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@@CatholicCentralVideos This video was part of my hwk

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Or, how to make the best of a bad situation!

The Catholic Church teaches that while abortion is not the only issue, it carries a very heavy moral weight due to its direct attack on innocent human life. But, this does not diminish the importance of other issues, such as the environment, but calls for a balanced approach that prioritizes the right to life as foundational. Catholics are encouraged to engage in political and social life holistically, advocating for the protection of all human life and dignity in accordance with the Church’s comprehensive social teaching.

@@CatholicCentralVideos thank you for your very quick and true response on this older video :)

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The Catholic Church is not Gnostic and does not teach that the flesh is inherently sinful. Instead, it upholds the goodness of creation and the reality of the Incarnation. The doctrine of original sin, influenced by Augustine, emphasizes the fallen state of human nature while maintaining that humans can overcome sin through divine grace. Gnosticism, with its dualistic worldview and denial of the Incarnation, has been consistently rejected by the Church as heretical.

@@CatholicCentralVideos It has been said of Augustine that ‘his approach to solving the problem of evil shaped his whole theological vision’.6 Initially, this was in response to his past in Manichaeism, which ‘has a dualist worldview that maintains that good and evil are two equally fundamental realities in eternal opposition’.7 It is within this context that his doctrine of original sin is best located. Anthony Smith Augustine on sin

The Catholic Church acknowledges Augustine's significant contribution to Christian theology, particularly his efforts to address the problem of evil and his formulation of the doctrine of original sin. Augustine's past in Manichaeism indeed shaped his theological inquiries, but his mature Christian doctrine fundamentally rejects the dualistic worldview. Instead, it emphasizes the goodness of creation, the privation theory of evil, and the necessity of divine grace for overcoming sin and achieving salvation. The Church continues to hold Augustine's teachings in high regard while integrating them into a broader, orthodox theological framework.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Gnostics matter is sin ... spirit is sinless

The Church teaches that all of creation, including the material world, is good because it was created by God. Human beings are a unity of body and soul, both of which are inherently good, though affected by original sin. The Church upholds the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, who took on human flesh, affirming the goodness of the material world. Catholic sacramental theology further demonstrates that material elements can be channels of divine grace. Thus, Catholicism stands in clear opposition to Gnostic dualism and affirms the inherent goodness of both matter and spirit.

Hello @kiwihans100, we see that you are not acknowledging the Gospel of John, which witnesses that Jesus was God from its first verse and continuing throughout. This is not to say that there are no evidences of Jesus’s identification with God in the synoptics, such as at Mark 14:62 and Matthew 28:16-20. But it is asking too much of your fellow Christians to take any biblical argument seriously that first dismisses an entire book of the bible that’s been part of the accepted canon for over two millennia, whether it’s John’s Gospel or the Book of Genesis. For that reason we are unable to meaningfully discuss the “Jesus of the bible” until we know what bible you are referring to.

Hi @BazzaFnbr, we cannot be sure if you are asking this as a serious question or just trying to be funny, but we will assume that you are being serious. The question you ask has been asked for as long as humans have had the power to question things, it might well be the oldest question there is. As Catholics, we believe that God's existence can be known with certainty through the "natural light of reason." Which is the capacity for intelligent thought that all human beings have just by virtue of being human. By exercising their native intelligence, human beings can discover, verify, and organize many truths of natural reason. We believe that God has gradually revealed aspects of his existence through natural and special revelation, and that there is evidence around the world to support the existence of God, such as nature, love, and our consciousness. We also believe that we see evidence of God’s existence in creation, conscience, rationality and human experience. Throughout history, great thinkers, such as Thomas Aquinas have made good arguments for God’s existence. There are also other arguments to prove that there is a God as well, such as the “Ontological Argument.” but we get deep into the weeds when we try to discuss such ideas. God is something you feel in your heart and in your soul. We would urge you to look at our episodes regarding God, including “Proofs of God” and “Who is God” for additional information.

@@CatholicCentralVideos but there is no proof of his excistence

As Catholics, we acknowledge that empirical proof of God’s existence, akin to scientific proof, is not available, but we maintain that there are compelling philosophical, historical, and experiential reasons to believe in God. Faith, supported by reason, leads to a conviction of God’s existence and His ongoing presence in the world.

@@CatholicCentralVideos but is there a document of his excistence and also good video helped me out x

The document of God's existence is the Bible. The Bible tells us of the impact God had on the Jewish people. God introduces himself in the Book of Genesis by saying "I am Being Itself." That's a good place to start when trying to understand who God is. See the episodes we recommended, and read the comments pages and study guides on each one. Thanks for joining us. God bless you.

Hi @louieabramic4290, if you form your conscience correctly, there should be no conflict. If you do find yourself continually coming up with an answer that goes against Church teaching, it might be a good idea to speak to a spiritual director.

Hi angelrojo, we are dismayed by your bitter comments. As you see from the other comments on this page, your experience does not seem to be widely shared. We are sorry that your personal dating life has proved so negative. You speak of the situation in the Mediterranean world, and from your comments it’s fair to conclude that’s it’s quite different from that of North America’s. You might benefit from our series called , “Lasting Marriages: I do…and Still do” (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QS2VI9y7gYk.html), in which Catholic couples (on this side of the Atlantic) discuss their marriages. They do not present themselves in an ideal light, but there is no talk or evidence of the inhumane burdens, constraints and misconceptions that you inaccurately attribute to all Catholic relationships. We did not say that Catholics can only date Catholics. We are saying you shouldn’t start out with marriage, Catholic or otherwise, as the number one precondition for your date. Just enjoy being two people exploring the new vistas and mysteries of each other. There are degrees of insight and commitment that need to occur long before talking of marriage. You scoffed in one of your comments about the “big joke” of the dignity of persons… but your mutual dignity as human persons, as God’s children, must be recognized and cherished as the foundation and first principle of all our relationships, regardless of religious affiliation or the prospects of marriage. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious and surprising ways. Trust that God will do God’s part in your relationship, but you need to do your part and recognize the beauty, truth and goodness of the person God has put before you. Otherwise, there is no hope or rationale for marriage, in or out of the Catholic Church.

@@CatholicCentralVideos It has become very fashionable for insultingly young Catholic and Protestant couples and married couples (in many cases under 25 years of age) to make videos on RU-vid giving advices on marriage, the wedding night, contraceptive methods, and being single, and regarding the latter, especially about the defects we single people have (that is, those of us who have never been married) for which we do not deserve to get married, and also the obligations that we single people have and married people don't have it. My answers should not surprise you; the responses are even more acidic and sarcastic in this kind of videos when Protestants make them, since the Protestant community is even more intolerant if possible than the Catholic one. Especially hurtful are the videos of married couples telling us singles how bad it is to be married and how wonderful it is to be single because we have more free time and we can serve God better. And, at the same time, society and the Catholic and Protestant churches rub in our faces the defects that we singles have: "your biological clock is ticking"; "you are going to stay to dress saints" (to be left on the shelf) (two very typical and very painful phrases from Spanish and Italian societies); "you are too picky"; "you're a weirdo"; "God's plan for you is that you remain single forever; pick up your cross and follow Him"; and my favorite one, "if no one has loved you when you were young, much less when you were old." I, as a Catholic, for personal, religious, and historical reasons, have had, have, and will always have a special affection for Karol J. Wojtyła, Saint John Paul II. He has been the only one in the history of the Catholic Church to offer a theological and philosophical response to the human need to love and be loved. However, in the real world, there are no Catholic women who want to be loved that way. Catholic women, young and not so young, are only looking for their Prince Charming, their 6'5 tall, blue-eyed, blonde, athletic, 6-figure salary, to offer them the life of luxury they have always deserved, and, of course, a lot of premarital sex. That's why it makes me laugh when I hear people say that being Catholic means "believing that all people have dignity and worth", since currently there are no Catholic women who believe in that, and many men don't believe it either. That is why the relationships between men and women in the Catholic Church are so false. In Spain, it is a fact that 6 out of 10 supposedly Catholic marriages, married in the Church, end in divorce in less than 10 years. I have been a direct witness to some of these false marriages by the Church that have ended in divorce. The reason is quite simple: there is no true love, there is no tolerance, there is no respect; there is only physical attraction and attraction for money. In Poland, my current country of residence, Catholic women's superficiality and contempt for single men is even worse. This is what dismay us as single men. We are at the moment in history with the highest number of singles in the Catholic and Protestant Churches. Faced with such expectations of contempt for singles and unrealistic and fanciful perspectives on the part of women within the Church, people are reacting. More and more singles are leaving Catholic and Protestant churches to pursue their human desire to love and be loved by kind, tolerant, understanding, sensitive, and realistic women, regardless of their ideology and their religion or lack of religion. This is what being Catholic is about, tolerating, respecting, accepting, and loving anyone, regardless of their beauty, their work, their wealth, their ideology, their religion, or their lack of religion. Because to be Catholic is to be Universal. This is not an isolated problem of one or two people, it is a general problem of society, particularly of the intolerance and fantasies of the Catholic and Protestant communities. No Catholic couple or marriage, no priest or bishop or archbishop or cardinal will ever understand the pain, frustration, and suffering of people who have been created by God to love sincerely and deeply and to be loved, and have been deprived by society and the Church of the opportunity to give to someone special everything we can give. This is the time when the Catholic community has to stop making videos and start really focusing on tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of involuntary singles, abandon hypocrisy and contempt for others, and promote true Catholic moral values, encourage single men and women to get to know each other in heart and spirit, and not by their looks or their money. It will be too late when all the single men have left the Church.

Hi again angelrojo. In so many ways we totally agree. You say that “being Catholic is about tolerating, respecting, accepting, and loving anyone, regardless of their beauty, their work, their wealth, their ideology, their religion, or their lack of religion. Because to be Catholic is to be Universal.” We say Amen! We expressed the same sentiment when we said that “our dignity as human persons, as God’s children, must be recognized and cherished as the foundation and first principle of all our relationships, regardless of religious affiliation or the prospects of marriage,” We understand that what you are further saying is that in the battlefield of life, people often do not live up to these ideals. Again we say Amen! We disagree with you only to the extent that you lay this failure entirely at the feet of the Catholic Church. But that feels a bit contradictory to us because at the same time you praise St Pope John Paul II for his pastoral wisdom in these matters, wisdom that still guides the Church - at least the North American Church. In fact his thought and spirit run strongly through our episodes “Love,” “Marriage” and “Sexuality.” That said, we do not wish to deny your personal experience in your part of the world. We are truly sorry to hear about it. But for ourselves, we can attest by first-hand experience that we do not find “all Catholic women” to be venal and self-serving. Nor can we agree that there is “no Catholic couple or marriage, no priest or bishop or archbishop or cardinal” who understands that “we are created by God to love sincerely and deeply and to be loved.” These are generalizations that would be hard to support statistically, given the enormous population they implicate. As you yourself point out there are “true Catholic values" supporting "tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of involuntary singles,” values that “encourage single men and women to get to know each other in heart and spirit, and not by their looks or their money.” If this is true, and we believe it is, it is hard for us to exclusively blame the Catholic Church for the situation you describe. What we are more likely to believe is that faithful, prophetic Catholics like yourself can make a difference by continuing to embody the values that you share with the Church, wherever they lead, and to trust in the God who brings all things to the good. We pray that for ourselves and all Catholics as much as we pray it for you.

Thank you for expressing your concerns about the issues and challenges facing the Church since Vatican II. The Second Vatican Council was a significant moment in the Church's history, aimed at renewing the Church's engagement with the modern world and deepening the understanding of its mission. It brought many positive changes but also presented new challenges that require careful consideration and response. The feeling at the time was that the Church had stagnated and needed some fresh air. It's true that other Christian communities, such as the Church of England and Anglicans worldwide, have experienced divisions. The Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, continually strives to maintain unity while addressing internal and external challenges. The idea of calling a Third Vatican Council (Vatican III) is an intriguing one. While the Pope has the authority to convene an ecumenical council, such a decision would be made with great discernment, considering the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the needs of the Church, and the advice of the bishops and the broader Catholic community. In the meantime, the Church is actively engaged in addressing various issues through synods, consultations, and other means of fostering dialogue and renewal. Pope Francis, for example, has emphasized the importance of synodality, inviting the faithful to participate in the life and mission of the Church. As Catholics, we trust that our Lord Jesus Christ continues to guide and shepherd His Church. We are called to pray for unity, wisdom, and the courage to address challenges with faith and hope. Your suggestion highlights the importance of ongoing reflection and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in navigating the complexities of our times.

Thanks so much! Father Mike is already a fan, but feel free to share us everywhere!

While the statement does not fully define the term "Tyranny" "responsibility without rights" could describe situations where individuals are expected to fulfill certain duties or obligations but lack the corresponding rights or freedoms to protect their own interests or well-being. This could be a form of tyranny. On the other hand, anarchy can be described as "Anarchy is a state of society without government or authority, characterized by a lack of centralized control or hierarchical structure, often leading to individual autonomy and decentralized decision-making." In a very broad brush stroke, no government or authority means no rights or responsibilities.

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Your comment reflects a common perspective among some who critique the influence of Greek philosophy on Christian theology, particularly within the Catholic tradition. You are concerned with human attempts to define or explain the nature of God and suggest that the early Church may have been misguided by the influence of educated and wealthy philosophers. We, as Catholics, do believe in the Bible being the revealed Word of God. All faith traditions have spent the last couple of millennia interpreting that revealed Word, it is less a question of arrogance and more a need to try to understand. The citation of Colossians 2:8, where Paul warns against being captivated by "philosophies of men," is often used to caution against reliance on human wisdom alone in matters of faith. Similarly, the reference to the apostles as "unlettered and ordinary men" underscores the idea that the message of Christianity is not dependent on human intellect or education, but on divine revelation. The assertion that Jesus Christ is not referred to as "God the Son" in the Bible is a point of theological contention. While the exact phrase "God the Son" may not be explicitly stated in Scripture, the concept of Jesus as divine, co-eternal, and consubstantial with the Father is central to orthodox Christian doctrine and is supported by numerous passages throughout the New Testament, not the least of which is the beginning of the Gospel of John where we read that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” “…and the Word became flesh.” (Jn 1:1,14) In response to this perspective, Catholics affirm the importance of respecting the mystery and transcendence of God while also recognizing the role of human reason in seeking to understand divine revelation. We think philosophical engagement can enrich theological reflection and deepen our understanding of God's nature, as long as it remains in harmony with Scripture and tradition.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Thank you very much for your excellent reply! I feel we are surely on the 'same hymn book' are we not? Look You mentione that the bible suggests that Jesus is 'divine'! Of course he is, I fully agree with you! Just as I DONT agree with Athanansius, I also DONT agree with Arius! I feel they were BOTH wrong! Look Col 2:9 in most 'trinitarian' based bibles reads 'godhead', the original greek word is; THEIOTES' which literally means 'of divine quaality'. (The word 'godhead' used sooften by 'trinitarians' was coined by John Wycliffe in the 13 century!) Thus Jesus is DIVINE! Does this means he is the Almighty God? No for 2 Peter 2:4 uses exactly the same word when revealing the destiny of the saints in heaven!) Will they also be 'God'? No but share with Christ his uniwue sonship! They are always called 'brothers' of Christ' thus'sons' of God! So I do NOT believe that Jesus was CREATED as Arius wrongly taught. If we just believe what JESUS HIMSELF said about himself, "I am God's ONY BEGOTTEN SON" ( John 3:16,17). I sitcck with what Jesus said!

Hi @kiwihans100, we are glad that you feel that we are all “reading from the same hymn book” and we could not agree more. If we all concentrated on what we agree on rather than on what we disagree on, the world would be a better place. You make some compelling points in your discussion, and we would like to rebut them. Your response is one that diverges from several Catholic and Mainstream Protestant positions, especially regarding the understanding of our concept of Trinity and the Nature of Jesus Christ. When it comes to the Trinity, Catholic theology, along with many other Christian traditions, affirms the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ, as well as the Holy Spirit, is foundational to this doctrine, which you know but we are stating this for others who may be reading. Colossians 2:9: While the Greek word "theiotes" is indeed translated as "divine nature" or "Godhead" (which shows up at least a hundred years before your citation) in some translations, it's essential to interpret this verse considering the broader context of Scripture and the Church's tradition. Catholic theology understands Jesus as fully divine, sharing in the same essence or nature as the Father, which is why the term "Godhead" is used to express this understanding. 2 Peter 2:4: The use of the term "partakers of the divine nature" in 2 Peter 2:4 does not imply that believers become gods in the same sense as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rather, it speaks to the participation of believers in the life of God through grace, becoming like God in holiness and righteousness, but not in essence or being. John 3:16: While Jesus indeed identifies himself as the only begotten Son of God in John 3:16, Catholic theology understands this in the context of the Trinity, affirming both the divinity and the unique relationship of Jesus with the Father. While individuals may hold differing theological perspectives, Catholicism maintains the traditional understanding of Jesus Christ's divinity as central to the Christian faith, in harmony with the teachings of Scripture, the early Church councils, and the Church's magisterial tradition. You, obviously, do not see it that way. But as we said in the beginning, we should concentrate on what we have in common rather than what divides us.

@@CatholicCentralVideos Paul stated that "We give thanks to GOD the Father OF our Lord Jesus Christ AT ALL TIMES" Col 1:4. This then was the custom of the apostles & early Christians! "God the Father" is mentioned by them at least 30 TIMES in the NT. Paul also said "I bow my knees TO THE FATHER" ( Eph 3:14) The early Christians, without a doubt WORSHIPED the Father! Jesus had taught tem to do so! "The hour is coming whien the TRUE WORSHIPERS will WORSHIP THE FATHER in Spirit and truth!" ( John 4:23,24). Do we all as Christians do that?

@@CatholicCentralVideos Its vital we realise the influence of Greek philosophy that shaped most catholic teachings! We need to examine three main misunderstandings! 1. HADES 2. LOGOS 3. PHYKE. Aristotle & Plato both had a take on these three words. Now read them in the bible where they mean SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT! Any thoughtful bible scholar ( or any reader of 'google'!) will realise the way true Christianity as been CORRUPTED!

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Thank you!

The former has a mountain of evidence and the latter has zilch.

@@zigongosaurus5274 so ?? We ... People were never not even once just atoms and their for dust. Yet science would say including astrophysics guy that everything on this planet was Atomic energy and has always been here. And of course he'd . Even after studying for twenty years?? Ok How many degrees do you have???