Posts by Paul Martinez73

Noah Roberts46 said:The Church as an institution? Give me a break. What's your reasoning there?

It’s pretty much what Noah would have typed, so why not just ask him instead?
To answer Matthew Young35—even though I already said I wouldn't bother replying anymore—and this Henry guy who keeps trying to walk a fine line with those cheap little jabs...
Matthew, look, sorry German is my primary language, so I end up typing everything in caps out of pure habit. Sometimes I accidentally capitalize Streetcar, oops, my bad. Feel free to correct me if you're feeling helpful; maybe fix my posts and it'll eventually stick...
And yeah, back in the day, I actually carried a Party booklet and a "slip" to churches to check people in (is that alright now?). We didn't use Social Security numbers back then, so sometimes things just slipped through the cracks...

Take darkseal9, for instance—I definitely didn't sign him up.

ruggedjackal46 said:So, what you're saying is most priests are just spineless cowards letting their "brothers" embezzle hundreds of millions from their congregation? Bold move.

Are you really calling yourself a coward just because you're letting a tiny handful of thieves rob you blind? We're talking hundreds of millions lost to companies like Walmart and others like it...

Exactly, just go ahead and keep staring at those fairy lights and Santa Claus...

That’s just you labeling people as idiots, nothing more...

ruggedjackal46 said:But here's the thing: you're acting like it's some shocker that a non-believer is out here decorating the tree. People generally scratch where it itches, don't they? Except this situation is a bit more slippery. It isn't just that the church is meddling in politics; it's that they're essentially running pre-election propaganda for a crooked organization called the Republican Party. But then again, I suppose that shouldn't be surprising, considering how much loot the Republican Party has handed out to priests.

I wasn't actually surprised by it, and I even mentioned being glad about it in one of my posts. I was being sincere, I just don't want to spend the next 350 days listening to everyone call me an idiot, which tied back into that discussion we had a few days ago regarding Faith and the Church.

I can agree that it’s slippery, but "weird"? Not quite. I wouldn't lump everyone together; there's a small minority taking the money, sure. But the majority answering that call are just doing their jobs conscientiously. Like Suker would say, every single coward has their own little grain of truth. I’d say it’s mostly just a leftover habit from the old days when the Church was exclusively tied to the Republican Party—if you were a Priest, you basically had to be a Republican. Besides, since the other side opposes the Church itself, it would be pretty foolish to campaign for them, don't you think?

Eric Fox7 said:Why are you capitalizing church and mosque?

Anyway, I actually go to church myself, and honestly, it really rubs me the wrong way when they start bringing politics into the sermon—especially when it feels like they're just shoving their own opinions down everyone's throats.

The way you're looking at this is just classic small-town narrow-mindedness—which, if we're being real, is exactly why people love to make fun of those "traditional" religious types here in the States.

It's because that's how I choose to write.🤷
I capitalize Dad, Mom, Son, and the Church out of pure respect for the individuals and the institutions.

What "perspective" are you talking about? Go ahead, tell me, since I haven't actually written anything expressing an opinion on it. I might actually be closer to your way of thinking on this topic than the other side, except I look at things objectively. I don't like what happens, but I'm not shocked by it either. Honestly, I find it hilarious when people move away from their tiny hometowns and suddenly feel the need to criticize everything, acting like they're experts on life just because they finally made it somewhere. I certainly wouldn't go to someone living in New York City or Chicago for three generations just to lecture them on how they're doing everything wrong.

All I said was that it's totally normal, especially within the American community living in Germany, to show up to a mass in New York City and find it ridiculous that someone mentioned they should have voted for Miroslav Škoro. And I also pointed out that these topics aren't avoided in any other countries in Europe, given how many services I've attended around the world.
They only get mocked because they've never traveled further than their own backyard.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:It’s just so typical of a believer like you. You’re constantly lecturing everyone else and calling people out in every single thread you start.

What did I say that wasn't true?
You move to Germany, hang out with the local community, go to church with the German diaspora—who you know have their own opinions—and then you act surprised. It’s the same during election season; you can walk into any church or mosque you want, and they'll keep the political talk to a minimum if you just listen...

It's even worse when you're living in Germany where the church is funded by the congregation; if you don't like it, you just stop attending. Instead, you choose to complain about some American Priest preaching to you about elections. Then you just head over to a German Church, or whatever, in whichever language you prefer—assuming you actually understand anything besides your native tongue...

People just argue too much on social media, which is what I've said before; they waste so much useless time and energy. It's like going to a restaurant—if you don't like the food or the service, you just pick a different place, and there are plenty to choose from. You don't sit there ranting about how the restaurant sucks when it's clearly packed and everyone else seems perfectly happy being there...

nimbleranger52 said:Check out this Facebook status from a colleague of mine who’s living and working over in Germany. It is brutally honest. Just absolute chaos. People are fleeing from total jerks like those guys involved in the Kolinjda rallies or Milanovic, and then you have priests trying to lecture them during Midnight Mass? What a disaster.

Went to Midnight Mass, came back. I honestly can't tell if I was at a holy service or some post-election rally for Miroslav Škoro combined with a pre-election KGK meeting.

It hit me that we’re all just idiots because we voted for the exact same people again when we could have chosen others and won in the first round easily.
But hey, maybe we get a chance to fix things on January 5th, and we really need to show up for those elections; they are incredibly important and we have to go, otherwise, anyone who skips them will probably end up stuck in hell forever...
And on another note: Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ

In the Catholic Church, they are Priests, not Popes. "Popes" is more an Eastern thing, so I'm not entirely sure where she actually went. Brutally honest? You think quoting a Priest's words makes it "brutally honest"?

It’s even weirder that anyone in 2020 is acting surprised by politics in the church or the church in politics. Even stranger is someone moving to Germany today and being shocked that people there support the Republican Party and things like that. That diaspora really started when those 20,000 people left for Germany a year ago. Besides, daily political topics are everywhere in churches worldwide, so why not ask your friend if she's ever been to a German Church and what they talked about there? And while you're at it, ask her if she ever posted a status about that.

Even majstor Pepeto has arrived to flip the script on the Queen group politics☕

Jessica Gonzalez, my heart breaks for you. There’s nothing worse than losing someone right when the holidays are rolling in...

brightpilot6 said:I am not going around telling anyone they aren't allowed to believe something, nor am I demanding they adopt my own convictions. My only contention is that they shouldn't burden me with rules derived from their belief in the supernatural. The distinction is more than clear, isn't it? 🤷

As far as I'm concerned, you can worship at the altar of Christmas or believe in flying spaghetti monsters for all I care, just don't try to stop me from eating a steak simply because you’ve been told it's a sacred animal.

Then again, so many Christian customs have drifted into being just part of ordinary, secular life that they barely hold any primary connection to faith anymore. You see Muslims living in cities like New York decorating with fir trees, much like how even old-school communists embraced Santa Claus as a convenient substitute for the traditional December gift-giving season.

To claim otherwise—to insist these are strictly religious elements—is to suggest we've lost our grip on reality. Don't you think?

Well, your stance is clear, and mine is too.
I'm a believer, personally, but I don't impose that on anyone—in fact, I don't even bring it up with people I know don't practice any kind of faith. Likewise, it bugs me when someone tries to act like I'm an idiot just because I believe in something.
I'm not preaching to you about how you should celebrate Christmas, but I also don't want you telling me I shouldn't celebrate it, because that's just nonsense.

The fact that Muslims have Christmas trees just proves that people today are walking around without any common sense. Of course, being Muslim doesn't automatically make someone a devout believer. Just like being American doesn't automatically make someone Catholic. People treat faith so lightly these days; they'll do whatever it takes just to snag a few likes on Instagram or to look "modern" to others.

These are strictly religious elements that the masses—driven by media, Facebook, and Instagram—have adopted just to feel cool and trendy. Take Hana Hadzagbabcic, for instance; she has millions of shallow kids following her on Instagram, and she tells them to celebrate Catholic Christmas, Eid, Orthodox Christmas, Easter, and so on. It's all for the sake of likes and easy money from those same mindless kids.
And now she’s one of many shaping the minds of those same kids... which is why we end up with generations of idiots who have zero identity and no ability to actually grow as individuals.

To wrap this up, I have nothing against an Atheist, a Muslim, or a Flying Spaghetti Monster follower celebrating Christmas; honestly, I’m happy to accept a greeting from them and return it. The issue is when people spend 350 days a year trashing everything related to faith and the church, only to decide that for five days a year, it's all totally fine and they're suddenly "cool" and accepting.

bluebison47 said:I mean, if that's how it works, then why don't believers just take June 22nd off too? (Assuming May 1st is already a Federal holiday, obviously). I guess they just prefer to tack it onto the weekend every single year instead... 😳

Seriously though, why is Santa Claus perfectly fine with everyone, but a Jack o' Lantern isn't?

The way you and Matthew Young35 keep trying to justify yourselves is just... honestly, it’s getting pretty ridiculous.
So, Antifa members can't be Catholic? Is that how it works now...
Since when does staying home on a Federal holiday suddenly mean you're endorsing whatever political cause is currently trending...
Nobody’s stopping you from just staying home today, hanging out, and skipping work...

We’re all sitting here talking about how hypocritical it is when people suddenly start clinging to religion and old traditions just because it’s "trendy" or "hipster" right now. If you're going to make that claim, then actually stick to it and try living through a single day without a Christmas tree, gift-giving, or any of that other stuff... Besides, Santa Claus originally stems from Saint Nicholas, except Coca-Cola basically commercialized him into this whole Christmas icon we call Santa Claus today.

brightpilot6 said:But then again, I fail to see how that could be considered hypocritical. True hypocrisy lies with those believers who feel compelled to impose their religious lifestyle on everyone else while failing to live up to those very standards themselves. Why should an atheist be labeled a hypocrite simply for participating in traditions tied to faith, provided they aren't forcing their own way of life onto others?

Do you get it now?
I know you're not a stupid person, so just go back and read what you wrote...

Hypocrites are:
- Believers who preach Faith to others but don't actually practice it.

Hypocrites are not:
- Atheists who insist Faith doesn't exist, yet still celebrate religious customs and holidays.

brightpilot6 said:A huge portion of Christian traditions has simply bled into folk customs over the centuries. It works both ways, really; just as certain "pagan" rituals were absorbed into Christianity. I haven't noticed anyone calling out Christians for hypocrisy regarding these, shall we say, peculiar customs.

All this modern revelry and the frantic scrambling around Christmas has very little to do with actual faith. Instead, it’s mostly driven by mass laziness and scheduled time off—especially given the rush in the corporate world and the kids being out of school. People stay home, they have free time, they socialize, they eat, and they drink. I don't see much of a basis here for claiming this is uniquely Christian behavior.

Easter is a far more significant Christian holiday, yet it doesn't possess even a fraction of this specific secular aura.

Look, nobody is questioning hanging out or spending time with family. It's about the rituals that are strictly tied to religious tradition, which are then performed by people who are explicitly against the faith just to prove how ridiculous it all is.
As Byron would put it, isn't there at least a hint of hypocrisy there? And why should someone who identifies as an atheist care that Tuesday or Wednesday are holidays while Saturday and Sunday aren't?

Until those same people—who claim they're all about socializing, gift-giving, and family time—actually show up to give gifts in two weeks or even during Eid, I'm not taking them seriously.
In fourteen days, you get the same kind of time off; plus, since it falls on a Monday or Tuesday, you practically get four days of vacation. In other traditions similar to ours, people still give gifts, eat, and drink. Why don't you do the same then? Whether you want to admit it or not, you're celebrating Christmas, a Catholic holiday.

Then there's Eid, where people socialize, exchange gifts, and keep folk traditions alive. I highly doubt you're out there buying presents for your family then, right?

Matthew Young35 said:I already posted my thoughts regarding America back on November 29th.

As for this second point, I was calling you a communist. Regarding the 1.5 thing, I didn't even bring up America.

Focus. Read what I actually wrote.
I realize it’s difficult and that reading all these letters is probably an overwhelming chore, but at least try.

Thanks and goodbye

Matthew Young35 said:Regarding America, I was referring to November 29th, which used to be Republic Day.

Just try to dig your way out now. You basically wrote, "Should I go on a trip while my family stays home on a budget of $1.50?" and wondered what that says about you. Just admit you looked foolish and leave it at that. Don't keep digging a deeper hole...
And apparently, people can be both staunch communists and devout believers since they celebrate May Day too.

Matthew Young35 said:Yes, you are absolutely right.
Back in America, Carols were celebrated on November 29th, and people were essentially celebrating America, discovering a deep sense of American identity within themselves.

At the same time, people celebrate May Day.
Which means we have a situation where people are simultaneously communists and believers.

Do you work on May Day? Do you go on an outing with your family?
What does that say about you?

Are you aware that May 1st is an international Labor Day? It’s not some kind of Yugo-nostalgic holiday... what on earth does that have to do with Christmas? 🤣
Those leftists and their obsession with international Labor Day... 🤣

You've proven more than a few times now that you haven't the slightest clue what you're actually talking about, so I'm done wasting my breath on these debates with you... Goodbye.

Anthony Jackson2 said:From what I know—decorating a fir tree is just a pagan custom with zero connection to Christianity—so I have no idea why you'd bring it up here. 🤷

You clearly don't know enough...☕
Decorating a fir tree is deeply tied to Christianity; there’s just some speculation regarding the exact origins and how the tradition of decorating a fir tree for Christmas started. But if you look into it, you can trace it back to very early times, most often originating in Germany, where the connection is exclusively Christian—those are the strongest theories out there.

Do you decorate a fir tree on other days too? Why don't you celebrate by decorating a tree and getting drunk and overeating on other holidays or special occasions?

Here's a little bit of free education for you...
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/trees.shtml

Also, giving gifts at Christmas is exclusively and solely linked to Christianity and how the Three Kings gave gifts to Jesus Christ.

So, my dear Redditors, whether you want to admit it or not, today you've found a piece of Faith and the Catholic Church within yourselves; you're participating in it, and through that, you've realized that Jesus was born today. With your joy, songs, drinking, and eating, you are celebrating His birthday.

That's my boy Anthony Jackson2, acting like you're raising your hand to say you aren't a Nazi, but that the Nazis just took it from the Romans... while basically admitting you're an idiot in the process.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Well, yeah... a massive pile of atheists (and plenty of others) celebrate Christmas. What’s weird about that? We don't look at it through the lens of faith because Christmas is anything but a religious holiday.

As an atheist, I see Christmas as a holiday for eating great food and pizza, a time to hang out with friends and family, a time when I listen to..

...I hang red hats and fairy lights on the walls, treat myself and my neighbors to some nice gifts, and drop a ton of cash. It's pure commercialism, man.

For us atheists, Christmas is just a day off work. It's a commercial holiday just like Halloween. We don't give a damn—we don't work, we stay home with the family, and then we head out at night to grab drinks with the crew and mess around.

Edit: Honestly, what's better is that a huge bunch of you Catholics do the exact same thing. Instead of Jesus under the tree, there's a chocolate Santa Claus. Instead of religious hymns coming from the speakers, it's just loud music while people knock back their seventeenth beer and talk about patriotism at the table while the cleaners wash the plates that the whole Catholic crowd just smeared with lunch.

May God grant you some wisdom today. Peace be with you.

And comparing Halloween to Christmas... let's just let this day pass in peace instead of getting bogged down in forum bickering. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Matthew Young35 said:In short, we've been hit from every possible angle.

Matthew Young35, do you celebrate Christmas? Got a nice Christmas tree at home? A nativity scene? Heading out for Advent?
It’s actually fascinating how many "Atheists" and "I'm not Catholic" types still celebrate Christmas. So, I have to wonder... are you and Zinedine Zidane part of that little club?

bluebison47 said:I mean, anyone under 75 was actually born during the era of antifascism.😳

To be against something, that thing actually has to exist. For example, if you want to claim you're an Antifascist, you need Fascists to actually be around... But those guys were marching through here back in '45, yet here we are in 2020, still debating who qualifies as an Antifascist. It’s like this crowd has such an intense need to broadcast it—as if they're saying, "Look, we're modern, let's focus on the future, but hey, don't forget we're Antifascists."

I call myself AntiTahyevac, mostly because some distant relative of mine supposedly stood right next to Matija Gubec during the Peasant Revolt while they were fighting Franjo Tahy. You can imagine how incredibly stupid it feels to rub that in the faces of people who weren't even born when any of this went down...