Seems to me the Holy Spirit is the forgotten middle child of the trinity. Hardly anyone ever talks about it. I don't even really understand what the hell it is/does, even after 9 years of Catholic schooling (complete with religion classes). So, for starters, what is it?
One of the few things I know of the Holy Spirit I read shortly after easter on the beliefnet Catholic page and it said that the Holy Spirit isn't an "it" but a "Person in the Trinity". I do know that isn't what you mean that it was an "it" but as I said, it is one of the few things I know of the Spirit. The Spirit is also called the Holy Helper. I think I also read somewhere that it is like a "binding angent" between people and God. And then you have the "gifts from the Holy Spirit" which is where the Helper title comes in. Tongues (and interpretation), prophesizing, healing etc as seen in the NT I understand are used as an aid to preaching the Gospel.
Good one fed. Burbot, I know it's part of the trinity, but what pronoun do you use? He? It always seemed rather abstract, so I stick with "it".
The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Though really distinct, as a Person, from the Father and the Son, He is consubstantial with Them; being God like Them, He possesses with Them one and the same Divine Essence or Nature. He proceeds, not by way of generation, but by way of spiration, from the Father and the Son together, as from a single principle <= thats from the catholic encyclopedia. I think God is an "it" in general. Sometimes people just think of God as a he. Anyway .. the way no see it, personally, is that the Holy Spirit is the acting power. Like.. for instance the gift of the Holy Spirit ..wisdom courage wonder and awe yada yada.. and to have these things is to be "filled with the Holy Spirit." hmm.. and the tongues of fire. that was the spirit. yep. I think the Spirit is the acting power.
Yeah, I agree that using "he" for the Sprit seems silly. I woudl use "it" even knowing fully well it isn't an "it". What I meant about that Trinity comment was just explaining that it wasn't an "it" but a Person (which is what I read about in that article). I am sure most people know it as a part of the Trinity, but don't really know about that "person" part.
You mean the acting power of God? That is, does God always act through this aspecte of himself, the Holy Spirit?
People with schizophrenia don't have multiple personlities, unless they have a multiple personality disorder.
hah well im not suprised you dont know what the holy spirit is if ur from a Catholic school. Its the part of the Trinity that helps you in life. It guides you in your prayer, thinking, attitude and its the part that God leaves of him behind with us to do his work. TO me, it is almost the most relevant part to modern living.
i almost agree with you. i also believe in things i can see and feel. I can see the effects of God in people's life and can can feel the Holy Spirit in mine. I believe in the feelings i get from God; Love, Joy and Peace to name a few. Now if that is a fairytale that scares children then im truly sorry. I dont follow religion so much as faith, so from ur statement, technically you can have no qualms with my views.
Fed, do you have to bring that into every damn thread on this forum? It's one thing to have all your own threads talking crap (or c.r.a.p.), but don't ruin everyone else's threads. Roly, I agree, it does seem the most relevant, personal part...at least if what you said is right. Though, God the father seems to be everywhere himself, I don't know why he'd need a Holy Spirit to help us.
^No problem man. Somedude, I don't get that either. I generally put all Christians together, thought the fundies do deserve an extra helping of disdain. Not that I really disdain Christianity, I just don't agree with the majority of what it holds central. And the fundies are just really annoying. Actually, as an aside, and maybe this is a bias from being raised Catholic, they at least have a tradition to them. Orthodox too. Protestants are so boring. Boring churches (look more like courthouses), little in the way of mysteries and symbolic ritual, they mainly focus on moral preaching, and very little on actual communion with God. They seem to have lost that thread somewhere along the way. There are exceptions of course, but they do tend to be very stripped down legalists and Bible worshippers.
What you said about tradition Bandon, I find the all of the episcopal churches have that little extra bit that the grassroots prodestant ones don't in the way of ritual and tradition. I have though only been to a Orthodox wedding, Anglican Advent Mass, and RC Christmas Mass (I've yet to go to a Lutheran Mass, but I think next time I go out I will head there). I haven't been to any sunday services at any prodstant churches, but I did attend a short sermon that was given after I performd a play about METH at a Potter's House (bad experience) About the Catholic/Christian seperation, I disagree vetemently when people seperate the two as "Catholics and Christians". The other episcopal churches aren't seperated, but they just don't usually get as much media coverage as the RC church, so they are almost forgotten. And besides, Catholics are Christians Pertaining specifically to the comment that the reason why Brandon didn't understand/know much about it was because he was raised Catholic I disagree with. Although I recently read an atrticle features on Beliefnet about a revitalization movement with at least one Catholic church (or parish) with the Holy Spirit and it's gifts (much like a Pentacostal church) and bring that idea back to the Catholicism, I think it is unfair to propose that Catholics don't pay attention to it. I mean "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"...you don't find that repeated to the extent of the episcopal churches in any prodestant churhes that I know of
Yeah, I was generalizing and know it doesn't apply to all Protestant sects, but it seems to be the general trend. But I should have included the Anglicans which are almost Catholics anyways, and maybe Lutherans...not so sure about them, at Catholic school protestants mainly get lumped together and we don't learn about them It's true though, that they don't seem to actually DISCUSS the H.S. as much as they do Jesus or the Father. I mean, we did learn about it, defnitely, but mostly we kept coming back to Jesus, his death, resurrection... not to mention the Creation and Old Testament is all a focus on the Father. the H.S. just get's lost in the shuffle, I guess.
As for the Holy Spirit, I am willing to believe that many things, described in Huizinga's "Homo ludens", altough implicitely, can be applied to HS
As for the Holy Spirit, I am willing to believe that many things, described in Huizinga's "Homo ludens", altough implicitely, can be applied to HS Peace & intuition
