Excommunication.

Are we sure God comes into all this earthly mumbo-jumbo stuff?

I agree, Galen - how can one man (the Pope) tell God not to let a person into Heaven because he (the Pope) has decided it's a fit punishment. If you believe in that sort of thing, of course...

A few posts in between Galen's and mine make my post redundant!

Your posts will never be redundant on Gransnet Ana.

That seems to be sorted then.
You can be banned from rituals, but not from God/heaven (if it exists)

That's the way I see it too, Galen.

(Thanks jingl )

And what would be your view of a pastor whose punishment for a girl who becomes pregnant before her (already arranged and booked) wedding is to exclude her from communion for a year?

Not Chritian

Christian (blame my dodgy arm)

He thought he was very Christian!

A lot of Christians aren't. Same as any other religion?

Some heathens are more Christian than some Christians.

JINGLE yr post 20.13
I concur so very , very much !!

she is a lovely person,!¬! as indeed you all are

Oh, I think I may be with sparky'on this one. They broke the rules, had their chance and they blew it....... Fire!

Sorry Phoenix it was actually for the grovelling one when she realised someone upstairs may be reading her posts! . Three hail Mary's jingle and 20 push ups for good measure.

What was that poem about someone waking from a dream of peace and seeing an angel writing in a book?

or even 16 !!

Abu Ben Adam (may his tribe increase)

Yeah - that's it.

Agus I can't do those push-ups. Please don't make me try.

I just googled the Hail Mary to find the words. It goes like this:

"Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen."

That's rather nice innit?

Why do they make saying that into a punishment?

Maybe. But why is it given as a penance (say 700 Hail Marys and you'll be forgiven...)? Wouldn't you be past caring about Mary or anyone else after a while? OK I've exaggerated the number - but why would saying anything X number of times make you suddenly redeemed?

Xd posts jingl

Because it is a ritual of doing a specified thing to remove the stain of a sin. Reciting it is supposed to clean away the wickedness. It is a magic spell, it does not need to make sense.

Yes, it is a lovely poem of happiness and gratitude. Why link it in everyone's minds all their lives with shame and regret?

700?!!!!! Flip me!

Oh yes. You said you exaggerated. #thankthelordforsmallmercies

Could be calming. A while back, when I was a bit low, I used to go on long walks repeating the Lord's Prayer over and over again. Dunno if it helped or not. I know it wasn't easy. I can never get the lines in the right order.