Turn it On, Turn it Off

Scary that we can do that. 

Scarier that we would even want to.

Father Mario was telling us that the common theme among younger people as to why they do not Practice the Faith nor want to Practice the Faith is quite simply due to the Hypocrisy.  To Our Hypocrisy.  Catholic Christian Hypocrisy. 

We Preach One thing and Act in a way contradictory to what we State we Believe in. 

As an example, due to current events, he used the US.  The US has always, up until recently, considered itself a Christian Country. 

One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice For All. 

That is what we stood for.  That was we were taught and repeated each and every single day growing up.  I believed it.  I want to still believe it.  It’s hard, it is becoming more and more difficult as time passes and events unfold and I am more conscientious of it all. 

The US has in the past and in the present supported not-so-nice people in power in other, smaller, less powerful, less wealthy countries.  These people, these “Leaders” of the Nations were Despots.  Dictators.  Down right Dirty, nasty inconsiderate, power and money hungry Monsters.  Okay I wanted to say Bastards but thought it sounded way too Uncharitable.  But I guess I said, er typed it anyway. 

I don’t think we need to go down a huge list.  We know who they are.  In case you need a reminder though:

El General Augusto Pinochet in Chile.

El General Jorge Rafael Videla in Argentina.

Marcos in the Philippines.

Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Presently, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.

Now, as Father Mario pointed out, if the US is such a Christian country then why does it act contrary to this? 

Simple, we do not hold Our Nation, much less ourselves accountable.

Remember, we, at home, Are the Domestic Church.  We must act, behave, be Christ-like at all times with all people.  As we do that, our Children learn and model that as well.  And if and when they stray, we hold them accountable, just as they should hold us accountable.  By doing that, we change.  We change at that Micro Level, it will carry into that Macro Level to where that Individual is going to be accountable at all times in all positions, even those of power, such as a World Leader or a Government Representative.  We hold ourselves accountable at all times, we hold our Nation accountable at all times and thus we end up with a Truly Christian Country. 

I know, long-winded, roundabout way of saying it, but the point being that we must hold ourselves accountable at all times, not just with our Family or with our Friends or in certain situations.  No.  At all times.  We are accountable to God and yes, to each other. 

We cannot give in to this subjective, secular morality that is running rampant. 

Subjective…It depends…

Secular…Pertaining ONLY to Worldly things…

Since when does “it depends on what the masses want or believe” turn out a good decision?

It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.

~ Giordano Bruno

Truth simply is.  Contrary to popular, uninformed, jaded, “I don’t want to be a Brainless Religious Sheep or Freak” mentality, there is such a thing as Simple Truth.  Even the renowned writer Paul Goodman stated this in the late 60’s after he was completely disillusioned with the Student Revolts he had so passionately supported. 

When the Devil quotes Scriptures, it’s not, really, to deceive, but simply that the masses are so ignorant of theology that somebody has to teach them the elementary texts before he can seduce them.

I know that it may seem that I am all over the place.  And I guess I am.  But it all comes down to Ignorance.  To Apathy.  To Fear, I guess.

We are Ignorant of our Faith.  Thus, we criticize it and do not practice it.  We attack it and/or sit idly by as others do the same. 

Yes, we are hypocrites.  We are lazy, stinkin’ ignoramuses.  Goodman is right on, we Christians are so ignorant of Theology that the Devil gives us half-truths and we are easily seduced. 

At the very worst, if one becomes seduced by these half-truths, should we not then Educate ourselves to find the entire truth? 

I mean think about it.  These scriptures and/or common sensical, logical statements from Humanists/Atheists sway us, right?  They “talk” to us, right?  They “convince” us that we are being manipulated by the Pppressive, Controlling Church.  Well, then READ about it.  Educate yourself in the “Lies” and “Manipulations” of the Church.  Do you not owe yourself that much? 

Or are you just going to be Sheeped into following them as well?  As Father Giussani indicated, “the problem that plagues our understanding of things is usually not an inability of our methods, but an apathy towards the truth. It is often more convenient to hold onto our attachments and preconceptions than to work and struggle to break free of the darkness.”

I remember growing up I would hear the Grown-ups use this phrase when debating things such as the Ignorance of Our Faith:

Entonces es mejor ser tragado por un Leon que por un Tigre.

Which translated is, “Then it is better to be devoured by a Lion than a Tiger.”  Meaning, that would you rather be Ignorant and Manipulated by one than the Other.  

As I said, they used this phrase a lot when they debated Our Faith.  My Practicing Relatives would say this to my Converted Relatives.  What they were trying to get at is what I am trying to Challenge YOU to do…

Get up off your ARSE and instead of being One of the Many in the Masses that blurts out Stuff they don’t even know a gosh darned thing about, Read, Educate yourself and Question The Faith.  Read about it.  Study it, then, if you still refuse to Practice it…Yeah Right…you will have Solid Ground to stand on.  You won’t be just one more…

I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses.

~ Johannes Kepler

Cannot the same be true for Us.  For Our Faith? 

There is nothing more dangerous than a Blind Follower.  They know not why, they just do. 

Don’t be that. 

We have the Ability to Turn it ON and to Turn it OFF…Why would we want to?  Doesn’t it sound Tiring, Straining, simply Exhausting?

If you’re going to Turn it Off, then do so.  But for a Reason.  If you’re going to turn it On, then do so, With Conviction and Leave it that way. 

Better to be Hated for who you are than to be Loved for who you are not…