Roman Catholic Religion

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boondock saints 2 poster

Cover for "Boondock Saints ll: all saints day!"?

No, I haven't seen the trailer yet, but I REALLY want to. Troy Duffy said it was going to be released on August 19th, but it never happened. Anyways, here's the cover of it, if you haven't seen it yet. It's cool, just like the first one. I love Norman Reedus and he's my favorite actor. Sean Patrick Flanery is cool too, but Norman's my favorite.

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad344/DjPsDpNr/200px-Boondock_2_poster.jpg

I also saw Duffy post the trailer release date on twitter. I hope maybe tomorrow they will release it.

jesus pencil toppers

catholic bible stories for children

MIND CONTROL: Moving Beyond Belief

 

“We all suppress the wanderer that waits to travel the unbroken road. We all fill our minds to tell the stories of old in a new way. But it is indeed a question of matter and truth. As adults, what do we expect to attain from religion? What do we really ask ourselves to realize? Do we threaten our minds and hearts to believe a certain way? Or do we ask in earnest to believe what we once felt to be true in the first place? In many ways, answers have found ways to reach our questions? But it is within our questions, within our silence, that we can find the attunement of sanctity. What should we ask?—that is a question that goes far beyond any answer. Do we ask for what we already have? Manifestation is nothing more than thought. With thought can the world find peace. Through thought, solutions manifest themselves. When conquered by judgment does the separation occur, and hope finds its place among doubt. Life becomes separate from its living. Separation is without connection. We all let pain reign over life. But life is full of pains to bear if not managed with grace and love.”

 

   I had been isolated for many years, not intentionally, but by being put into an unnatural situation, or rather, a religion that expected it. I will not specify the religion because I don’t want to degrade any belief that in one way or another can benefit someone, but I don’t feel that separating yourself from your non-religious family and friends in order to be saved by God is beneficial or healthy for anyone.

   I remember the days when all I wanted to do was to play outside, feel the crisp breeze that invited my imagination into realms of adventure. I never played with other children my age, let alone many children at all. So my joys were simply to be allowed outside in my own fantasy where, if I had ever felt lonely before, I would conjure up a world that would consume my mind for hours. These were the best moments of my childhood that I can still remember dying out one late spring day.

   I began to learn that I was forbidden to salute the flag, recite a pledge of allegiance, celebrate my own birthday, or even Christmas. At that time my father taught me that I should "look forward" to God's "Day of Judgment."

   I remember the days when my thinking was altered into wanting nothing more than to wait for the end of the world. It was a time that could never come in this life, nor had ever occurred in the lives of before. No one had ever experienced it. But all who knew prayed for it to come soon.

   At such a young age, I became judgmental and arrogant toward “worldly people”; therefore people judged me and treated me the same way that I treated them. You can imagine the troubles I had in grade school. It wasn’t until I was older that I began to realize what I was doing.  A child is not taught to think for themselves. A child born into a religion simply doesn’t have a choice to believe any other way.

   It is common throughout history and its still continuing today, the staggering amount of children each year that are being physically abused by strict religious beliefs. But how many children are being abused mentally by organizations that claim to have “The Truth”? 

    It is tragic that, for example, some Muslim children as young as eight years old have scars on their backs from beating themselves with zanjeers (long chains with sets of curved knives attached at its end). But what’s more heartbreaking is what these children grow up to believe about life.          

   Although I was never physically beaten, I spent several hours a week studying a “newly translated” bible and going to “meetings,” being emotionally pounded by Man’s opinion of God. Everyday I was to consider that, if I had any friends that were not of our religion, they could be killed by God’s wrath -- perhaps within a year. So when I did befriend any worldly kids, I’d feel guilty about it, scared that God would reject me from his kingdom on earth. I ended up believing that everybody I knew could soon be slaughtered by God’s wrath as He cleans his planet.

   But at around sixteen years old… well…, things begin to change…

    According to Adherents.com, 33% of people in the world are Christian. That includes: Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Pentecostal, Latter-day Saints, Evangelical, SDAs, AOGs, Quakers and Jehovah’s Witnesses. During the late 19th century, a German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, challenged the foundations of traditional morality and Christianity when he wrote: "Which is it, is man one of God's blunders or is God one of man's?"

   Buddha once said: "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." (Quotations: God/Religion)

   The long-term effects of growing up in an environment of pending disaster are hard to predict, but since I experienced it first-hand, I can say that the processes of deprogramming such beliefs are difficult if rarely possible.

   I happen to be a survivor of such a mental tragedy.  It began when I started thinking for myself, asking questions that neither my religion nor my father could answer. I went though a process of feeling as though I’ve lost my ground. I was lost from God, if He even existed. I went through a time of rejecting God. I would have gone through a complete mental collapse if it wasn’t for the people who fought to reach me and help me along the way. But it took several years of isolation from religion and other people’s opinions before I could allow such contact from the outside world. For me to be able make my own decisions was a great accomplishment.        

   In conclusion, I can only wish that others could discover the power of being silent. To realize how quickly fear and judgment can reign over your life without you even being aware of it. I can only wish that adults in religious organizations would realize what they are truly teaching their children, and in turn, the generations to come.

    But perhaps that’s all that is needed. The power of even the slightest thought can propel great things. “Though thought do solutions manifest themselves.”  As adults, what do we really expect to attain? What do we really ask of ourselves to realize? If we could only realize the true power in one loving thought… our lives could be much different. 

L. Starling

http://www.starlingbooks.net

 

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Works cited

Halloran, James.  “Quotations: God/Religion” The Quotation Station. Posting date      unknown.  Sept 6th, 2005 

Tentmaker Ministries. “Quotes”  Tentmaker.  Sept 6th, 2005. Sept 6th 2005.            

Wicks, Robert.  "Nietzsche, Friedrich."   Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.  AUG

            26th , 2004.  Sept 6th 2005. 

 Adherents.com: National & World Religion Statistics - Church Statistics - World Religions,       “Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents” Posting Date: August             24, 2005. Sept 14th 2005             

 

 

About the Author

Lacy Starling started on the journey toward being an author when she was 17. After attending writing conferences, joining writing groups, attaining a degree in Freelance Writing and Journalism and writing her first novel, the harsh realization of the writer's world finally kicked in.

After 12 years of editing manuscripts and soul searching for the right agent and publisher, still the rejection letters piled ever higher and the decision to give up was on the horizon. Yet, she concluded that it was better to climb over the brick wall of rejection and accept herself into the self-publishing world.

http://www.starlingbooks.net was created in 2005. Her first novel "Journey's In Between " was released in October, 2008. Her second book, "Sacred Reflections" was recently released in early spring 2009.

Together with her husband, J.R. Magill who is a comic book artist, they have created a new comic book series titled "Lemurian" that is available at http://www.newdestinycomics.com.

When not writing, she is helping to promote other writers and artists on their independent journeys through the self-publishing world. She is also a graphic artist and photographer and enjoys traveling to research ideas for her future projects.

st. george and st. michael

Shopping and Sightseeing in Lisbon - Flat in Lisbon

Lisbon is a paradise for budget shoppers. It boasts of some of the largest shopping malls and international retailers in Europe. Most popular among them are Armazens do Chiado, Amoreiras and Colombo. Traditional markets are situated in Mercado da Ribeira downtown.

There are all types of traditional and boutique shops especially in the downtown Lisbon. They offer good bargains for leather and handcrafted merchandize.

Centro Vasco da Gama

The shopping center has the décor of an ocean theme with water flowing over the transparent roof. There are several fast food outlets and shops by genre. There is also a 10-foot screen cinema hall.

Colombo

Colombo is one of the largest shopping malls and leisure complexes in Europe. It houses a large number of restaurants, a bowling alley, health club, multiplex cinema theatre, fun rides including a roller coaster and a go-cart track.

El Corte Inglês

Owned by a Spanish departmental chain store, it is one of the largest stores in Lisbon. It is spread over nine floors and also houses a supermarket, a gourmet shop, cafes, restaurants, a 14-screen cinema hall, fashion brands, sports items, electronics, books, CDs and various household goods.

Restaurants

If you are looking for some special or gourmet food, you may head for:

Celeiro

Celeiro specializes in vegetarian health food and microbiotic products. Every food item provided here is completely natural.

Manuel Tavares

This wonderful eatery dates back to 1860s and offers the choicest selection of chocolates, cheeses, nuts and vintage wines besides a wide array of Portuguese products.

Mercearia da Atalaia

This gourmet deli offers high quality Portuguese desserts, coffees, teas, jams and homemade breads, wines, herbs and spices.

Handicrafts & Textiles

Principe Real

You can buy some of Europe’s prettiest tablecloths and sheets at Principe Real. Their customers’ list consists of the rich and famous of the European society. They include Kennedys, Rockefellers and Michael Douglas. The products here are handcrafted and manually embroidered according to the order.

Antiga Casa do Castelo

Although owned by an American, Antiga Casa do Castelo specializes in Portuguese handicrafts including ceramics, linen, tiles, soaps and embroidery.

Sightseeing in Lisbon

Lisbon, in fact, has not been spruced up to be a tourist attraction. Lisbon is a strange mix of the old and the new. You only need to get lost through its streets and roads to discover its typical sights and scenes. You will be surprised by the beauty of the cobbled patterns in the city’s streets. The buildings located in the Parque das Nacoes reflect the maritime interest of the Portuguese people in their themes and architecture.

Although the city boasts of several big time attractions, yet the real Lisbon lies in its street life and setting. You can watch and admire Lisbon from the top of the hilltop miradouro or simply by walking or biking through it.

Belem Tower

Belem Tower enjoys the same patronage and popularity in Lisbon as Eiffel Tower in Paris and Big Ben in London. It is Lisbon’s icon and the most visited and photographed tower of Lisbon.  It was built in 1515 as a fortress to safeguard the Lisbon harbor. Jeronimos Monastry situated close to it is another unforgettable attraction.

Castle of St. George

Dating back to 6th century, Castle of St. George is visible almost every locality of the city. It served as the residence of the royal Moors until the first ruler of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, captured it in 1147. It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, to commemorate the Anglo-Portuguese pact of 1371. You can see the statue of King Afonso Henriques near the main gate.

About the Author

Salovani-travellingtolisbon is a portuguese familiar owned company. Their apartments are located in the heart of the old Lisbon centre, some of them with stunning panoramic views of the castle and city. The main tourist sights are within easy walking distance.

saint honore pen

The origins of Valentines Day

Every year February 14th is celebrated as a day for love, exchange of gifts, promises of eternal passion, and more. The inspired pen poems inspired by their love and admiration for the women of their dreams while others just go to shops and buy commercially available verses.

Valentines means candy, chocolates, perfume, red hearts, balloons, and more. Have you ever wondered when the celebration first originated? Well in ancient Rome, February heralded the coming to spring a time for rejuvenation, fertility, and growth.

In ancient times, Romans celebrated in February a festival to honor the god of fertility who provided them with progeny and ensured a god crop. In Rome February 15th was celebrated as the feast of Lupercalla and Feb 14th as a holiday in honor of Juno the queen of Roman gods and goddesses. On the eve of Lupercalla a glass jar was filled to the brim with chits on which were penned the names of all eligible girls. Then young men would draw a chit each from the jar and the girl whose name was on the chit would be his partner for the celebration. This was a method by which ancient Romans introduced eligible boys and girls to one another.

Much later in the 3rd century BCE when Emperor Claudius II ruled Rome there lived a priest called Valentine. And when Claudius passed a decree that young men in his empire were not to marry, Valentine defied him and used to consecrate marriages secretly. He was sentenced to death and thrown into prison. While awaiting his execution Valentine penned a letter to his love and signed it "from your Valentine." After his death Valentine became a martyr and saint and was popularly known as St Valentine.

Wonderful legends are woven around Valentine's Day. In Wales young people exchanged as gifts wooden spoons which were hand carved with decorations of hearts and key holes. The decorations conveyed "you hold the key to my heart or you unlock my heart." In other places women were given gifts of clothes and if they accepted the gift then it conveyed that they were wiling to marry the man who has sent the gift.

In 1415, Charles, the Duke of Orleans is known to have penned, from his prison in the tower of London , what were known as "poetical amorous addresses" to his wife in France, he is believed to be one of the earliest creators of valentines.

Just as companies like Hallmark sell cards for Valentines Day in the 15th century people bought little booklets with verse in them ---they then made their own valentines using the verse to express their thoughts. For example a valentine could have the hand drawn illustration of a knight and his lady with Cupid the god of love shooting arrows into the knight's heart.In the US it was after 1723, that popularity of the celebration grew. People imported the "booklets of verse" all the way from England and copied the verses on to gilt edged papers. Then a Ms. Ester Howard in around 1830 decided to be original and create American Valentines that were marketed as Worcester Valentines.

Since then with changing centuries and tastes the celebration has taken on new hues with young men and women, children, as well as older couples creating newer ways to celebrate and declare their undying love.

About the Author

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888PressRelease.com/Lifestyle-0-24.html, the premier website to Submit Free Press Release for any announcements including launching of new product or services, new website, announcing new hires, sponsoring a special event or seminar and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888Articles.com/love-articles-178_19.html

Nicene Creed?

Okay so... Can someone explain this? I looked it up on wikipedia and dont understand it.

When was this created? Why was it created? Who created it?

Where does its authority come from?
How to catholics say only people that believe in the trinity are Christains if the trinity was created by man not god?

The Nicene Creed declared Jesus to be God. It was adopted by the minority of bishops who attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. In its original form, the Nicene Creed was clearly designed to combat the position of Arius, who claimed that Jesus was a created being and was thus subject to God.

The Nicene Creed did not get its authority from the Bible. The Bible NEVER said Jesus was God. At John 17:3, jesus said his Father, Jehovah, is "the only true God." Jesus and others referred to himself as God's Son, NOT God. For example, at John 10:36, Jesus called himself "the Son of God." 1 John 5:5 says of Jesus: "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

The Nicene Creed is based on the false thought that Jesus is God.

The trinity took on its full form years after the Nicene Creed was made public. As A Catholic Dictionary notes: “The third Person was asserted at a Council of Alexandria in 362 . . . and finally by the Council of Constantinople of 381.”

The trinity is NOT a Christian teaching.

Jesus said; "HASHEM your God-NOT Father"...

iona lent

saint germain des pres cafe box

Celtic Advent in the pre Nicene church, early Christianity that pre-dates the Nicene Creed, the roadmap of what Christians, Catholic and Protestants believe. was very different than what we celebrate in the modern time. First Celtic Christianity participated and flourished in this period right up though the middle ages and had its own unique way of celebrating the season of Celtic Advent.

The Celtic Church was given this name to describe the period before the missionaries arrived. St. Patrick a famous saint arose out of the Celtic Christianity era for Ireland Wales and Scotland. He was a British missionary, maybe the most famous of all the Saints to rise out of this time approximately the 5th century. Although, from a historical perspective ironic, Ireland was evangelized and converted by the British Missionaries of which St. Patrick was a participant.

Early periods of advent have roots back to the Gauls and their Monks who seems to fashion the period to mimic advent. They did not have a Celtic advent wreath but started the period of fasting on Nov 15th. This season kicked off with a Mass. This was defined as a period of fasting for 40 days and atonement. It was a reflective period that many who were preparing for baptism would use this for purification. The period of time is still observed throughout the eastern orthodox faiths. And in the Roman Catholic Church this period of purification and enlightenment was moved to lent and still observed within the present time as part of the RCIA program that does use the tenants of the early church to bring people into the church. This was restructured this way after Vatican II.

In the 4th century, Advent, mimicking Lent seems to start to change a bit. Although it still was penitential in nature and was still a fasting period, it also started to become a period of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. This tradition still is with us to this day. As we move though the present season of Advent, we use our advent wreath, we mark our salvation history. We then look to preparing for the christ child and then on to Christs second coming. We still have a dedication to prayer and penance in the present church.

Although its is difficult to pinpoint the true start of advent during this period of church history. It is generally believed there are it is a blend between the Roman customs and also the Gauls, or modern day France. There was a group of Celtic monks who help blend the period of fasting and borrowed the 40 days from Lent and added the feast of Martin of Tours on November 11th. Martin was the founder of the Gaul Monasteries

Celtic Advent is truly a blending of the two societies and the date of Nov 15-Christmas Eve was a perfect way to add pray and penance and atonement long before Christmas or the commercialism we face in the present day

About the Author:

full line of Celtic Advent Wreath and traditional Advent wreaths

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Celtic Advent Blends Cultures

YLC 2008 - Hoover Explains the Nicene Creed

PRAYER OF THE NICENE CREED CATHOLIC HOLY CARD (3CARDS) $7.31

Catholic Nicene Creed Italian Laminated Prayer Card $1.57

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