We worship Christ as God, and nobody else. We don't worship Mary. We don't worship saints. We don't worship statues. Just Christ. So what gives?
2006-06-16 09:42:11 · 10 answers · asked by Shawn S 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good question. I assume that you are talking about Protestants saying such things.
The majority of Protestant theologies are ahistorical, meaning that they do not operate through a historical lens. The beliefs of the Catholic Church are continuous. What makes a Catholic a Catholic, beliefs, practices, pray, and worship have always been. Protestant theology does not say that the Roman Church changed its theology. If you read Luther, he concedes that the Church Fathers are on the side of the Rome of his day. Protestant theology simply says that the Roman Church is wrong and has always been wrong (some times more some times less wrong).
This is not a problem for most Protestant theologies! This is because the metaphysics that is utilized does not need history. Scripture alone is truth and the spirit always tells each generation what the meaning of the scripture is. In practice this doesn't work, because being separated from history, the theological metaphysics do not care what was taught previously. Sure there may be some continuity but that is really localized if you look at the broad range of history. There really are only two strains in the metaphysics, towards a regaining of a historical Christianity, or towards complete abandonment of history.
But to return to your question: What happens is that some charismatic leader gets an idea in his head (such as the "call no man father" argument with Paul spends much of his letters going on and on saying that he is the father of the Church he is talking to and demanding a respect of that bond), reads the bible completely out of historical context, or just in general really dislikes some aspect of a continuous teaching of the Church. This gets feed into the "common thought" of the people.
Also there is a general sense on the part of many Protestants, that if you call Catholics Christians, that you are in part legitimizing the theological history of Rome. After all, if Catholics are Christian, then they must have always been, and since Rome hasn't changed its teachings, the question becomes then what makes Rome wrong and us right, if Rome was always Christian from the beginning? If Rome is wrong from the beginning, they cannot be Christian, but if Rome is Christian, then it was right in the beginning, at least on what makes a Christian a Christian, and since they were the only ones making people Christian...
Anyway read http://www.newmanreader.org/works/development/introduction.html
and then see if you can get a hold of "Models of Revelation" by Dulles.
2006-06-16 19:32:30 · answer #1 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yeah, i agree Catholics are in the same base as Christians. Is you believe in Christ, ur a christian for sure. But, there are different types of religions that are from Christains. Like, Baptists, Catholics, and others and such. I know it's kinda confusing, but yeah. My friend said that Christains don't think Mary is a virgin (again, that's what she said. not me.). Maybe something about Mary and Joseph and such?
2006-06-16 09:49:58 · answer #2 · answered by littlemissjewel101 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your sub-points have been addressed countless times already. Catholics only worship and pray to God.
Saying that Catholics are not Christians is like saying Chinese people aren't Asian. By definition, Catholics must be Christians.
2006-06-16 17:58:59 · answer #3 · answered by the_alliance47 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because the Bible says as a commandment "do not make any graven images of things in heaven above or the earth below" and also Jesus said "call no man father but God", and we are to pray only to God threw Jesus' name with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our mediator not a priest, we have a dircet relationship with God, He wants to be our Father. God hates rituals(Isiah 1) and symbols, God wants us to "worship him in spirit and in truth" said Jesus.
It is not that ur not a Christian, it is just your doctrines that are not Christian.
Read the Bible for yourself and throw out all doctrine (Catholic and Protestant).
We are not saved by works, " but if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall have salvation.(Romans)"
Email me for more special_forces_military@yahoo.com
2006-06-16 09:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my experience Catholics hold the Virgin Mary at a very high place. While Christians, on the other hand, have very little to say about her.
2006-06-16 09:48:40 · answer #5 · answered by catmanbigwil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholicism is rampant with pagan doctrines and traditions, and they have perverted Christs truth to where it almost can not be seen any more in Catholicism.
This I believe; http://homelessheart.com/testimony.htm
2006-06-16 09:46:38 · answer #6 · answered by Don S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's all the weird things they do, like protecting child abusers, forcing parents to raise their kids catholic , not letting divorces because it would mean one less to give money, the list is endless. you better get out before it is to late..................
Marti gra beads, confessional ( then going out and repeating the sin and it starts all over again} get the point?????
2006-06-16 09:50:26 · answer #7 · answered by truthteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess because you confess to a priest instead of to God.
2006-06-16 09:47:35 · answer #8 · answered by twinsmom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people have very weird ideas
2006-06-16 10:01:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because christians hate each other amoung themselves.
catholics and christians are christians, no matter how much christians try to deny it.
got it?
2006-06-16 09:46:33 · answer #10 · answered by peaceful light 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋