Y'know, many a time I think that Catholics must be nuts. Going to church every morning. Enduring hours long services. Marriages that feel like marathons. The baptism, the hierarchy, the rigid structure. Catholicism always struck me as the army of Christianity. Ya do what you're told, ya follow the rules, ya work hard at it, and it all comes off as a first class operation.
I don't know many Quakers that have crossed over to Catholicism (or vice versa).. My "brand" of Quaker tends to be more liberal. We can do without a message. We can be loosey-goosey and go where the spirit leads us. We're encouraged to read our bibles everyday, but we're going to be okay if you feel the need to skip church every now and then.
This is not to say that I am not drawn in by certain elements. I think a strict structure would keep me on my toes. I'd probably have a few more scriptures memorized, which wouldn't be the worst thing. Besides, if you can survive all those sermons, you'd have any troubles with ADD beaten.
Yesterday, in particular, I was struck with the idea of confession. From where I'm sitting, it is a required version of someone to talk things over with. How could that be a bad thing? They're pastors, they have to forgive ya... right? You would always have someone to talk things over with. Shoot, you'd be encouraged to.
I have friends. I have co-congregants. Still, I'm hard-pressed to think of someone (other than Mom, of course) that I talk to about God-stuff. Yes, everyone has their own walk with God and it is deeply personal. So personal that sometimes people don't want to talk about it. But ya toss that confession in the mix and you get yourself quite the little release.
Doesn't sound like a terrible idea to me. Even if I do prefer being loosey-goosey.
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When I went to Assisi, I thought it would be a great idea to go to Confession in the very church where St. Francis was buried. After a good deal of searching they found a black Italian priest who spoke English. Once he found out I wasn't Catholic, he refused to grant me absolution, though was willing to pray for me. But I think he was eager to get out of there- this American Quaker guy made him uncomfortable. Turns out Catholics in the US (where I'm sure there would be a problem in hearing confession from a non-Catholic) are a bit more relaxed than the Italian variety.
fuck you dude.. why there is any differences between quaker, mennonite, catholic. i think we are all the same, believe in same God and the teachings turn out to be the same, only human perspection that makes us different and there is quaker,mennonites, etc.
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