This is a megathread for any posts on the conflict between (so far, and so far as I know) Hamas and the Israeli government, as well as related geopolitics. Culture War thread rules apply.
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Notes -
Christ himself was pretty clearly against this notion. Matt 10:34-39
Emphasis mine.
EDIT: sorry meant to reply to @firmamenti
I was confused at first but then saw the edit. Like I said I’m not in communion currently with the Church. I don’t like your quote (34) and think it’s lacking context. But a lot of your quotes are why I fell away from the Church because I’m not actually willing to do those things. I don’t believe the Evangelicals that you just need to believe. But that you actually need to act.
I do feel like I understand what he’s looking for. I’ve seen videos of Jews coming together now. And I do think having a community like that is a good thing.
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See my reply here: https://www.themotte.org/post/705/israelgaza-megathread-1/148332?context=8#context
In all of that you never once mention Christ. It makes me feel like an Evangelical. You mention beliefs like being anti-abortion. The reason we believe those things is because the Church at its core is to foster a personal relationship with Christ.
Michael Corleone was Catholic but I don’t think he was Christian. People can do all the things you say but I don’t think that’s what the religion is about.
Man I feel like you are going pretty far out of your way to misinterpret what I’m saying. Am I just missing the point you’re trying to make? This is starting to border on the sort of “Catholics aren’t really Christians since they follow the church and not Christ!” arguments that mega church pastors make before asking for money and telling you about the Ferris wheel.
Anyway I think I’ve made my point. I think people should be Catholic. No I don’t think there is any reasonable interpretation of what I’ve said and clarified that leads to Michael Corleone embodying anything I’m supporting. I also don’t think we are going to sit here and re-derive the entirely of Catholic theology and philosophy in some text posts back and forth.
If you want to be Christ-like and follow Christs teachings (which I think you should do) then being Catholic is good. Anything you’re trying to torture out of what I’ve said beyond that is a misinterpretation by you and I think I’ve done enough clarification at this point.
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