Catholics, I sincerley ask you, why do you worship Mary, saints, relics, icons, pray in vain repetition on the rosary which Jesus told us not to and believe in purgatory which nullifies the cross of Christ? And if you don't then why are you in a religion that does? I, too, was born a Catholic but once I started reading the bible, I could see the evil in the religion and had to get out. Most Catholics seem to pick and choose what parts of Catholism they want to keep and what parts they want to toss out and think it's ok to stay in it. God called Israel a harlot for tolerating pagan practices like these. He said of the great harlot in Rev. "Come out of her my people". Most non-christian churches don't denounce Christ, they just corrupt his teachings. And what about how they tortured and murdered Christians in the midevil times. Do you know that priests used to be able to marry but the church didn't want them leaving their houses to their children and not the church.
2006-11-02 23:19:52 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I AM NOT JUDGING ANYONE. I AM TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT A RELIGION AND IT'S PRACTICES AND YOU ARE TAKING IT AS A PERSONAL ATTACK. I WAS SAYING IT NICELY AND SINCERELY, NOT NASTY. I HONESTLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW COME IF YOU READ YOUR BIBLE YOU DON'T SEE THAT IT TELLS YOU NOT TO DO THESE THINGS. MANY OF YOU ARE DENYING THAT THESE THINGS ARE PRACTICED IN YOUR RELIGION. MAYBE YOU DON'T DO THEM BUT YOUR CHURCH ACCEPTS THESE PRACTICES AND MANY PEOPLE DO DO THEM. I JUST LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPED YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. SOMETIMES WE READ ANGER INTO WORDS THAT ARE WRITTEN THAT THE WRITER NEVER FELT.
2006-11-03 06:29:20 · update #1
Whatever your problem is, it's no small thing.
2006-11-03 06:45:13 · answer #1 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It grieves my heart greatly that you have let others deceive you regarding teh Catholic Church. I ask God to forgive those who have deceived you.
I answer you with all sincerety and honesty that Catholics DO NOT worship Mary, saints, relics, and icon. These are holy people and things that we hold in great honor, but we worship only One God - the father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The rosary is not a vain repetition of prayers. Yes, it is a repetition of prayers. There are many Psalms in teh Bible that are also repetitious. A person is to reflect of the mysteries of the rosary - the events in the life of Jesus and Mary while praying. This is not vain prayer.
Purgatory does not nullify the cross of Christ. Purgatory is the final cleansing of the soul after death. Purgatory is a result of Christ dying on the cross. It is Christ's death on the cross that makes forgiveness of sins in Purgatory possible.
I read the Bible on a daily basis and there is no conflict between it and the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. You have either misinterpreted the Bible or let others teach you a misinterpretation of the Bible.
A clear example of this is your misinterpretation of the Catholic Churvch as the whore of Babylon. The whore of Babylon was the pagan Roman Empire that persecuted the Christians.
You have also been misled in thinking that priests are not allowed to marry so their houses and personal possession will go to the church and not their children. Think about it. Don't priests have brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews they leave their house and possessions to?
Do you see how you have been deceived?
2006-11-03 09:37:17 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, you are telling what you think the truth is, but it is false. Everything you are writing is false.
I will give you two ideas from important Protestants who turned Catholic.
The first is from John Henry Newman a profoundly important Protestant leader from the 19th century. He vehemently hated Catholicism but when he really investigated the practices of Catholicism first hand, he realized that nothing he believed about the Catholic Church was true. Futher, as a scripture scholar he realized the Catholic Church was closer to the truth than Protestants. He leaves a famous quote. Of the 1000 people who hate the Catholic Church for what it is, 1,000,000 hate it for what they think it is but is not.
I will give you another idea from Scott Hahn. A 20th century leading scripture theologian who became Catholic. He accidently picked up a scripture book and read it. He did not realize it was written by a Catholic. It was among the best he had ever read and fit all the scripture scholarship modern Protestantism is finding out about the early Church. He then realized this was just one of thousands of Catholic works that have always known what modern Protestant scholars are just discovering. He then went to other Protestant theologians who converted to Catholicism before he did upon reading all they had ignored simply because it was Catholic. Most Protestants do not realize the Reformation was a civil war and that when theology become a war banner then all you get is bad theology and hatred and falsehood. Everything you repeated are falsehoods first told in the 16th century and still being repeated as though they are true today.
You may have grown up Catholic, but I suggest you actually go in and read good quality history and theology. You will find that everything bad about Catholics were done by Protestants too in the medieaval period.
2006-11-03 15:29:36 · answer #3 · answered by OPM 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
its best to ask only one, or maybe two questions at a time.
Then come back later to ask the rest, in order to receive the best, well organized answers.
Catholics do not worship Mary, or any other saints or statues as they would God, they merely show respect. You may have possibly chose to worship Mary when you were Catholic, but 99% of all other Catholic Christians do Not !!!
Catholics merely show respect to Mary and the saints. Please do not believe everything you hear, see or read, unless it comes from the Catholic Bible.
Catholics only truly Worship God - The Father, Jesus, (The Word of God in Heaven before He was made flesh), and The Holy Spirit!! That's it.
It is a good idea to ask questions, and make your statements on yahoo answers in a very tactful way, without judging.
In your bible, as well as mine, does it not say,
JESUS Speaking, "Judge not...." Matthew 7
Read this over in the prodestant Amplified Bible and also read Matthew 6:12("part of the prayer Jesus gave to humanity") Please read vv 14 & 15 !! Thank You. This will help you in your relationships with Catholic Christians.
I'll be patient with you, for God is not finished with you yet. You also be patient with me. Thx
P.S. = Rather than criticising what you feel is wrong with others faiths/religion why not spend much more of your time "Praying for them" as Jesus truly taught.
He even said "Love your enemies and Pray for those who persecute you !!"
How many Prodestant Christians or Catholic Christians really take Jesus words seriously when He said to Love(1 Cor. 13:4-7, 11 AND
Matthew 7:1) your enemies and Pray (unceasingly even) for those who persecute you ? Not very many !! This is so sad.
What is happening instead ? Both faiths often have THE ATTITUDE, " I'M RIGHT, AND YOUR WRONG."
Food for thought !!
I'll pray for you and your faith and you as Jesus taught to do, pray for me and my faith. Alright.
God loves you, and always please remember GOD is no Respector of persons according to the Book of Romans.
2006-11-03 13:42:31 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Everyday at Mass the gospel is read, along with usually 2 other readings from the Bible. I agree that not everything in Catholicism is quite as it should be. Like you I see little justification why priests aren`t allowed to marry if they wish. It is true that before the Counter Reformation some things were very wrong. But I do find it difficult to understand when some Christians regard their Catholic brethren as heretics. No church is perfect as people aren`t perfect.
2006-11-03 07:32:03 · answer #5 · answered by andy c 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This question seems like a Chick pamphlet -- the one where he shows every catholic ever born entering the wide gates of Hell.
They don't worship Mary and the Saints. They VENERATE THEM. -- HUGE DIFFERENCE.
No Catholic speaks to a saint or Mary and ends it with "Amen." They say "we ask mary and all the angels and Saints to intercede with god on our behalf." Like that. I am a relatively recent catholic convert, and find this whole process and tradition somewhat dubious and inadequately thought out. It appears nowhere in the Bible, like nearly everything Catholics do every Sunday. It's a religion very rich inthe manmade. But I never pray to Mary, nor have I seen this happen.
2006-11-03 07:24:30 · answer #6 · answered by martino 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You argue some good points here.
But like everything else, religion, or
what ever people believe in, is a personal
matter. Every one has to decide for
themselves. If you have found the right
pass - good for you.
You will find no converts on Yahoo Q/A.
2006-11-03 07:30:19 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do agree you shouldn't worship idols....saints well there in the bible they each have they own spiritual meaning on which we pray to them....Mary was Jesus mother...we look upon her for that
2006-11-03 07:26:45 · answer #8 · answered by babo1dm 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
did you know that the word pegan means "a person who lives in the country"? you are using it incorrectly. and if you follow your bible so well then why are you judging others? by judgeing their sins you have commited one of your own... quick repent now
2006-11-03 07:25:13 · answer #9 · answered by insane illusions 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Every denomination picks and chooses what they like from the Bible. That is exactly why there are so many denominations. If you think yours doesn't, you are fooling yourself. Do some more homework, and open your mind.
2006-11-03 07:24:04 · answer #10 · answered by ifyousaysooooooooooo 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋