Should I leave?

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Each person has her/his own path to follow through this life. I can't tell you whether to stay or go from your perspective. I think you do add something to our discussions that is valuable.

What I can tell you is that getting riled up, especially in response to someone else's opinions (even if stated as facts) it not helpful to you (editorially.) When I let it happen to me, I usually regret it. Other people may be in swamps, on hilltops, totally lost, near nirvana, but it is not your job to shepherd them onto the path you see.

The opposite of faith is fear. If the writings of another enrage you, that is a fear response. Rely on your faith to see you through. I think Mary does not fear what others may say about her.

Not about to tell you to go or stay, but maybe PPR isn't for you if other peoples positions get to you this much. And maybe an attitude adjustment; you start out superiour and lecturing, and devolve quickly into throwing insults when someone seems interested in engaging with you and challenges you on scriptural grounds. Plus you called a seemingly honest fellow believer dishonest for some reason, that seemed to come pretty much out of nowhere.

My 2c from the outside looking in...
You may actually have more in common with your debate partner than with the majority of WP members, who tend to lean towards atheism. You're both part of a similar minority from my POV.

To me its semantics taking precedence over commonly held beliefs, with neither seeming to apply what they claim to espouse.

Somewhat typical of the historical pattern really. Kill or be killed in the name of subtle differences... apparently.

Emotional stability is needed for the rough and tumble nature of PPR discussions, if you can be ruffled in this way, perhaps topics where you arent emotionally invested would be better suited to you.

Very wisely put^

Can I ask a question? Please don’t take this as insulting, accusatory or in anyway hostile. I have had some very odd responses to the things I’ve said, both here and elsewhere on this site. Are people here taking in the words differently to how I try to take things in? Is it, again, I don’t want to insult anyone or come off sounding cynical, is it that people here are reading words, more through the emotions associated with the words, than the words themselves? (Like for example, when I use the word “blasphemy,” are people reading the word more, through the emotions and images associated with that word, rather than the word itself and the context I’m using it in?)

Thank you!

I meant Amity haha. But yeah. Ppl with supposed Aspergers are way easier and better to speak to on any topic.


So i know I am not reading blasphemy as anything more than what it means. Idk about anyone else but the main thing that matters is peace of mind when it comes to internet...

On the internet, if it’s distressing it’s not worth pursuing, because nobody will change each others minds anyway nor meet them in person, in all likelihood, to actually benefit each other.

I could spiral on about what I truly think in depth but it gets nobody anywhere except distress and anger...
and Is also disrespectful unless I was specifically asked.

Don't you feel that "blasphemy" is rather an extreme word.

In Renaissance days, people were burned at the stake for "blasphemy."

I would say if somebody, say, vomits on an image of the Virgin Mary---that would be blasphemous.

But if somebody just says they don't believe in the divinity of Mary----then I would feel that to call that "blasphemy" would be an extreme reaction.

When somebody debates with somebody, and wants to gain the rhetorical advantage, they frequently resort to hyperbole. When you say that a Protestant is blaspheming the Virgin Mary merely by virtue of being a Protestant, that would be an example of hyperbole.

I thought you were responding to my decision to leave, not the question I posted above. Some people on here seem to be not understanding or not fully taking in what I typed in the OP, like how I was I handling myself okay until the bad night threw me off. I guess I should just stick with the main point of avoiding those two topics mentioned above, and just focus on stuff I can handle. As harsh as it sounds, (and I'm not saying this as a form of emotional blackmail or anything) I guess I just need to accept that a lot of people, aspie & NT, just won't emphasize with my emotional distress of someone I really love being attacked.

I've got to go, I wanted to respond to something blazingstar said, and actually tried to on my phone but the internet gave out. I'm late for mass, so I'll just leave it here for now, and respond to blazingstar when I get back.

No Faithful Catholic believes that Mary is Divine, we believe She's 100% Human. In fact as the Immaculately Conceived New Eve, I consider Her more human than any of us.

I'll respond to you concerns about the use of the word blasphemy later, and the nature of that word, but I've got to go right now.

I just feel that "blasphemy," semantically, has a rather extreme meaning. And I also feel it is used too far often for situations which don't call for extremity----similar to how "rightist" and "leftist" is used today in politics.

When somebody "uses the Lord's name in vain," that is considered to be blasphemous, and is often harshly criticized for it. Most of the time, though, people don't intend to "use the Lord's name in vain."

Oh wow we believe that too. I didn't know that. I thought my sons nurse thought of her as something else I suppose.


By the way I had a lot of anger towards something ...and had a meeting and anticipated the worst, was as angry and suspicious as u were of that persons intent, etc.. probably more...
but anyway it turned out for the best. It was a huge misunderstanding n paranoia on my part bur ...

it was still good I clarified what was getting to me, and it smoothed out amazingly.


He (the principal) said that he hadnt said or intended anything like what i was thinking and was so kind and took so much time to listen and caringly...
Then he said the key is communication ...
and that is what I want to pass onto you since we both seemed to be bristling and hurt at the same time, it may be helpful to you too. Except he said face to face is what he prefers for communication bcuz then u can see the persons tone and body language and knw their intentions and absorb it..

With aspergers there is an added level of tension from poor theory of mind, which can be mitigated with communication and perspective, but that face to face thing isnt possible on a forum.

Thanks blooiejagwa, it comes from lived experience.

Blasphemy against saints is only such because it is against a person who has a rather close relationship with God himself, which is a case of "mess with my friends, mess with me." The "divinity of Mary" is still a piece of lunacy.

Sorry to have possibly hijacked a thread, but I am getting tired of seeing that silly canard repeated by people wise and thoughtful enough to know the difference. It is super common and therefore rather understandable, thanks to the misinformation out there, but it's not actually true.

I see what you're saying. Yes that's fairly true, Catholic philosophy states that angry emotions stem from what is called the irascible appetite, which is sort of like the fight-or-flight mechanism, though I think it's more complex than that.

On other hand though, Catholic philosophy states that anger is a response, not just to danger, but injustice, to moral evil. But then again, I try not think about that too much, since it causes problems and confusions for me with my anger issues than understanding. It's just not part of my vocation.

It is interesting to note however, that Catholic moral theology states that the sin of anger, is not a sin of the flesh, but a sin of either the will, or the intellect. Sinful anger originates in either the will or the intellect, this might explain why aspies like myself struggle a lot with anger.

Yeah I heard that Muslims believe the same thing. Have you heard of Fatima, Portugal? It's named after a Moorish Princess and there, Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children during World War I. It was hearing about this apparition, (though I had heard of it before) that became the final push to make revert to the Catholic Faith. So I have special love and devotion to Her under the title of Our Lady of Fatima.

Thank you for sharing that with me, yes, I have had similar experiences to that, it's quite a relief when they happen. I should keep it in mind more.

Yeah, I realize more and more how difficult it can be to get things across online. I have been trying to make things more clear to people on various social media platforms, but I still need to work on it. Also, I tend to get really upset when people appear to not listen to me or misunderstand me, not just because of my Aspergers, but because of other issues I have as well. However I am healing from these wounds, and it's not as bad now as in the past. I guess it's easier with other topics because they tend to be not so personal, but with these topics mentioned in the OP, they are extremely personal, and in the case of Our Lady, intimate.