Catholic Stereotypes

[VeritasLuxMea]

I see the "Catholics are anti-science" one is getting repeated a lot in this thread. I'd just like to point out that we have recent threads on CAF that are:

1) Disputing the theory of evolution
2) Disputing global climate change
3) Arguing for the existence of ghosts/spirits
4) Arguing that "magic spells" can alter the natural world
5) Arguing that non-classical music is the Devil's handiwork
6) Arguing for broad conspiracy theories

So not for nothin', but I think this is the one stereotype that holds weight.

I also believe the "Hangups about sex" one to be true as well, though not nearly as much as the anti-science bent, and I don't believe there is a problem in the Church's teaching but rather in execution, education and spirit.

[Midwest88]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

I see the "Catholics are anti-science" one is getting repeated a lot in this thread. I'd just like to point out that we have recent threads on CAF that are:

1) Disputing the theory of evolution
2) Disputing global climate change
3) Arguing for the existence of ghosts/spirits
4) Arguing that "magic spells" can alter the natural world
5) Arguing that non-classical music is the Devil's handiwork
6) Arguing for broad conspiracy theories

So not for nothin', but I think this is the one stereotype that holds weight.

I also believe the "Hangups about sex" one to be true as well, though not nearly as much as the anti-science bent, and I don't believe there is a problem in the Church's teaching but rather in execution, education and spirit.

So I guess the people on CAF must evolve then and join the 21st century. Didn't know a handful of topics made Catholics anti-science and paranoid about sex.

[VeritasLuxMea]

Originally Posted by Midwest88

So I guess the people on CAF must evolve then and join the 21st century. Didn't know a handful of topics made Catholics anti-science and paranoid about sex.

Not a handful of topics. The entirety of these forums.

[Midwest88]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

Not a handful of topics. The entirety of these forums.

You must think highly of yourself then.

[Andre1000]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

I see the "Catholics are anti-science" one is getting repeated a lot in this thread. I'd just like to point out that we have recent threads on CAF that are:

1) Disputing the theory of evolution
2) Disputing global climate change
3) Arguing for the existence of ghosts/spirits
4) Arguing that "magic spells" can alter the natural world
5) Arguing that non-classical music is the Devil's handiwork
6) Arguing for broad conspiracy theories

So not for nothin', but I think this is the one stereotype that holds weight.

I also believe the "Hangups about sex" one to be true as well, though not nearly as much as the anti-science bent, and I don't believe there is a problem in the Church's teaching but rather in execution, education and spirit.

Or:
7) Believing in something like resurrection, how anti science!

[mcrow]

I was told by someone who happens to be a female who says will never have children that it's good that I'm Catholic because I can make enough babies for those who don't want to. Then I said, that's well and good but the wife and I married late in life and my wife is getting the age where God doesn't commonly bless people with children.

[anp1215]

Catholics are drunks, all Catholic priests are pedophiles, the Church is greedy (when you go and start the biggest charity in the world, then you can talk to me about being greedy), Catholics have to have as many kids as possible...

[Midwest88]

http://www.alternet.org/media/106551?page=1

Forget Red vs. Blue -- It's the Educated vs. People Easily Fooled by Propaganda


Huge segments of our population, especially those who live in the embrace of the Christian right and the consumer culture, are completely unmoored from reality. They lack the capacity to search for truth and cope rationally with our mounting social and economic ills. They seek clarity, entertainment and order. They are willing to use force to impose this clarity on others, especially those who do not speak as they speak and think as they think. All the traditional tools of democracies, including dispassionate scientific and historical truth, facts, news and rational debate, are useless instruments in a world that lacks the capacity to use them.

- Chris Hedges, NY Times reporter

[Petergee]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

I see the "Catholics are anti-science" one is getting repeated a lot in this thread. I'd just like to point out that we have recent threads on CAF that are:

1) Disputing the theory of evolution
2) Disputing global climate change
3) Arguing for the existence of ghosts/spirits
4) Arguing that "magic spells" can alter the natural world
5) Arguing that non-classical music is the Devil's handiwork
6) Arguing for broad conspiracy theories

So not for nothin', but I think this is the one stereotype that holds weight.

I also believe the "Hangups about sex" one to be true as well, though not nearly as much as the anti-science bent, and I don't believe there is a problem in the Church's teaching but rather in execution, education and spirit.

Yes SOME Catholics take one or more of these views. But ALL of these views are definitely far MORE common among NON Catholics than among Catholics. They are also more common among non-Christians than among Christians.

[rfournier103]

Catholic priests are all pedophiles. The absolute WORST.

[GraceDK]

The sad thing is that we Catholics have given scandal. How else would the world be accusing us of all those things, to which some have some truth to it.

The first thing that happend to me as a young Catholic was to be indroduced into a Catholic youth group where they were drinking beer, getting ready to go to the disco while some priest was sitting with them talking about superficial stuff without mentioning at all the name of Jesus.

Its also true that many Catholics really don't read their Bibles and if you want to start a Bible sharing group there will often be a person saying, "no we cannot do that without a priest".

Priests are pedofiles, would not be a common notion if it wasn't because of the scandals.
Some Catholics really are scared of women and slander even the right kinds of feminism, and cannot stand to see women in any kind of role in the church.

Some people actually do take the marian devotion so far that many other Catholics become uneasy, when the first don't trust Jesus to give them gifts or hear prayers, or love them and some even call Mary the person who holds the wrath of God away from us..This is indeed a scandal.

Being a convert and having many convert and revert friends I also see a widespread feeling of being isolated, that the parish life is stiff and without fellowship compared to Evangelical Churches. And when they voice their concern they are told: well start something up yourself, or well all that is not important, you should be humble and glad just to receive the Eucharist.

There is alot of truth then to the scandal we cause, and this is sad. We need to do a better job at being true Catholics instead of just laughing it all off like everyone else is stupid because they are saying these things about our church.

[SGTTOM]

Catholics are un-Biblical
Catholics worship the saints
Catholics are bad because some priests have committed phedophilic crimes
The Pope is a Nazi
Catholics hate sex
Catholics are ant-female

On the whole sex issue sure I think some people may be overly strict on it or in a sense a lot of people seem to be a bit afraid of the topic but that doesn't represent the church as a whole.

[RainbowSplash37]

Catholic teachings and beliefs are outdated, and have no place in the 21st century. Obama said this himself, I believe, in response to the Catholics who are trying to prevent him from making Catholic charities pay for contraception and abortion.

[SGTTOM]

The whole Catholics are anti-science thing is also getting old...............

Some guy I was talking too made an example by saying the bible says Jesus changed water into wine and that is physically impossible. That has got to be the silliest example, I mean really are people that closed minded? I mean I thought it was obvious that if you choose to believe in God you must believe in more then the science that men can study.

[Midwest88]

Catholics believe in a "god" because they are afraid that they're going to die and also want to feel superior to others.