Hi Jose, Thanks for your research on Kevin's history. Looks like he has been kissing the blarney stone once-too-often. And we supurlem Goenkars (except for Mario) have been swallowing his philosophies hook-line-and-sinker. So Kevin's theories is just a lot of kaneo. I am glad to note, you agree that there is likely a lot more personal issues here, than meets the eye. Thanks for speculating on some of the problems that may be involved. As a matter of fact, both you and I may have done him (and others) a big favor.
One can help Kevin and others, including cancer patients, and bebdos if they recognize their problem and ask for help. Like, there are many ways for individuals to quit smoking. Yet the most important ingredient is the desire by the smoker to quit. What we've been hearing from Kevin and the agnostics are long theories why OTHERS are to be blamed - just like the alcoholics or drug users. In fact dotor-saab, (and more recently Bosco), he has suckered YOU AGAIN, as reflected by your questions on the Church. Kevin's belief, like all agnostics (see Santosh's post) is they DO NOT have a Soul and they DO NOT have an After-Life. While Santosh, to his credit, has given this response point blank, other Christaum agnostics talk of NO God, or BAD Jesus, or BAD Church. They do not emphasize the NO soul. So let's get to the root of the problem. Do you want the Church to change its position on these issues to suit the agnostics, and whatever fancy name they give themselves? It may be difficult for you, Bosco and others to understand this. It certainly was difficult for me, and took some time to accept, that some individuals actually want to believe they do not have a soul and ipso facto do not have an after-life. Yet, unless you / we accept this (instead of NO god or BAD church) you / we will not appreciate the atheist's mind set. As a simple analogy and with no offence to gays, it is like a gay-man blaming his wife for his marriage problems. Sonzmolai murree, Saiba? So to your questions, what and why Kevin turned away form the Church, is like asking what and why the gay-guy is having marriage problems and turned away from his wife? Ani magir tum muntai, let's send the wife for therapy, so that she can be in a "near-Kevinesque position". Now this does not mean that Mrs. Kevin is an angel. Yet she is not the problem to the relations even though Kevin may claim so. The Mrs. Kevin's issues are just a distraction to solving Kevin's fundamental problem, if indeed he and you truly want to solve it. The conflicts (confusion) that you describe that atheists go through are their own making. Instead of getting up every morning and saying, "the Church is bad," they should, as they say they pray, say as their morning and night prayers, "I do not have a soul and when I die, I am a goner." This will focus their thoughts on their real issues - THEMSELVES!!! Kevin's problems, that you have speculated, may be another manifestation of many social problems that Goans in the Diaspora face; even if they have lots of degrees after their name and live in a big house. I have been preaching this message for a long time. It is my understanding that quite a few Diaspora Goans have similar problems. Kind Regards, GL ---- Jose Colaco <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As late as May 2004, Kevin Saldanha listed himself in his net-autobiography as 'Serving on the Building Liason Committee of the St. Francis Xaviers Church currently in the process of constructing a 950 seat Roman Catholic church in Mississauga' http://members.allstream.net/~saligao/biography.html Quite providentially, coincidentally or atheistically - there apparently is another Kevin Saldanha who in 2001 noted that "God does not exist. Allah does not exist. Nor do any Hindu gods. Nor do all the rest of gods and religious beliefs invented solely by and for the human mind" http://www.bigissueground.com/atheistground/saldanha-religiousbelief.shtml Even though he now proclaims to be an atheist, he appears to be still struggling with the issue (of change) - I expect him to deny that he is strugling. There is nothing wrong with that. One way that struggle is manifesting itself is his repeated attacks on the Catholic Church and on religion. Accordingly,WHILE noting your NON-intent to change Kevin's mind, I suggest that there might be a struggle "within or in the vicinity" of the environment Kevin calls familia! One often sees that in divorces and separations. It is normal, is it not?. It is normal too for the 'unsettled, uncomfortable and not totally sure with their decision' folks to express themselves passionately and sometimes..with more than a little bitterness. I don't see why anybody esp goanet administrators would block Kevin's posts. Often times, this extreme bitterness is an expression of the subconscious struggle. Let it run its course. Life eventually equalizes when the bitterness runs its normal course. Let it be. The only thing I suggest good and committed Catholics like yourself may wish to concentrate upon is ...the WHY? What made Kevin turn away from the Church? Is there some truth to what Kevin is saying? Is there scope for the Church to change? Are there others who are in a near-Kevinesque position? How have the recent rumblings within the Catholic Church affected them? What have good and committed Catholics, like you, done to change the situation wrt Church? Do you believe that the multi-millions spent on the Abuse Law-Suits could have been better spent on helping the poor and hungry? Would you please afford us the opportunity to see what you and committed Catholics like you have done ... to let the hierarchy of the Church (where you live) know? _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
