Yesterday I shared some information because I just needed to vent. It's not that I'm not use to getting my share of attacks (see my side bar over at MDC). It goes with the territory when you venture into anything more controversial than recipes and weather reports I suppose. It's just that it's frustrating sometimes to think you are communicating X but coming across with Y to some folks, if that makes any sense.
Anyway, for me, it's best if I can keep the number of fires I am putting out to a minimum. I do have another blog, there has been spirited apologetics discussions over there, maybe that is where the perception of "hate spewing" came from. Beats me.
But over here there is a much more narrowed focus and I need to keep it that way. I have no desire, time, or inclination to take on the entire third branch of Christianity that came about after the Reformation. This blog does much better me thinks, when it is focused on defending/explaining Catholicism from the errors posted on www.keepingthehome.com. That may from time to time mean that we challenge some of those doctrines that are expressed there, particularly with how they juxtaposed against Catholicism. (For example, I posted the sola scriptura arguments because of a comment on the defunct Coffeebean blog.) That's our focal point and I think this blog has to be focused like a laser beam on that.
So moving forward, I hope that clears things up. With six kids, a house, a job, homeschooling and another blog, there are only so many hours in a day. To be productive here, I have to be more concentrated.
So blogging will be.
1. Focused on explaining Catholicism, particularly the doctrines and teachings that Candy at www.keepingthehome.com and her readers seem to have the most problem with.
2. Explaining Catholic issues as they come up in the news and/or liturgical year.
3. Reacting to articles on www.keepingthehome.com as the come up.
4. Reacting to articles on other blogs as I deem appropriate.
If something gets posted here that readers don't understand - ask! It may seem that something is coming out of left field, but there is usually a reason for posting what I post.
Also, if there is something you WANT to see covered - feel free to ask for that too. This month of May is pretty much going to be about Mary, November will be about Purgatory. Other than that, I'm open to your suggestions.
8 comments:
Excellent Elena!!!
Good call, Elena.
The third type of Christianity is simply too varied and vast. It would be impossible to do it all justice without irking somebody.
Plus, they generally don't go in for the excesses of Candy et al.
well i have a topic request or two for you, I am a family friend of one family that is both catholic and protestant, so here are two requests:
1) the difference in the different branches of Catholicism, such as Roman, Eastern Orthodox, etc. Do you see there being a repair of the breach?
2)in said family, the mother is Southern Baptist, on is aethist, 2 are Orthodox Catholic, and another I am not sure, some sort of baptist, anywho, when they get together it is pretty cool to listen to them talk about faith issues, because of the respect they give each other. I would like to see more on this type of thing among brothers and sisters of the faith..do you see this as something that is limited to the family experience? why/why not?
3) The Emerging Church conversation borrows a bit from Early Church traditions, what are your thoughts on this[I would be willing to promote this dialog on my blog as well]
Thanks for the time!
Jason
Jason, thanks for sticking around here and piping up occasionally.
Regarding number one, the Catholic/Orthodox dialog is doing much better than it has in a long time. However, after a break of over a thousand years, many other issues have sprung up. I believe we have now conceded the original Filoque Clause issue, but now the major sticking point is the papacy.
Is there hope for reunification? Well, hope is a theological virtue, so certainly. But I feel that at this time reunification is more likely with some factions in the Anglican church than with the Orthodox.
Number two, I think that any time you have a group of people who have mutual respect for each other, then you will have respect for your differences, too. I have seen that sort of thing personally among women who had a relationship built around a mutual love of being a stay-at-home mom, or homeschooling, or even La Leche League.
I've read that this sort of thing happens two when different branches of Christianity work together, such as in missionary work, military chaplaincy, etc. Again, respect is really what you need to have, and you have to have an actual relationship with people with differing opinions, and not just surround yourself with like-minded individuals.
I really know nothing about the Emerging Church, so I can't help you there. I did read your blog post about it, but I wasn't any clearer about what it is, in the end.
do you really think the Anglican issue is that far gone amongst themselves that the splinter groups will join the RCC? I had not heard much on it lately.
Also I do not mind much reading posts here and commenting. I am into Church History and like reading things from the perspective of those actually engaging in the topic.
1) the difference in the different branches of Catholicism, such as Roman, Eastern Orthodox, etc. Do you see there being a repair of the breach?
One thing about these very old churches- they don't move too quickly!! That said, yea, I think there will be some repair. We consider their Eucharist to be valid. Maybe before the end of the century they will reciprocate.
2)in said family, the mother is Southern Baptist, on is aethist, 2 are Orthodox Catholic, and another I am not sure, some sort of baptist, anywho, when they get together it is pretty cool to listen to them talk about faith issues, because of the respect they give each other. I would like to see more on this type of thing among brothers and sisters of the faith..do you see this as something that is limited to the family experience? why/why not?
My best friend is a bible believing, Black Gospel Christian - and we get along great! I have another friend who is an agnostic, and many other friends in my neighborhood who belong to numerous other denominations and neighborhood churches. Yea-we get along, respect each other and even have fun! We do not discuss religion that much, although my BFF and I covered that territory a decade ago or so.
3) The Emerging Church conversation borrows a bit from Early Church traditions, what are your thoughts on this[I would be willing to promote this dialog on my blog as well]
I know next to nothing about the Emerging Church other than a lot of the other Protestant Blogs won't let emerging church folks join in their blog rolls, blog games, carnivals etc. I have no idea why.
do you really think the Anglican issue is that far gone amongst themselves that the splinter groups will join the RCC?
No, I just said I thought it more likely than with the Orthodox. I think that unless Archbishop Williams does some fast thinking, we're likely to end up with two branches of the Anglican church, as more and more choose to align themselves with the African bishops.
We are certainly getting a lot of individual conversions as a result of the problems there. At the same time, while it doesn't make the Catholic press, I'm sure a lot of the Catholics who are frustrated at the "lack of progress" in women's ordination, openly gay priests, etc., are moving from Rome to the Anglicans. When we get done swapping, we'll have the Anglicans as the liberal liturgical church, and the Catholics as the conservative liturgical church.
We have had some groups petition to join:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10801
However, the Vatican actually doesn't prefer it happen this way because it is a mess of paperwork. Any of those who are former Catholics may have problems with being on second marriages or other issues that makes it difficult to accept everyone en mass.
Elana: There is a lot of drama within some circles concerning the topic, for clarification it is not its own denomination. Its basically an interdenominational movement[Catholics Included] to rethink how we have been doing things as Christ Followers and be bold enough to change our approach to dealing with issues without invalidating the Gospel. It also about looking how verses have been interpreted in the past by groups and seeing if it measures up against the original texts, etc...in relation to our culture, etc..
Now granted some people have gone way off to the left and right side of things...this happens with about everything in life...it irks me when people try to group as all into one type and then invalidate the whole thing because of those who take it to the extreme.
Thats about as in a nutshell as one can make it, hope it helps.
kelly: I am pretty sure the African Bishops want to do their own thing but I would not be surprised to see them join the RCC..not saying thats a bad thing either..
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