Isnt it about time that this conceipt about the "universal" church and the implied delusion that it has a claim on the totality of the human family, was dropped.
The truth is that the catholic church is an entirely man made institution.It is also a very worldly power seeking institution.It is also a specifically western institution which grew and developed in the west---as distinct from Buddhism and Hinduism which everybody knows are Eastern.
This talk/essay addresses the topic of how all religions are cultic devices which in one way or another did or do provide means for understanding the Divine. At that none of them has the right to any exclusive claim to "holiness".

1. http://www.adidam.org/flash/truthandreligion/index.html

It seems to me that the reversion to the old Latin way is a return to a method of MYSTIFICATION---a way whereby the priests etc can manipulate their "flocks"---bah bah.
Also the metaphor of the pope being a "universal father" is illustrative. Big daddy knows best and all of you necessarily infantilised children had better do what daddy tells you---or you will rot in hell.
The church that I belong to has its equivalent to mass. Everyone is fully instructed in the meaning and significance of all the elements involved--candles (or light), water, ash, oil and incense. And of the meaning and signifance of the entire ritual. The various spoken and recitation aspects are all done in plain English which everyone understands. The structure of the language has a poetic beauty and rhythm which combined with the elements and ritual, invokes the Divine Presence in an extraordinary way. Everyone remaining fully conscious of what is happening.

The priest(s) that conduct the mass/puja have no other authority within the congregation--they merely have an obvious talent for invoking the Divine Presence.They also go through a training process. Other than that they are all co-equal before/within the Divine Presence.

Ho Hum seems to think that the puja is the equivalent to the Mass......such ignorance and self delusion shows that (s)he hasn't a clue about what the Mass is. Perhaps imitation is a form of compliment and I should be ecstatic that he/she seems to believe that it is. S(he) talks about his/her church.......doesn't know what the word church really means either. His/her derogatory style perhaps reveals more about the author than they would wish.

I agree Ho Hum.

It is now obvious that in many Western societies the SPELL of religion has been broken. That is, for millions of people supernaturalism is no longer a tenable ideology.

Therefore, by re-introducing the latin mass the Vatican is trying desperately to weave the SPELL again.

However, this is attempt is problematic. Once the SPELL has been broken it cannot be fixed. Once a monotheist wakes up out of his stupour and gets in touch with reality the Pope and the Bible can never be viewed the same way again.

And God, angels and Virgin Births disappear as mist burnt away by the stark glare of the sun.

TR says that for millions supernaturalism is no longer tenable.....maybe, but for billions it is. Sorry, TR, you're a loser on that one.

Francis, Have you have made a thorough-going study of the training manual for the priests that perform the puja in the church that I belong to?
And have you also either witnessed or participated in the puja itself?

If not you are just mouthing of an uninformed pre-judgement?

And by the way pujas of one form or another are done every day (sometimes many times) by millions of Hindus (and others) throughout the world. Mostly at the shrine in the family home---sometimes or even often, at the Temple. Such practice(s) being an integral part of their culture and their identity.

I do a puja every morning. I am not a Hindu.

How many catholics attend mass everyday?
And why cant they do it themselves in their own homes?
Big daddy in Rome wont allow it?
It will diminish his control on his sheepish flock?
In the town in which I live mass is held only twice a week.

'TR says that for millions supernaturalism is no longer tenable.....maybe, but for billions it is. Sorry, TR, you're a loser on that one.'

Sorry, but its a matter of quality not quantity.

The scientific world view based on naturalism, empirical evidence, and rational logic has Truth by the truckload.

In comparison the pre-scientific worldview based on supernaturalism, unsubstantiated history, and faith has Truth by the teaspoon.

In the light of modern science the likes of angels, spirits, saints, infallible Popes, pregnant virgins and other assorted miracles are no longer believable or necessary. These things belong on the ideological scrapheap.

TR, Ho Hum, I fail to understand how your emotional outbursts are relevant to the topic of the article. Neither the pope nor the author are suggesting you use Latin in your puja, or that you abandon your faith in a world view "based (solely) on naturalism, empirical evidence, and rational logic." He is worried about the liberalisation of some liturgical restrictions, but that has no effect on non-Catholics. (I wonder whether the author will be equally worried if/when the pope - perhaps the next one - liberalises some moral restrictions related to sex.)

I wish the Catholic Church would return to the Latin mass. It's my sense that when the Latin Mass went so followed the classical education.

TR & Ho Hum

TR...Just what is the "scientific world view"? Is it similar to an "evolutionary world view", especially as a senior academic of UQ in the department of biology (I think) on ABC radio said that there is not one theory of evolution, but hundreds". Is there one scientific world view, or are there many? And, are there no religious scientists (of the empirical variety)? What is truth? Perhaps what is true for you is not true for others. What field of "modern science" are you referring?

Ho Hum...just what "church" do you belong to? Your final ignorant comments reveal the infantile nature of your argument. Nice though to try and equate a puja with the Mass.....reveals you regard the Mass as somewhat sacred even though your rather infantile comments reveal otherwise.