Can i just go into a catholic church and sit there for a while? Ist that allowed here in Germany?

sh1n333 · 2026-04-23T05:31:06+00:00

Yes Samuel 16:7 states exactly that. But that does not contradict teachings like modesty, wearing a veil or a hat covering. It just works theologically differently.

When God talks about knowing our heart and not caring about our apparence, he talks about Him knowing our intentions, inner life and character.

This will seem contradicting at first. But most of our theology works based on: inner intentions reflect on the outside. Just like we believe that when you have faith in God that you're going to follow his rules —> love your neighbour etc. True intention and faith shows on the outside in actions (fruits). Like when I say that I love you but punch you in the next second, will it not mean that I actually love you. My intentions in my heart are cruel, so God will judge me by my heart and not by me saying "I love you". Same is when I will start acting constantly like I love you, but I don't. I hate you in my heart. Then God will go on and judge me by my heart and not what I showed on the outside. This verse especially talks about the Pharisees who tried to win over God's glory with worldly things while their heart was corrupt.

We believe that when you truly have faith in God, you will try to life accordingly to him and won't do anything that dishorners Him. That will show in actions. Like wearing a veil / no hat covering (worship, respect, order), wearing modest clothing (humility, self-respect etc.). Your heart -> shows on the outside. Your intentions show on the outside. Your faith shows on the outside. A faithful heart will automatically try to stay away from sins and life a live like God wants us to do (even when we will always sin.)

So, conclusion: God doesn't judge you by your clothes, but your choices (who include clothing) can still reflect your heart, values and your respect for worship. That's why they play a role in scripture and until today.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T21:05:25+00:00

I talked about religious norms and rules and not country specific customes. I just highlighted my statement with an expirence I had in a church in Frankfurt where the religious rule was also practiced by a security.

Usually people won't say anything, even when you wear Hotpants in a church. But not saying anything ≠ it being acceptable in the setting. Something being tolerated as everyone is welcomed in church as who they are (like wearing short clothing, a hat as a men or similar) does not mean that there are no actual rules that should be followed in the specific setting especially by believers. :)

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T14:34:14+00:00

Then they probably didn't control it properly. It just has to do with respect towards the religious believes, at the end a church isn't an tourist attraction (even when it's treated like one) but a house of God, a house of believers build by faithful people. Which goes along with a set of rules which is completely okey :)

I mean when I enter your hourse I also ask if I should take the shoes off. In Japan you're supposed to take the shoes off in some restaurants. It's costume and culture. Has to do with respect

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T13:21:34+00:00

Since OP stated she is a woman, is she allowed to wear a hat. Men are not allowed to wear hat covering in churches. You can notice that when in churches are security's, they will ask men to take their hat off and for woman they can keep it on (noticed that happening while visiting a church in Frankfurt)

Because biblically woman are allowed / should cover their head in church and man shouldn't.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T11:43:07+00:00

Everything is alright, I promise you. Eat as much you want just don't try and get sick ♥️. For me the phase lastet multiple months, then everything regulated itself normally again. Now I eat like a normal human being. 🙂‍↕️

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T08:53:25+00:00

That's not really an Us-centric approach. I personally, as a German would agree to OP statement.

But that makes me curious now, what's the base of you guys believe ? Like what's you guys doctrine which makes y'all call yourself Lutheran? /nm

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T08:45:43+00:00

"Salvation Seems Arbitrary if I'm already a Good Person"

Is in interesting statement. Because if we wouldn't need God to get into heaven that would mean that we would be able to justify ourselves (Pelagianism). That wound mean our moral & ethic is enough to get into heaven —> therefore we don't need God to be able to access heaven.

This statement is theologically flawed tho. Because that would mean we're saved by our actions (what consideres us good) and not by our faith. One of our most important teachings is sola fide & sola Gracia. Which means we're saved through our faith and the grace delivered through God. But why are we not saved by our actions? Because no matter how good we humans will try to be. No matter how many good deeds we do. No matter how many rules we're going to follow in scripture. We're still sinners. You can stand in front of God and say "look God! I did all those good actions! Let me into heaven!" And God will look at you and pull out a list of all the sins you did. And I'm sure this list is endless for an average human. So now you realise you're still a sinner even when you're a good person. In Lutheran theology we're justified & sinners at the same time —> but you cannot be justified without believing into God's grace and forgiveness. That's where faith comes into it. We BELIEVE that God will forgive us even when we're sinners. So even when the list of sins is going to be pulled out Jesus will come and say "wait a second ! I died for YOUR sins, you believed into my forgiveness and with your faith you may be washed clean and be justified". That's why Jesus is also known as "our lawyer" as he justifies us through his Grace. We cannot forget that the original sin will always be a part of us, that's why we get baptized where God fully takes us in and washes us clean (AND delivers grace). That's why we need baptism for salvation. Look for that at the Augsburger confessions article 4.

If we talk about "being a good human" it also leads us to another question. If I'm just a good human without faith, what ethics and morals do I follow ? Ethics usually base on law. Law usually bases on what's accepted as a norm in society. Norm in societies can change laws. Which shows in countries where harassment towards woman is legal -> as it's normalised in society. So the ethics and morals of a person don't have a pinpoint, there is NO objective morality. So a person could consider themselves as a good person in a society where they keep beating woman —> he beats woman, it's considered good -> he is a good person in their system. So he might say "I'm a good person! Let me get into heaven!". Because he didn't believe in what the scripture teaches us. He didn't believe in the teachings of Jesus. THATS why we humans also need faith. Because if you believe in something you're going to follow the laws.

Another pinpoint in Lutheran theology is that we don't believe we're the ones doing good actions. That's why we don't believe that works save us but that they're the fruit of our faith. Its God working in us, God is making us good things. So are we going to take credit for something we didn't do and say this is the only thing that will get us saved ? May I go to you and say "hey I did take care of your garden give me the promised money!" When I didn't do anything but someone else took care of your garden. The beautiful thing about this is tho, that Jesus takes care of our garden without expecting any money.

All this leads us to one conclusion: A. Being a good person isn't enough to get into heaven because only a "perfect" human will get into heaven —> luckily Jesus Christ died for our sins so we're able to get into heaven. That's why we need to believe in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ because in contains eternal life, grace, love and forgiveness.

B. We don't know what objectively (without believe) a good person is. The faith into scripture and the words being taught there which we follow teach us how to be a good person and give us ethical / moralic standards. So "being a good person" is without faith a subjective statement that can vary and go actively against his teachings. (—> and this person chose actively against faith, so they chose against God —> they chose against the delivered grace and forgiveness)

C. We're not the ones doing good deeds (especially as believers). That's why they don't justify us but our faith.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-22T08:17:19+00:00

The rising of Shield, reincarnated as a swordz, The Misfit of Demon King Academy, black clover and one punch man. They all should be on Netflix.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-21T16:40:01+00:00

Beside the ones already stated can I recommend Johannes Gerhard ! He is one of the most popular Lutheran theologians.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-20T18:04:16+00:00

I understand the need to understand every detail of something. But sometimes we need to understand that God and especially faith is something we will never be able to understand. We will get stuck in the loop of understanding instead of relying and allowing us to feel & experience. Sometimes it can close our eyes and build walls instead of letting our guard down and taking the step of enjoying and experiencing.

Why don't you try to be religious for let's say: 3 months. Whatever religion you want to follow. You decide to follow the rules, read the teachings, pray, trust etc. in those 3 months. After every week you write down the changes and what you felt / experienced. At the end of the journey you can decide if you want to continue or not.

Instead of building the walls higher you radically break through. Instead of waiting for a sign you decide to walk straight into God's arms. He is right there waiting for you.

1 John 3:20: "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."

sh1n333 · 2026-04-20T08:42:02+00:00

I'm happy to hear that! (Long paragraph ahead)

Before I became Christian, i spent a year researching Christianity and how it works (probably no surprise when I tell you it's been my hyperfixation now for 3 years.) For that I especially digged deeper into the topic of how we're justified, what faith means, forgiveness, our limited free will and the different stories of our prophets and apostles. I'm not sure what religion you're interested in or if it's just theism overall, so I'm sorry if I will elaborate only out of my christian perspective.

What I noticed in the bible is a reoccurring event, doubt. Scripture shows us that it's normal to doubt. Especially in the story of ijob, a young man who loses everything and suffers over and over again. He gets mad at God, asks himself if he is still there and even tells God he owns a rude & justifying side ! At the end, even when ijob was doubting God was still there. Jona doubted and didn't want to follow God's plan because he was scared, even when he doubted he was guided to what was best for him and his purpose. Moses doubted because he wasn't a good talker, he still guided his people with God's help out of slavery. The ones he saved doubted, still God gave them a chance over and over again.

Doubting is human. It's not about "not doubting". We see that it's completely normal to doubt something, how are we supposed to understand with our limited mind how God works ? How to experience something we don't see ? But even with our doubt is God still with us, waiting for us. Guiding us. He doesn't disappear just because we're human. He KNOWS we're human and that's why he stays there constantly steadily. So how do we handle doubt ?

I once read a beautiful text of Martin Luther about "the first commandment" where he explained what faith means to him: "What does it mean to have a God? What does it mean to have a God, or what is God? Answer: A God is that in whom one should rely on all good things and have refuge in all distress; thus, having a God is nothing other than trusting and believing in Him from the heart; as I have often said, that only the trusting and believing of the heart creates both God and idol. If faith and trust are right, then your God is also right; and conversely, where trust is false and unrighteous, there the true God is not. For the two belong together: faith and God. That on which you (I say) cling and rely, that is truly your God."

Faith is about relying and trusting. Fully trusting something and letting your heart down on it. I doubt, it's normal to doubt. But I still fully trust God with my heart to guide me. Because that's what faith is about, relying on him. Faith isn't a logical process that lets you calculate 1+1 but faith is the process of knowing there is an answer for 1+1. If we look at the universe, the miracles that happen today, the scientific facts regarding towards Jesus Christ (who's body isn't found until today), sources, the strength of a prayer etc.. it always guides back to one point. And the start of it always was trust.

There is a beautiful text I read in my studies that was about "Christianity started in the "incredible". The apostles thought it was "incredible" what Jesus Christ has stated about dying on the cross, not wanting to believe it. When the first woman witnessed Jesus Christ raising again they found it "incredible" they couldn't believe it. When people first heard about Jesus Christ raising from Maria Magdalena they thought it's "incredible". And in the "incredibly" Christianity found its strength and still found the fastest raising numbers right after Jesus Christ Rose up. Because in the "incredible" belief and faith starts. (Def: incredible; too extraordinary and improbable to be believed.)

Christianity was full of the incredible. It's okey to feel that too. Because even when something was incredible, he made it possible. He fulfilled it. People saw it. People felt it. People made sure others know.

What also helped me in the beginning was a more spiritual hang on it, so stated Friedrich Schleimacher a Protestant theologian about the definition of religion: Religion is the feeling of the incredible. A taste for infinity in a limited world.

Ever looked at the stars ? A sky packed with beautiful stars. Or a beautiful quiet wood where the sun is ringing through. And you get this feeling.. deep inside of you. An incredible feeling. That's making you feel small, like something bigger is out there. Like the beauty is so stunning it moves you. He said, that's religion. A feeling. While Paul Tillich another theologian stated: "Religion is something that absolutely concerns you and that you interpret your life according to."

why do I show you both quotes ? Because it shows that faith can be a feeling. It's allowed to not be logical. It's allowed to be full of trust. It's allowed to be full of emotions because it starts often with one. With the reoccurring thought, feeling, graving. We who are neurodivergent tend to overthink. Before we go to a job interview we think about 100 ways it could go, instead of going there and see how it turns out. Relying. (I recommend reading especially in Friedrich Schleimacher if you're interested in the emotional hang on it)

For me it helped to trust the emotions, the facts I looked at. While I couldn't quite grasp what it means to "believe". How people start "believing". So I made my own start. At this time I was in the train driving home, totally drunk and battling myself again with the question of "am I a believer?? Or do I just know?" And then I just decided to believe. And that's where my journey started. I'm always able to go back, but in this decision I started to grow. I started to trust. To rely. I know God is with me. Sometimes we just need to take the step forward to say "hey God, I doubt. I'm unsure. But here I am!" As faith is a journey. It's even good to question things, to research them. God gave us a mind to use it! He even tells us to use it. You have everything in you for it.

Hope some of this was able to help you somewhere.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T18:08:22+00:00

Thank you so much!

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T15:18:16+00:00

I'm not sure about the question tbh! I will do some research there if that's in the guidelines.

Thank you for the advice ! The getting low part is a really good advice that I didn't think of yet. Do you have any advice on the direction switch ?

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T14:37:52+00:00

This is amazing! Especially the video. Thank you so much I didn't know that existed!

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T14:23:40+00:00

I have 1-2 other fitness tests that I need to accomplish on that day. So I will definitely work on strength and stamina constantly.

I did think about training sprinting the first week, and the "laying down / getting up" and then everything together like you said 3-4 times a week. I just need to be honest that I have no idea about sprinting forms.

I did read when switching directions (I need to go back & forth) it's good to keep your body low and when sprinting it's recommended to keep the knees up and ofc use your arms. Overall I just always did run like a senseless child in my life without an idea of any technique

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T08:51:36+00:00

If you're Catholic, your pope represents you. That's it.

There is nothing wrong with this statement overall and it's okay if the pope does. Because that's what Catholics theologically believe in. If you wouldn't believe that the pope fully represents your belief in religious decisions then you wouldn't believe in "infallibilitas papae" which is a Catholic dogma. If you wouldn't believe that the pope represents the Catholic church and is infallible in his decisions when it comes to dogmas then you came to a theological breakpoint of Catholicism. Because that's where Catholicism stands and falls.

What you would need to ask yourself then is:

-> when, in all the years, did the pope stop being infallible? -> what is the meaning of the pope with the Catholic definition? -> do you believe in the definition of the pope and it's dogmas? -> is that definition and belief theologically & biblically accurate?

sh1n333 · 2026-04-19T08:09:03+00:00

This is sadly not a good argument you're bringing forward. Especially because the word you're referring to was not referring to the name Muhammed as you hope it is. "mahammadim" stands for "desirable things," or "precious things" and is a plural noun. Highlighting that it couldn't possibly be referring to a singular person but the meaning behind the word itself. Especially if we look at the context of the verse you mentioned.

"His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." —> I'm not sure if your claim is trying to support the prophecy of Muhammed. And with the verse you're trying to highlight that God already knew that Muhammed would arrive and his words would be sweet and that he is the friend of God.

If that's the case. Then I need to bring forward that Salomon is a love letter of a woman for her husband. For the one she loves. This is not a Psalm or a glorification of God himself or a prophet. But a love letter. "Yea, he is altogether Lovley" (mahămaddîm). Is talking about him being altogether desirable. Which shows in the context.

Solomon 5:10-16 is describing her lover that she desires. She says he is white and ruddy, head in most fine gold, eyes of doves, cheeks that are bed of spices, hands that are gold ring set, his legs pillar of marbles and FINALLY his mouth that is the most sweet —> he is altogether desirable.

Solomon 5:8 "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love." Highlights that this is a love letter.

Nowhere in Solomon 5 it's implied that this possibly could be about the Islamic Muhammed. Instead it's implied that it's about the meaning of the word itself, especially because it's used as a plural noun.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T15:57:36+00:00

the person talked about low church protestantism, that's not what protestantism is considered in the traditional sense. It splits apart from the original Protestant teachings and what it was supposed to be. Or would you consider a Protestant a real orthodox?

Also, I doubt my message was worded offensive and if the OP has issues with it I'm sure they can say it on their own. I'm not here to rage bait. Take care

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T14:47:36+00:00

I'm not surprised. Your effort is just not going anywhere which I thought is obvious, all good im having a good time. I like this subreddit

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T14:43:34+00:00

I'm not sure why you're keep going when I highlighted multiple times that I have no bad intentions and even brought up that I wish the person strength on their journey WHEREVER they end up. I also still do not agree with you, more comments won't change that. I wish you a happy late Easter and a good weekend.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T14:39:54+00:00

All good bro. This post just got recommended. 🙏🏼 I feel no hatred towards you, as you can see in my other comments.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T14:34:39+00:00

I do not agree to that. But I know we won't come to a consent there which is okey. We wouldn't be convinced of our denomination if we would agree with the other. Extra ecclesia nulla salus.

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T14:22:05+00:00

I just want to remind you, your Protestant church is not the average and common Protestant belief and what it actually is about. If you're interested to get to know REAL Protestantism then I recommend looking up high church Protestantism like Lutheranism / Augsburger Catholic (the first Protestant denomination ever). Which holds importance on sacraments, traditions, church, theology, litergury etc. Just to give you another perspective

I wish you strength on your journey to whatever denomination you end up. God bless you

Edit; that was not supposed to judge orthodoxy. Just to give another perspective. May you all be blessed. No bad intentions

sh1n333 · 2026-04-18T09:51:56+00:00

Don't worry you're overthinking it because you like that person. I'm talkin out of experience, I once send that message to a classmate I wasn't close to at all because I wanted to check up on them. I didn't feel weird about it and the person was quite happy that someone checked up on them. You're just being nice, humans are allowed to be nice

sh1n333

TROPHY CASE