[Catholics ONLY] Did I blaspheme?

Gnarwhal

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So I have this irreligious coworker who was going to convert to Mormonism for some reason. It was literally a pure pressure situation where he made the mistake of inviting a couple of their bicycle missionaries inside and then he felt guilty about turning them down for stuff.

He had been talking about his impending baptism for weeks, with all of us really skeptical that he actually understood what he was doing. He was under the impression that he could skirt the rules and continue drinking, smoking, and doing all kinds of things that are expressly forbidden in Mormonism.

So one night we were all joking around about a party he wanted to throw for his baptism, with people still commenting that he shouldn't do it. And I made a passing comment about just having an "unbaptism party".

In my head I wasn't thinking about the true sacrament of baptism that we experience in the Church, I was thinking about the Mormon concept of baptism and it's illegitimacy when I made that comment. Yet I still felt kind of weird about what I said... did I blaspheme in a roundabout way or am I just overthinking this?
 

chevyontheriver

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So I have this irreligious coworker who was going to convert to Mormonism for some reason. It was literally a pure pressure situation where he made the mistake of inviting a couple of their bicycle missionaries inside and then he felt guilty about turning them down for stuff.

He had been talking about his impending baptism for weeks, with all of us really skeptical that he actually understood what he was doing. He was under the impression that he could skirt the rules and continue drinking, smoking, and doing all kinds of things that are expressly forbidden in Mormonism.

So one night we were all joking around about a party he wanted to throw for his baptism, with people still commenting that he shouldn't do it. And I made a passing comment about just having an "unbaptism party".

In my head I wasn't thinking about the true sacrament of baptism that we experience in the Church, I was thinking about the Mormon concept of baptism and it's illegitimacy when I made that comment. Yet I still felt kind of weird about what I said... did I blaspheme in a roundabout way or am I just overthinking this?
Overthinking. Mormon 'baptism' isn't the real thing at all. The baptisms of all sorts of other Protestants would be valid, but theirs isn't because they don't have the Trinity even close to right.
 
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Gnarwhal

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Overthinking. Mormon 'baptism' isn't the real thing at all. The baptisms of all sorts of other Protestants would be valid, but theirs isn't because they don't have the Trinity even close to right.

Ah ok, that's kind of what I figured but I wanted to be a bit more clear heading into confession today. Thanks man!
 
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Glaucus

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No. But you did make a mockery of God and baptism in general. While you knew that the Mormon baptism is invalid, I refuse to believe that you didn't understand, deep down, that you showed poor witness about God and baptism in general. Instead of using the opportunity to speak about real baptism, you planted a seed of heathenism and unbelief. People like him and the unbelievers are now worse off. You can play mental gymnastics and try to make yourself feel better, but that little voice and deep conviction is impossible to run from, and I think you know this.

And that is tough love. Repent and confess, and find courage to make amends.
 
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Gnarwhal

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No. But you did make a mockery of God and baptism in general. While you knew that the Mormon baptism is invalid, I refuse to believe that you didn't understand, deep down, that you showed poor witness about God and baptism in general. Instead of using the opportunity to speak about real baptism, you planted a seed of heathenism and unbelief. People like him and the unbelievers are now worse off. You can play mental gymnastics and try to make yourself feel better, but that little voice and deep conviction is impossible to run from, and I think you know this.

And that is tough love. Repent and confess, and find courage to make amends.

This is like telling a Muslim that God isn't real, and justifying it because they have an improper understanding of God.

Before I venture to engage further, are you indeed a member of the Roman Catholic Church? Your faith icon indicates differently, and your avatar suggests otherwise. Unless you are a member of the Eastern Catholic Church, but that is still something that you should indicate with your faith icon.

I ask because when I post questions like this in OBOB with a "Catholics Only" tag, I expect input that's fully in line with Catholic teaching.
 
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Glaucus

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Before I venture to engage further, are you indeed a member of the Roman Catholic Church? Your faith icon indicates differently, and your avatar suggests otherwise. Unless you are a member of the Eastern Catholic Church, but that is still something that you should indicate with your faith icon.

I ask because when I post questions like this in OBOB with a "Catholics Only" tag, I expect input that's fully in line with Catholic teaching.
I am a Catholic in name only who is converting to Orthodoxy. I've made no bones about it many times. You will find that we are not much different. Just different enough. In this regard, Church teaching isn't in play; just reality and common sense. You didn't blaspheme. But you were wrong, and I think you know it, by reasons I've stated. If you wish to hide behind the title and question me to make yourself feel better, go ahead. It doesn't change anything. Again, it's tough love. I won't lie to you.
 
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Gnarwhal

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I am a Catholic in name only who is converting to Orthodoxy. I've made no bones about it many times. You will find that we are not much different. Just different enough. In this regard, Church teaching isn't in play; just reality and common sense. You didn't blaspheme. But you were wrong, and I think you know it, by reasons I've stated. If you wish to hide behind the title and question me to make yourself feel better, go ahead. It doesn't change anything. Again, it's tough love. I won't lie to you.

You're unusually aggressive. I don't know you, and I've not interacted with you, so I don't know what your credentials are to be soliciting input, especially in the Catholic safe haven in a thread explicitly requesting Catholic input only. That's why I asked what I asked.

I'm not commenting on the response itself, but you'll forgive me if I take it with a salt lick since I only expect Catholics to truly and properly represent the Catholic faith.
 
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Glaucus

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You're unusually aggressive. I don't know you, and I've not interacted with you, so I don't know what your credentials are to be soliciting input, especially in the Catholic safe haven in a thread explicitly requesting Catholic input only. That's why I asked what I asked.

I'm not commenting on the response itself, but you'll forgive me if I take it with a salt lick since I only expect Catholics to truly and properly represent the Catholic faith.
Any aggression you're reading into is on your end for reasons I think we both know and due to the lack of tone and body language due to this being a text only form of communication. I do, however, admit to irritation over the persistent "your opinion doesn't mean much because you aren't like us" attitude that this forum is obsessed with. Catholics have many enemies and people with ill intent. You also have many friends. I am unlike Christ in infinitely more ways than I am like him, but (metaphorically speaking) I will call a friend Satan and tell him to get behind me.

You can address what I said or focus on my faith. Again, reality doesn't change.
 
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Gnarwhal

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Any aggression you're reading into is on your end for reasons I think we both know and due to the lack of tone and body language due to this being a text only form of communication. I do, however, admit to irritation over the persistent "your opinion doesn't mean much because you aren't like us" attitude that this forum is obsessed with. Catholics have many enemies and people with ill intent. You also have many friends. I am unlike Christ in infinitely more ways than I am like him, but (metaphorically speaking) I will call a friend Satan and tell him to get behind me.

You can address what I said or focus on my faith. Again, reality doesn't change.

Ok.
 
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StevenMerten

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Decades ago, when I was a teen, I had a friend make a statement. "It is One of God's great Commandments that you not Take the Lord, God's Name in vain. But that blankity, blank, blank, blank, Allah god, on the other hand." I was young and laughed. But then I actually felt my conscience kick in a little. It is thought by many Christians, that the Muslims are Abraham's descendants also. The thought of God, by another name, did pass through my mind. Many Muslims are not violent and very devoted to their god. I am just throwing it out their. The thread seemed to parallel the experience I had.
 
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Glaucus

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Decades ago, when I was a teen, I had a friend make a statement. "It is One of God's great Commandments that you not Take the Lord, God's Name in vain. But that blankity, blank, blank, blank, Allah god, on the other hand." I was young and laughed. But then I actually felt my conscience kick in a little. It is thought by many Christians, that the Muslims are Abraham's descendants also. The thought of God, by another name, did pass through my mind. Many Muslims are not violent and very devoted to their god. I am just throwing it out their. The thread seemed to parallel the experience I had.
Yes, we cannot hide from conscience. The question wouldn't have even been asked if the OP didn't feel the error in what was said. To be frank, it seems OP is looking for people to tell him that he wasn't wrong, rather than wanting to hear the truth. Your experience is exactly why I made the analogy that this is like telling a Muslim that God isn't real, and justifying it because they use a different name and have a different understanding.

In either case, it leads people away from baptism or God because a joke is made about it in general, rather than leading them to truth.
 
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Gnarwhal

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Yes, we cannot hide from conscience. The question wouldn't have even been asked if the OP didn't feel the error in what was said. To be frank, it seems OP is looking for people to tell him that he wasn't wrong, rather than wanting to hear the truth. Your experience is exactly why I made the analogy that this is like telling a Muslim that God isn't real, and justifying it because they use a different name and have a different understanding.

In either case, it leads people away from baptism or God because a joke is made about it in general, rather than leading them to truth.

You would be incorrect, I was not looking for validation. I was fact-checking. I do not believe I was a poor witness either, since my joke was in regard to something that is an imitation of the real sacrament of baptism.
 
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SaNcTaMaRiA

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Fenwick, you are fine. I am not even sure we should be calling the thing that Mormons do baptism. I will pray for your friend. They are making a very grave error converting to the alien religion. I would STRONGLY urge your friend to think twice and then three times. That "religion" is a trap.
 
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