Come On Down

[poliphilo]

A sci-fi fantasy I'm fond of- The Saga of the Exiles- predicates an alien intervention at the beginning of the 21st century (in fact, any time now.) The aliens- who are nice chaps- allow us the join their Federation, but on certain conditions. One of the conditions is that we abandon all but one of our religions.

And we do. Just like that.

How I wish. How I wish....

For some reason the religion we choose to retain is Roman Catholicism.

A certain leeway is allowed. People are permitted to flavour their Catholicism with Zen Buddhism or Hinduism or whatever they used to adhere to. But I don't remember there being any Muslim-flavoured Catholics or Southern Baptist-flavoured Catholics.

It's a silly book.

I wonder how long it's actually going to take us to get beyond our religious differences.
How many thousands of years.

Comments

[silent-mouse.livejournal.com]

It always looked very nice to me - Roman Catholicism. Pretty, decorated, with beautiful melodies. I could use some of these :) as well as the significantly smaller number of restrictions on your daily life (not that I follow them much, but still..)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I used to be an Anglican- which is a bit like Catholicism without the Pope. Yes the tunes are pretty- and the frocks....

[silent-mouse.livejournal.com]

Oh! The Pope! A must in a well-established religion, I think. Of course, it would never work for us - every one would want to be the Pope. :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's the best arrangement I think. Everyone acting as the Pope of his or her own religion.

[silent-mouse.livejournal.com]

Agree - but only if I get to use the "popemobil"! :)

[thewayupward.livejournal.com]

What's the difference between being Catholic and being Anglican? (I mean, besides the Pope). I always wondered. The Anglicans always seemed to me to be kind of in between the Protestants and the Catholics. Do they do Confession and Mass and everything? What are the differences in doctrine?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Anglicanism was invented by Henry VIII, when he declared himself the head of the church in England.

This was a political, not a doctrinal act. Henry remained a good catholic at heart- he just didn't want the Pope bossing him about.

The Anglican church doesn't have any distinctive teachings. It boasts of being both catholic AND protestant. Some Anglican go to confession, others are born-again Biblical fundamentalists. This is a wobbly compromise that holds just so long as no-one starts stomping around and asking awkward questions.

Currently the Church is divided over the issue of gay priests and may very well be about to tear itself apart.