2006-09-18 20:29:49 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics have been meditating for almost 2,000 years.
Mediation as prayer is encouraged by the Catholic Church.
For Catholics meditation is a quest to understand the why and how of the Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking.
One way this is done is by reading scripture, asking God to give you understanding of it, and then pondering it in your heart.
Here is the Pope promoting meditation on the Scriptures: http://www.catholic.net/global_catholic_news/template_news.phtml?news_id=76678&channel_id=2
With love in Christ.
2006-09-19 18:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because his job is to be a champion of orthodoxy in a sect that itself is almost totally oriented towards social control. His sect has in it's history killed almost everyone of the few great mystics it's ever produced.
Religions fall on a spectrum between two poles which some call "Slave-Management Systems" and "Spiritual Paths". In a "Spiritual Path" the mystic in meditative trance revisits and relives the core of the religion; returning he teaches his insights to the administrators/ priests who preach it to the people in simplified form. In a "Slave-Management System" the administrator tells the (rare) mystic/experiencer what he's allowed to see in his visions. If the mystic becomes inspired enough to disregard official dogmas, the administrative hierarchy declares him "heretic" or "possessed" and kills him. They have to; to manage the slave workforce effectively, they must present a simple, unchanging message of submission and conformity. Mystics and their visions upset this; they threaten the social-contract the religious hierarchy has with the rulers of their society.
Roman Catholicism, like most Western religions is almost totally a "Slave-Management System". Greek Orthodox Christianity is more balanced but still leans towards the management side of the "shaman business" ( as Robert Heinlein called it ).
Zen Buddhism and Vedanta are examples of almost pure "Spiritual Paths". There's no intrinsic reason why the truly pure paths have to be from India or East Asia; that just happens to be the way the karma has crumbled over the past 2000 years.
2006-09-19 03:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Cause people who meditate can actually see clearly through the manipulative ways of religions. They are scared to loose their power over humanity!
2006-09-19 03:32:21 · answer #3 · answered by Sherluck 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ask the Pope.
2006-09-19 03:31:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never noticed a tradition of meditation in all of Christianity.
2006-09-19 03:31:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Probably because, while meditating, you might start to think and that, as we all know, is dangerous to any primitive faith system.
2006-09-19 06:56:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meditation is actually good for you.
The catholic church has been so wrong about so many things. I'll go with meditation.
2006-09-19 03:35:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it's hard being a pope these days. if you stand by traditional catholic views and the bible, you get slandered by the people cause you're not open minded enough. if you don't you're not catholic enough.
2006-09-19 03:31:39 · answer #8 · answered by ilya 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea why he appears like that to you... maybe you just don't like him and are looking for flaws.
2006-09-19 03:31:59 · answer #9 · answered by Robert L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) Does he?
2) Meditation is crap.
2006-09-19 03:31:26 · answer #10 · answered by murphly 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋