tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post776170692379585964..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: Reinvigorating That Ole Time Religion By Restoring The Emphasis On That Ole Time Adversarycolkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-36958083540841501872010-07-17T18:03:56.479-06:002010-07-17T18:03:56.479-06:00"He's on Wall Street, on K Street, and fi..."He's on Wall Street, on K Street, and financial institutions..."<br /><br />Are we referring to Fr. C. John McCloskey III in particular, or Opus Dei in general?<br /><br />:D<br /><br />Anon Y.MouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-70618902023811573802010-07-14T14:44:40.853-06:002010-07-14T14:44:40.853-06:00I think the devil is real and has been very active...I think the devil is real and has been very active lately.<br /><br />He's on Wall Street, on K Street, and financial institutions, ( greed is easy pickins').<br /><br />He's elsewhere too but the Church doesn't like being reminded of Wall Street etc; bad for the money coffers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-21389828398756426112010-07-13T22:02:30.089-06:002010-07-13T22:02:30.089-06:00mjc this is a good comment. On so many levels it&#...mjc this is a good comment. On so many levels it's all about healing.<br /><br />Here's something else to think about. When an exorcist calls on the power of Christ to expell a demon what is he really doing but invoking the power of Love. The more a person understands this the more effective they are and the less they escalate the situation.<br /><br />Love is the great neutralizer.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-43982892396072290742010-07-13T19:58:19.162-06:002010-07-13T19:58:19.162-06:00I always thought fear of Satan didn't make muc...I always thought fear of Satan didn't make much sense. Especially after The Exorcist, it was clear to me that that evil force, outside myself, was stronger than I was. My only hope was that my God was stronger still, and He said He would protect me.<br /><br />Are exorcisms real? Heck, I don't know. It somewhat irks me that McBrien is so sure -- he doesn't really know either, and the haters pounce on that when they attack. I think our only conquerable evil is that which comes from inside, the prejudices and unhealed sorrows that need not only love, but the acceptance of love.<br /><br />I think that's what keeps gnawing at me about the hierarchy in this theme as well as many others. I think the church does need to guide the little ones. However, our focus seems to be on keeping everyone little, not allowing growth. We promote fear, demand obedience... and definitely place ourselves above the rest, not able to accept healing love. The hierarchy needs a dose of Christian humility, so that they can be healed to lead. And those who try to help them are smacked away, presumptuous to be on the same plane, putting forth outside-the-boundaries theories rather than waiting for the right people to deliver the truth.<br /><br />So, before I submit this, I was listening to EWTN radio today. I think that's where this anger comes from, as I listened to two of their big-name guys spew some lies about the "real" church, leading more people to eschew growth because it somehow interrupts holy faith. It's that hubris that let's the devil in, whether we think it is from without or within.<br /><br />And Colleen, I never thought about how nonchalant Jesus is about sending away demons. He does seem to think it is little league baseball, doesn't he?mjcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-65112968202889918582010-07-13T18:46:54.629-06:002010-07-13T18:46:54.629-06:00i've been reading this blog for a few months n...i've been reading this blog for a few months now and really enjoying it, but i want to point out how especially good the discussion in the comments to this entry is.Ωhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11971793449148630835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-33943299729503401272010-07-13T18:07:25.789-06:002010-07-13T18:07:25.789-06:00@ Butterfly,
I agree completely. It doesn't m...@ Butterfly,<br /><br />I agree completely. It doesn't matter whether you're looking for good or evil, you'll find what you seek. Let's focus on the good.<br /><br />@Colleen,<br /><br />Yes, subtle, insidious... <br /><br />I'd forgotten that scene with his mother. I've only seen the movie once. It has been almost 40 years and you brought back that memory as though it was yesterday. <br /><br />In my earlier comment I forgot to say I can't find the link to the chilling video of the priest re-enacting his "grooming" of the child. <br /><br />One more thing, thank you for sharing your insight on the psychology of exorcism.<br /><br />p2pAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-76180315000170714932010-07-13T17:55:03.287-06:002010-07-13T17:55:03.287-06:00Ok so the word verification is now: exess
Maybe i...Ok so the word verification is now: exess<br /><br />Maybe it is excessive but I forgot to mention what I had in mind when mentioning Nicholson's devil. It is the interview with a kindly looking elderly priest who re-enacts the lines he used to groom and seduce little girls, telling them they are special. Chilling.<br /><br />That's more frightening than this picture of convicted priest, Brendan Smyth.<br /><br />http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/cardinal-sean-daly-brokered-secret-deal-with-ruc-to-arrest-brendan-smyth-14758752.html# <br /><br />p2pAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-45500457246223723142010-07-13T17:41:47.684-06:002010-07-13T17:41:47.684-06:00Actually p2p your definition of the real action of...Actually p2p your definition of the real action of evil, it's preference if you will, is worstir because it is subtle and it is insidious.<br /><br />I too remember very vividly the opening weeks of the Exorcist. My initial reaction to the movie was very different from my friends. The scene that really upset my apple cart was when Fr. Karras goes to Bellevue to see his mother.<br />To me that portrayed real evil.<br /><br />I've actually participated in healing sessions which brought out the head spinning kind of thing, but that's never effected me the way that one Bellevue scene in the Exorcist did.<br /><br />I think the difference is I've always known we can do things about the 'head spinning kind of evil manifestation', but the institutional kind, that's way more difficult kind of evil to exorcise--so to speak.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-75758271255211484442010-07-13T17:33:00.108-06:002010-07-13T17:33:00.108-06:00p2p, the approach that best works for me is not an...p2p, the approach that best works for me is not an emphasis on what evil we can do, but in what good we can do. The focus has to shift to our abilities to become Christ-like. That is what I have learned from my experience.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-15147625069268569442010-07-13T17:12:49.935-06:002010-07-13T17:12:49.935-06:00May I take a slightly different approach here?
I ...May I take a slightly different approach here?<br /><br />I was in first year university at St. Mike's College in Toronto when "The Exorcist" opened in a huge theatre downtown. We saw it opening day, but knew little about the actual film. Before we went to see the movie we had a long conversation with a seminarian and a Basilian priest who was an expert on exorcism. The truly frightening parts of the movie have nothing to do with the special effects. To this day it was one of the most truly frightening experiences I have ever had. I was not alone. It is hard to believe today that there were theatres with capacity of 2,000 or 3,000 seats, but there were. Several thousand of us stood in line for the late show and witnessed the ambulances take away several people who had fainted during the early show. Upon entering the theatre one could smell urine, apparently more than a few people had peed their pants. On opening night "The Exorcist" was quite a visceral experience.<br /><br />Later "The Exorcist" became somewhat cliched and laughable. (Even Austin Powers' Dr. Evil calls for "a young priest and an old priest" when his chair malfunctions.) Beware Bishops, this may be your fate too.<br /><br />However emotional the crowd's reaction to "The Exorcist" may have been I think that "Witches of Eastwick", with Jack Nicholson, more realistically portrays the Devil. He's attractive and is able to open people up to their innermost worst. Evil is more insipid, more like a match lighting a child's first cigarette. It contains only the faintest whiff of sulphur. <br /><br />The neighbors of the mass murder always say about him that he was quiet, or he loved animals. The truly scary thing is that we are all capable of real evil whether sinning by commission or omission. <br /><br />p2p<br /><br />and the devil in your machine suggests the word verification: worstir (like kids today would read "worst I are"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-44968075398967830442010-07-13T14:50:01.229-06:002010-07-13T14:50:01.229-06:00Colleen -
Well, I must assert that the Devil is ...Colleen - <br /><br />Well, I must assert that the Devil is very real, as are demons. However, he/they have been very useful constructs to instill fear & induce obedience uber alles in the Faithful:p<br /><br />It has been used - skillfully - to interfere with the individual developing personal spirituality. And a personal relationship with God, without THE CHURCH as an intermediary. Those who DARE to question much less oppose any element of the authority of the Church.....'are of the Devil'. <br /><br />Very useful indeed. <br /><br />What they are REALLY doing is gearing up for a new Inquisition. <br /><br />Seriously. <br /><br />Anon Y. MouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-25027503838778220092010-07-13T14:36:42.267-06:002010-07-13T14:36:42.267-06:00I laughed too Prickliest. I also wondered how many...I laughed too Prickliest. I also wondered how many of the JPII generation would get it, in as much as the Exorcist isn't exactly one their generations big movies.<br /><br />The German priest I wrote about a couple of weeks ago could have been Max Von Sydow's double. Guess what his nickname became? Actually, now that I think about it, he was rumored to have been the diocese's exorcist.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-53472481054139084072010-07-13T13:24:54.539-06:002010-07-13T13:24:54.539-06:00The official leaders of our Church often remind me...The official leaders of our Church often remind me of this saying, from Cato the Elder: "Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters."<br /><br />I love the title of McBrien's article: "Conference on exorcism will make your head spin." Pretty funny.PrickliestPearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07606660660913560540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-79091205896871736062010-07-13T12:54:25.969-06:002010-07-13T12:54:25.969-06:00"Fear of the satanic also stops people from e..."Fear of the satanic also stops people from engaging in deeper levels of mysticism because we're told that that kind of thing provokes the devil into attacking us."<br /><br />Colleen, this very fear definitely "stops people" dead in their tracks in their faith in God. The fear itself negates God's love. It stops people from maturing and growing in their faith in God. That is exactly what happened to me. It keeps people stupid and ignorant and then they do stupid & ignorant things that were based on that very fear.<br /><br />I hope you write a book about this subject.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-25781972901644501152010-07-13T12:33:50.527-06:002010-07-13T12:33:50.527-06:00"Children enculturated and indoctrinated to a..."Children enculturated and indoctrinated to a belief in devils, of the kind that one has no control over at all, even prayer to God, is an evil teaching in itself, in my opinion, because it overrides the importance of God, the existence of love, in whom our religion says we are to love with our entire mind, body and spirit."<br /><br />Too true butterfly. Fear of the satanic also stops people from engaging in deeper levels of mysticism because we're told that that kind of thing provokes the devil into attacking us.<br /><br />If I ever get around to writing a book, one of the points it will make is the fear of satan has been the most useful tool the Church pushed to stop most of it's adherents from ever pushing the mystical envelope and really threatening the predators it tells us to fear.<br /><br />There are a lot of self perptuating reasons it has been a useful tool for both sides of the energy equation, but in reality it's more or less put both of them on the same side.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-85629451899540537862010-07-13T12:16:31.131-06:002010-07-13T12:16:31.131-06:00Great post Colleen and I loved the last line about...Great post Colleen and I loved the last line about "global warming."<br /><br />This is a fascinating subject as the fear of the devil was very much prevalent in my traditional Catholic background and it truly left me lame and crippled in many respects. I struggled with tremendous fear of the unseen ugly devils for many years, beginning in my childhood. There were many nights I went to bed full of fear. The only antidote I have found to such fear was in focusing on the good and not the evil. It took me a very long time though to confront the fear and get over it. <br /><br />Children enculturated and indoctrinated to a belief in devils, of the kind that one has no control over at all, even prayer to God, is an evil teaching in itself, in my opinion, because it overrides the importance of God, the existence of love, in whom our religion says we are to love with our entire mind, body and spirit.<br /><br />This is scary stuff for the Bishops to be dabbling in and it will puff up the "powers" of the clerical priesthood, but it is truly a lame attempt at care for people who may be mentally ill, not demonically possessed. This is very old energy that they are resurrecting, attempting to anyway. My instinct tells me to run away from these Bishops and as far away as possible as that "Ole Time Religion" really puts a damper on focusing on the good and being grateful to God for so many blessings. One cannot see the blessings if one is focusing on what one decides is a curse of the devil of which just leads one to a stagnant and fear-driven faith, as well as fear-driven life of the living dead.<br /><br />As Jesus would say "Get behind me Satan." It is as simple as saying that to ward off what one might be fearful of.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-8599243045956055392010-07-13T12:00:09.923-06:002010-07-13T12:00:09.923-06:00You know, I always was suspicious of anyone who be...You know, I always was suspicious of anyone who began any religious talk with talk of the devil,(various denomination's missionaries et al.)I also always found it curious that the baptismal formula they ask us to recite at mass begins with, "Do you reject Satan?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com