A question about Catholosism(sp?).....

[kakkarot]

james, the king james version is NOT the best translation, but what you posted is more accurate than what i posted from memory.[]

as for submitting, it doesn't mean be submissive always, and it doesn't mean that the husband always gets his way. to submit to someone, you serve them. this one part of the bible is a bit hard to understand properly, and it is better phrased somewhere else (i don't remember where, though). basically, husbands love their wives, and part of love is serving. wives are to submit to their husbands, ie serve, in the same manner.

as for the man being the head of the wive as christ is the head of the church, i'm sure that this was more of a cultural issue than an actual spiritual one. but it's fairly hard to be certain since there are so many possible things to take into account on that. in the end though, if you and your wive love each other and your relationship, then i'm sure God is pleased as well.

~kakkarot

[James S]

I believe in most middle eastern cultures it is still the way of the wife to be submissive to the husband, and for the husband to be the head of the house.

This is one major consideration to be taken into account when translating such passages of the bible - they were written for a culture that for thousands of years had a totally male dominated society - much as Assia pointed out. Not much has changed in the reigion since. The women still must assume a submissive role, and it still looks to be very one sided wehter the husband really loves them or not.

This is something that I don't think translates well into our western culture, which, if you look at it back far enough, the brittish / european ways were mostly based on pagan religions and traditions, which looked more to the earth goddess rather than a god. I'm also told my celtic ascestors had more of a matriarchal society.

When you consider that the christian teachings are based on middle-eastern society principals, is it any wonder so many issues developed when it forced itself on a predominantly pagan society.

You are right though that loving each other is the one key element, and far more important that rules and traditions.

James.

[Adrian]

Greetings kakkarot!

Love and Service are two of the most important Spiritual Truths, and which are fundamental to Spiritual growth in ascension to the Great Spirit (God).

But "Love" does not merely mean that between a man and his wife and family, but towards all of mankind and aspects of Spirit equally, and accompanied by an equal desire to serve.

We are all Sons and Daughters of "God", are all equal regardless of gender or race, and all have the equal right to evolve and to assist every member of humanity to do likewise.

That is the true definition of these fundamental aspects of Spirit.

With best regards,

Adrian.

[kakkarot]

true true adrian, but when a man and woman come together, they become one before the Lord (according to the bible), so the love they give each other is going to be (or rather should be) different than the love they show to their neighbors. but the love the spouses show for one another should also encompass the love they feel for a neighbor.

beyond themself, all mankind should be loved and served equally.

~kakkarot

[cainam_nazier]

Maybe some one can sort this out to me.

I was talking to some one the other day and during the conversation the individual in question managed to bring up "Free Will" and "Pre-destination" in the same sentance.

Now to me this make no sence what so ever.  How can "pre-destination" and "free will" co-exist?

In my mind they kinda cancel each other out.

If I understand this correctly "free will" gives us the ability to choose weather or not we want to believe, do good, and so on.  Correct?  And "pre-destination" says that every thing really doesn't matter anyway because what ever is going to happpen to you in life has already happened or is going to happen no matter what.  Well it's kinda the short, bias version but you get my meaning.  Is that correct?

So if I am right on both counts then how can they co-exist?  If I am wrong then please explain.