Do You Honestly Expect Me To Believe

by Ben Cartwright

Does anyone who supports the idea that the Bible is infallible honestly expect me to believe that...

...God created the world, knowing full well that most of us would end up burning in eternal hell?

...he created it teeming with all sorts of amazing plant and animal life, including dinosaurs, and then shortly thereafter flooded it all and destroyed a devastating amount of them?

...by flooding the world in the way he did, he created a fossil record which clearly seems to indicate that the world is extremely old, yet doesn't want us to believe this?

...God also created the stars so that light from them would appear to be millions of years old, deceiving us once again?

...he wrote a book which is very similar to all other creation and religious mythology, yet expects us to separate this book from the others and see it as perfect and holy? And if we don't see that, we go to hell?

...Jesus came and died on a cross so that people wouldn't have to go to hell, yet people keep going? Swing, and a miss!

...God thinks it's fine for Bible-believing Christians to believe what they are taught and never ask any meaningful questions, but expects people in all other religions to question their foundational beliefs and assumptions enough to rip themselves out of their religion and culture and believe in the Bible? He expects them to go through this process, but not us? (oh yeah... because we're "right" and they're "wrong"... I forgot)

...God wrote a perfect book containing all that we need for our lives, yet no one can agree on what that book really says? (even on crucial hell-determining factors like salvation!)

...God is all-powerful, but can't keep us out of hell? (if it is not God's desire that anyone should perish, then no one should... he's God! He can have what he wants!)

...God would make it this complicated to know him?

Perhaps if he creates another world, he will learn from his mistakes and just spell out "I am here. Believe in me so you won't go to hell" in the stars. Or maybe he'll just write, "Sorry for any inconvenience."

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Origin: master-of-tarot.blogspot.com

The Scariest Time Of Year

I am so sorry for my week long absence! As faithful readers know, Halloween is very busy around here. I do the leg work and Sister St. Aloysius does the sewing. Sister Mary Fiacre needs a little more care these days, and the whole house is covered in rick rack and snippets of thread. We haven't had time to even think about putting up a few little outdoor decorations. I am partial to those fake cobwebs. Sometimes it comes with plastic spiders to stick in there.

I thought I'd better get to this timely question, so it got moved to the top of the queue.

"DEAR SISTER MARY MARTHA,"

"AS THE CATHOLIC MOTHER OF THREE CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HALLOWEEN. THIS YEAR I HAVE DECIDED WE WILL GO OUT WITH THE KIDS IN SAINT OR SOON-TO-BE SAINT COSTUMES (AN ANGEL, BLESSED KATERI, AND SAINT MICHAEL). IT SEEMS LIKE THE HOLIDAY THOUGH IS NOW MUCH SCARIER AND GORIER THAN I REMEMBER IT AS A CHILD. SHOULD WE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND ABSTAIN COMPLETELY FROM THE FESTIVITIES OR SHOULD WE WAGE SPIRITAL WARFARE AND SHOW OTHERS THE CHRISTIAN SIDE OF THIS NOW QUITE SECULAR AND PERHAPS EVEN DEMONIC HOLIDAY?

"THANKS!"

It's lovely that the children are going as saints and angels, but I wouldn't start a Holy War over, what is for a small child, a gentle little holiday involving candy and dress up. It's such fun to dress up. That's all they care about. That, and candy. Yay! Candy!

It's not really a demonic holiday. It's a very Catholic holiday. Holiday/Holy Day.

And candy.

But if you are new to our little convent on the internet, here is what goes on around here and my take on Halloween in general. I can't believe this blog is FOUR YEARS OLD! But four years ago, this was my Halloween adventure:

Grab a cup of coffee, a mug of tea and share my own Halloween horror!

Let's not overthink this Halloween thing.

Into the fray

Crusader nun

The Close Shave

You may be pleased to know that, four years later, the employee turnover rate has made it possible for me to buy orange rick rack at the fabric store once more.

Credit: healing-magic.blogspot.com