I'm just worried that people here are mistaking the loudest voices for the majority. And I'm not just limiting this idea to this particular topic. This applies to just about anything in this forum.
Now, most of you know I'm a devout Catholic. With that in mind:
1. If you read the gospels, you'll note that Jesus was not slamming people for ignoring Jewish Laws, but for other things, like ignoring the sick and poor. I've taken that to mean Jesus (and God) cares less about the cultural and traditional aspects of worship, and cares more about how you treat you fellow man.
If I go to hell, it's not going to be because I ate a burger on a Friday in Lent. It will be because of snide remarks I said about a previous coworker, or because I didn't do anything while this poor kid was being teased on the bus back in high school.
2. So, why join an organized religion in the first place? Why follow Tradition? I didn't have to become Catholic. I'm lucky to have the sort of family that encourages me in everything I do, but they see no reason in actually directing me. They don't care what I do, so long as I'm happy doing it. (I've often predicted that if I decided to become a lesbian, my warren of a family wouldn't care, so long as she didn't smoke.)
I think many people decide on a religion because it gives them a code, a moral compass, or a guide. I like the disciple in my religion. It's fucking tough to be a Catholic in this world. You know what it's like to piss off a hot guy because you wont give him a blow job, because part of you knows you made a promise to yourself? And this other part of me says No one else has an stupid code of honor like you, why act in such a silly way? Realism and Romanticism isn't just for literature. It happens all the time.
It's not easy. But if it wasn't hard, I don't know if I felt I was accomplishing anything.
3. Knights had chivary. Samurai have bushido. Now, in both cases, we've heard about knights and samurai that didn't follow any code. It makes for good drama, anyways. But does that make the knights and samurai that follow their code any less noble?
I'm trying to use a Western and non-Western concept to explain a point. Organized religion sets a standard. And everyone falls below the standard at some piont. We're human. Being human didn't begin when God created Adam, it began when Eve bit the apple.
I get pissed when abortion clinics get bombed or a priest scandel errupts, just like everyone else. But I tend to think it's the person that created the problem, not the organization. Being raised in a Republican states by a Catholic family can produce either a terrorist or a saint. Can anyone, religious or not, point a finger at the organization and say 'how dare you produce a terrorist' when that same organization produced a saint.
4. Klinton likes men a little too much. I like booze a little too much. Is either sin worse than the other? I don't know.
I've got all sorts of sins hidden in my little body. I'm in no position to tell anyone here where they're going or for what reason.
One thing that I've wondered ever since I understood the concept of hell is what happened to Judas. He committed the ultimate crime. Did he understand the consequences of his actions? Was he in it for the money, or was he just a confused man who didn't know if he was following a hero or a hoax? And is there a chance that Jesus forgave him? If Judas isn't in hell, then we all have a good shot.
5. The only people really going to hell are the lawyers. *swing!*
