Religion

The subject of this blog post might not be about a subject everyone would want to read about: religion.  I've never really talked much about religion on here or other places of the Internet other than the occasional comment about church or something.  My religion is a large part of my life though, and I feel like I should talk about it in at least one post.  I don't want this to start a debate over religion.  This post is more about how religion affects my life than my actual religion (which is Catholicism if you're interested).

I've been raised Catholic my whole life, and my family attends church every week.  We'd probably be described as a pretty religious family.  My dad is currently studying to become a deacon.  (To learn what that is, you can go here.  Essentially, they're part of the clergy, but they're not a priest.  I'm not quite sure how to describe it.)  A lot of my extended family is also Catholic, but not my whole family.  The Catholic Church has been a large part of my life.  Up until high school I also attended a small Catholic school.

Like every person, I've questioned Catholic teachings before, but it's never gotten to the point where I've actually considered leaving the Catholic Church.  I'm just a person who always questions things.  (Here's one of those obvious reasons I'm a Ravenclaw even though I don't want to admit it.)  I don't think you can honestly believe something unless you've questioned it and figured it out for yourself, and I do that a lot.  I have several books on Catholic teachings, I look stuff up online all the time, and of course, I read the Bible every day.

There's a lot of prejudice against the Catholic Church, and I believe most of it us unfound.  I've seen a lot of people believe things about the Catholic Church that are completely untrue.  For instance, we don't have to do everything the Pope says.  There are only certain times he exercises papal authority.  We don't worship Mary.  Catholics don't worship anyone other than the Holy Trinity.  In the same light, we also don't worship statues.  As someone who's been Catholic my whole life, I've never understood why some people believe we do.  I've never bowed or prayed to a statue in my life.  I've bowed in front of an altar, which had statues on it, but I was bowing to God, not the statues and I wasn't even directly in front of a statue.  I've always seen the statues as more of decorations than anything else.  And here's one that may come as a great shock to a lot of people:  Catholics don't hate gay people.  Or Muslims.  Or any religion or group of people for that matter. If they did, they wouldn't be following God's teachings.

That became even more religious than I was planning.  Like I said, I don't want this to turn into a debate over religion.  I think I've said this somewhere before, but I love learning about religions.  It's one of my favorite things to learn about.  It's always interesting to see what different people believe about God, creation, an afterlife, etc.  My religion is very important to me, but I'm always open to people with different beliefs.

As I've already stated many times, I don't want the comments to become some big (especially hateful) debate.  I would be interested in knowing what your views on religion are though.  Just be nice about it.  I don't want there to be any insults.  Also, I've considered writing more blog posts or even filming videos about different religious things.  I don't know if I'm brave enough to do it though.  I'm not sure how it'll go.  What do you think?

International Barbeque Festival

I didn't post as much this week as I was expecting.  It was mainly because I kept forgetting.  After being busy for so long it was hard to remind myself to blog.  Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon. 

This post is going to be short because I'm over at my grandma's.  Some family is visiting from Florida and my sister, cousin, and I are also over to spend time with them.

We went to the International Barbeque Festival that's hosted near where I live yesterday and had a blast.  I even got this magnetic pendant that you can change.  I got two and each are Harry Potter themed.  Shocking.  We were planning to go back today, but it started raining.  It kind of sucks because my best friend was there today, and I was going to get to see her.  She moved and switched schools this year, so we don't see each other often.

Earlier today we where at my cousin Michael's tenth birthday party.  I always enjoy spending time with family.  My younger cousins (I'm the oldest on this side of the family) are awesome and just about as nerdy as I am.  Just so you know the types of things we talk about, we had an awesome discussion about the Trojan War today, and my young (eight to fourteen, I think) cousins knew what they were talking about.  I also like talking to my grandma, aunts, and uncles.  I think I get along with adults a lot better than most people my age.

After the party we just came back to my grandma's and talked and stuff.  Obviously I'm on the computer typing this post right now.  Some of the others have cards out.  They're playing Phase 10, which I know nothing about.  There's definitely some competitiveness happening.

Haley

Lots of Hunger Games and Harry Potter Talk

I'm trying something new and separating this post into different sections.

Hunger Games 30 day challenge:

Today is my last day of doing two challenges a day because of missing the days I was in Georgia.  (For more about they 30 day challenges, see the page at the top of this page.)

The first one I have to do today is:  something you wish didn't happen in the series.  This is a difficult question, and my answer is going to contain some spoilers for the Hunger Games series.  I didn't really enjoy the fact that Peeta was hijacked, but I think it was a good move storywise.  I don't think I would change it because it would change Mockingjay too much.  I enjoyed it as a part of the plot, but I was sad to see Peeta go through that.  I also wish Rue, Prim, Finnick, etc. hadn't died, but again, I see why that was important for the story.  I'm also not a huge fan of any scene that includes Katniss and Gale kissing.  As for something that I hate becase I thought it was unnecessary to the plot, I can't really think of anything.

The second one is:  your favorite kiss.  I'm going to choose Katniss and Peeta's kiss in the Capitol in Mockingjay.  (I always seem to choose scenes from Mockingjay for these things.)  I just love that scene (not that I don't love everytime Katniss and Peeta kiss in the series).  It's the first time Katniss and Peeta have kissed without having cameras filming them and having to pretend for the Capitol.  In case you're interested, here's the scene:

Only one figure stays huddled against the wall. “Peeta,” I say. There’s no response. Has he blacked out? I crouch in front of him, pulling his cuffed hands from his face. “Peeta?” His eyes are like black pools, the pupils dilated so that the blue irises have all but vanished. The muscles in his wrists are hard as metal.



“Leave me,” he whispers. “I can’t hang on.”


“Yes. You can!” I tell him.

Peeta shakes his head. “I’m losing it. I’ll go mad. Like them.”


Like the mutts. Like a rabid beast bent on ripping my throat out. And here, finally here in this place, in these circumstances, I will really have to kill him. And Snow will win. Hot, bitter hatred courses through me. Snow has won too much already today.


It’s a long shot, it’s suicide maybe, but I do the only thing I can think of. I lean in and kiss Peeta full on the mouth. His whole body starts shuddering, but I keep my lips pressed to his until I have to come up for air. My hands slide up his wrists to clasp his. “Don’t let him take you from me.”


Peeta’s panting hard as he fights the nightmares raging in his head. “No. I don’t want to…”


I clench his hands to the point of ain. “Stay with me.”

His pupils contract to pinpoints, dilate again rapidly, and then return to something resembling normality. “Always,” he murmurs.

Hunger Games news:

I just want to briefly say that the Hunger Games movie casting is driving me crazy.  That's all I really have to say.  I was wondering what you guys think about all of it.  I'm not sure how I feel about any of the guys up for the role of Peeta.  I wish I could actually see them acting as Peeta.  I used to have a huge crush on Josh Hutcherson, but I'm not sure I'd like him as Peeta.  I think he's a good actor, it's just that I can't picture him as Peeta.  What about you guys?

Harry Potter news:

Apparently Deathly Hallows Part 2 is going to be the shortest Harry Potter film.  I guess it makes sense.  It is only half of a book.  It's still over two hours long though, so it's not a short movie by any means.  I just hope it's good.

A few deleted scenes from Deathly Hallows Part 1 have been released on the Internet.  I'm strongly attempted to watch them, but I'm forcing myself to wait for the DVD.  There's supposed to be one of Ron teaching Hermione how to skip rocks.  It sounds so cute!  I can't wait to watch them, but I'd much rather watch them on the DVD.  That just makes it more special to me.  I have no idea if that makes sense to anyone else.  Have you guys watch any of them yet?

Someone also leaked the opening scene of Deathly Hallows Part 2 online, but it's already been taken down.  (*Slight spoilers* It's apparently of Ollivander and Harry talking about the Elder wand.)  It's actually going to be on the Part 1 DVD, but I'm not sure if I'm going to watch it.  It's going to be really hard to stop myself once I have the DVD in my hands, but I think it would be a much better idea to wait until I get to see the whole movie.  I don't think watching Part 2 would be as epic if I've already seen the first scene of it.  What do you guys think?

There was also a test screening of Part 2 today.  I'm jealous of the people who got to see it and yet not jealous at the same time.  It would be amazing to see the film early, but I wouldn't want to watch it unfinished.  It just wouldn't be the same.

Wow, there was a lot of Harry Potter news the past couple of days.

Life:

I had no idea what to title this section, so that will just have to do for now.  Honestly, not much happened today.  I worked part of the day and got to find yet another cockroach (this one was dead, but I don't think that's much better).  I'm trying to enjoy my last two days of spring break.  Unfortunately, I have to work for six hours tomorrow.  That is not a fun way to spend your last day of spring break (especially if I find another cockroach).

Days Until:
Deathly Hallows Part 1 DVD: 9!
The Twilight Saga: The Complete Illustrated Guide released: 10
LeakyCon 2011: 102
Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie: 104
My 18th Birthday: 124
Breaking Dawn Part 1 Movie: 230
Breaking Dawn Part 2 Movie: 596

Books Read in 2011: 10

Harry Potter Reread: Order of the Phoenix 6

Haley