Meaning a Catholic that believes Catholic beliefs mostly but does not believe the things that makes no sense to him?
I'm asking cause my roomate wants to be Catholic but does not believe everything that catholics believe--namely the infalibility of the Pope. And he is worried about some people calling him a 'cafeteria catholic' 'cause he finds it very insulting.
Is there any purpose in insulting someone because they join a religous group but don't believe 100% what that group is supposed to believe?
Speaking of labels . . .
2006-09-01 05:53:12 · 11 answers · asked by mikayla_starstuff 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No clue who coined it. Some ultra-conservative Catholic, I imagine . . .
2006-09-01 05:58:46 · update #1
tony--
I've heard of 'jack mormon'. My mother, who was raised in a mormon family but later converted to the Nazarene church, told me that it meant someone who was raised mormon but eventually left and rejected religion altogether.
As to your other point, why do you have to believe 100% of the teachings of a group before you will associate yourself with that group. Does joining a group involve thereafter closing your mind to questioning it's teaching on anything?
2006-09-01 07:03:13 · update #2
When I went to Catholic church (for 16 years), I heard that phrase several times. I asked my mother what it means, and she said it was like going through a buffet and picking out the stuff you like and ignoring the stuff you don't like. I asked her if she does that and she said yes, she does, and probably most other people too... but technically you're not supposed to. I took her word for it because, hey, she's my mom and I assumed she knew everything.
Now that I'm older, I understand that religion isn't like pregnancy (you either are pregnant or you're not). You can subscribe to MOST Catholic beliefs and positions and still BE Catholic. You can dissent on an official church position or two, not adhere to a certain behavioral standard, not believe in the flawlessness of the Pope, and nevertheless find that Catholicism, despite the occasional point of contention, is still the most appropriate faith for yourself.
It's true, some may say that your friend isn't a TRUE Catholic if he isn't 100% down with the whole program, but what does it really matter? Sticks and stones, after all. Will it hold him back from believing in God? Will it prevent him from attending mass? Will it get in the way of the meat-and-bone basics of the faith?
No, there's no purpose in insulting someone who isn't completely adherent to anything and everything involved with their prefered spirituality. If the person claims one thing and acts in TOTAL or NEAR TOTAL opposition, then yeah, it's ok to say "um, hey, why even bother if it's obviously not true?"
But... anyway... Cafeteria Catholicism is fine.
2006-09-01 09:47:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My opinion is that there is no point to converting to a particular religion unless you believe 100% of what that religion espouses. The soul reason you are converting is because you are looking for something that believes the way you believe. So either you believe or you don't, you can't pick and choose.
:) I immediately understood what you meant by "cafeteria Catholic", I'm Mormon and the phrase used by some Mormons to describe the same thing is being a "Jack Mormon". I have no idea where the phrase comes from, but is practically a cuss word among most Mormons. Of course I know some Mormons who think the word gosh is too close to being a cuss word.
2006-09-01 06:11:18 · answer #2 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholic Doctrine is not subject to line-item veto. One cannot decide for themselves which parts of the doctine they will believe and which parts to ignore. What's the point of becoming Catholic if he chooses not to follow all Catholic Doctrine? It makes no sense, what you friend is doing.
He is a cafeteria catholic because he has freely chosen to ignore some Catholic beliefs. This is different from discovering Catholic beliefs after one is Confirmed Catholic. Depending on the Doctrine, a Catholic reading it for the first time might have to meditate on it for a time, eventually accepting it as God's Way.
Your friend is doing just the opposite; rather than making efforts to further understand a puzzling piece of doctrine, he rejects it outright. He is a cafeteria Catholic - unless he makes efforts to understand and accept the greater Wisdom in the Doctrine he has to recklessly rejected.
Sometimes the Truth hurts. That truth could be a portion of Catholic Doctrine that he is not yet prepared to accept. That truth, right now, is that he is a cafeteria Catholic because he has chosen to be.
Addition - You want to watch your hypocrisy. Do not complain about the use of the phrase "cafeteria catholic" while you yield the term "ultra-conservative"....
If you do not wish for you or your friend to be called names, lead first by example and don't call anyone names yourself.
2006-09-02 09:50:19 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition, the Cathoic church teaches only what God has revealed for our salvation.
Since God's word is truth, anything to the contrary is a lie.
People who believe lies instead of God's truth are living in a constant state of sin, and are flirting with very serious consequences.
The simplest way to remedy the situation is to humbly accept all the teachings of God's true church, keeping in mind that God is much smarter than we are, and that we may not immediately understand all that he reveals to us.
After almost fifty years of critically studying Catholic doctrine, in light of the complete revelation of scripture, tradition, and the official teachings of the church, I've yet to find the church position to be wrong on any matter pertaining to faith or morals.
The Catholic church is not like any other religious group. It is the original faith commnity that was founded by Jesus Christ and illuminated by the truth and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. It even says as much in the Bible.
Disputing a doctrinal teaching of the Catholic church is the same as telling God he doesn't know what he's talking about.
Unlike other groups, Catholics are required to accept on faith, all the teachings of the Catholic church.
If they don't at first seem to make sense, than every Catholic is obligated to undertake whatever studies are necessary to make sense of them.
Most of us are too busy, or too lazy to do that.
God's complete revelation to his universal church is truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Settling for anything less is simply ... unCatholic.
2006-09-01 08:37:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
then why join?
I thought the infallibility of the Pope was central to Catholic doctrine. [I don't believe it, but then I'm not Catholic] Why would you want to become a Catholic if you don't believe that? But, I've never called anyone a 'cafeteria Catholic'. It's up to him what he believes.
2006-09-01 05:58:11 · answer #5 · answered by Char 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
to call something "holy" purely ability that that's been consecrated/set aside for God. The identify "His Holiness" is approximately exhibiting comprehend for the place of work of the papacy which Jesus wide-unfold. that's not worshiping the pope. The Bible has a number of examples of issues and human beings as properly God being referred to as holy. In a million Peter a million:sixteen we examine, "that's written, ‘You would be holy, for i'm holy.’" you're precise in a feeling that purely God is holy by His very essence, yet of course we can are are made holy by Christ. there is not any longer something incorrect with calling human beings or issues "holy".
2016-09-30 06:01:38 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any group that you are going and you are not called by God, you are mistaken. If what you do is not in conformity with the Bible then you have derailed.That group cannot take you to heaven, and so whether you do what they do or not , you are on the wrong trap.
2006-09-01 06:02:56 · answer #7 · answered by patrick w 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why does he care what another person thinks about his faith?
As long as he is content with his faith, it doesn't matter what others think.
2006-09-01 05:58:28 · answer #8 · answered by Nosy Parker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe different bits to all religions
2006-09-01 05:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by luckydo6 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hahahah hahaaha hahahaah who coined this term?
2006-09-01 05:57:42 · answer #10 · answered by practicalwizard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋