Some lose strings..to Catholocism?

Question

I have many questions that are hard for me to figure out.
If God knows what you are going to do.. then does he know if we are going to heaven or hell before we are born?
How is Jesus so forgiving in the NT but in the OT God's wrath is pretty evident?
Why haven't there been as much miracles or prophets as in the old times?
Why does Catholocism have so much more rules than other religions?
Why do some people get to witness God's miracles when others dont?(i know the passage that says holy is the one that hasnt seen miracles but has faith)

please help me out!
thanks

PS: no athiest answers..

Answer 1

>>>I have many questions that are hard for me to figure out.
If God knows what you are going to do.. then does he know if we are going to heaven or hell before we are born?

God does not predetermine what we do, or we would have no free will.

Eph. 1:5 - Paul teaches that God “predestined” us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ. "Predestination" means that God knows what we will do before we do it (it does not mean that God determines what we do; otherwise, we would have no freewill). Predestination is taken from the Greek word "prooridzo" which means to know or declare in advance by God’s foreknowledge. See, for example, 1 Peter 1:2 where Peter writes about the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” The terms “predestination” and “the elect” always refer to God’s knowledge (not human knowledge) because God is outside of time (and humans cannot predict the future). There are two types of "predestination," to grace and to glory. In this verse, Paul is teaching about predestination to grace, which means becoming a Christian.

1 Pet. 1:1-2 – Paul teaches about being destined by God for obedience to Christ. This is another example of predestination to grace. But there is also predestination to glory.

Rom. 8:29-30 – Paul also writes that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Now Paul is writing about predestination to glory, which means not only becoming a faithful Christian during our lives, but persevering to the end by conforming our will to Christ's will.

>>>How is Jesus so forgiving in the NT but in the OT God's wrath is pretty evident?

God revealed Himself gradually, and was very protective of His chosen people, so that in the big picture, salvation would be available to all. God does not change at all. Nearsighted interpretation of single events in the OT can lead one to think God is different. If God chooses to wipe out an evil race that persecuted his chosen ones for hundreds of years, offer children as sacrifices to false gods, that's up to Him, because we are all His in the first place.

>>>Why haven't there been as much miracles or prophets as in the old times?

There have been miracles in every century since the time of Jesus. You can read the lives of the saints or you can go here:
http://www.geocities.com/meta_crock/other/Miracles.htm

>>>Why does Catholocism have so much more rules than other religions?
You mean rules like not killing unborn babies?
Rules about the sanctity of marriage?
Rules that protect your freedom? Your dying grandparents whose doctors may want to kill them?
The Church has had 2000 years of accumulated wisdom, and developement, and Jesus gave Peter and his successors the authority to bind and lose, or, make rules.
Jesus said it would not be easy. If you want a church with few or no rules, there are plenty to chose from.

>>>Why do some people get to witness God's miracles when others dont?(i know the passage that says holy is the one that hasnt seen miracles but has faith)

Miracles are not for unbelievers, although an unbeliever can benefit from witnessing a miracle. Miracles are for the edification of the body (of Christ). I met a priest who witnessed 12 blind people healed, 6 of them instantly. But an atheist will never witness such miracles, they have no faith.

Some believe because they have seen, but blessed are those who believe, and have not seen. Jesus said that to Thomas.

Answer 2

If you think of God as a loving Father, then it hepls to explain some of your questions. Just like any good father, God knows his children well, in most cases he knows how we will react to certain situations. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows what trials we can handle and what one we cannot. I don't think that it is so much as he knows what we will do, as it is that he knows us well, even better than we know ourselves. He also has given us agency, the right to choose our own destiny, to choose where we end up by our actions here. He will never give up on us because He knows that we can do our best, and that is all he requires.

I am not Catholic, but I do know that a religion that does not require sacrifice, is not keeping with the Lords will. The rules of a true church should be set by the Lord, by way of his servant. I don't know that Catholics have more rules, than other, but sometiems it seems that way. Some religions forbid celebrating holidays and birthdays, some have certain kinds of foods that you can and can not eat, some religions denounce alcohol and tobacco, some have dress codes, some have no rules. So I think that saying that Catholics have more rules, is really just subjective. They just have different rules.

I don't know why some view miracles and some don't. Sometimes it has to do with faith. If you have faith you will witness the miracles, but sometimes if you have faith, you don't need to witness miracles.

As for miracles and prophets, I would suggest that you look at different ideas. I believe that there are again prophets on the earth and that there are in fact miracles that the lord performs everyday. If you would like to know more about living prophets, visit http://www.Mormon.org You can request representatives come talk to you and there is no obligation, But they can discuss your questions and hopefully answer them for you.

I hope this helps. Good luck in your search for the truth. Don't stop searching until you find it.

Answer 3

Yes God knows where are souls are going before we are born.

God gave us two things in the NT, His son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was sent to be a sacrifice for our sins, His whole purpose was to be forgiving to the ones who wanted it.

There are, people just do not talk about them. In the bible you read about one or two brief moments and the rest of their lives are unaccounted for, so it just seams like there are more miracles.
Catholics just like to keep them all guessing, it has nothing to do with the Jesus and getting into heaven. The majority of their rules were established to keep the surfs in line and promote noble families. The main reason catholics have been around so long is people like rituals.
I see God's miracles every day, you just have to be open to them. Flowers blooming - miracle, leaves falling off the trees at exactly the right time - miracle, little babies - miracle.
Hope all that helps.

Answer 4

I'm a Catholic and what's going on within the Church like priestly molestation is the sickest factor that I would ever believe of and this can be a disgrace. But, the final factor you desire to do is lose religion in Catholicism, for those who went to Catholic university as you mentioned, you realize the value of Our faith and staying Catholic. I realize why you're wasting religion, however to think in God on my own with out the Mass, or the sacraments is not anything. God did not come all the way down to Earth and die and determine the Catholic Faith, with Peter because the Head to have any individual lose religion. The Church or Catholicism did not purpose the priest to try this, however the priest's in poor health twisted brain, and what the Bishops are doing via looking to conceal it's one more in poor health, evil act. So I fully realize wherein you're coming from and I trust you however do not lose your religion.

Answer 5

I can't answer all the questions, but I'll do my best to answer some. First, there are more rules because some were created by Popes; not derived from the Bible (priests & nuns not being permitted to marry for example).
As for differences between the NT & OT, remember The Bible has been re-written & translated over many many years. Interpretations of certain translations are not always correct.
I am Christian & believe in the Bible, but I do not believe every word is a completely accurate depiction of events or God's words. To me, the Bible is compilation of truth, events, & stories, meant to asisst us in choosing the right life paths.

Answer 6

Well... I'll do my best.
Yes, God knows how we'll end up before we are born.
In the OT, God is whipping a People into shape so that they are capable of understanding His Love and Mercy.
Catholics have been around longer.
God chooses whom He will. And some of us NEED the evidence.

God has His Own agenda, which has little to do with ours. We are in no position to judge Him.

Answer 7

I believe in God. I'm not a Atheist. That still doesn't change the fact that all religion was made by man , to control man. The bible is no more than old pagan stories, with new characters, to invent, Christianity. That's reality, and there is nothing I can do to change that. I was raised a Catholic.

Answer 8

Be glad that you are finally embarking on your own personal quest to find your Holy Grail, so to speak. The Truth is out there for you to determine and know.

Seek and you shall find. Open your eyes and you shall see. Listen and you shall hear. Knock and it shall be opened for you. Ask and you shall receive.

Godspeed in your adventurous quest ahead...

Peace be with you.

Answer 9

Read my profile for some answers to those questions, and many more.






---

Answer 10

Too many questions all at once. Slow down a little and ask one question at a time. PLEASE.