The catholic concept?

Question

The term catholic means universal, right? So can it be that the catholic religion was formed to have a more "universal" concept to please "pagans" so that they can convert?

Answer 1

The Catholic church was formed on Pentecost, one thousand nine hundred and seventy three years ago in Jerusalem, by the apostles and disciples, established on Peter by Jesus. (Acts 2:1-11)(Matthew 16:18)

The letters of the earliest Christians show that the Catholic church has retained complete continuity with the church established on that day. The Book of Acts leads the epistlist from Jerusalem to Rome, and his letters make clear one of the original churches was established there. Clement's first century letters indicate Peter concluded his ministry there. "Catholic" (as in universal) originates in one of Ignatius' letters at the dawn of the second century, only eight decades after the crucifixion, and only two decades after the death of St. John. Ignatius was no pagan - he was a martyr OF the pagans, who fed him to wild beasts in the theatre of Rome for his faith.

Do you think that's the kind of man using a word to try to "please Pagans?" In fact - if I make you uncomfortable for a moment - do you think you would even be able to pass the test of faith Ignatius DID pass?

Would you be willing to be martyred to the pagans in the same way the originator of the word "Catholic" was?

Plain curious: Constantine played no role in the formation of the Catholic church. Ignatius letters make clear that the word Catholic and the ecclesial hierarchy of bishop/presbyter/deacon were already present in a fully Catholic understanding two hundred years before Constantine's grandfather was a twinkle in his great-grandfather's eye...

Answer 2

First, I think there needs to be a definition correction.

I am from the "Greek," side of the Catholic Church. The word translated as Catholic is Greek. The word Catholic actually has two meanings either "all embracing," or "according to the whole." Universal really misses the mark as to the meaning.

This word, which first appears around or slightly before 110 by a disciple of John, has two important implications both of which you are missing.

First, by being all embracing, groups cannot split off and become independent. To use Paul's analogy, a hand cannot split off from the rest of the body and think itself the correct part. The Church can only be one corporate body, even if as in the Catholic Church, it is made up of largely autonomous parts. The unity is the Unity of the Spirit. The Catholic Church is Catholic because you could not be a follower of say Luther and still be Catholic. In this sense it means "non-denominational." You must be willing to embrace your brother or sister in loving communion even if you do not share a world view. A physician from New York and a tribesman from the Kalihari can both take communion together as brothers or sisters yet not remotely share a point of view. This is also true for a Greek Catholic and a Roman Catholic, or a Chaldean Catholic or a Malabaran Catholic. You must embrace all or cease being part of the body of Christ.

The second is important for Church governance. The Catholic concept of tradition is very different than is commonly understood. Tradere in Latin means "to hand on." The only tradition of importance in Catholic thinking is apostolic tradition. It is only that which was handed on by the apostles. It includes services, music, the New Testament, teachings, and stories. The standard of judgment is that it was believed by all groups of the Catholic Church during all times. What is important is that a belief was handed on by an apostle either directly or through the witness of the early Christians. If a belief is held by the whole then it is infallibly true.

This is the biggest misconception of the idea of papal infallibility. The Pope acts infallibly only when the action is in union with the bishops, accepted by the laity AND is a repetition of beliefs held from the beginning.

That, by the way, is the reason there are no female priests. There never have been female priests. It may be that Jesus would have not only allowed it but thought it was a good idea. However, that idea has not been held by all groups of Catholics across all times. Unlike Protestants who get to vote on their beliefs or rationally construct them and change them as they wish, Catholics must bring forward only apostolic beliefs even if their world has changed dramatically from the world of the Twelve.

Answer 3

yes..Emperor Constantine's purpose in establishing the Catholic religion was to re-establish or revive the reign of the declining Roman Empire that
time against the unstoppable growth of true Christians(for which they have
been persecuting for years to stop its growth. But all their efforts are futile).
So he tried a different approach,if he cant beat them..why not join them..and be the
leader,so that the Roman Empire could regain its power and popularity to the people
again. He summoned all the pagan religious leader and Christians (by the way, those
Christians who went are "compromising" Christians...paul's warning to compromising
Christians can be found in 2Corinthians 6:14-17) that they should unite as one
religion. So Constantine baptised himself which is unbiblicaly...and proclaimed
himself as the new leader of this newly formed Universal Mother Church which is
the Catholic. The pagan rituals that Romans used to practice went on to continue in
their new religion, like graven images worship,indulgence,confessions etc. The statues
of Venus and Mars that they used to worship was changed to Mary and Jesus(they just
changed the name) and carry on worhipping them (Exodus 20:3-5). This explains why
the Roman Catholic system has a lot of errors when measured up to the Bible's standard.
By the way, not all Christians went to the Council that constantine called. Those
uncompromising Christians went into hiding and carry on to spread the Gospel.When the
Roman Catholic Mother Church was fully establish they force every one to become a
member of their false church...those who refuse would certainly suffer the consequences.
Only the true uncompromising Christians refuses...they were killed, and so it began
the dark ages. Those uncompromising Christians were called the Ana-baptists. For more
accurate details please read the booklet "THE TRAIL OF BLOOD". (",)

Answer 4

Roman Catholic to be more precise. It is the spiritual embodiment of the Roman Empire transformed into a religious Empire upon the collapse of its power.

It indeed was restructured by the Romans specifically to get as many pagans to come on board. The Pope, by the gift of Constantine remains the Roman Emperor as well as spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Roman Empire has never left the earth.

Answer 5

When Jesus commanded his 12 apostles to spread His word He meant to spread it to all, should they be Jews, Gentiles (old world pagans) and even sinners. Why do some of us feel so bad when pagans are being included into the word. To Jesus saving one pagan soul during His time is like saving one lost lamb, for that lamb originally belonged to the flock, only it wandered too far from the multitude.

The word is not being force into anyone, it is just being revealed to everyone. All we have to do is probably listen and decide for ourselves. No compulsion whatsoever because your freedom demands for your accountability and have to answer for it alone. If you are a sensible person, is this really difficult to understand?

Answer 6

Catholicism does not change to suit the personal wants of wannabe followers. Followers allow Catholicism to change them.

The Catholic Church is indeed universal. There's an open invitation for everyone to join. But no one is going to be forced to accept that invitation.

God wants volunteers, not conscripts.

Answer 7

Trouble is they are not so universal in faith because there are different kinds of catholic faiths. But with Babylonian teaching you can just make it all up as you go along.

Answer 8

The word catholic was originally used in that sense by the early Christian church, yes.

Answer 9

Hmmm, possible. But I think they used the term because they needed people to believe they were the only true authority of God, here on Earth. Without that claim, they had no authority, and no one would follow them.

Answer 10

Intresting word play Trebek.