Comments on: Do you have one foot in and one foot out? http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/ A Catholic Social Commentary Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: How Long is a Marriage? - Fallible Blogma http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-59841 How Long is a Marriage? - Fallible Blogma Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:00:27 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-59841 [...] special. It’s not just a contract or a mutually beneficial partnership. It’s an “all in” kind of deal. Either you’re all in for the long haul no matter what, or you’re [...] [...] special. It’s not just a contract or a mutually beneficial partnership. It’s an “all in” kind of deal. Either you’re all in for the long haul no matter what, or you’re [...]

]]> By: Dis-organized Religion - Fallible Blogma http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-52825 Dis-organized Religion - Fallible Blogma Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:08:14 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-52825 [...] imperfections as a way to justify throwing the baby out with the bathwater or to endlessly teeter on the edge of commitment with positions like “Oh, I’m spiritual, but not [...] [...] imperfections as a way to justify throwing the baby out with the bathwater or to endlessly teeter on the edge of commitment with positions like “Oh, I’m spiritual, but not [...]

]]> By: Ken Foreman http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-52087 Ken Foreman Wed, 25 May 2011 01:20:25 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-52087 Of all the comments thus far, I've appreciated yours the most. I was raised Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA, not Missouri Synod) and I converted to Catholicism after ten years of marriage, attending a Catholic church each Sunday with my wife. In RCIA, I struggled with the concepts of what Martin Luther taught and what the Catholic Church teaches. Having not prayed for the intercession of saints, I wondered how God could value one man over another. Having not gone to a single pastor or priest for confession, I wondered how a single confessor could forgive me my sins rather than communal confession. I have since joined, accepted, and been accepted by the Catholic Church but my journey did not end with my first Catholic Communion. I still struggle daily, and you could most certainly say I keep one foot in, one foot out. While it's reassuring that others have struggled with the same concerns that I do, it's the most reassuring that there is a light in the darkness. Of all the comments thus far, I’ve appreciated yours the most. I was raised Evangelical Lutheran (ELCA, not Missouri Synod) and I converted to Catholicism after ten years of marriage, attending a Catholic church each Sunday with my wife.

In RCIA, I struggled with the concepts of what Martin Luther taught and what the Catholic Church teaches. Having not prayed for the intercession of saints, I wondered how God could value one man over another. Having not gone to a single pastor or priest for confession, I wondered how a single confessor could forgive me my sins rather than communal confession.

I have since joined, accepted, and been accepted by the Catholic Church but my journey did not end with my first Catholic Communion. I still struggle daily, and you could most certainly say I keep one foot in, one foot out.

While it’s reassuring that others have struggled with the same concerns that I do, it’s the most reassuring that there is a light in the darkness.

]]> By: Your Faith and Your Feet - Fallible Blogma http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-50194 Your Faith and Your Feet - Fallible Blogma Tue, 03 May 2011 12:46:19 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-50194 [...] just requires a bit of faith and both of your feet. Please share this post with others: tweetmeme_source = 'MatthewWarner'; tweetmeme_service = [...] [...] just requires a bit of faith and both of your feet. Please share this post with others: tweetmeme_source = 'MatthewWarner'; tweetmeme_service = [...]

]]> By: Eric E http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33677 Eric E Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:50:18 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-33677 It may be true, Alice, that "it’s better that you follow a religion that has a glimpse of wisdom or righteousness than nothing at all", but that's like picking through a Dumpster for food instead of sitting down at a free four-star restaurant. It is better to pick through the Dumpster than go hungry, yes, but it is far better still to eat the finest food and drink the choicest wines. I think that many, if not all, reasons for not being Catholic boil down to pride: We think our own opinions are superior, and we're unwilling to humble ourselves to seek the truth and remain open to either 1) being wrong, or 2) not being able to comprehend. Sure, many have difficulties, but as Blessed Newman once said, a thousand difficulties do not make a single doubt. I find it interesting when people dismiss the Catholic faith by saying, "I could never believe in a God who X". As if humans can understand God (as you correctly point out, we don't all have the answers). As if we can presume to dictate or properly conceive who God can and cannot be! It is far better to receive the truth from above than generate it from within. If we are the source of our "truth", it's no wonder we will come in conflict with the actual truth when we hear it. It may be true, Alice, that “it’s better that you follow a religion that has a glimpse of wisdom or righteousness than nothing at all”, but that’s like picking through a Dumpster for food instead of sitting down at a free four-star restaurant. It is better to pick through the Dumpster than go hungry, yes, but it is far better still to eat the finest food and drink the choicest wines.

I think that many, if not all, reasons for not being Catholic boil down to pride: We think our own opinions are superior, and we’re unwilling to humble ourselves to seek the truth and remain open to either 1) being wrong, or 2) not being able to comprehend. Sure, many have difficulties, but as Blessed Newman once said, a thousand difficulties do not make a single doubt.

I find it interesting when people dismiss the Catholic faith by saying, “I could never believe in a God who X”. As if humans can understand God (as you correctly point out, we don’t all have the answers). As if we can presume to dictate or properly conceive who God can and cannot be!

It is far better to receive the truth from above than generate it from within. If we are the source of our “truth”, it’s no wonder we will come in conflict with the actual truth when we hear it.

]]> By: Alice http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33675 Alice Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:51:39 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-33675 ...and yet the Catechisms say there is wisdom in other religions. What is wisdom if it isn't a glimpse of what is "right"? Maybe they all have a glimpse of the truth but Catholicism has the largest glimpse. Remember we don't have all the answers either - our brains simply aren't big enough to contain them. Surely if for whatever reason you don't feel you can be Catholic, it's better that you follow a religion that has a glimpse of wisdom or righteousness than nothing at all. …and yet the Catechisms say there is wisdom in other religions. What is wisdom if it isn’t a glimpse of what is “right”? Maybe they all have a glimpse of the truth but Catholicism has the largest glimpse. Remember we don’t have all the answers either – our brains simply aren’t big enough to contain them. Surely if for whatever reason you don’t feel you can be Catholic, it’s better that you follow a religion that has a glimpse of wisdom or righteousness than nothing at all.

]]> By: Eric E http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-26194 Eric E Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:27:26 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-26194 Ann, I think you have the right idea, but I'd tweak it some. Jesus calls us not to judge individuals. By this he means judging the intents of their hearts and their eternal destiny. But we can and must judge ideas, including the tenets of other faiths. Islam is simply wrong to assert that the relationship between God and man is master and slave, not father and son. Judaism is wrong to deny that Jesus is the Messiah. Hinduism is wrong to say there are multiple gods. Proclaiming the truth is not intrinsically contradictory to either humility or charity -- in fact, it <I>is</I> charity. Jesus's ministry is evidence of that. But you are right, St. Paul said "Test everything, cling to what is good". "Whatever is good and noble, think on those things." Ann,

I think you have the right idea, but I’d tweak it some. Jesus calls us not to judge individuals. By this he means judging the intents of their hearts and their eternal destiny. But we can and must judge ideas, including the tenets of other faiths. Islam is simply wrong to assert that the relationship between God and man is master and slave, not father and son. Judaism is wrong to deny that Jesus is the Messiah. Hinduism is wrong to say there are multiple gods. Proclaiming the truth is not intrinsically contradictory to either humility or charity — in fact, it is charity. Jesus’s ministry is evidence of that. But you are right, St. Paul said “Test everything, cling to what is good”. “Whatever is good and noble, think on those things.”

]]> By: Ann http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-26188 Ann Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:40:22 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-26188 While I agree that we should follow the teachings of the church, I also believe that we have to be careful. We have to remember that Jesus wants us to love as he has loved us. I feel that sometimes we forget that, we are full of pride and arrogance - judging other faiths. I say we follow the church, spread the word, but remember to respect other faiths. Sometimes we can also learn something from them - not to change our beliefs but to make us better catholics. We get all caught up in preaching when really - if we just lived out of beliefs so many more people would convert because it is such a beautiful way of life. When I say we - i just mean catholics in general. There are many that follow the faith and are great examples - but there are too many half in and half out that preach like they aren't. While I agree that we should follow the teachings of the church, I also believe that we have to be careful. We have to remember that Jesus wants us to love as he has loved us. I feel that sometimes we forget that, we are full of pride and arrogance – judging other faiths. I say we follow the church, spread the word, but remember to respect other faiths. Sometimes we can also learn something from them – not to change our beliefs but to make us better catholics. We get all caught up in preaching when really – if we just lived out of beliefs so many more people would convert because it is such a beautiful way of life. When I say we – i just mean catholics in general. There are many that follow the faith and are great examples – but there are too many half in and half out that preach like they aren’t.

]]> By: bethanne http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-26187 bethanne Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:09:25 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-26187 a popular phrase by the "half in half out" clan: "between me and my God." in the end that is "between me and my God." this doesn't sit right with me because i fear that what they really mean by "my God" is "my wavering conscience" or "my fallible logic". i agree, matthew, both feet and all the way!! a popular phrase by the “half in half out” clan: “between me and my God.” in the end that is “between me and my God.” this doesn’t sit right with me because i fear that what they really mean by “my God” is “my wavering conscience” or “my fallible logic”. i agree, matthew, both feet and all the way!!

]]> By: Dusty, sweaty, bloody faces | Fallible Blogma http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-24315 Dusty, sweaty, bloody faces | Fallible Blogma Wed, 19 May 2010 18:55:30 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-24315 [...] see it in politics. And we see it in our faith. Living life is not meant to be a “one foot in and one foot out” [...] [...] see it in politics. And we see it in our faith. Living life is not meant to be a “one foot in and one foot out” [...]

]]> By: Jan Marrah http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/one-foot-in-and-one-foot-out/comment-page-1/#comment-19317 Jan Marrah Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:49:41 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=858#comment-19317 Dcn Ralph Poyo talks about are "you in or are you out"? You can't be both. He has a great visual using a wheelbarrow. He will crouch over the wheelbarrow with one foot in the wheelbarrow (with God) and the other foot firmly planted on the ground (with the world). It's something that has stuck with me. Dcn Ralph Poyo talks about are “you in or are you out”? You can’t be both. He has a great visual using a wheelbarrow. He will crouch over the wheelbarrow with one foot in the wheelbarrow (with God) and the other foot firmly planted on the ground (with the world). It’s something that has stuck with me.

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