Thwarting Yanny

ahhh i see. now.
i had this same argument with my Catholic friends all the time. I just bypassed Mary and the saints and prayed directly to the big guy. In retrospect i understand that by venorating Mary one would venorate her son even more, but i agree with you on this point. Please note tho’, that this is a Catholic thing (i’m not sure about high Anglicans or Coptic’s), and definitely does not apply to other denominations (this was one reason i was pulled out of Catholic school i believe - that and i kept getting into fights . . . not good for a Mennonite boy)I also am not sure about that whole “going without meat” thing, although i believe it is a sacrifice to honor Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday.
Although i don’t have any problems with Catholic theology, you might look at Anabaptist theology as there was little added or taken away from the original Acts church to compare.

1. Although i now loosely follow the religion of my parents, it required several years of assessment, research and introspection. Naturally my parents had some influence on my decision in ways i do not know, however my sisters and i are fiercely independent people, and any apparent pressure would provoke a very strong reaction in the opposite direction. I believe i have a relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ, and that is something that is difficult to disguard. As for my denomination, it seems to most closely follow Jesus’ teachings and the early church (i know everyone says that). At the same time, I am a pacifist, i believe in a “believer’s baptism”, and a “simple” Christian walk.
2. I am a Mennonite - an Anabaptist - kind of like Baptists, except usually a little more sedate, pacifists, and many of us have a strong ethnic heritage as well - much like the Jews (nomadic existance, leaving countries of persecution for our beliefs etc.)
3. I believe that there is beauty in all religions, Christian and otherwise. Probably some truth as well (Hinduism, for example, is a brilliant social experiment, if not a religion - who wouldn’t want to build Karma for the next life?). At the same time they all are missing a vital ingredient - a relationship with Jesus Christ.
   Oh, and i can understand agnosticism - that makes sense to me. I was one briefly, and i can understand that some people are searching. Atheism i have more of a problem with, but that might be an appropriate “other discussion”
   thanks for enduring the windyness
   cc

quote: with one exeption johvas whitnesses.
i don’t mind there belifes but keep your belifes to your selves and don’t try to push it on other people.

of course there’s a bit of a paradox to this statement in that inherent to the JW’s belief system is that they must Witness (tell others about their faith). I am sometimes ashamed of myself. I’m quick to espouse the great pizza’s made by Santa Lucia’s, or the hottest latest Athlon chip etc., but i do not share my faith very often with others. There is a difference between “sharing one’s faith” and “pushing it on them”. I mean, myself and a couple of others have been quite vocal in expressing our beliefs. Do you feel that we pushed these on you? Now if i tied you on a chair, put a sock in your mouth and preached at you, that might be different (and not very Christian of me).
Evidence, I guess, that these things are all relative. I have a friend who is quite evangelical. The JW’s avoid him like the plague :smile:

he’s funny, but not as insightful as Dennis Miller. I think he ought to run for President.