Internet And Denominations

[Bruce S]

Gotta love the Internet.

I think learning about each other would be really impossible without it.

Hey, how many are really going to attend a church, to learn about each other? And if one did, what are the chances that one would meet people there that even knew WHY they were attending any church, frankly?

The level of knowledge within any organization today is abysmal, we all know that.

So, you know we spend time here, looking INTERNALLY at the Catholic Church to get some current insights into the CURRENT Catholic Church way of approaching faith.

Do you guys do the same OUTWARDS too?

Just curious....

Edited January 11, 2004 by Bruce S

[Aloysius]

i try to witness to my faith as best i can at my public school. i try to learn about my faith from everywhere and everyone. my witness can be messed up when i accidently swear or laugh at an obscene joke, but i do try to do this outside the internet.

but i'm not sure if that's what you mean... what do you mean? you mean study other denominations? i don't devote a lot of time to it but when i personally know someone whose really into a specific denomination i usually try to learn about it and the differences between it and Catholocism, and of course pray for it's demise so that all Christians would be ONE again.

so, is that an answer to the question? or did i completely mmisunderstand you? :mellow:

[Bruce S]

Yes.

You missed my point. Where do you go to learn about others, INSIDE thier systems, not do apologetics?

I go to a lot of other boards, ones that even think ALL Christians are deluded geniuses, and others from this or that position within Christianity.

Just wondering if others did the same?

Edited January 11, 2004 by Bruce S

[Circle_Master]

I read newspapers from Iraq, the Gaza Strip, and Pakistan frequently. I also frequent onto webpages that 'disprove God' or boards that do the same. I don't do it everyday, but every month or so I spend several days doing this. The newspaper thing goes constant for a few weeks, then dies off, then comes back, etc.

[aquamarine]

Oh, I'm sure some of the older people here would agree that we managed to learn about each other just fine without the internet "back in the day", as my children say, LOL!

It's a tool. An extremely useful one. But, like all tools, it has advantages and disadvantages, and can be either helpful or harmful depending on who is using it.

The problem with most internet communities is that they end up representing a small sub-groups of like-minded people who all support, encourage and affirm each other's beliefs. Sounds like a really good thing, eh? Well, for the most part it is - for them. The problem is that witnessing a group like that interact isn't the best way to learn about something as a whole. You get one small facet of, say, a religion or a political party or activist group.

Also, things happen too quickly on the 'net. For all that it's basically a passive activity, interaction on the 'net is immediate, unfiltered, off-the-cuff and anonymous.

You'd really probably be better off learning about other groups by spontaneously meeting people IRL whose views are revealed over time as you develop a real relationship with them. This way, you meet a variety of people who all belong to the same group yet have very, very different takes on it. Also, you learn from people you're also learning to care about - or learning not to trust, or finding you don't like, etc. - it becomes a much more involved form of interaction, and one where you have to work a little harder to discover things.

[Bruce S]

The problem with most internet communities is that they end up representing a small sub-groups of like-minded people who all support, encourage and affirm each other's beliefs. Sounds like a really good thing, eh? Well, for the most part it is - for them.

OK. I like that view, grin.

I try to get "outta THE box" on a regular basis.

First. I know what MY group thinks.....

Who needs a bunch of US standing around agreeing how right WE are....booooring.

Just might want to make this place MORE attractive to others, encourage them to INTERACT, less pendantic lecturing.

Somedays this place looks more like a copy of the CCC on my computer screen than a DEBATE site.

My two cents.

[jasJis]

This place doesn't have to be what YOU want it to be.

People organized and gathered under 1 concept does seem boring to some people.

Imagine the excitement of people gathered together to look at many philisophical ideals.

Jesus likes us to gather in His name so much, He's quite happy to join us. That may seem a little myopic, doesn't it? Sorry if phatmass Catholics doing that seem like pages of the Catechism to you, Bruce, and that you think that's a bad thing. I'm pleased you recognize the cohesiveness, and am encouraged at the unified understanding of God we share, especially considering the vairried cultural backgrounds and wide range religious experience of the posters here.

God loves the return of the Prodigal "to the box", but it's not neccessary to be a prodigal to enjoy the benefits and love of "being in the box". ;)

Edited January 11, 2004 by jasJis

[aquamarine]

Just a disclaimer here - I don't mean to imply that small sub-groups of people finding each other on the 'net is a bad thing in general - just that observing and interacting with a group you find on the 'net is probably not the best way for an outsider (or even an insider who wants to know more) to get a well-rounded feel for the larger group.

But I must be getting old, because I find it vastly amusing that people think they can't accomplish anything without the 'net now... Next thing you know, I'll be saying the rain is good for the lawn... :D

[cmotherofpirl]

I heard a rumor that books still exist too, Aqua. Have you heard that one too? Somebody invented them back in the day.

[Aloysius]

if it weren't for PhatMass i'd despise the internet. :cool: