^^^^
This is not much different to the Catholic idea -- stemming out of the visions of the seers at Fatima in 1917 -- that the 20th century in particular, or some time period surrounding it, is a particular time of trial for Christianity if not the Roman Catholic Church specifically. That, similar to Job in the book of the OT, Satan has allowed by God a finite period to particularly rip hard on humanity and on the Church generally, following which some epochal change is likely to happen. Whether it's the end of the world or not is not certain.
There's also something else about the whole "I don't go to church because it's corrupt." I had to come to terms with this idea because of the paedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church particularly if not in most churches with the Catholic Church being the most prominent target. I have often been asked "How can you go to church or support the church when it's done all these evil things?"
Here's my view: I don't go to Mass to support the church. I go primarily for the sake of my own immortal soul, for the miracle that is the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. At long-established doctrine, the sinfulness of the priest whose hands raise the Host do not make that Host unclean or make the miracle any less real. By what right should I turn my face from an encounter with the Risen Christ just because Christ's doorkeeper is an ugly fuck, or because the doorway to him is on fire? Shall I shun Christ for the sake of a covey of sinful bastards in his own church? Did Jesus say "Fuck off, all of you and don't return until you've gone and ducked Judas's head into a nearby pond, then I'll tell you how to save men's souls?"
This is not much different to the Catholic idea -- stemming out of the visions of the seers at Fatima in 1917 -- that the 20th century in particular, or some time period surrounding it, is a particular time of trial for Christianity if not the Roman Catholic Church specifically. That, similar to Job in the book of the OT, Satan has allowed by God a finite period to particularly rip hard on humanity and on the Church generally, following which some epochal change is likely to happen. Whether it's the end of the world or not is not certain.
There's also something else about the whole "I don't go to church because it's corrupt." I had to come to terms with this idea because of the paedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church particularly if not in most churches with the Catholic Church being the most prominent target. I have often been asked "How can you go to church or support the church when it's done all these evil things?"
Here's my view: I don't go to Mass to support the church. I go primarily for the sake of my own immortal soul, for the miracle that is the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. At long-established doctrine, the sinfulness of the priest whose hands raise the Host do not make that Host unclean or make the miracle any less real. By what right should I turn my face from an encounter with the Risen Christ just because Christ's doorkeeper is an ugly fuck, or because the doorway to him is on fire? Shall I shun Christ for the sake of a covey of sinful bastards in his own church? Did Jesus say "Fuck off, all of you and don't return until you've gone and ducked Judas's head into a nearby pond, then I'll tell you how to save men's souls?"
Remissas, discite, vivet.
God save us from people who mean well. -storm