re: #33 LudwigVanQuixote

Sitings on pizzas, patterns of stucco, and freeway underpasses aside, didn’t Mary leave this mortal coil some 1600 years before that?

She really gets around! Wasn’t this also some 1500 years after she left this mortal coil?

Also, isn’t she famous for giving people the time to repent? I seem to recall a medieval legend about her keeping a hanged man suspended with her finger so that he could repent.

The point is that, the best parts of Christianity are about loving others and seeing the best in them. They are about humility before God so as to be able to see fellowship with other people.

What bothers me is that there seem to be no loud Christian voices decrying this abuse of their religion.

Very true, but also remember that there’s an aspect to Christianity that’s all about fire and brimstone. That this world is meant for your suffering until you pass to heaven. That humans aren’t deserving of joy, certainly not respect (Fred Phelps). At least this is what has been described to me by friends who grew up in fire and brimstone Christianity and came out quite messed up over it. They’re Wiccans now. Years of pent up emotion and frustration (particularly sexual) and they kinda went in the opposite direction.

It’s dismal, but I really don’t think it’s any “less real” than other aspects of Christianity. It certainly isn’t for Pastor Terry, et al.