Why are Protestants including Baptists and Evangelicals so confused about Catholicism?

Question

Why do the Protestant brethren still after 500 years of separation with opportunity of better education still fall back on myths, fairytales and plain old slander and propaganda when talking about Catholicism? Why aren't they open to the reality of Catholics being their big brothers?

padwinlearner I agree with about sinners being found in all Christian communities but that was not the question. Luther had some valid points about abuses but individuals (sinners) but he did not have it right in separation. You cannot reform a thing by leaving a thing. BTW all the abuses have been dealt with. See my questions page and take a look a the Joint Declaration on Justification signed by Lutherans, Catholics and Methodists

Bob L Foxes book of Martyrs lol. That book was written at a time of Tudor England a period of high propaganda. Bob you merely provide further supporting proof that my question merits truth. BTW Bob all the martyrs in the first half of that book are Catholics not Protestants. Come on guy start using your brain some more sign up for a theology course or better yet a Christian history class.

Preacher who've don't a grave misjustice not only to others reading your words but yourself! I suggest you referring from answering such questions until you actually spend some time studying what Catholicism really teaches. As far as not reading the bible are you telling me you personally know all 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide to claim they all don't read it? Preacher with only 10% of all Catholics "in the Word" that would be enough to surpass all Protestants combine as I know many Protestants who do not read scripture myself. You need to be honest with others and yourself. Peace of Christ

samuelisaish there is enough confusion in the answers given to this question by Protestants for eample,
some of them are implying some sort of separation from God in prayer or worship when being a Catholic verse a Protestant when there is no such thing. As a Catholic we are encouraged to talk with Jesus daily and the Catholic Church is the only church I know when compared to all the Protestant communities that you can go and worship God daily in. The vast majority of Protestant communities have one weekly service only, whereas Mass is a daily occurance, Catholics maintain the practise of prayer, worship and breaking of bread with greater intensity, in contrary to Preachers personal thoughts on the matter.

Martin,
just wondering what is your impression of Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey? Are you familar with any of the joint ecumenical meetings between Catholics and Eastern Orthodox currently in progress?
I do consider the Eastern Ortodox my brothers, brothers with whom with have 99% common belief. The scandal is our separation has more to do with culture, geography, politics and outside influence than difference of doctrine. I am hopeful East and West will be one again. P.S. I also consider all Protestants validly baptised my Christian brothers, I'm sure you're aware the same cannot be said the other way round.

Seraph writes,

The abundance of similarities between Catholicism and Protestants do not negate the fundamental differences in doctrines and theology.

You misunderstand me completely angel of light. I'm not condoning indifferentism on the contrary I'm merely implying a major of those in the Protestant community (including Baptists, fundimentalists and evangelicals accross the board) do not know where they originate from. This revisionism of them being an extension of the Church in Act or members of John the Baptist's church is a complete fallacy.
By the way shouldn't an angel of light be in the light?

Martin I'd love to have a private as I do understand your experience with yahoo answers and revisionist answers but we won't cover every angle in these forms which limit discussion. As far as the basis of your answer goes just look at what I'm dealing with and read Seraph's response when compared to yours. rest my case

Martin I'd love to have a private conversation with you as I do understand your experience with yahoo answers and revisionist answers but we won't cover every angle in these forums which limit discussion. As far as the basis of your answer goes just look at what I'm dealing with see Seraph's response and compared it to yours. rest my case

One final point Martin I really hope you don't think I'm saying Luther had everything right theologically because I'm not. I decided to not centre my comments on all the abuses he helped created.

Answer 1

Pastor Billy, I always look forward to your answers on Yahoo!

Why do people fall back on myths, fairy tales, slander and propaganda when it comes to Roman Catholicism. Simple, its easier for people to rely on the myths and mottos than doing the research, thinking and work to try and understand the issues involved. But to be honest, the bulk of Roman Catholics that I have met don't know a whole lot about their church's doctrine, dogma, theology and HISTORY (with the exclusion of the "Traditionalist Catholics."). It makes me wonder what they are really teaching in catechism classes. Which is really the status quo here in the United States with the majority of Christianity.

Let's make a deal, I will be open (as a Lutheran) to consider Roman Catholicism as a big brother, when Roman Catholics are open to consider the Eastern Orthodox as their big brother. ;0)

*Update*
Billy, I think you would be hard pressed to find Lutherans that don't acknowledge that their denomination comes from the Western Church tradition. I think you would be equally hard pressed to find a Lutheran that says all Roman Catholics are going to hell and all that non-sense. This is not to say that you won't find Lutherans, as well as Roman Catholics that fall back on their myths, fairy tales, slander, perceptions and propaganda when talking about each other. I personally think that Protestants have a hard time calling Roman Catholic's their big brother, because of the perception of power that the RCC has tried to instill in Christendom. Although you have to go way back in history to find official instances of this, members and particularly new converts like to project this image. So when we see questions and comments like:
"We are the Church that Jesus started with Peter"
"Without Apostolic Succession you can not have the Sacraments."
"Outside of the Roman Catholic Church, there is no salvation "
"All Protestant churches split off from the Roman Catholic Church."
and so on.

I also find that a lot of people have no clue about what the Lutheran Church teaches/believes and their history. When I read these questions on Yahoo about Martin Luther and the Lutheran Church the questions and the answers show that most people have not a clue. I am sure you find the same thing about the Roman Catholic Church on Yahoo Answers.

**Update 2**
Two duplicate posts, wow! ;0)
What mediums do you use for chat/forum/discussions other than Yahoo! Answers?

I wouldn't expect you (as a Roman Catholic, if that is safe to assume) to go along exactly with what Martin Luther wrote, taught and confessed. To be honest, there are things that I and other Lutherans (some ministers *gasp*!) don't agree with what Luther wrote. As you have probably heard before, we are Lutherans not a cult of Luther worshipers.

When I listen to people rail on the Roman Catholic Church with the idiotic accusations they make, it makes the hair on the back of my head stand up. As I get older, I find that it is harder to put up with the rhetoric and polemic attacks that all denominations put forward. You can disagree with certain teachings but that does not mean you can throw out the baby with the bath water. The only exception in my book is this post modernism crap in the Emergent Church Movement. These guys drive me nuts.

Answer 2

Firstly, that Protestants are so confused about Catholicism seems an unwarranted generalisation. Secondly, just what are Protestants confused about? Thirdly, isn't it just as possible that Catholics are confused about Christianity and what Protestants believe? Fourthly, why do you assume that it is the reality that Catholics are our "big brothers"? You first have to establish that. The abundance of similarities between Catholicism and Protestants do not negate the fundamental differences in doctrines and theology.

More comments on your reply: The Protestant community no more originate from Catholicism than Judaism from paganism simply because Abraham left his pagan roots. Groups of people departed from the RCC not as an extension of the Catholic church but because their allegiance to Scriptures took priority over church traditions.

Answer 3

Humans of all beliefs and persuasions are prone to place weight upon all types of unfounded myths and stories. Many times, we believe what we want regardless of the facts. Now, I don't know If Catholics are the big brothers of Protestants or not. I find it interesting that Christians, Muslims and Jews all worship the same god and have a very different dogma on how to do so.

Answer 4

I, for one, am not confused about Catholicism. And Catholics are not my big brother. I am a United Methodist - and happy to be so. Foremostly, I am a Christian who subscribes to the thought that Jesus is my Savior and there is only one way to the father: The son. Where I take exception to the Catholic church is they are exclusive: People must follow their strict rules, pay strict money, follow strict traditions, only do things a certain way. My church is open to all sinners and we value a relationship with the living God. I know Catholics do too, but I don't appreciate being exclusive about communion, attending other churches, etc. etc. etc. The Pope will not get you into heaven.

Answer 5

Catholicism is so steeped in traditions and such, it is hard sometimes for others to see beyond that. I have had the opportunity to talk with several priests and people of the Catholic faith. I was delighted to see Jesus in each and every one of them. I took some RICA classes just to find out their history. While I had no desire to convert. I enjoyed my time there and praying with these good people.

The Father's call me Rev. Mother apple dumplin'

They are a great joy to be friends and children of God together.

Be blessed in our "Dad"

Answer 6

I'm a Christian, and I believe that there are Christians that are Catholics, but I do not believe all Catholics are Christian - same holds true for Baptists, Lutherans, etc.

My problems with the Catholic church are the same problems Martin Luther had. The need for intervention by priests. The Pope's infallibility and being portrayed as Christ on Earth. Praying to Saints. Repetitious prayer.

Answer 7

Brothers in Christ, perhaps.
Big brothers, no.

We do not wish to revert back to control by a man's organization started in 3rd century Roman rule.

We prefer God as our leader, Jesus as savior, and to worship when at least 2 or 3 are gathered in His name.
We derive our truth from the Bible. Not Roman Church history and literature.

God is not a respecter of persons.
Even less, He is not a respecter of man's organizations.
He has His own Church (that all saved believers belong to).

We do not appreciate the snob appeal that some Catholics use to market their organization.

I hope you can accept our similarities rather than focusing on our differences.

Enjoy your faith.
We enjoy ours.

Answer 8

It is no myth or fable that Catholics do not read the Bible. If they did they would discover many fallacies about Catholic dogma, such as in infallibility of the Pope, that the Pope is the leader of the church (Jesus is head of the Church), that salvation is only through the Catholic church, that only a priest of the Catholic church can intercede, that wine and wafer are actually turned into blood and body, and many, many more discrepancies. And you are not my big brother.

Answer 9

I used to be Methodist, but converted to Catholicism. Really, Methodist justification and many things are similar. Obviously though, Eucharist, confession...

They can be converted if they aren't filled with prejudice. Old Protestants aren't really prejudiced though. All you have to do is talk...

and of course prejudice carries into many of the answers here...

Answer 10

Good question. Way back when I was in high school (and still affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, I dated a girl who was Baptist. One night, while on a hay ride, she informed my that her religion was older than mine. I asked her why she thought that. She said it was because her's started with John the Baptist. I bit my tongue. If some one doesn't know about their own belief system, they are really afraid of somebody else's. YBIC