I was raised catholic and all of that good stuff but resently I have been wondering why...why cant i believe in evolution(it makes sense)...why cant i go with my girlfriend to the park...why do i need to follow these rules...I want to tell my parents that i dont believe anything that the church tells me..i want to tell my parents this but i feel likei will be letting them down...what should i do..
2007-10-01 15:03:03 · 29 answers · asked by poke fan 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Be honest with them. If you don't believe, don't pretend. It's your life, don't live it for your parents.
2007-10-01 15:05:48 · answer #1 · answered by Ethernaut 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic church allows you to interpret many passages of the bible on your own. Whether you believe God created man in 7 days or He started evolution of billions of years, as long as you know God is the source of all life then you are still believing as Catholics believe. The church says nothing about going to the park with your girlfriend. I believe your problem is over-bearing parents more than the Church. They might use religion as an excuse but they aren't teaching the Catholic faith. I would consider talking to them about your feelings and asking if you could all try to learn a little more about your faith.
2007-10-04 11:41:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, folks... I'm going to take the "Road Less Travelled" here.
While some of the "rules" that you are being asked to follow are questionable at best, my question to you is...
Why do you think that you can "pick and choose" what your faith believes in? It is not an a la carte menu... it's called the BIBLE. They are not called the Ten Suggestions, but the Ten COMMANDMENTS. Whether you like them or not, if they are part of the doctrines of your faith, you have to accept them ALL... or not at all.... or find a set of doctrines that you DO accept.
Yeah, I can see ALL of you heading for the THUMBS DOWN button.
I don't necessarily AGREE with all the practices of my denomination, but I haven't abandoned my faith OR my denomination because of my disagreements with it. I still believe the basic doctrinal creeds and tenets, and whether or not I LIKE some of the aspects of my denomination, I HAVE TO ACCEPT them, like them or not.
Equate it to a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife. Wouldn't it be just wonderful if my husband was the perfect husband... always put the seat down, etc.... but he's not. But I ACCEPT him, warts and all, and I have committed my life to him. Yeah, we have disagreements, we have arguments, doesn't EVERYONE?? But I can't sit here and "pick and choose" from his personality traits. It's gotta be "all or nuttin"
In your case, certainly the "girlfriend in park" doesn't sound like it's really a doctrinal "rule." Even the evolution thing can be "accepted" by Christians (as some have already said in their answers). I would better ask you, where do these "rules" come from?
You see... I'm not saying you cannot question these things... you have to know where these "rules" source from. WHY can't you take your GF to the park? As you can also see, many Catholics also so not agree with some of these "rules" but they remain faithful to the tenets of their faith.
The CHURCH is telling you all these things? Someone in Bible Study? Are your parents saying, "You can't go to the park with your GF because the CHURCH says you can't!" So are THEY USING the church as a crutch?
Yes, talk to your parents. Maybe they can enlighten you as to those issues you have with the church. If you let them down, that is their problem, you cannot control their feelings, just as they cannot control yours. Just be as calm when you talk with them, and don't sound accusitory ("Why do YOU say... YOU won't let me... "). Make a lot of "I" statements, "I feel that evoution is legitimate, and cannot understand why the church.... I think I can take my GF to the park without anything going on... I believe that .... " and so on.
Have a blessed day.
2007-10-01 23:08:50 · answer #3 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Christians do not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.
One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.
Catholics can believe in the theories of the big bang or evolution or both or neither.
On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:
The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.
Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html
The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theories of the big bang and evolution are the most logical scientific explanations. However tomorrow someone may come up with better ideas.
As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and modern science can live in harmony.
With love in Christ.
2007-10-02 01:26:02 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Going to the park with your girlfriend is not forbidden in the Catholic church. Evolution is a bigger question than Catholic beliefs. Be careful not to reject Catholicism for core Christian beliefs. I find peace with these questions by understanding that it was God's master design to evolve humans or to make the Big Bang happen. Works for me until somebody can come up with a better explanation!
2007-10-01 22:17:06 · answer #5 · answered by Cheesetoasto 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Catholic and I believe in evolution. I remember that the Catholic Church itself, stated that they accepted the Theory of Evolution. As with going out on a date. My mom doesn't mind. I don't remember my local priest telling me I'm not allowed to go out with a girl. If you know where to draw the line in certain things, you can remain a Catholic and still do all those things.
P.S.
How sure are you that the beliefs of your parents are the same as that of the Vatican or the Pope?
2007-10-01 22:09:08 · answer #6 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Church does not discount the possibly that evolution was the physical means by which we developed. It does not, however, take away from the fact that we have a soul, and are of God, created by God.
Why can't you take your girlfriend to the park... what are you planning on doing there?
What rules do you have a problem with?
2007-10-05 18:38:08 · answer #7 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If evolution makes sense, by all means accept it. Don't just blindly believe what other people have been telling you all your life without quesiton. Its good to be skeptical and break away from being oppressed by religion and all its silly rules. Its your first step in becoming a freethinker.
Yes, you are correct. Evolution is the best theory we've got to explain the development of all life on Earth. If you want to read more about it, go here: http://www.talkorigins.org
2007-10-01 22:10:28 · answer #8 · answered by Uliju 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
for one read your catechism - it doesnt say anything about evolution being false. the church's official stance is that it may or may not be true (which happens to be science's official stance as well).
why cant you take her to the park? if it because you have desires, again consult your catechism, your parents, a priest, or a mentor and ask why the appropriate road is to treat her with respect.
you sound young so wait to make hasty choices. eventually you need to get over this idea that all rules and boundaries are set up to ruin your good time. there's good reasons for why not to do some things which people much wiser, holier and knowlegeable that you or I have put in place before us over the centuries.
2007-10-01 22:18:55 · answer #9 · answered by kujigafy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For 50 years, I attended the United Methodist Church; but, something was missing. I began attending a Catholic church in my neighborhood and found a peace with myself and the world I had never known. Ten years ago, I was confirmed into the Catholic Church. Humanity "evolved" from somewhere. What difference in human existence does it matter if we came from an amoeba or from Adam's rib? We are here. It seems to me, a human's responsibility is to make the world, while he/she is in it, to take care of who and what we can--not argue about how we got here.
2007-10-01 22:30:13 · answer #10 · answered by Baby Poots 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow- rough one.
I can say from experience that it is normal to question the faith you have been raised with at some point and as a former Catholic I can understand why. I still thuink fondly of my Catholic upbringing but had many things I did not agree with in my 12 years of Catholic school and rules about dating were the least of them. Confession for me was a big one - why can't I just tell God ???? Why do we have to say "we" are the "one holy, catholic and apostolic church" and that all others are going to hell? I just don't buy it. I am now a Christian, non-denominational and think of Catholocism almost as being Jewish- I was raised that, born that almost but chose my own beliefs. Your family should respect that and at least allow you to question and learn more about your faith and beliefs. Hang in there and just always have God in your heart; you'll do fine !
2007-10-01 22:10:04 · answer #11 · answered by aPINK1 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋