1. It's called the intercession of saints. The saint functions as the medium between the faithful and God. They have access to God, which allows them to obtain graces on behalf of the faithful. An intercessory prayer to a saint(e.g., to Mary) is not the same as worship, it's more like getting the attention of one of God's officials responsible for listening to the needs of his faithful.

2. The Pope is the legitimate successor of St.Peter, and being Bishop of Rome is the highest authority, because, well, it's Rome.

3. There are still excommunications. For example, Catholics who are involved in an abortion are automatically excommunicated without need for formal decree (latae sententiae).

4. Catholics have varying beliefs about hell. Two common beliefs among Catholics is that hell is a state of being separated from God, and others believe it's a place.

I'm agnostic.

To deep south god fearing christians, that's just as close to satan worshipping.

Do not get me started on religion.

I give a damn if your going to heaven or hell.  I don't care if your going to wink out of existance.  I don't care if your going to go to limbo.  I don't rightly care if your going to reincarnate as a newt.  Hopefully not a gingrich.  Small pun.  Very small pun.

When your dead, your dead, if you want to worry your pretty little head on what happens after death...well then you should be the only fricking person worried about your own soul.  I should NOT have to listen to a bunch of jerk wads state I'm going to go to hell, because they say that I don't believe in god.  My soul, is my own concern.  Not yours.  Not some preacher.  Not the Holy See.  It is not your problem, what happens to my soul.  You may think that your helping people understand how religion leads to the path of glory of heaven.  But that shouldn't be your worry.  Your worry should be for yours, and yours alone.  Everyone else should come to their own belief system, on their own.  They should not have to be threatened, cajoled, programmed into a belief that was never truelly their own.

In that regards, and I quote Lieutenant Dan, from a special movie called Forrest Gump.  "God is listening?  God can kiss my crippled ass!"

I always figured earth was hell.  Or at least the emboidement of get your crap together to make a better life for yourself, and rise above the hellish nature of mankind.

I'm agnostic. And each agnostic person has their own unique set of beliefs when it comes to the afterlife.  My personal belief is, when you die, why worry?  Everyone works so hard to do the right thing, to be the right kind of person, in order to assure that when they die, that they are treated to some sort of reward.  I find that atypical of most faiths.  Live a life careing unto others and your place in heaven is assured.  A reward for living a life of good.

Crap.

But it's your crap belief.  I won't deny you your beliefs.  Because they are yours.  I don't believe that living a good life, taht you should automatically receive a reward by being allowed into heaven.  To me that's presumption.  I don't konw how many people I met of the religious faith that frown upon, look down upon, or chastise others because they think or believe DIFFERENLTY.  I personally think it sucks.  I'm told i'm going to hell for being agnostic?  What bullshit is that?  That's presumption.  I could live a good, decent life, helping others.  But being agnostic automatically shoves me into hell?

That's bullshit.  That's crap. And that's religion.

What about gays and lesbians.  Sure lets take that on.   You can be a devotely christan gay or lesbian, but the catholic church denounces that lifestyels and says it's a sin.  And sinners will burn in hell for all eternity.  That's presumption, especially if god is such a loving god, such as he is.  But if a person leads a different lifestyle, or has a different set of values, or set of beliefs, then that person is going to hell. Hmmmmm....

So Liberace is in hell?  George Carlin is in hell?  The Jews are going to go to hell?  Along with all budhists.  And the politicians.  And the corporate money grubbers.  Their all gonna go to hell.

Alfred E. Newman once said, "What, Me worry?"  Well, that's my chain of thought right now, when it comes to the afterlife.  What, me worry?

George Carlin was shot?

I thought the funniest routine was that loudmouthed other comedian.  What's his name?  The former preacher.  The former priest.  The former gospel guy...what was his name?   Oh yah.  Sam Kinison.  The joke went around that, he told so many jokes about people getting hit by drunk drivers, and he himself was hit...and killed by a drunk driver.  I think the words are called ironic?  A god fearing christian that went and saw a new light, and told racist, sexist, religious jokes.  And did lots of alcohol, and drugs, and sex.  Must have been an uplifting experience.

To bad most christians thinks that he's in hell right now.

http://famousdeadmormons.com/index.php?id=109

Religion is the strongest plasebo there is

Because if they don't respect God, those of us who do, probably shouldn't obey them.

if the universe is a cosmic accident why do I care what you think? Disperse into "God Particles" from whence you sprang.

And you're very generous with the learning curve, aren't you?  "That was my opportunity to learn something, and, if somebody else feels they were the victim, it's their growth opportunity to move on from caring too much about such things...if they refuse to grow and get stuck in the past, sucks for them"

"Obey?

Uhhhh....i'm not sure where this Obey comes from."

it's in the part where they win the election and then become the government and start passing laws and stuff

I am also a catholic, but also a whoremonger

as Einstein has passed this by I presume he is attending RCIA classes

What about them?