NationStates Jolt Archive

The Palace of the Patriarch, Redmound, Guffingford

An open letter sent to the main Christian nations of the world from the office of the Guffingfordian Catholic Patriarch, the Honourable Holiness Lord Lazarius.“My fellow Christians around the globe, my fellow Protestants, my fellow Catholics and fellow nations. Today is the first day the Guffingfordian Catholic Church opens its doors to foreign states around the world and introduced you to a new form of Christianity. To some it borders on science with a religious aftertaste, to others it is blasphemy obsessed by science. To us it is our religion. While you, the esteemed reader of this message, is pondering what exactly Guffingfordian Catholicism is, allow me to fill you in with the Christian history of our beloved nation.
Back in the 16th century, when the Scotsmen Ian McGuff landed on the shores of Rooi-Nassau, one of the provinces (or “freestates” as named in Guffingford) he took Christianity to our nation. It spread quickly, and after three decades Christianity had more supporters than the old native Polynesian religions. Ian McGuff was a Catholic, but the grasp of the enlightenment took a firm hold in Guffingford in the 18th century – after two hundred years of no connections with the Holy Vatican See. The spirits of the people began to blend science and technology with the astounding work of God. The fundamental basics of Guffingfordian Catholicism were written down in a new Bible, without the old or new testament. Some critical thinkers call it a religious version of Darwin’s The Origin of Species, and surprisingly, it is the case. This new Bible was finished in 1895 and the fundamental shift between regular Catholicism and Guffingfordian Catholicism was made. Guffingfordian Catholicism rejects the idea of Adam and Eve, the creation of the universe but strictly tells its believers it was God who created everything and guided natures path of evolution to the splendour of Humanity. All thinking goes without God, but God does think and he guards his Creation. He is a passive ‘spectator’, and when Humanity became the way it is, as it is (Homo Sapiens) He allowed us to roam the planet freely, think and act without His divine guidance. Humans are free to denounce or accept His existence, because God no longer works on the human spirit. His works as a craftsman are over, and now He is working and still shaping nature around us, and the universe. Doubt is a natural sense, and it allows us to rethink our ways. Doubt creates new paths and ways of thinking. Hence why the creation chapters are called the “Creation Theory” or the “Theorem on the Creation” in various other editions. Apart from the Creation Theory in The New Bible, the Christian Catholic traditions remain the same and untouched.
In this part the most “disturbing” differences are explained, and it is understandable why many foreign Christian nations do not take Guffingfordian Catholicism seriously. By no means this Bible is an excuse for heresy and other wrongdoings, going against the principles of Guffingfordian Catholicism: peace within your mind, and peace with your neighbour. We know the more conservative Christians in our world oppose our ways, but we ask for official recognition nonetheless.”

-- I thank you for your time and attention and we hope to hear from you in the near future. With kind regards, Lord Lazarius, Patriarch of the Guffingfordian Catholic Church.After Lazarius wrote and sent the letter into the world, he sat behind his desk and was sipping from a glass of wine. He did not know where it came from, but it was a Medoc, a good one from 1921. Outside the sickle shaped moon lit up the night but quietly. Sometimes you heard the horn of a car, the car lights flashing through the glass-in-lead windows. Looking a bit sad at his mitre made of silk, he was hoping for positive reactions, especially from the Holy Vatican See. If they recognise us as good Christians loyal to the Lord, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all will be well.
“Milord Holiness Lord Lazarius, you must rest. It has been a long day.” The servant, a loyal and friendly men in his early fifties approached the Patriarch but he left him alone, as he fell asleep. The letter has been sent, now we have to wait for reactions – good or bad. We shall pray for wisdom and reason.

Lord Lazarius,
I am unsure exactly what manner of recognition you seek. If you mean recognition that your religious body exists or that it constitutes a religion, such is simple fact. You are, if I understand your letter correctly, Deists. However, I fear this is not what you meant. If you seek recognition that you are members of the Catholic Church, understood as the Body of Christ, recognizing Christ as her head and recognizing the Holy Pontiff as His vicar on Earth, then it is equally a simple fact that you are not.

The Church teaches the Word of God as given in the Holy Scriptures, in Sacred Tradition, and in the Magisterium of the Church. The priesthood derives its spiritual authority through the Apostolic Sucession, past down from the Apostle Peter to whom Christ entrusted the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Individual priests derive their membership in this body through the Sacrament of Ordination and the entire Body is governed by Canon Law.

Not only does your religious body lack such Sacramental validity, but you deny the Holy Scriptures, the core of all Christian doctrine, including even the Gospels wherein the essential revelation of Christ's redemption of man is contained.

I mean no disrespect by this missive, to you or to your religion. However, said religion is neither organizationally, sacramentally, or theologically Catholic in the sense in which the Catholic Church understands the term.

-Archbishop Garber

The Patriarch wishes to extend his thanks to you, Archbishop Garber for the quick response given.

To adress your last comment, we agree on the statements the word 'Catholic' has no significant value. Perhaps the best way to describe the meaning is the link to the past, and the idea we are well aware of our Christian identity. We ask for recognition because we, the Guffingfordian religion has been neglected for ages. It is not the fault of the Holy See, but ours. We have not sought contact when it was needed, and thusly our religion turned to a Deist hybrid. I do not regret this, because we have created our own idenity by pure thinking alone. Our identity is one to be proud of. We are unique, and we have grown through concord and organisation. We are proud of what we are, who we are and we have fulfilled a most important mission: we have brought heathens into the light of God.
But herein also lies the most complex aspect of the whole situation: we see the Pope as the one and only leader of all Catholics of this earth, the Divine Representative in human shape. He represents God on Earth, and in our vision, he represents Humanity in Heaven.
In our way, the Christian identity of Guffingford deserves recognition as a legitimate way of Christianity.

That is the crux, through the ages Guffingfordian Christianity became "enlightened" and progressive on one side but on cases about abortion and euthenasia, conservative on the other. Guffingfordian Catholicism can be best described as the Alpha and the Omega. It contains some of the most conservative aspects of modern Catholicism, but the other side is the progressive and Deist ways of thinking about God's Works in the evolution theory. It is extreme in both ways. We have witnessed fanaticism in the firm belief our religion is the true meaning of Christianity - believers who find themselves the true Legions of Christ while still being firm believers in Guffingfordian Christianity. I know such stories may sound unbelievable and perhaps untrue, but it is the sole truth.
Our Church teaches the Word of God through Holy Scriptures, yet our scriptures are re-written at the end of the 19th century to cooperate and interact more with the population. We view this as our Sacred Tradition, to teach our children the ways of God, but with a 'twist'. It is our mission to teach children about peace, being helpful, friendliness and when it is wise to be in doubt. Our Bible teaches these very important things, and it is our duty to promote these teachings.
"...You can rely on God at any time of your life. One can wonder why his or her prayers remain unanswered. This is not the case; your God always listens. You always have an ear that listens; day or night. He shall not excuse himself to depart the conversation, but it is He who created Humanity. Humanity is not perfect; perfection can only be reached if you decide not to perfect species. Mistakes and errors are human; which is why doubt is vital for survival. When in doubt, you can ask God for guidance. When in doubt, you can make choices. Choose the right path, and you shall be rewarded. Choose the wrong path, and you will make a mistake; but you shall learn from all mistakes made. One must always make their own choices...."
- Part of Chapter XXVII, on Humanity and Doubt
The way how everything was created is different, but it is out of the question to deny God's works. How he did it is open for doubt, and it can be the creation as described in Genesis, or it can be the way we describe it in our Creation Theory. Needless to say you must be an honest person and a true believer of Guffingfordian Catholicism; our Bible only applies on true believers.

- With kind regards, Lord Lazarius, Patriarch of the Guffingfordian Catholic Church.

Redmound, The Holy See of the Republic of Guffingford

"My Lord Patriarch, Holiness my sincere apologies. Our letter did not created the expected responses. In fact, no response was given at all. Except the Danaan Kingdom of The Resurgent Dream replied. You have read their reply."
"Yes I have my good man." The Patriarch wasn't praying, but he was talking so softly to himself, one could have sworn you could hear his thoughts.
"I guess we are on ourself then, like the last four hundred years." The Patriarch Lord Lazarias sighed deeply, but only for a brief moment. He knew the Deïst/Catholic ways of Guffingford were a difficult topic, equal to a religious taboo in Catholic circles, but giving up wasn't his style. But this time, he already sent the Holy Vatican See a message, we can only hope they respond. It has been long since Guffingford and the Vatican communicated officially. Too long actually, both nations and both interpretations of Christianity have grown apart. In Guffingford science and religion go hand to hand, in the Vatican its not the oiled contraption the people are used to.

Things were still the same in Guffingford. In the news papers and tabloids small articles about the religious problems were placed at the back, far away from the frontpage. Maybe it was a bad idea after all to ask for recognition. Perhaps the Danaan Kingdom was right; maybe we aren't Catholic after all. Maybe Christian Deïsm as worshippin in Guffingford isn't a real religion after all. Maybe the unknown mystery of God, the enigma of spirituality represent mystery and the untamed wilderness of nature. Maybe doubt portrays the Human Spirit. Nobody knows, not even Patriarch. Atheïsm and Guffingfordian "Catholicism" live next door in the Republic, it may not be too wise to push the boundries. There are many (fundamental) Christian nations in this world. We do not want to creature unnecessary tension a recognition might bring.

Tag.

Very interesting. I actually believe most of that, except that God has become just a bystander. I'd accept it, if it didn't have that part. He still plays a great part in our everyday lives, despite that He has given us freewill though. Very good though. Glad to see that I'm not alone in my thinking.

God is everywhere in the world. Nature all around us, the universe. All the cosmic processes that are taking place. Novae. Super Novae. Quasers, those cosmic happenings are all the work of Him. Maybe God isn't a being, but an omnipresent force of nature. Something beyond the comprehension of human beings, since there are enough, and admit it, myserious things on this planet. Things of wonder, but also beauty and unsurpassed ugliness. God works in mysterious ways. Nature works in mysterious ways. Guffingfordii citizens are not pagans, we believe Christ was real and his deeds genuine. But worshipping God and his Works is indirectly worshipping nature.
The God worshipped in Guffingford is the Christian God, and we view the Pope as God messenger, spokesperson on this earth. God is by no means a passive bystander, because nature and the world, and thus humans, are one. Nature is one major system and every plant, bacteria and every animal is just a small cog in the wheel.
Something caused everything to happen, because coincidence... It just doesn't exist. Everything is meant to happen, and it will happen. Abstract ways of saying are legion; "it has been written so it shall happen." But where has it been written down? Somethings are, somethings are not. This is.

- His Holiness Lord Lazarius, Patriarch of the Guffingfordian Catholic Church.

The response from the head of the Dominion Church was relatively simple and to the point.

With respect, you cannot very well call yourselves ‘Catholic’ or ‘Christian’ while holding with these new beliefs you have manufactured for yourselves.

While you are of course free to follow any faith you desire, and we see no need for you to see our recognition or approval for you to do so, the Dominion Church cannot accept this as Catholicism. It goes against our tenets, and does not hold with the truths we believe to be held within the Holy Scriptures.

You can call it what you will, but though you may attempt to give yourselves more credibility in linking readily accepted names and concepts that have little to do with your new agenda, but we will not recognize it as ‘Catholicism’. Either you follow the guidelines of the church, and the guidance of our Holy Father, or you do not. Attaching a name does not make a thing what you wish – it is what it is, regardless of the trappings.

As for recognizing it as a faith, or separate religion, well and good. We need not agree with it to see it as someone else’s belief, however misguided we may feel it is. Were we to offer any suggestions, it would be to assign your own name to this new faith, rather than to attempt to ride the coattails of the Catholic Church. It smacks of obfuscation and intent to mislead.

May God bless and guide you,

-- Cardinal Giovanni Battista

When you look at it though, it does make perfect sense. We actually believe that God is a being and omnipresent force at the same time. This is very interesting. We officially RECOGNIZE this form of Christianity. Good work on developing it!

The Archdiocese of Cherry Ridge recognizes this as a protestant faith. It is not Catholicism.
-Cardinal De Vito

Congratulations. You "invented" Deism.

- Dargan Zaraad, Office of Unofficial Official Statements
The Federated Technocratic Oligarchy of the Most Glorious Hack

Letter from His Holiness Lord Lazarius, Patriarch of the Guffingfordian Catholic Church

As said before, the word 'Catholic' is to be taken with a grain of salt. It has no real meaning, nor does it portray Guffingfordian Christianity. It might as well be called Guffingfordian Protestantism, the major differences between the two branches of Christianity have been blurred severely by the course of history. Remember the colonists who came to Guffingford entered these lands after the reformation in the early 1500's. These colonists left Europe to find a better home without war, disease or madness - and therefore the seperation between Catholic and Protestant isn't absolute; and Christianity began to grow in a new way in Guffingford.
The world Catholic is a link with the past, a small bit of nostalgia. We still hold true to the message of God, and what He has laid down in the Bible, the ten commandments are still seen as the most highest form of law.
But as The Most Glorious Hack said, we aren't Deist. Granted, our ways of Christianity closely resembles it, in a few ways that is. Guffingfordian Christianity recognizes the Pope as the highest tier of the religious organisation, with me, the Patriarch as the local "messenger". Deists do not believe in divine intervention - but when we see many wonderful and mysterious things in nature - nature must be something divine beyond a doubt. It is a matter relating to God Himself. Everybody has the right and will to practice their religion as they see fit. If one wants to see this as Protestantism, Catholicism or Deïsm, we feel comfortable with that. We know Christian nations recognise it as a religion; our religion.

I thank you all for your replies, and God Bless.

When did people start spelling Deism with umlauts?

- Dargan Zaraad, Office of Unofficial Official Statements
The Federated Technocratic Oligarchy of the Most Glorious Hack

(...)Good question, I'll look into it right away. It happens when our darling penpushers don't put the letter through a spellchecker before sending.

- Ministry of Unimportant Comments

OOC: Thanks for telling, fixed it.

The Jeruselem Catholic Church does not not recognise Guffingfordian Catholic Church as Catholic in any way. Guffingfordian Catholic Church is officially designated as Protestant in Jeruselem.

Cardinal Augustus Brown
Archbishop of Jerusalem (Old City)

The Holy Empire of Civitas Americae does not grant recognition of even status as a Christian community to "Guffingfordianism", and in accordance with anti-infidel laws, any who proselytize and seek to spread "Guffingfordianism" in Civitas Americae is committing a felony offense and may receive the death penalty.

His Imperial Majesty,
Paul VII

Letter from the Guffingfordian Patriarch

In light of all the comments made by several important Christian nations, I think it is wise to change the title of the Guffingfordian church to Protestant. The links with the past Christian ways are dead anyways, and since we got recognition as Christian Protestant, we shall do so. However, this does not mean we will cease recognising the Pope, or giving up the few Catholic habits remaining. If the bulk of our Christian ways have a protestant tone, it is best to prevent any further misconceptions.

Hail the new Protestant church!

Hail the new Protestant Church!
The Armed Empire applauds this move. While the Armed Empire supports atheism, this is a step in the right direction. The Armed Empire fully supports this move and wishes for diplomatic talks to take place. If the talks are given a go-ahead we shall send forward an prominent political hostage as a token of our sincerity.

Caesar Augustus, Emperor of the Armed Empire

Response from the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture

The Czar will not recognize Guffingfordian Christianity as a form of Christianity. Christianity is Christianity only through the teachings of the bible, and as Guffingfordian Christianity has written their own bible, it shall not be recognized by the Dersconi Government.

However, this in no way is meaning to inhibit relations with Guffingford.

Deo Vindicie,

Count Franz von Papen
Foreign Minister to the Czar

Sir Charles Cammile Saint-Saens
Culture Minister to the Czar

The Divine Prussian Empire of Derscon