The Serpent's Wisdom

Digby..sorry, I had to add something. I am quite aware that the Bible, as it stands, and as it is preached in almost every church in the world, both Catholic, and Protestant alike, is an incomplete work. I'm well aware of the gospels left out, and the gnostic gospels. Unfortunately, the religion that Christianity was at its conception, was put into the hands of Imperfect humans, greedy humans, and powerhungry humans to "Sort Out" at the Council of Nicea, Council of laodicea..etc. So what we have is a "Rendered" version of the true Gospel of Christ. The thing is, the Catholic AND protestant religions, as they stand today, are BASED Upon the rendered version. There are few, in any denomination, who see the differences between what they read and hear from the pulpit, and what Jesus himself taught. The thing is, by the same coin, if you are to follow jesus teachings by the letter..Jesus taught that law, doctrine, and all else was secondary to loving God. Catholics, Protestants, there are those who "Love God" in each of these religions. I'm just confused as to where you're coming from, since I don't know you. I don't see Catholicism as being very different throughout the world, from what it is here.