Christianity & Islam - A dialogue

[Tank]

From the Catholics perspective though, the other religions that don't baptize, which is a prerequisite for getting into heaven

What exactly constitutes a baptism?

I've had a few baths in my time, I have even swam completely under water in a pool, probably in the ocean and a river as well.
Did someone need to speak some magic words while I was doing it?
Can anyone say the spell or does it need to be a magician/holy person (or in Catholic's case a holy Man <emphasis on gender>)?

What if I was soaking at the hot pools and a priest in disguise (in speedos) was there and muttered the magic spell, would I then be baptised?

Taking the last point to the extreme one could bless all the sea water and then as everybody would, at some point, drink some of the blessed water (as evaporated fresh water) they would all be saved!

[Sweetdeath]

I've washed my hands in holy water once.   Didn't feel cleaner. 

[Stevil]

I've washed my hands in holy water once.   Didn't feel cleaner. 

Catholosicm is rife with gimmics and symbolism.
I can't understand how a person feels compelled to live their life as a personification of a symbol.
e.g. Nuns consider themselves to be brides of Jesus and Priests consider themselves to be married to the Church.

[Sweetdeath]

Living a life like that seems like robbing oneself of any real enjoyment in life.

Only real idiots become a preist or nun. I really feel sorry for any person blindly dedicated to any faith or superstition.

[Tom62]

Living a life like that seems like robbing oneself of any real enjoyment in life.

Only real idiots become a preist or nun. I really feel sorry for any person blindly dedicated to any faith or superstition.

It is not a kind of life, that I'd choose either. But I wouldn't call (all) priests idiots. You'll get a very decent salary (here in Germany, it is approx. 6,5000$ p/month) and free housing for not doing any real work.

[Whitney]

Living a life like that seems like robbing oneself of any real enjoyment in life.

Only real idiots become a preist or nun. I really feel sorry for any person blindly dedicated to any faith or superstition.

It is not a kind of life, that I'd choose either. But I wouldn't call (all) priests idiots. You'll get a very decent salary (here in Germany, it is approx. 6,5000$ p/month) and free housing for not doing any real work.

When I was religious I actually gave it some consideration....but aside from not wanting to convert to Catholicism I also didn't want to do that whole celibacy thing.  Other than that it sounded like an easy way to basically have an easy job.

[Medusa]

My brother is a Baptist minister who attended UCLA on a scholarship. I think he's pretty smart. I mean I don't know very many dumb people from there. And he got his degree in teaching as well.  

[Sweetdeath]

Living a life like that seems like robbing oneself of any real enjoyment in life.

Only real idiots become a preist or nun. I really feel sorry for any person blindly dedicated to any faith or superstition.

It is not a kind of life, that I'd choose either. But I wouldn't call (all) priests idiots. You'll get a very decent salary (here in Germany, it is approx. 6,5000$ p/month) and free housing for not doing any real work.

They get paid for doing nothing and free housing?  Why free housing exactly?

[Tom62]

They get paid for doing nothing and free housing?  Why free housing exactly?

In Germany people pay church taxes. The priests get an official salary and receive many benefits (thanks to some centuries old local obscure laws).  The houses that they live in are owned by the church and the priest can live in it for free.

[Stevil]

They get paid for doing nothing and free housing?  Why free housing exactly?

They live communally, in a vary bare basics environment.
I'm surprised that they get paid, I thought their vow was one of poverty, obedience and chastity.

I really struggle with the idea of chastity, it is not about the denial of sex, but really about the denial of ever having a close loving relationship with another person. In essence, not being able to know what love really is. This gets replaced with an imaginary love of an imaginary god.

[Stevil]

Here is an article I came across, thought it was an interesting read From Nun to Mum