Is religion a.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kay Scarpetta · 05-12-2002, 02:37 PM

Is religion a free right in America? I mean, I think it is but I want your opinions on this. In example...

Well, I'm a Catholic. Now I'm not happy being Catholic. No offense to Catholic people out there, but I just don't like it. I don't like the style of worship, I don't believe some of the major beliefs, um, and there are just some other factors in it.

I told my mother my unhappiness with the Catholic Faith, and she said she respected it, but I couldn't change to be the denomination of Christianity that I want to be. She said I was 12 and shouldn't worry about it.

I tried to explain that it is a free right, so basically I could do whatever I want.

Am I right, or am I wrong?

Babes_Cat · 05-12-2002, 03:32 PM

Like I said before Babes, I can't help here.

Bootsy Whoosh · 05-12-2002, 04:01 PM

Well personally I believe that any person should be able to choose their own faith whenever they want and at what age they want. However, this point could be easily argued. Many rights are not absolute rights, but rather have limitations. For example, people have the right to vote, but not until they are 18. When you go to a private school, many of your rights are not guaranteed because the institution can set its own rules since it is not publicly funded. When you are imprisoned, you lose the right to vote, etc. etc. etc. Unfortunately, you are in the one sector of the populous that is most routinely denied full rights (i.e. people under the age of 18).

If you are looking for something to say to your mother, perhaps you should approach it this way: if you are forced to participate in a religion you do not enjoy or believe in, you will simply become impatient and disolussioned with religion in general (this happened to myself and many people I know). The way I see it, I would think your mother would be glad you are expressing an interest in religion at all. If you are interested in another Christian faith, it shouldn't clash too much with your family's religion. I mean it's not like you're turning to satanism or something! Your mother is probably going to regret forcing Catholicism on you when you turn 18 and never attend Church anymore and no longer have your faith. But I have no idea how your mother would react if you said all this too her, so use your best judgement. I don't want you to get yelled at or something!

InspectorExstead · 05-12-2002, 04:08 PM

there's a religion called wicca or something like that which means you can basically worship any religion you want. this girl in my class is like that. i think it's cool. i'm whatever it is. i'm catholica (lol..my history teacher was obsessed with irish catholic, obsessed and he'd call it catholica), christian, jewish, whatever, name, i'm it. lol..

Czas na Zywiec · 05-12-2002, 04:13 PM

Well I'm a Catholic and happy with it, so I can't help you there.

Bootsy Whoosh · 05-12-2002, 04:19 PM

Wicca is the worship of nature, I believe. It often gets a bad wrap for being supposedly associated with the "black arts" and witches. I used to be very intrigued by it, and tried to pursue it for awhile, but as with all religions so far, I lost interest.

Kay Scarpetta · 05-12-2002, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh
The way I see it, I would think your mother would be glad you are expressing an interest in religion at all. If you are interested in another Christian faith, it shouldn't clash too much with your family's religion. I mean it's not like you're turning to satanism or something!

Well, my mother ain't Holy. I know that sounds very um, straight forward, but she goes to Church and does what she needs to do. She does not pray or anything. She and my father said I have to stay Catholic because THEY are Catholic. Then she considers sending me to a shrink because she says a "normal 12 year old girl shouldn't be worried about this". I AM normal. I wish she would just let me do whatever I want....I asked her, "Would you rather me an Atheist?" but she still said I couldn't....

Kitt · 05-12-2002, 05:24 PM

I was Catholic and became disallusioned with it when I was about your age. When I was certain that I no longer believed in it I quit. Pure and simple. In my case my folks understood and in fact my mom REALLY understood so it wasn't a problem for me. You're stating two different issues: rights of kids and religious rights. Your lack of rights as a kid might cause you to have to go through the motions and continue to stay with something that you don't believe in but your right to choose any religion or no religion is your right in this country, and sooner or later you're going to choose what suits you.

FamilyTiesFan · 05-12-2002, 07:40 PM

Well I'm an atheist, so I don't really know much about Catholocism but isn't it a constitutional right that you can follow whatever religion or denomination of a religion you want to? I mean as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of anyone else? And I think it's normal for a 12-year old to think about this stuff, I'm 15 now, but when I was 12 was when I really started to question religion.

*Marilyn Monroe* · 05-12-2002, 07:46 PM

It doesnt matter what you CALL yourself, just what you believe, you know? Like, I could be a "Christian" and worship the devil. It's just a name. Like, you'd be the same person even if your name wasn't Karli/Karly lol

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 05-12-2002, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever
Is religion a free right in America? I mean, I think it is but I want your opinions on this. In example...

Well, I'm a Catholic. Now I'm not happy being Catholic. No offense to Catholic people out there, but I just don't like it. I don't like the style of worship, I don't believe some of the major beliefs, um, and there are just some other factors in it.

I told my mother my unhappiness with the Catholic Faith, and she said she respected it, but I couldn't change to be the denomination of Christianity that I want to be. She said I was 12 and shouldn't worry about it.

I tried to explain that it is a free right, so basically I could do whatever I want.

Am I right, or am I wrong?

You're right. I used to be Catholic, but then I started going to church with my friend who is Methodist and totally loved it, so my mom said it was my choice and I switched.

Wicca is really interesting. A whole bunch of my friends are into that kinda stuff. People totally get the wrong idea about it. They aren't evil gothic witches. Their normal people.

Kay Scarpetta · 05-12-2002, 10:11 PM

Thanks for everyone who responded to this....it means more to me then you think

MyStErIoUs ChIck · 05-12-2002, 10:35 PM

Yep, you have the right to believe whatever you want.
I was baptized and supposedly "saved" when I was 11
but I was a stupid kid (no offense to any 11 year olds...
I'm just saying that I was a stupid kid) and I was
just going along with what I've been told my whole life.
Now I'm not sure what I believe but I'm not an atheist,
so I call myself agnostic since I don't have an organized
religion. I just believe in God..."higher power"...whatever
you want to call him, her, or it. As far as I'm concerned,
there's someone or something out there that's responsible
for the creation of the world and all life forms. I don't know
about the Bible either. There's some stuff in there that
I don't agree with. I'm not what you'd call a fundamentalist;
that's for sure. Anyway, enough rambling on for me.

Blair85 · 05-12-2002, 11:00 PM

I went to the Catholic church for a while & I liked it. It felt more holy to me. All the uppity & well, "snobby" people are Catholic around here & I don't feel comfortable around them. I couldn't be a true Catholic though because I don't believe in some of the Catholic beliefs. I don't go to church now, but pray @ home & stuff. If you don't want to be Catholic when you're 12, you shouldn't have to! I'll think of some advice later cause I can't think right now

Plata · 05-14-2002, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lisa Whelchel Forever
Is religion a free right in America? I mean, I think it is but I want your opinions on this. In example...

Well, I'm a Catholic. Now I'm not happy being Catholic. No offense to Catholic people out there, but I just don't like it. I don't like the style of worship, I don't believe some of the major beliefs, um, and there are just some other factors in it.

I told my mother my unhappiness with the Catholic Faith, and she said she respected it, but I couldn't change to be the denomination of Christianity that I want to be. She said I was 12 and shouldn't worry about it.

I tried to explain that it is a free right, so basically I could do whatever I want.

Am I right, or am I wrong?

I think you're right. You should choose the religion that is right for you. I never went to church as a child and still don't now that I'm a teenager. Neither of my parents went to church either though, so in a way, not going to church was the way I was brought up. I don't think which religion you go by makes you a good or bad person. It's how you act towards other people everyday that counts. For example, I knew lots of girls in the old town I used to live in who went to church every Sunday and there were times when they could be very mean to others. 7th grade was the worst. Everyone picked on this one kid and eventually got him expelled from the school for no good reason. Even though my family doesn't go to church, it doesn't make us bad people. And, no matter what religion you choose, that shouldn't interfere with how you really are as a person.

05-12-2002, 02:37 PM	#1
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Is religion a.... Is religion a free right in America? I mean, I think it is but I want your opinions on this. In example... Well, I'm a Catholic. Now I'm not happy being Catholic. No offense to Catholic people out there, but I just don't like it. I don't like the style of worship, I don't believe some of the major beliefs, um, and there are just some other factors in it. I told my mother my unhappiness with the Catholic Faith, and she said she respected it, but I couldn't change to be the denomination of Christianity that I want to be. She said I was 12 and shouldn't worry about it. I tried to explain that it is a free right, so basically I could do whatever I want. Am I right, or am I wrong?
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

05-12-2002, 04:01 PM	#3
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	Well personally I believe that any person should be able to choose their own faith whenever they want and at what age they want. However, this point could be easily argued. Many rights are not absolute rights, but rather have limitations. For example, people have the right to vote, but not until they are 18. When you go to a private school, many of your rights are not guaranteed because the institution can set its own rules since it is not publicly funded. When you are imprisoned, you lose the right to vote, etc. etc. etc. Unfortunately, you are in the one sector of the populous that is most routinely denied full rights (i.e. people under the age of 18). If you are looking for something to say to your mother, perhaps you should approach it this way: if you are forced to participate in a religion you do not enjoy or believe in, you will simply become impatient and disolussioned with religion in general (this happened to myself and many people I know). The way I see it, I would think your mother would be glad you are expressing an interest in religion at all. If you are interested in another Christian faith, it shouldn't clash too much with your family's religion. I mean it's not like you're turning to satanism or something! Your mother is probably going to regret forcing Catholicism on you when you turn 18 and never attend Church anymore and no longer have your faith. But I have no idea how your mother would react if you said all this too her, so use your best judgement. I don't want you to get yelled at or something!
	__________________ Watch your thoughts; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny. - unknown

05-12-2002, 04:08 PM	#4
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	there's a religion called wicca or something like that which means you can basically worship any religion you want. this girl in my class is like that. i think it's cool. i'm whatever it is. i'm catholica (lol..my history teacher was obsessed with irish catholic, obsessed and he'd call it catholica), christian, jewish, whatever, name, i'm it. lol..
	__________________ They killed my sister because she asked: "Where is my vote?" http://sosiran.com/ http://tapeshhd.com/index.php

05-12-2002, 07:46 PM	#10
Marilyn Monroe Diamonds... Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 24, 2001 Location: Where gentlemen actually prefer brunettes Posts: 4,811	It doesnt matter what you CALL yourself, just what you believe, you know? Like, I could be a "Christian" and worship the devil. It's just a name. Like, you'd be the same person even if your name wasn't Karli/Karly lol
	__________________ That certain night, the night we met. There was magic abroad in the air. There were angels dining at the Ritz. And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square.

05-12-2002, 10:35 PM	#13
MyStErIoUs ChIck deep thinker Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: nowhere special Posts: 378	Yep, you have the right to believe whatever you want. I was baptized and supposedly "saved" when I was 11 but I was a stupid kid (no offense to any 11 year olds... I'm just saying that I was a stupid kid) and I was just going along with what I've been told my whole life. Now I'm not sure what I believe but I'm not an atheist, so I call myself agnostic since I don't have an organized religion. I just believe in God..."higher power"...whatever you want to call him, her, or it. As far as I'm concerned, there's someone or something out there that's responsible for the creation of the world and all life forms. I don't know about the Bible either. There's some stuff in there that I don't agree with. I'm not what you'd call a fundamentalist; that's for sure. Anyway, enough rambling on for me.
	__________________ Dorthy: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain? Scarecrow: Well, some people do an awful lot of talking but don't have a brain at all. ~ Wizard of OZ ------------------------------------------------ Dante: You know what depresses me? ...your love for whatever's defunctory....your deep respect for the mundane. ~ SHE'S COME UNDONE By: Wally Lamb ------------------------------------------------ Adah Price: I'm often accused of cynicism by my coworkers, but I am simply a victim of poetry. ~ THE POISONWOOD BIBLE By: Barbara Kingsolver ------------------------------------------------ Tell all the truth but tell it slant. ~Emily Dickenson ------------------------------------------------ http://www.colute.net/cwm/contrib/ruinkai/vampa.gif This is my little smilie vamp, Poe. He tends to write "woe is me" poetry when he's not out drinking the blood that he obtains from innocent victims or having seances in graveyards with cult members. ------------------------------------------------ [img]http://slipxt.homestead.com/ files/goth.gif[/img]

05-12-2002, 03:32 PM	#2
Babes_Cat Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Oct 11, 2001 Location: massachusetts Posts: 34,145	Like I said before Babes, I can't help here.

05-12-2002, 04:13 PM	#5
Czas na Zywiec what up Forum Star Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Southwest Side, Chicago Posts: 18,398	Well I'm a Catholic and happy with it, so I can't help you there.

05-12-2002, 04:19 PM	#6
Bootsy Whoosh Storms abrewin'... Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: The Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 2,104	Wicca is the worship of nature, I believe. It often gets a bad wrap for being supposedly associated with the "black arts" and witches. I used to be very intrigued by it, and tried to pursue it for awhile, but as with all religions so far, I lost interest.

05-12-2002, 05:24 PM	#8
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	I was Catholic and became disallusioned with it when I was about your age. When I was certain that I no longer believed in it I quit. Pure and simple. In my case my folks understood and in fact my mom REALLY understood so it wasn't a problem for me. You're stating two different issues: rights of kids and religious rights. Your lack of rights as a kid might cause you to have to go through the motions and continue to stay with something that you don't believe in but your right to choose any religion or no religion is your right in this country, and sooner or later you're going to choose what suits you.

05-12-2002, 07:40 PM	#9
FamilyTiesFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: WA Posts: 142	Well I'm an atheist, so I don't really know much about Catholocism but isn't it a constitutional right that you can follow whatever religion or denomination of a religion you want to? I mean as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of anyone else? And I think it's normal for a 12-year old to think about this stuff, I'm 15 now, but when I was 12 was when I really started to question religion.

05-12-2002, 10:11 PM	#12
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	Thanks for everyone who responded to this....it means more to me then you think

05-12-2002, 11:00 PM	#14
Blair85 Emmaline Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2000 Location: U.S. Posts: 1,076	I went to the Catholic church for a while & I liked it. It felt more holy to me. All the uppity & well, "snobby" people are Catholic around here & I don't feel comfortable around them. I couldn't be a true Catholic though because I don't believe in some of the Catholic beliefs. I don't go to church now, but pray @ home & stuff. If you don't want to be Catholic when you're 12, you shouldn't have to! I'll think of some advice later cause I can't think right now