Catholicism and the Supernatural

[dv8]

i was brought up in a catholic country and i am actually amazed how meaningless semana santa is here... in poland both saturday and sunday you traditionally go to church and sit at home with family, there is no way anyone would sit outside and down beer and ron!

i am no longer sure catholicism here is treated seriously at all, my few church experiences could not be more different than what i grew up seeing...
animal print seems to popular among ladies attending the mass, along with all imaginable intense colours paired with sequins and shiny fabrics. wow.

[A.Hidalgo]

Originally Posted by dv8

i am no longer sure catholicism here is treated seriously at all,

The phenomenon of partying and drinking is about 15 to 20years old. And you are right before semana santa was more solemn, now its a joke and yet the country is considered very Catholic. Go figure.

[LatinoRican]

To Mr. A. Hidalgo:
You are correct in stating that faith makes all religions possible! Faith in that by killing a chicken and spilling its blood in a hole in the ground will rid you of an enemy, faith that by lighting two, red candles that are tied together will bring back your estranged husband or wife, faith that by rolling a coconut all around your house and then smashing it against a large rock will rid your house of evil influences, and faith that a small, thin wafer made of flour will save your soul from hell is what makes religions what they are.

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by LatinoRican

, and faith that a small, thin wafer made of flour will save your soul from hell is what makes religions what they are.

all those who think that just eating the thin wafer made of flour will save their soul....do not even understand their own religion.....hilter could have eaten those wafers....does anyone think that his soul might have been saved?

bob

[cobraboy]

I was just surprised to find that what seemed to be your typical deeply Catholic folks, beads, statues, pictures of Jesus and Mary, bibles, etc. everywhere in their house and autos, would also delve into the realm of the dead speaking to live folks for the purpose of communicating messages.

[mkohn]

There is such a thing as Christian Spiritualists.
My understanding, Spiritualism believes in the continuity of life. Translated as "the communion of saints" or "eternal life."
Why, even Depak Chopra reminds us that matter is neither created nor destroyed, and I'd like to believe that I am matter.
And there is a movie with Sean Penn where a body was scientifically weighed before and after death - the difference was twenty some grams. What left?
So, who knows? Isn't it possible that since thoughts are things that they are real to those who think them?
No, I am not a Christian Spiritualist - only a thinker and matter.
Thanks to the OP for a lively topic.
mkohn

[Chip00]

Originally Posted by windeguy

I have studied religions as a more than casual observer for most of my life with the intent to discover why people were motivated into believing things that have no proof. Superstition would be the best word I could use. As pointed out by several posters, all religions I have looked into have a supernatural basis.

Supernatural means something beyond natural and beyond our understanding. Something in which you must simply believe without any basis in reality. Such belief systems are a good method used by religions to obtain mind control. I too was a bit surprised at how this carried into the voodoo side of things here in the DR with regard to the Catholic religion. When you realize that voodoo is practiced in Haiti, this connection isn't really so surprising.

I will personally never understand how people can be so deceived into believing that life is more than the here and now. When it is over, that is it. End of story. Please make the best of it for you and yours instead of arguing over who has the best imaginary friend in the heavens.

This is an opinion that is old as man himself.

Only one question for you - what if you end up being.....wrong!

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by mkohn

There is such a thing as Christian Spiritualists.
My understanding, Spiritualism believes in the continuity of life. Translated as "the communion of saints" or "eternal life."
Why, even Depak Chopra reminds us that matter is neither created nor destroyed, and I'd like to believe that I am matter.
No, I am not a Christian Spiritualist - only a thinker and matter.
Thanks to the OP for a lively topic.
mkohn

this physical body is matter but the soul is not so we must protect and guard our soul.
the soul is eternal so that's why so much emphasis is put on it.

[jalencastro]

Originally Posted by laurapasinifan

could it be the "large" amount of supernatural "beliefs" come about via the large amount of Haitans in the population?

I was born and raised a roman catholic, and I just spent my second easter in the DR....if the Dominicans show their catholic roots, it certainly is during Seman Santa, and ESPECIALLY ...GOOD FRIDAY

bob

interesting choice of words here and interesting theory, but i dont think finger pointing or assuming that haitians have largely to do with the amount of supernatural beliefs on the island. remember that all of the caribean islands have most of this 'religion' [i.e. santeria, voodoo, candomble] originate from western africa. i think it is amazing how west african tradition and beliefs has come over to this 'NEW WORLD', granted via the slave trade, but this is where its diversity came from. different european powers at the time brought over slaves, the spaniards happened to land on DR and brought with them catholisism, pushed it hard core on the slaves and hence a new MIX of religion was born. also keep in mind that Haiti and DR is still ONE island and that at one point was all ONE people too, so the mixing between the borders, people, customs was and still is nothing new...what i dont understand is the despise that Dominicans have towards Haitians and or anything Haitian....including their 'religion'. I dont see a big difference is Haitian Voodoo and Dominican Palo/Santeria. And it is practiced just as much on both sides of the island deep within the countryside.

Jaime

[windeguy]

Originally Posted by Chip00

This is an opinion that is old as man himself.

Only one question for you - what if you end up being.....wrong!

You are of course correct that that anything is possible, despite how unlikely it could be. I see no reason to believe in an eternal soul and/or supreme being(s), reincarnation, etc.

At latest count, how many "one true religions" are there in the world? Nothing I have seen would ever lead me to "believe nor have faith" in such things. The various religions have various levels of mind control over the population which is sometimes referred to as the opiate of the masses. These religions try to provide an explanation for why we are here and what will happen with different explanations depending upon the religion.

Where is the proof? Why doesn't "god" (or gods for those with polytheistic beliefs) talk to us like he/they supposedly did in ancient times? Curious, isn't it? I'll take my chances on what I "believe" is the infinitesimally small chance that I could be wrong.