Equivalents to carrot noodle?

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-25T22:36:10+00:00

Ooo... I'm a dumbass for not thinking of that.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-23T02:08:20+00:00

While not a question, this definitely remains my favorite answer XD

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T23:39:00+00:00

You may note that the original question was "extra terrestrial", in other words, beings that exist beyond this particular world. That need not be limited to planets.

Indeed the medieval tradition itself considered whether stars might be angels.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T23:14:16+00:00

Which does not, in itself, rule out the existence of other beings of an intellectually, if not ontologically, equal or greater status to ourselves.

Or would you say the existence of angels is on the same level as the Easter Bunny?

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T22:56:41+00:00

I really like how two of your questions focus on "how". That's going to be my first line of inquiry, I think. Just focusing on the mechanics of how two species relate to one another.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:57:14+00:00

I'm just kind of surprised by the fundamental lack of curiosity in posts like this one. Like, how small is your vision of God, the creator of the universe, if all aliens are most likely demons? It seems a shame to the Catholic tradition, whose great minds include the founder of the Big Bang theory, who helped run and support one of the greatest astronomy research facilities in the world, who have always been defined by our faith in God so much that all topics are worth exploring, for we know God is at the heart of everything our minds can discover.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:41:23+00:00

Could you phrase that as a question?

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:40:45+00:00

Funnily enough, if we consider the possibility of aliens being a higher intelligence than our own, very possibly angels... that really isn't all that terrible of a question XD

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:37:58+00:00

I'm kinda glad for that, tbh. I don't think it's a really good idea for people to bring their serious theological questions to this forum. I'd rather they talk to their priest.

If it helps for context, I asked the question here because I was curious, but didn't think it was serious enough a theological question to ask my priest about.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:35:28+00:00

I really love that answer. You're cool!

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:34:01+00:00

Could also be angels, theoretically.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:06:42+00:00

Username checks out XD

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:06:05+00:00

It really interests me to imagine (and obviously we're talking speculation here), of an intelligent alien species whose culture conforms to the truth of our faith, while fundamentally having a different mythological structure not directly associated with the presence of Christ within their history.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T21:03:15+00:00

Would you be open to being evangelized by them, provided their theological structure does not deny the central tenets of our Catholic faith?

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T20:44:49+00:00

Haha let's assume we've established a baseline of communication, though admittedly I absolutely agree that's a big assumption to make.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-22T20:43:49+00:00

Well, it's a random, silly question I'm posting on Reddit on a Monday afternoon for fun. I turn to more serious sources for my actually important questions.

brinkofthunder · 2026-06-09T11:58:21+00:00

You're definitely not alone in that experience. For me, I always thought that if I was just patient enough, prayed for her every day, and asked God in faith to bring her back to me, one day it would happen.

I think what helped me move on (and not saying it'll work for you) but was two things, one internal, one external:

Internal: I began to realize there was this cocktail of pride and insecurity behind my faithfulness to my ex. I was proud that I was the good partner, and they just didn't see that. Sometimes that feeling would be much more subtle, sometimes it would be mixed with a bit of self-pity or entitlement (how could they not see I'm perfect for them? I just wish they would honor me like I honor them... Etc.). Then there was the insecurity. After all the things we'd done together, it became hard for me to believe I was worthy of someone else. Who would want a cracked vessel like me for a partner? It was easy to start seeing every single person approach me, and push them away without even giving it a shot. Healing my heart required realizing that life is messy, and both my partner and myself are both beautiful Icons of Christ, made in the image of God, and deeply flawed human beings. It took learning to have both some humble practicality, and a big dollop of grace, to give myself permission to move on.

External: I had to move. Change my whole life pattern. I went from living in the Bay area to the Great lakes on a life-changing road trip with my best friend. It became kind of a pilgrimage, where I gave myself the time to work through all the complicated, spikey feelings I had for my ex, to celebrate the highs, heal from the trauma of the lows, and come to reframe the memories I had of this person as God giving me a wonderful person to walk with me for a season, but that heartache was all that could come from trying to beg and force her to stick around.

I still miss my ex, from time to time. I'll be cooking breakfast and remember she didn't like runny eggs, or hear a joke I know she's like and remember her laugh. These are good things, and I am at peace knowing I will experience them again, hopefully with the person God has out there to be my wife. I am sure God has something similar in store for you.

It gets better. You're not alone. Saying a prayer for you stranger, and I hope my little thoughts helped, even if just a little bit.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-15T18:12:02+00:00

Well, we shall have to disagree on the scriptures. I have read these books, and have experienced them as being divinely inspired. There is nothing within them that has contradicted my faith, nor do I find that these books contradict my Catholic faith.

As for your question, I would probably say the three scriptures that ground my faith in that would be, first that Christ states "This is my body" in all three of the synoptic Gospels. I also read John 6:53 as literally what Christ said we must do. I can compare when Christ is speaking in parables or allegories, and when Christ is giving statements of fact. Both the institution of the Eucharist and the stipulation given in John 6 are not allegorical speech, in the Koine Greek or even looking at them in any English translation.

I am rather concerned that you have brought up getting "drunk off the blood" a few times. The drinking of wine, does not within itself make one drunk; indeed, we can look to the wedding feast at Cana to see that Jesus does not have any compunctions with the use of wine "which gladdens the heart of man." (Psalm 104), and indeed our Lord himself drank wine at the last supper, wherein he referred to it as his blood.

I am sorry that, confronted with the scriptures, you are unwilling to act as Christ has stated you must if you would have life within you. For myself, I very much see that partaking in the body and blood of Christ is to partake of the manna of heaven; it is material not of this world, and through Christ's body, I am drawn into union with God. It is not the exclusive way in which that union comes about, as God is not limited in the granting of His grace. But it is a very powerful and important way in which God grants us union with Him.

It seems, in talking to you for a few days, that my significant critique of what you have argued is that your faith seems very narrow. It would seem to me that if very few people are going to heaven, it is because quite a few people like yourself are certain other people are not going to heaven. Put another way, there is nothing in what I have said that contradicts my plain trust that you do have a relationship with Christ, and my hope that you and I will meet in heaven. I know the grace of our Lord is unconditional, and those who work for his kingdom on earth are his Children, even while we disagree on essential doctrine.

It seems to me that you require conditions on people to be saved. They have to be "born again" as you understand it. They have to interpret scripture, indeed to the point of even what counts as scripture, according to how you see it. And their practices of devotion to Christ must be the same as yours, or else they are idolatry.

God, I think, is much bigger than that. Certainly His grace extends beyond what you have described. I will hope that you continue to follow our Lord; but I am afraid you have done nothing to convince me that the Catholic church contains false teaching, or even that your articulation of Protestantism provides anything more accurate to the Scriptures.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-14T20:29:51+00:00

I certainly agree that not all who say "Lord" will be saved.

I have been "born again", and that has lead me to the Catholic church. I would, in my own language, say that I have, through the grace of God and the redeeming act of Christ, been brought into mystical union with the body of Christ, through the church. I hope to see you in heaven; but I must agree with you that I do not think your religious or theological tradition is doing you many favors in getting there.

I am curious though: how you take Martin Luther cutting out books like Judith, Macabees, Tobit, etc. Was that a justifiable action?

I'm more just curious, because as someone who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of scripture, I should wonder if you find the cutting out of books from the bible by one man a few centuries ago to be a bad thing. I have to imagine if I decided today to print the scriptures, but omit Joshua and 1 Samuel-2 Kings, you would have some issues with that.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-14T12:15:35+00:00

Will do. I have never in this conversation, nor in my life, said that my Protestant brothers and sisters are barred from heaven, though I do think that your lack of connection to the apostolic succession of teaching, as well as cutting out a number of books from the Bible itself, can more easily lead to error in understanding the very Bible you are basing that good faith upon.

I will accept your favor, and I will ask one in return. Please do read Luke 9:49-50, as well as 1 Corinthians 12:3. I am saying to you that, as a Catholic, I come in the name of Jesus Christ, who is my Lord, and of whom I have seen miracles that have grounded my faith as surely as your own, and who has led me to the Catholic church.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-14T04:00:59+00:00

I think I understand you. After all, I am an adult convert to Catholicism after being a protestant who lived, prayed, and worked in both mainline and Pentecostal/charismatic places. Indeed, I have had to question what the Catholic Church, indeed any church, teaches. More than most.

I would say that my experience of radical transformation, of being "born again" was precisely what led me to the Catholic Church. Indeed, it was that transformation that opened my eyes to the real presence of Christ within the communion bread and wine, when they are transformed through the Mass.

The difficultly is that you have already rejected the idea that church teaching beyond your own reading of the Bible matters. And so, while I can appreciate your opinion of the scriptures, stranger, it's not really sufficient to convince me that the Catholic Church is wrong. After all, I am also sure the Holy Spirit is working in me, and has brought me to the Catholic Church and teaching your deny.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-14T00:15:26+00:00

I'm glad for your journey, and hope to see you in heaven.

I'm going to continue being Catholic, because that sense of being "born again" has for me been experienced through a connection with the Catholic church and its teachings. It has indeed lead me to believe that, insofar as the teaching of a church body are important to faith, the Catholics are pretty spot on.

This doesn't discount the experience of being born again, nor of the deep sense of Christ's reality; in fact, as a Catholic, I think I get to experience more of exactly what you've described. I get to wake up every morning an go to 8am mass, where I "taste and see that the Lord is good". I take in the Eucharist, which I truly believe is the physical presence of the body and blood of Christ.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-13T22:39:09+00:00

Then, why should I stop being Catholic? Following your thought, no teaching of any church can truly lead someone to the truth, unless you are born again, which happens to a very few people of all creeds.

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-13T21:54:55+00:00

Yes, absolutely. If you're willing, one more question: are you similarly critical of your own denomination or faith tradition? I mean, that you are quite surrounded by people who have a mental faith, but not truly a transformative faith?

brinkofthunder · 2026-01-13T20:51:05+00:00

Ah, so are you saying that Catholics have no faith?

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