08-03-2004, 10:54 PM
Quote: Salaam...
So Peace In Ireland...
thank you for your explanation... but i have more confusions in my mind, if you can clear out the doubts for me. If Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are the same God but in different forms, so during the lifetime of Jesus, is there any God 'up there' administering the universe?
Yes. In theory, if God can and is everywhere at once (which is why he can catch many people doing naughty things at the same time) than it is very likely that he could be the incarnate of Jesus and the Supreme Being living in the clouds at the same time. This is just the way it was taught to me, not what I actually believe.
And Zachariah...
As far as the trinity in other Christian faiths, I'd believe the priest who told you. I only know about Catholicism basically. I know some about other branches, but not a whole lot. If he says that Anglicans, Episcopalians, Orthodox, or whatever believe in the trinity, they probably do.
As for the sin thing. Sin is the most confusing part of Catholicism/Christianity. Really, I can't explain that to you. Ask a priest or a bishop, they could tell you.
And Muslimah....
Confession is not primarily used to gain forgiveness from the priests, it is to ask the priest to guide you in the right direction to deliver you from sin. In Catholicism, there is almost a holy heirarchy that goes God, Pope, Cardinals, Archbishiops, and so forth. So these priests are closer to understanding the workings of God than a lay-person would be. Priests don't say "Ok, I think Jesus forgives you" in confessional, they tell you what to do to deliver yourself from sin. Drinking too much? Examine what causes you to drink. Cheating on your wife? Are you truely in love with her? Etc.
Hope that helps. It would also bear reiterating that Catholics like to distance themselves from Christianity as much as possible. This is why my answers may not correspond with those of non-Catholic Christians on thie board.