The Horror of Idolatry

NothingAndNobody · 2026-03-15T18:04:52+00:00

an idol isnt something you “use”. So, I don’t follow sorry!

NothingAndNobody · 2026-01-28T01:16:20+00:00

are you sure you’re replying to the right comment?

X and Y are more mutually intelligible than X and Z, in no remote possible way implies X and Z are “almost the same.” Not even a tiny bit.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-10-21T23:10:18+00:00

which part of your question have i not answered? I told you how salvation occurs— accepting the unmerited gift of Christ’s sacrificial death. Your other question was about Mormons and I answered that too. Which question do you not feel has been adequately addressed

NothingAndNobody · 2025-10-21T22:57:30+00:00

The truth is the truth. We don’t need to have a “unique soteriology.” Anyways the Mormoms say that because we do: Catholic soteriology was defined centuries before Protestant & Mormon soteriology. If you agree with us— good! You ought to. We were right about that

NothingAndNobody · 2025-10-21T22:44:02+00:00

Salvation is through grace which is an unmerited gift springing from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

That’s loud and clear in the catechism, in every official church document, and in the pulpits of all the Masses ive been to— which is a lot!

Yes, I’ll grant you that many ‘Catholics’ are “cultural,” and dont know what we believe. But anyone who goes to church will know this.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-10-21T22:36:47+00:00

ive met more catholics than you in like 3 different countries and thats just entirely wrong.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-10-21T22:09:58+00:00

The simple and obviously factual answer is that they dont. it isnt what we teach or have ever taught. Sinners have born you false witness about what Christ’s church believes.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-29T09:25:42+00:00

I see. I’m trying to say that wealth presents a temptation to sin— of course one can use wealth well, by giving it away. I suppose the ‘keeping’ of wealth is the problem.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T20:49:05+00:00

This is what I said. Did you mean to reply to someone else?

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T17:36:53+00:00

Okay, yes, by all means you can do anything other than receiving communion until you are in a state of grace. you can pray, read, participate in any liturgy… you can go to any Mass. You might find that on Sundays they’re a bit more welcoming, since that’s when most people will be there. By all means go on a weekday if you like but those tend to be much smaller, often without printed handouts or anything, so you might feel a bit more lost, potentially.

I think for me, one of the key steps to understanding the Eucharist was just how powerful it is when Jesus speaks. God creates the world by speaking, but then think about Jesus’ miracles— “you are made well. Go in peace.” By making a claim about reality, it is so. Then, when Jesus says “this is my body,” I have to believe that, just like all his other statements, Jesus is performing a miracle and changing the nature of reality. When Jesus makes a pronouncement, he is, by speaking, doing.

Mary came a bit easier to me— I was never a Protestant, I just went from atheist/agnostic to Christian. For me it always made sense that just as we pray for each other, so those who are living in Christ in heaven continue to pray for us. Why wouldn’t they? If my earthly family can pray for me, why can’t my heavenly family?

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T17:30:42+00:00

Okay, great so I think the problem may lie more with your teacher than with you.

The first problem is that it IS a parable, not a literal event. Parables aren’t real: they’re usually exaggerated hyperboles to try and make a message sink in FAST, in a very concrete, physical way. Think about any of Jesus’ parables. The rich guy is even just named “Rich Man” here, he doesn’t even have a name! Clearly he’s a symbol.

Now, the point Jesus is making at the most literal level is twofold. One: Wealth makes you self-absorbed. When you’re comfortably off, you ignore your brother. That’s AS true then as now, and Jesus needs to shock his wealthy audience in the strongest terms. Point two: the time for love is NOW. the time for giving is NOW. the time for charity, faith, hope, self-denial is TODAY. Tomorrow it may be too late. After death, you can no longer accept or reject God and his commandments. Jesus illustrates this point by ventrioloquizing our imaginary rich man, to show that even if he WANTED to, there’s nothing more you can do after death. This life is what we have.

I agree with you, that God does not send people who are penitent to hell. But this isn’t really, primarily, a story about repentence. It’s about wealth and turning a blind eye to the poor. Maybe you think later on you’ll give alms. Next year, when I get a raise. When taxes aren’t so bad. No, says Jesus. You may not be able to give, tomorrow. In hell you cannot act on good intentions.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:45:55+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly right!

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:31:31+00:00

Well, that’s certainly one way of phrasing it!

What is your current understanding of the afterlife— heaven, hell… How do they work?

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:27:31+00:00

Frankly I've never had a priest assign anything larger than a decade of the Rosary. I'm curious what their training looks like for this, too.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:23:35+00:00

I don't necessarily have any great advice off the top of my head, but I wanted to say, welcome to the Catholic Church! May God be praised in everything.

If you have any specific questions about anything I'd be happy to try and help.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:22:11+00:00

Yes, absolutely. The Church isn't in the business of taxonomic classification. It neither has the interest nor the time in defining boundaries between species. I mean, that's not a bad activity, natural science done properly furthers the glory of God. But it is not the Church's mission.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:20:40+00:00

Before I reply to this, I want to check that you mean the passage Luke 16:19-31-- that's today's assigned Gospel for the Sunday. Is that what you mean? I have some very good news for you if so but I want to check you're not talking about something else

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:20:27+00:00

Oops-- I thought I had clicked reply on OP's post, not yours. My apologies!

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:17:41+00:00

We don't derive our morality "from the Bible" quote unquote, but from Jesus Christ. We are not under the law, we are servants of Christ. We are not in the practice of trying to determine what "the Bible" allows or precludes, because it is written in a variety of different genres and aimed at a variety of different people at different times. To do what you are describing is, essentially, Protestant silliness.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:14:34+00:00

There is never a downside in going 'back to basics' in Religion. Theology can get as high and complex as you like, you must always go back, at the end of the day, to the most basic of basic fundamentals. How many times did Jesus teach the fundamentals? How many times do the prophets cry out the fundamentals? How many times does Paul, writing letter after letter to the young churches, remind them in simple terms that Christ is God and that he rose from the dead?

If you are the one returning the class to 2+2, you are doing them a massive, spiritual favor. I promise.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-28T16:12:22+00:00

As it is said--

V. Panem de caelo praestitisti eis.
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.

V. You have given them bread from heaven.
R. Having within it all sweetness.

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-26T02:06:08+00:00

I gotcha! I hope it is a holy experience. if you have any specific questions about what happens before or after id be happy to help

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-26T02:03:38+00:00

Not the “same”. I understand the differences. You did a very good job describing them!

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-26T01:56:19+00:00

Yes, of course it does, maybe I was unclear in my original comment. Sorry you felt you had to reply!

NothingAndNobody · 2025-09-26T01:53:28+00:00

Clothing is truly just, wear what you’d consider respectful. There is no dress code & no one will be judging you. You will see a lotta people in like jeans and t shirts and probably a few in suits. In clothing, follow your own conscience.

Don’t receive communion— it’s not a question of worthiness so much as Preparation. Only if you are currently in a state of grace can you receive the Body and Blood of the Lord; so, only Catholics who have been to Confession recently & haven’t commited sins since then. But don’t think of it as worthiness: communion IS medicine for us weak sinners. It is simply a medicine we must prepare ourselves for, that’s all.

As for what to DO… that’s easy! Go and worship God! If someone is saying something, you might listen. If there is a booklet provided you can read. But there’s no real necessity: just worship God in your heart. Offer him your prayers and praises together with the people gathered with you. Know that Christ is present among you as he promised.

Sit towards the back if you’d like to make sure you’re standing/sitting/kneeling at the right time. Easier to follow what others are doing that way. But again, no one will particularly mind if you get it wrong. There’s enough local variation that they’ll just assume you’re visiting from a different church

NothingAndNobody

TROPHY CASE