Why are the same Protestants who accuse Catholics of not being like early Christians unwilling to read...?

Question

the writings of the early Christians? Why do they make an assumption about something that they haven't done research into?

steve, I'm not generalizing about Protestants. I specifically said that it's the ones who accuse Catholics of not being like early Christians.

Answer 1

The early Christians were Catholics.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, most conservative Protestants operate under the mindset that shortly after the death of the last Apostle, the Church began to deteriorate and wasn't restored until the Protestant Reformation. But for the most conservative Protestants, there is an underlying belief that even the Protestant Reformation wasn't enough and the Church didn't get right until the founding of their own particular denomination. It's a very sad state of affairs. I was raised as a Southern Baptist and I can tell you that these beliefs are very strongly held in the most conservative Protestant groups. They draw a tight little circle around their little group of church brothers and sisters and everyone outside the circle is wrong. When I was a kid, we were even discouraged from visiting other churches. That's one of the big reasons why I'm not an active Southern Baptist anymore.

EDIT: Just read some of the crap that others of the long-winded type have posted below and you will see perfect examples of what I am talking about. Conservative Protestants have drawn the circle of belief so tightly about themselves that the ONLY person they are sure of is themselves. LMAO

EDIT: And the people who talk about Catholics are ignorant of Church History. They think the Catholic Church as it is today arose within a few years of the death of the last Apostle. They are completely ignorant of the fact that the elements of modern Catholicism most different from Protestant belief are based on theological developments that postdate the New Testament by several CENTURIES. There were many writers of the early Christian church like Clement of Rome and Irenaeus and Augustine that Protestants would find much value in, but they are so blinded by their prejudice that they are unable to comprehend life outside their little circle of ignorance.

Answer 3

I have done research in this area and I have stated so. Nonetheless, every time I point out to a Roman Catholic that one of the Roman Catholic teachings is non-Biblical, i.e., is in conflict or contradiction with what the Bible teaches, they accuse me of being damned, a heritic, a liar, a fool, or pick your choice of names. I have felt more hatred from Roman Catholics than from any other group, including the atheists!

I KNOW that NOT all Roman Catholics are this way; I come from a Roman Catholic family and most of the people I know are Roman Catholics, but the animosity received from Roman Catholics on this group has been nothing short of astounding!

Look at your own question. You are generalizing Protestants unfairly. I know that I only quote from the Bible in these discussions and I ask my Roman Catholic debaters to do the same. I have had few Roman Catholics (or someone claiming to be a Roman Catholic) respond in a simple courteous manner.

I believe that the Holy Bible contains God's revealed Word to mankind. It does not require (generally) interpretation in general study. It is extraordinarily clear on the key points and the "writings of early christians", while useful to read, are of no value if they contradict what God has said.

Here is a generalization of my own: Virtually all of the Roman Catholics that I have "debated" have been for the most part ignorant of the Word of God and generally confused about what the Roman Catholic religion itself teaches.

Answer 4

My My. There are some long typing people on this question.
Part of the difference between Protestants and Catholics is the deletion of certain scriptural text from the Bible in many
'Protestant 'churches. (See the dead sea scrolls text, or recognize that Hanakkah comes from 1 Macabees4, which is in the Catholic Bible,but not most Protestant Bibles.
For other deviations from God's word, email me soon.

Answer 5

I believe an honest study of scriptures, along with a review of history, will show the Catholic Church evolved considerably over the first five centuries after Christ.

Your Christian faith should begin with a thorough review of the sermons and parables and teachings of Jesus. This is the basic structure of the Christian belief system. The church was founded in Jerusalem at the feast of the Pentacost, when more than 3 thousand were added to the Kingdom. This was when Paul was still a Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, and was persecuting the church.

Most modern Christianity is based at least in part on the teachings and writings of Paul. You can learn a great deal about what Paul thought was the right structure and behavior for Christians by reading Hebrews, or Thessalonians or Timothy. His criticisms of the Church at Corinth are also instructional.

Nowhere in these scriptures do I find authority for most of the current organization of the Catholic Church. I do find authority for some of the basic structure of churches.

I have many friends who are Catholic and I respect their faith and the dedication they show to practicing it. I've discussed some issues of faith with them with varying degrees of successful communication.

I was raised Lutheran, and am familiar in much detail with Martin Luther's disagreements with Catholicism. I agree with most of those disagreements, which I think were especially valid in the 16th Century.

I am now a non-denominational Christian and do not consider myself to be a Protestant, as much of what is contained in the dogma of most Protestant churches is no more scriptural than what is in Catholicism.

My advice would be to encourage dialogue. We have much that we can teach each other.

The world has changed in two thousand years, and there is far more good in Catholicism and Protestantism and simple Christianity than there is bad. In the 65 years of my life's journey I have always hoped to find something closer to truth. I have also sought to learn how I can best practice my own faith. My faith has changed over those years.

Do we base our faith on what others have tried to teach us or on what we have learned? I think the truthful answer is that we base it on what we have learned from life and from the total experiences we have had.

I hope you will look at your continuing faith as continuing research, and be prepared to change your views as God moves your heart to do so.

While I believe some of the Christians in the first millenium, especially Augustine, took the church in the wrong direction I nevertheless respect their faith and the goodness of their intentions. Take the time to study them and learn the good they can teach you, and then form your own conclusions.

God bless.

Answer 6

I don't know. I would say that the Catholics are very much like some of the early Christians. They're like the church in Galatia that Paul wrote this to.

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-- 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them."

Answer 7

I will say that. Ive read Augustine and others.

In the middle ages the Catholics added tons of stuff. Paying to get someone out of purgetory (which itself is never mentioned in the Bible). Praying to Mary or saints. None of this is how the early church acted. The "catholic" church itself changed over time from what it had been.

Answer 8

because the virgin Mary wasnt worshipped in the early church, The true belief and faith was whoever believed that Christ is Lord and God raised Him from the dead will be saved. that is the main faith of the protestants that Christ is head of the church.

Answer 9

I was in a coma the time the Catholics rose. I was too lazy to stop it.

Sorry.

Answer 10

Having no knowledge of or sense of History has never been a barrier to speech.