intrigued me more about organized religion; each religion interpreting the Bible to suit its own agenda and 'moral code' or the compelling need for each to enforce its interpretation upon others.

I saw a lot of those cracks from a young age and couldn't wait to hang up my plaid uniform. Although I vowed to never look back, I can't say that I haven't made a brief appearance or two in later years with hopes of seeing some sort of change...

******
"Change is created by those whose imaginations are bigger than their circumstances." Unknown

Hi Rovermom
"But the true Lesbians of the Isle of Lesbos have that right to seek a new alternative for the current situation."

but the fact is that some inhabitants of the island want to forbidd to gay women the right to use the term "lesbian" pretendind it is harmfull for them to be assimilated with homosexuals ! They are homophobes in this way...

your caption says Mary, but surely not Jesus's mom, as she's without Mother Mary's signature head covering. could it be Mary Magdalene, in her torn dress & wild hair? oh, but what's with the cat o'nine tails-wielding cherub? kinky. er, I mean, flagellant!

I have this childlike view that just can not comprehend how something based so deeply in the deepest aspects and aspirations of the human experience can not embrace the varied and colorful differences of that experience. We all fundamentally want the same things, and although differences of opinion are inevitable, why must religion be so stubbornly divisive? Why must one idea fit all?

I belive that churches unable to adapt to the realities of modern (i.e. more equal) life will find themselves less and less relevant and thereby less attended.

'Good Catholic Girls' ... ah, yes.
I was one.

They say once a Catholic always a Catholic. And in a way, I suppose I'll never escape the wonderful Catholic guilt cliche.

Generations of my ancestors were kept down because the church taught them to suffer was to be holy. The Vatican has an awful lot to answer for, as far as I'm concerned. Drenched in hypocrisy and blood-stained gold.

I am ever-hopeful the church will change it's archiac rules and allow priests to marry, women to be included, condoms to be promoted and will spread love and tolerance rather than shame 1and fear... but unfortunately, it's backwards the current idiot in the Pope's chair is going.

I do feel there has to be a change though... either a quiet revolution and modernism. Or floods of people will leave and the remaining core will be thrice as fundamentalist...

Tune in to find out!!!! lol

I'm no authority on the church's history, but isn't it based upon a propaganda campaign that, at its inception, removed women from any kind of cultural/familial/tribal authority we would have had otherwise? Weren't indigenous peoples with matriarchal or matrilineal cultures systematically destroyed/repressed/enslaved for the sake of increasing the church's riches, power and governmental influence? And what about the Inquisition? Given this history, I don't expect the Catholic Church to act otherwise. Why would they change what's worked for them?

Why doesn't the Catholic church deal with war, poverty, capital punishment, homelessness and nuclear proliferation? Some "rogue" priests and nuns do. But, I think the answer to that question is that the Catholic church's biggest stakes are with countries/governments that rely on poverty, domination, colonization, fear and, in many cases, dictatorship to stay in power. If the church changed its ways, then it would literally lose currency in the process.

Having been an Episcopalian attending Catholic school for behavior problems (I was uppity at an early age), I noticed that hypocrisy was part of the curriculum. There's no way those kids were going to follow the rules outside of the watchful eye of a nun wielding a ruler. A nun is someone whose very identity is sexually dis-empowered, while their exterior was usually stern and sometimes downright mean. What did that teach kids with a Catholic education about women in power? And why would little Catholic girls want to grow up to be like that?
Lezbeth

it is not totally related to your post, but i read today that some conservativ inhabitants of Lesbos island (Iannis Axlopitas, and Dimitris Lambrou editor of a paganist and nationalist revue) , lead into justice court some homosexual and lesbian greek association "Olke" ( Greek Union of Gays and Lesbians) because of the scandalous and unbearable use of the term "lesbian" that should be reserve to the native of the island who live everyday in the shame of confusion to be taken for homosexual women ;-))
The décision of the court will be taken in a month, let's prepare us to have to ind another word for "lesbian" (it make me laugh even if this case show how narrow minded and homophobs are still some people !)Sainte Sappho pray for us !