important question.

With all that disagreement how does one go about knowing what is right from what is wrong?

Strong truths are supported by a reference that can be tested, can be known objectively.

What does that say about these denominational differences? What does that say about the core beliefs if they can spawn this much disagreement?

The answer always boils down to what one was taught when one was little, or examining some feeling deep inside (hope that wasn't gas!)


So do any of us know what denomination the OP is?
I thought it was pretty funny we know the OP is not Catholic but otherwise have nothing in the way of specific conflicts.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed. I told him that I cannot and will not date a Catholic because it goes against my religious beliefs. He keeps messaging me asking me to try "us" and to give him a chance to win my heart. But my beliefs are more important to me. I have come to the conclusion that in order for me to have a strong relationship with my future husband, I have to have be strong in my beliefs and not let them fall to the wayside because a guy is good looking or has some things in common with me. Again thank you all for your comments and helpful words.

No intellectual analysis of what the difference actually are?

What denomination are you? We know he is catholic.

It doesn't matter. This isn't a thread to debate the differences between Christian denominations. She is trying to decide if she should date someone with different beliefs. If she feels this strongly about those differences then she is making the right decision for her.

Regardless of what her beliefs are, I applaud her maturity level for really thinking this through and making a decision.

Good for you!!!!

And this is why :

Any young man who can't take NO for an answer ,for WHATEVER

the reason,

Sounds like someone who has major CONTROL issues ....and is

therefore,

NOT a good candidate for a choice of mate anyway.

Take Care and Be Blessed Now, Young Lady.

MS, I don't think his trying to talk to her about it and reconsider could be seen as a control issue. At least not this early on in her decision.

I still think she is making the right decision but there's no reason to assume anything negative about the guy.

Ruth34611 and Morning Song: thank you for your words of encouragement and understanding. I greatly appreciated them. Bushidobillyculb: I go to a reformed church. The main difference in our religions is infant vs. believers baptism, Mary as co-redeemer vs. Jesus as the only redeemer and many others. I don't want to get into anything too deep on here because that was not the main reason for my post, it was to ask for the wisdom and counsel of others to guide me in my situation. Thanks again to everyone who offered their thoughts on the matter.

Sometimes doing what we feel is the right thing, may not seem pleasant or fair at the time, but in the long run You will be much happier. It seems like you've made the best decision for yourself as well as him. If you don't feel right about it, I don't see why you should try to force it to work. That usually ends up in heartbreaking failure that is not needed. Anyway, I wish you the best.

When I said Control....I am referring to his

continually pressurring her....after her repeatedly already

having said No.... I see lotsa immaturity on his

part.....but they are both still young too...so I can

understand..but regardless ,no one should ever be

pressured....at any time.



Also, when a very beautiful young lady says NO,

to some guys, this can become QUITE THE CHALLENGE !!!


ALSO...catholics do NOT believe Mary is a co-redeeemer.

Whoever told you that was Incorrect !!!


Catholics believe in tne same basic fundamental truths of

the bible.....as do other maninline denominations...and non-

denominations as well...


and that is really what is MOST importsnt...or else, catholics

would not be considered Christian.

Again....

ALLL denominations AGREE on the BASIC FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS of

the BIBLE....(for instance, ALL believe in the DEITY of Jesus ).

Where denominations DIFFER ,are NOT on the

BASIC FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS ...

they just differ on some MINOR issues ...

How can you say that? It is the EXACT topic of the thread. The differences are EXACTLY what might keeps two people apart. It seems to me this reaction is just a way to stop asking the most important questions becuase to reflect on them opens up questions of why a person believes these things which when examined honesty lead back to uncomfortable truths.

Well and I want everyone to understand I am coming from a perspective of complete ignorance of the actual differences, and my motivation is in trying to understand these differences and what impact if any they have on actual real life decisions.

I think to really to offer any advice without having an understanding of these difference is to not even really engage in what makes the decision important.

Here is my advice:
If you are at any branching path of your life and a decision is being made based on some belief or knowledge, you should always ask yourself what makes you think you are right? What tells you that your beliefs are correct and not some other belief?

If you cannot answer this question rationally then you really need to think long and hard about why you cannot.

If you are scared to ask these questions, chances are the reasons you hold a given belief are not really good, that fear of digging into these questions is really your subconscious saying something you should listen too.