Yes, Code! Not coke! I started & finished reading the entire "Da Vinci Code" yesterday. I could not put it down. It was so interesting. The story plot was not true, but all the other facts are supposed to be. In our area there has been a lot of little meetings/speakers on the book, but they have all been Christian ministers & priests. I am interested to hear what they have to say, but what if everything they have to say is all a lie.
I never liked that I felt brainwashed into the Catholic religion. But went you are sent to a Catholic school they aren't going to teach you any other religion. There are a lot of things in the Catholic religion that I don't agree with. (Andy & I say we are recovering Catholics -- which makes people laugh because they are either not Catholic and just think it's funny or they themselves are recovering as well and never heard it put that way.)
We have not found a church for us since moving down there 3 years ago. We really liked House of Mercy, but it's too far of a drive. Everything we found down here is way to conservative and traditional. But I still have this guilt thing hanging over me that thinks when we have children they have to be baptized. Is not baptizing a kid so bad -- I guess it depends who you ask. I just wonder how much that would upset the grandparents (not mine - which I guarantee would be upset, but the future grandparents of our kids -- my parents & Andy's parents).
I think I am addicted enough to code that I will go check out what the ministers have to say at their little conferences. I'd like to see how they dig themselves out of this one.
I might just re-read the book because I do want to investigate some of it -- the claims on Disney, the Da Vinci portatits, etc. And for those of you who are shocked by my "Black Iris" by O'Keefe in the formal room - well, here she is referenced for her work and images of the female body (and some think it is just a flower).
As for addicted to coke - I read that book, "Dirty", the day before and it was pretty good. It was very interesting. I really like the irony in that book.
4 comments:
I guess I don't understand how you, growing up in a two denomination family can believe you were brainwashed by the Catholic church. I mean that you had a mother of a Protestant denomination who was open-minded enough to allow you to attend a Catholic school. Do you think also that I was brainwashed? I believe that you get from religion what you are seeking. You have to take the teachings with an open mind and look at them from all angles. A man once told us, he was a Catholic priest at the time, that the bible tells you WHY things are, not necessarily HOW they happened. If you look at it this way, the bible does not appear so contradictory. As for the Catholic denomination and all their rules, remember that Man made those rules. I believe if you follow the rules of the bible, ie. the Ten Commandments and Jesus' two biggies, "Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself", you should probably do alright. Then why go to church at all you ask? Because it's a reminder of what you should be looking for in faith and you are never too old to see scripture in a different way, and say AHA! I never thought of it like that before. So I believe it is important to have some religious guidance if you will, whether it be from an organized church service or something on TV. Here is a good Program I have found from a Lutheran congregation ( and hey they don't all hate Catholics!): http://www.timeofgrace.com. Maybe they are on TV in your area. Bottom line is, you can only be brainwashed by a religion out in society only if you allow it. God is God no matter what denimonation you choose and you should just take time to look at all he has created and be humbled by it, knowing man could not possibly do all he has done on his own. So there it is, my beliefs out there for criticism. But, then that's the point isn't it?
Whoa! You are taking this all personally. Because I feel brainwashed does not mean that you are a bad parent or did something wrong.
Here are the definitions of brainwash:
Verb 1. brainwash - persuade completely, often through coercion; "The propaganda brainwashed many people"
persuade - cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!"
2. brainwash - submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly
indoctrinate - teach doctrines to; teach uncritically; "The Moonies indoctrinate their disciples"
Please look at defintion #2.
As for growing up in a household with different Christian religions -- I never felt much like I understood what your religion was about as I grew up. I don't know if you feel brainwashed - do you? That is how you feel. I cannot tell you how you should feel.
My feelings of brainwashing come primarily from the school & church itself. We were not allowed to discuss religious differences. I remember a number of occasions when we tried to have that conversation during religion class during junior high and even in high school.
Even as we planned our wedding we were faced with the stuffiness of the Catholic Church who thought that we needed to start going to the Catholic Church right away and stop going to House of Mercy. I am sure that priest feels that my wedding is not acknowledged by God because it did not happen in the Catholic Church (thus living in sin according to the Catholic Church).
Just don't take it personally - it was not a jab at your parenting skills or choices.
I'm addicted to Code too. I read it in two days. Now I'm reading all his other books. I read Angels and Demons (also excellent) and Deception Point. Now I'm on to Digital Fortress. Angels and Demons is also religious. Deception Point is a U.S. government/NASA/high security government agency controversy. All good :)
I just started Angels and Demons last night and have Deception Point waiting to be next.
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