I would get it if they all just openly said they were in it because they want something to belong to or they enjoyed the community. But I grew up in that shit and know they all hate each other, or at least judge the fuck out of and talk tremendous shit about each other.
I’d love to have a place where I can go weekly and see the same folks and bond and fellowship(as the Christian’s say) with my neighbors. But I guess it’s hard to do that when there isn’t the threat of damnation for not attending
Hey, if your religion has a bunch of stupid shit, but you practice it without believing the stupid shit...sounds like a win to me. Most of us would be better off if more Christians were like that.
I know a lot of Catholic people that don't believe in the bible shit. Which defeats the purpose of the religion if you ask me.
Actually, this is the normal state of things. The old testament especially was originally written in a sort of literary mode. It's meant to be interpreted in a sort of metaphorical sense, not taken as a literal account of events. To quote from this video by someone with a background in religious studies:
The Bible is a collection of documents, written in many different literary genres, edited over a long period of time, whose main purpose is to make theological points, not to serve as a record of literal history.
This other video from the same creator, particularly the final section on "genre", is also good. It explains how the bible was written in a literary mode and not in the way that a historical document attempting to describe events literally would have been written.
The idea of interpreting the bible as telling literal events is a comparatively recent event. In ancient times, people probably would have been confused at the idea that some people today take it literally.
My understanding is a good portion was intended originally to unify North and South Judah politically against the threats from neighboring nations. And so much of the historical bits about the Exodus, various kings and all that, are basically fabricated history, according to more recent archeological research.
I have relatives. Is this difficult to comprehend for you?
You have no issues imagining a a big man in the sky, but having carholic relatives and being raised in a catholic country is out of bounds?