Why is everyone so shocked to find out that Catholics are encouraged to think for themselves?

[Labgrrlloner]

*everyone* thinks this?Hmmph.If the Jesuits took women I could probably live with the cognitive dissonance of following a god I don't believe in since I agree with 98% of what the order does, and I don't think that of what I'm doing now.*My good wife was raised by Protestant Protestants, and since I grew up in a Jewish Neighborhood and went to a Catholic school I am constantly amazed at what Abrahamicists think other Abrahamicists do and why... They can't seem to open their mouths about Catholics, Jews or Muslims without getting it bloody wrong.

[somehere]

didnt the vatican force galleleo to recant a very similar statement about life on other planets under penalty of burning at the stake?

[pagangrlzz0794]

I don't believe that or that the Christian sect is capable of free thought. You are all blind little sheep who read it in a book and think it is the truth. Why don't you believe that little red riding hood is real? Get the point? Just because someone says it's the true way of things, does not make it so. I do hope there comes a time on this crazy whacked out world where people really do start thinking for themselves. I would love to see all of the Sunday morning TV preachers put off the air and for people to just walk outside and ask themselves " What am I here for?""What can I do to make this a better life for those around Me?" Do you not think that would be better than all of those mislead people sitting in the churches on Sunday morning(some snoring, some reading a magazine, and some playing games on their phones)?Please, people Wake up!!! If you really can think for yourselves, then start asking yourself questions and not following like a little baby cow on the way to slaughter.

[DavidM3824]

In all fairness you are talking about relatively recent changes. A lot of Catholics ARE still in a much more hierchical mindset where the laity are specifically discouraged from forming their own opinions beyond the catechism, and yes it's fair to say you are right in that many people now think ALL Catholics retain that mindset.Even myself, far from an old geezer at 40, I still get a little shiver of cognitive dissonance when I say things in all sincerity like "well of Christian denominations the Catholics make most sense here...". I think we do have to draw a distinction between theology and social influence though. There are still some areas where non-cafeteria Catholics are required to follow some pretty regressive dogma - with obvious ones being celibacy and contraception.

[lilmama]

I was raised a christian.. but i totally agree with Pagan girrlz. AMEN sisters..

[BunnyB]

Pagan girrlz has the right idea. I think people should think for themselves and that most don't. rock on ya'll

[LindaT]

This topic can be debated forever, and we would still be nowhere. But I do see where you are coming from Pagan girrlz. I also agree that we would be better off if the world majority thought more for themselves and less for the churches.

[spookyoneseven5806]

My reason for "being shocked" is because I was raised in the Catholic church, Mass every day (Catholic school) and was "taught" that questioning alone was a sin.This was before and during Vatican II if that makes any difference.

[novangelis5929]

There has been a reversal in the last 500 years -- no surprise. The Protestant Reformation broke the pattern of entrenched church authority in all matters. The strange thing is that so many Protestant sects have lapsed into the same pattern of asserting religious authority over observation.

[Momofthree6721]

Yeah ! I'm glad that you set the masses straight. It's hard to explain the Church to people who already have preconceived ideas about it.