Retrospective Reflection (Anti-Catholic Church) Pt.4

     His ninth error is when he claims that he wasn't actually a Catholic because he sinned all the time, and therefore his faith was an illusion of his identity. Not only do his sins not account for all people, but once again, you don't need to be Christ-like to be Catholic. You should STRIVE for excellence in life, but stating that its impossible to be Christ-like, and therefore you can't be Christian? This opinion clearly shows a misunderstanding of the Catholic faith, which is what most of his claims stem from.

     Here I would also like to point out that he states "this used to be [him]." Therefore, what he is doing right now is Apostasy, meaning his understanding of the faith is unreliable in that aspect as well.

     His tenth error begins when he acts as if the Church judges people and demands they be holy, rather than accepting their sin and helping them deal with it. Once again, a clear misunderstanding of the faith is shown through this, as the very purpose of the Church is to help one achieve salvation. At this point, what he is doing might be Heresy rather than Apostasy, as he doesn't have a complete knowledge of religion. Therefore, his claims are simply stemming from a lack of explanation.

Service Hours Reflection (Jebmeier)

Jack Ebmeier

Reflection Paper

            Throughout the Sophomore year, I frequented a retirement home, Greatwood Retirement Community. Here, I recognized spiritual growth within myself, and realized how meaningful small tasks can be to the local area.

            The entire reason these retirement communities exist is because these people have worked hard their entire lives. Now, in their old age, these people should be able to consider this their age of relaxation. To show our appreciation for their efforts, there should be some small service given to them in return for their lifetime of labor.

            At the community, I along with fellow Strake students worked hard decorating for the holidays, setting up rooms for events, running card games and bling, and packing Easter baskets for the residents. I feel these tasks emphasized the importance of cooperation, hard work, patience, and helping others. Overall, these small tasks keep the facilities running, and also reduce the workload of the people who do what we did every day.

            However, the most important aspect of all is the benefit to the elderly. In their old age, most of these people no longer have the means to visit family and friends. These people are lonely, and would give anything for a simple conversation, a game of cards—friendship. It should be an importance that the community help these people, even if it is in the form of something small. The joy felt by the residents of the facility is enough of a reason alone to do so.

Retrospective Reflection (Anti-Catholic Church) Pt.3

     He continues to make multiple claims regarding religion, but none are a direct attack on the Catholic Church.

     The seventh major error is when he makes the analogy to a mummy (dressed up but rotting underneath). This is an absurd analogy, and there's no connection between the two. The Church is both physical and non-physical, and it cannot 'rot' because its not a physical being like a human or a mummy.

     The Lakers analogy is also unfounded, because people aren't claiming they're a member of the hierarchy of the Church when they state they are Christian, they are claiming that they are a member of the Church, and anyone can do this. Participation in the Church does not work the same way as basketball. Sorry, bball1989.

Retrospective Reflection (Anti-Catholic Church) Pt.2

The fifth error is when he states the Church fails to feed the poor. The Church cannot mandate that people feed the poor, and because they cannot do this, the resources they've collected aren't enough to feed the poor. The Church asks its clergy to assist the poor, so saying that they are the ones who fail to feed the poor go against what he is stating himself. If this man can afford to buy a house, it doesn't make him evil. Yet at the same time he is spending more money on his own well being before focusing on the poor. So either he is saying that everyone is evil, or he can take back his claim, and no one, including the Church, are considered evil. Also, many of these 'big churches' he talks about are centuries old, and money now a days isn't spent on constructing them.

The sixth error is when he states the Church says God doesn't love you if you're divorced. This claim has absolutely NO evidence whatsoever, and he is basing his claim on nothing. The Church states you can't re-marry, and the Church states that divorce is a sin, but anyone can atone for their sins, and at no point along the way does God no longer love you. God loves us all--its your responsibility to love God in return.

Retrospective Reflection (Anti-Catholic Church) Pt.1

We've all seen this video from last semester in class, but I think that it would be good to go over this once again now that we've discussed it. By doing so, we can go further in depth with the analysis.
Let's start off with the first error he states: Jesus came to abolish religion.

First off, there are countless quotes in the Bible, as well as in the foreshadowing of his coming, that CLEARLY expresses his purpose on Earth. Therefore, this statement cannot be true since Jesus himself states that he came to establish the Church. ("And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.")

The second error is when he states religion started so many wars. Religion itself cannot start a war. War can only be started by man, and because some lack the proper understanding of religion, THAT is why wars have started. If everyone followed religion directly as it was meant, then there would be world peace, not violence. ("But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.")