The Roman Catholic Church has less spiritual credibility than a brothel

originally posted by: ElGoobero
'let's throw away 2000 years of history and millions of sincere believers full of good works because we don't like them. we can use a handful of creeps as an excuse.'

It's not because we don't like them, it's because the church has become a breeding grounds for sex abuse and who really knows how long it has been going on. This is proof that sexual repression is HARMFUL and against our nature as human beings.

And sorry, but it's much more than a handful. The numbers are in the thousands now and include many high ranking officials. If sincere believers are STILL giving money to this screwed up organization after they knowingly covered up sex abuse of children for decades, then they are part of the problem and should be discarded with the bath water.

If this type of thing happens in any other organization, it gets immediately shut down and a full investigation is launched. Look what happened to Joe Paterno. If they found out thousands of Walmart managers were sexually abusing kids and covering it up, it would go out of business instantly, but thanks to childhood indoctrination causing psychological damage, these people actually barely even care, and just keep giving their money to the church as if nothing is wrong. It's ridiculous. It's a mental illness. It must go.

That is really unfair. You are going to judge an entire group of people billions strong based on the actions of a few thousand? They only covered it up because it would have led to the downfall of the church, and the world would descend into chaos. It was for our own good.

a reply to: Malak777
At least they don't write G-D instead of God. That is really taking it to another level of self-righteousness and superstition.

Some history concerning that subject:

The Fight Against God’s Name

His name was Hananiah ben Teradion. He was a Jewish scholar of the second century C.E., and he was known for holding open meetings where he taught from the Sefer Torah, a scroll containing the first five books of the Bible. Ben Teradion was also known for using the personal name of God and teaching it to others. Considering that the first five books of the Bible contain the name of God more than 1,800 times, how could he teach the Torah without teaching about God’s name?

Ben Teradion’s day, however, was a dangerous time for Jewish scholars. According to Jewish historians, the Roman emperor had made it illegal under penalty of death to teach or practice Judaism. Eventually, the Romans arrested Ben Teradion. At his arrest he was holding a copy of the Sefer Torah. When responding to his accusers, he candidly admitted that in teaching the Bible, he was merely obeying a divine command. Still, he received the death sentence.

On the day of his execution, Ben Teradion was wrapped in the very scroll of the Bible that he was holding when arrested. Then he was burned at the stake. The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “in order to prolong his agony tufts of wool soaked in water were placed over his heart so that he should not die quickly.” As part of his punishment, his wife was also executed and his daughter sold to a brothel.

Although the Romans were responsible for this brutal execution of Ben Teradion, the Talmud* states that “the punishment of being burnt came upon him because he pronounced the Name in its full spelling.” Yes, to the Jews, pronouncing the personal name of God was indeed a serious transgression. [*: The Talmud is a compilation of ancient Jewish tradition and is regarded as one of the most sacred and influential written works of the Jewish religion.]

The Third Commandment

Evidently, during the first and second centuries C.E., a superstition regarding the use of God’s name took hold among the Jews. The Mishnah (a collection of rabbinic commentaries that became the foundation of the Talmud) states that “one who pronounces the divine name as it is spelt” has no portion in the future earthly Paradise promised by God.

What was the origin of such a prohibition? Some claim that the Jews considered the name of God too sacred for imperfect humans to pronounce. Eventually, there was a hesitancy even to write the name. According to one source, that fear arose because of a concern that the document in which the name was written might later end up in the trash, resulting in a desecration of the divine name.

The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” The third of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites states: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Exodus 20:7) Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

Surely, no one today claims that God would have someone burned at the stake for pronouncing the divine name! Yet, Jewish superstitions regarding God’s personal name still survive. Many continue to refer to the Tetragrammaton as the “Ineffable Name” and the “Unutterable Name.” In some circles all references to God are intentionally mispronounced to avoid violating the tradition. For example, Jah, or Yah, an abbreviation for God’s personal name, is pronounced Kah. Hallelujah is pronounced Hallelukah. Some even avoid writing out the term “God,” substituting a dash for one or more letters. For instance, when they wish to write the English word “God,” they actually write “G-d.”

Further Efforts to Hide the Name

Judaism is by no means the only religion that avoids using the name of God. Consider the case of Jerome, a Catholic priest and secretary to Pope Damasus I. In the year 405 C.E., Jerome completed his work on a translation of the entire Bible into Latin, which became known as the Latin Vulgate. Jerome did not include God’s name in his translation. Rather, following a practice of his time, he substituted the words “Lord” and “God” for the divine name. The Latin Vulgate became the first authorized Catholic Bible translation and the basis for many other translations in several languages.

For instance, the Douay Version, a 1610 Catholic translation, was basically a Latin Vulgate translated into English. It is no surprise, then, that this Bible did not include God’s personal name at all. However, the Douay Version was not just another Bible translation. It became the only authorized Bible for English-speaking Catholics until the 1940’s. Yes, for hundreds of years, the name of God was hidden from millions of devoted Catholics.

Consider also the King James Version. In 1604 the king of England, James I, commissioned a group of scholars to produce an English version of the Bible. Some seven years later, they released the King James Version, also known as the Authorized Version.

In this case too, the translators chose to avoid the divine name, using it in just a few verses. In most instances God’s name was replaced by the word “LORD” or “GOD” to represent the Tetragrammaton. This version became the standard Bible for millions. The World Book Encyclopedia states that “no important English translations of the Bible appeared for more than 200 years after the publication of the King James Version. During this time, the King James Version was the most widely used translation in the English-speaking world.”

The above are just three of the many Bible translations published over the past centuries that omit or downplay the name of God. It is no wonder that the vast majority of professed Christians today hesitate to use the divine name or do not know it at all. Granted, over the years some Bible translators have included the personal name of God in their versions. Most of these, however, have been published in more recent times and with minimal impact on the popular attitudes toward God’s name.

A Practice in Conflict With God’s Will

The widespread failure to use God’s name is based strictly on human tradition and not on Bible teachings. “Nothing in the Torah prohibits a person from pronouncing the Name of God. Indeed, it is evident from scripture that God’s Name was pronounced routinely,” explains Jewish researcher Tracey R. Rich, author of the Internet site Judaism 101. Yes, in Bible times God’s worshipers used his name.

Clearly, knowing God’s name and using it brings us closer to the approved way of worshiping him, the way he was worshiped in Bible times. This can be our first step in establishing a personal relationship with him, which is much better than simply knowing what his name is. Jehovah God actually invites us to have such a relationship with him. He inspired the warm invitation: “Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) You may ask, however, ‘How could mortal man enjoy such intimacy with Almighty God?’ The following article explains how you can develop a relationship with Jehovah:

How You Can Know God by Name (Awake!—2004)

originally posted by: whereislogic
a reply to: Malak777
...
Although the Romans were responsible for this brutal execution of Ben Teradion, the Talmud* states that “the punishment of being burnt came upon him because he pronounced the Name in its full spelling.” Yes, to the Jews, pronouncing the personal name of God was indeed a serious transgression. [*: The Talmud is a compilation of ancient Jewish tradition and is regarded as one of the most sacred and influential written works of the Jewish religion.]
...
... Some claim that the Jews considered the name of God too sacred for imperfect humans to pronounce. Eventually, there was a hesitancy even to write the name. ...

The Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH . . . was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.” The third of the Ten Commandments given by God to the Israelites states: “You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way, for Jehovah will not leave the one unpunished who takes up his name in a worthless way.” (Exodus 20:7) Hence, God’s decree against the improper use of his name was twisted into a superstition.

...Jewish superstitions regarding God’s personal name still survive. Many continue to refer to the Tetragrammaton as the “Ineffable Name” and the “Unutterable Name.” In some circles all references to God are intentionally mispronounced to avoid violating the tradition. ...
...
A Practice in Conflict With God’s Will

The widespread failure to use God’s name is based strictly on human tradition and not on Bible teachings. “Nothing in the Torah prohibits a person from pronouncing the Name of God. Indeed, it is evident from scripture that God’s Name was pronounced routinely,” explains Jewish researcher Tracey R. Rich, author of the Internet site Judaism 101. Yes, in Bible times God’s worshipers used his name.
...

Mark 7:9,13:
9 Further, he said to them: “You skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
...
13 Thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”

"he" = Jesus
"them" = "these Pharisees and scribes" mentioned in verse 5

verses 6-8:
6 He said to them: “Isaiah aptly prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. 7 It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ 8 You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men.”

Ezekiel 36:23:
23 ‘I will certainly sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which you profaned among them; and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘when I am sanctified among you before their eyes.

Ezekiel 38:23:
23 And I will certainly magnify myself and sanctify myself and make myself known before the eyes of many nations; and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.’

Isaiah 8:13:
13 Jehovah of armies—he is the One you should regard as holy,
He is the One you should fear,
And he is the One who should cause you to tremble.”

Isaiah 29:23:
23 For when he sees his children,
Who are the work of my hands, in his midst,
They will sanctify my name;
Yes, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,
And they will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Throughout history, Jehovah has allowed his servants to share in sanctifying his name. By giving the name Jehovah proper recognition, they show their love for God’s name. Like Moses of old, they set out to “declare the name of Jehovah.” (Deut. 32:3; Ps. 34:3)

Deuteronomy 32:3:
3 For I will declare the name of Jehovah.
Tell about the greatness of our God!

Psalm 34:3:
ג [Gimel]
3 Magnify Jehovah along with me;
Let us exalt his name together.

Isaiah ch.45: "I AM JEHOVAH, and there is no one else." ♫

originally posted by: Metallicus
I am just curious why you are afraid to spell out the word God?

originally posted by: Malak777
It is out of respect for any Jews who might read so they know that I am considering them and respecting them. ...
...
I have just told you an institution has been mashing the West through all of history, how it is has abused the woemn and children of your own nation. Why are you not so bothered about that...?
...
You see, for a Jew it is an ugly and pagan thing when they see the whole name of G-D written. I would be a total ignorant person if, knowing this, I still offended them. ...

What about offending God? Or showing respect for Him? It appears that in following Jewish superstition and traditions regarding the name of God (also promoted by the Vatican with a slight modification, see end of comment) and even the very word "God" itself, you seem to demonstrate not to be so bothered about that; regardless of your motive as explained by you and in spite of you probably feeling that you do care about offending God or showing respect for Him, and simply seeing no issues with what you are doing and how it might offend God and demonstrate a lack of respect for Him. Perhaps God's own words as recorded by the prophet Jeremiah may be of help here, they are about the people who behave with this pattern of obscuration concerning God's name (and everything it stands for, including its importance, meaning and God's attributes, identity, will, power and authority) as explained in my previous commentary.

Jeremiah 23:25-33,36

25 “I have heard the prophets who are prophesying lies in my name say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the heart of the prophets, to prophesy lies? They are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. 27 They intend to make my people forget my name by the dreams they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot my name because of Baʹal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully.”

“What does the straw have in common with the grain?” declares Jehovah.

29 “Is not my word just like a fire,” declares Jehovah, “and like a forge hammer that smashes the crag?”

30 “So here I am against the prophets,” declares Jehovah, “who steal my words from one another.”

31 “Here I am against the prophets,” declares Jehovah, “those who use their tongue to say, ‘He declares!’”

32 “Here I am against the prophets of lying dreams,” declares Jehovah, “who relate them and lead my people astray because of their lies and their boasting.”

“But I did not send them or command them. So they will not benefit this people at all,” declares Jehovah.

33 “And when this people or a prophet or a priest asks you, ‘What is the burden* [Or “burdensome message.” The Hebrew word has a double meaning: “a weighty divine pronouncement” or “something burdensome.”] of Jehovah?’ you should reply to them, ‘“You people are the burden! And I will cast you off,” declares Jehovah.’

36 But the burden* of Jehovah you should mention no more, for the burden* is each one’s own word, and you have changed the words of the living God, Jehovah of armies, our God.

Bringing us back to the behaviour of changing the words of the living God, Jehovah, as explained in my previous commentary under the heading "Further Efforts to Hide the Name", for example by the translators of the KJV choosing "to avoid the divine name, using it in just a few verses. In most instances God’s name was replaced by the word “LORD” or “GOD” to represent the Tetragrammaton." Just one of many examples of this behaviour.

KJV
Defending the Divine Name
The name Jehovah and its theophoric names.
Vatican Seeks to Eliminate Use of the Divine Name

The exact spelling of God's personal name in the English language is not the issue here, so please, if anyone feels inclined to do so, don't bring up that red herring in response to any of my commentary. It's already addressed in the link about theophoric names anyway; more or less, not that it would still be a red herring in regards to the more important truths and biblical teachings brought up in that link or the other links or my commentary for that matter. The kind of teachings that don't 'tickle your ears'. Beware of your own attitude towards these important truths and beneficial teachings:

For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* [Or “healthful; beneficial.”] teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.* [Or “to tell them what they want to hear.”] 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories. (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

originally posted by: whereislogic
...
Beware of your own attitude towards these important truths and beneficial teachings:

For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* [Or “healthful; beneficial.”] teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.* [Or “to tell them what they want to hear.”] 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories. (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

Such as the idea that the Tetragrammaton is an “Ineffable Name” or an “Unutterable Name.” As earlier discussed in my first comment in this thread. Sorry, out of edit time.

One more thing (bible teaching) concerning those who may want to argue or think that the text I quoted from Jeremiah, in particular the bolded phrase, does not apply or is not appropiate to bring up in relation to what's happening nowadays concerning those using "G-d" or "G-D" instead of "God" (for whatever motivation, so regardless if it's just out of respect for those adhering to the traditions in the religion of Judaism as currently taught), or those obscuring God's name in bible translations as in the examples earlier given; possibly by changing the subject to talking about who this text in Jeremiah 23 is addressing (possibly implying it's exclusively meant for those "shepherds" and "prophets", "both the prophet and the priest", so therefore it doesn't apply or isn't relevant to the one bringing that up or using that as a justification for one's own behaviour regarding God's name and the related* behaviour concerning the word "God", including promoting, defending or attempting for oneself, in one's own view, to advance the notion that it's not offensive and disrespectful to God). *: related as explained earlier in my first comment

Ecclesiastes 1:9

9 What has been is what will be,

And what has been done will be done again;

There is nothing new under the sun.

Regarding what I said about "promoting, defending or attempting for oneself, in one's own view, to advance the notion that it's not offensive and disrespectful to God", Jeremiah 17:9,10 ('don't fool yourself'):

9 The heart is more treacherous* [Or “deceitful.”] than anything else and is desperate.* [Or possibly, “incurable.”]

Who can know it?

10 I, Jehovah, am searching the heart,

Examining the innermost thoughts,* [Or “deepest emotions.” Lit., “kidneys.”]

To give to each one according to his ways,

According to the fruitage of his works.

Proverbs 28:26

26 Whoever trusts in his own heart is stupid,

But the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

Proverbs 14:12,16

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,

But in the end it leads to death.

16 The wise one is cautious and turns away from evil,

But the stupid one is reckless* [Or “furious.”] and overconfident.

Proverbs 30:12

12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes

But has not been cleansed from its filth.* [Lit., “excrement.”]

a reply to: Malak777

They all come from the bloodlines of the black Venetians... Pope's Royalty etc ..

originally posted by: Malak777

It is something I believe Jesus would now want as He has shown me through certain visions during the fifty plus years of my life.

Definition 2a for "vision" from Merriam-Webster:

"something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy
especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation "

25 “I have heard the prophets who are prophesying lies in my name say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the heart of the prophets, to prophesy lies? They are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. 27 They intend to make my people forget my name by the dreams they relate to one another, just as their fathers forgot my name because of Baʹal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but the one who has my word should speak my word truthfully.”

“What does the straw have in common with the grain?” declares Jehovah.
...
32 “Here I am against the prophets of lying dreams,” declares Jehovah, “who relate them and lead my people astray because of their lies and their boasting.” (Jeremiah 23:25-28,32)

You're not the only one claiming to have had visions of some sort with important spiritual information, teachings or guidance from God, his holy spirit or his Son Jesus, btw. There has even been a recent thread on ATS in the religion&theology forum with very similar claims called "What If God Would Talk To Us?" I saw the one who started that thread commenting in this thread as well, talking about similar dreams, visions and receiving information from God or something or someone associated with God. Others spoke about similar spiritual experiences in that thread or do so on other occasions quite often, although not that often using the word "vision(s)" (more often they will phrase it as certain things being revealed to them by holy spirit, which they will refer to as "The Holy Spirit" or "The Holy Ghost" as if it's a person as per the doctrine of the Trinity). Ecclesiastes 1:9 really is appropiate here, and right on the mark.