A friend of mine is to be married and is converting to Catholicism. I do not believe Catholics are Christians. What arguments can you make against the Catholic religion which might convince my friend not to convert? I have some, I just want to know if other people have better ideas.
2007-01-19 08:04:54 · 30 answers · asked by Todd A 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Who would want to be Christian, when judgmental jerks like you calling yourself Christian. I would rather be Catholic. Keep your labels. I will actually do as Jesus said and not judge others.
2007-01-19 08:08:37 · answer #1 · answered by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 4 · 5⤊ 3⤋
First, let me say that I have a special place in my heart for the Catholic faith, I attend Mass every once in awhile and have a deep appreciation for the unity and the continuity that they claim as the "original church". They are definitely Christian, but they do have a different theology than Protestants do. Catholicism is a major religion and is not weak in its theology. Priests have an extremely difficult job and go through a long and difficult process to get where they are, and they need to be celibate along the way -- not an easy task!
Second, I would hope that you support your friend in his marriage -- it's his relationship, not yours, and you're not to meddle in it. However, if your friend asks you, you can answer his questions.
And now I can tell you about some of the flaws but I've found in the Catholic faith.
According to http://listserv.episcopalian.org/wa.exe?A2=ind0612e&L=virtueonline&T=0&F=&S=&P=3234, the problem in its theology starts out with a focus on works based on "conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity [which] can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.", according to their catechism. Therefore, if you are sufficiently holy, you can avoid hell on your own.
Again, the site states that "Since good works contribute decisively to salvation, they have eternal value, and if shared, can contribute to the salvation of others." And thus a works-based religion is born, with the Catholic Church dispensing these merits in the form of indulgences. The Church has attained this holiness, and this leads to the doctrine of papal infallibility. Everything else in the Catholic faith follows from this premise. Confession, transubstantiation, devotion to Mary, invoking the Saints, Purgatory, and more.
If your friend is comfortable with that faith, so be it. I side with the Reformation theology of not being able to attain salvation on my own, I am completely helpless before God who in his mercy must choose me. Being Calvinist, I take a far worse view of man than both Roman Catholic and Arminian beliefs do -- I don't even see an ability to "accept" Christ as any more than a misguided response to what the Lord has already done in my life. But that doesn't mean that I can't respect other faiths and even participate in them, celebrating what we do have in common.
2007-01-19 09:57:33 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Funny how those who are offshoots of Catholicism can claim that Catholicism is not valid or is not Christian. Can something valid grow from invalid roots? Can something Christian be an offshoot of something unchristian?
Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of history must recognize that the Holy Catholic Church is the one Church founded by Jesus Christ, the only Christian Church that existed for over 1,000 years after Christ ascended, and the only Christian Church Christ ever intended to exist. Which I suppose is why so many Protestants avoid history like the plague.
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2007-01-19 08:51:14 · answer #3 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Although I am an Episcopalian, I cannot personally try to
invalidate Catholicism, or Mormonism or any other Christian faith or Islam or Judaism, etc.
It would be arrogant to think only Protestant Christians have a monopoly on faith or God.
There are anti-Catholic web-sites, tho' I cannot in good conscience, help you find them, they do exist and give there illogical reasons, and only illogical resons exist. Rather like with racism or any other discriminatory thinking.
Have you considered letting your friend marry, convert and still being a friend. You can't do that if you don't respect her right to be Catholic, etc.
I'm Protestant, but I have many Jewish friends, Mormon friends, Catholic friends, etc.
2007-01-19 08:17:24 · answer #4 · answered by rumbler_12 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
If you really are a Christian, then you know that all it takes to be one is belief in Jesus Christ dieing for your sins. Catholics DO believe this and therefore are Christians. Not only that, but the Roman Catholic church was started by the Apostle Peter...you know, one of the twelve. Sorry this doesn't actually answer your question, but you cannot convince a Catholic that they aren't Christian if they believe in Jesus as the Savior...b/c that makes them Christian.
2007-01-19 08:20:19 · answer #5 · answered by emrobs 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
What difference does it make if he converts or not?
Did you know that Catholicism is the original Christian religion?
Duh!
All the rest came later.
Did you know that the first pope was the disciple Peter?
Are you one of those guys that thinks that his brand of religion is the only right one?
Have you ever even been in a Catholic church?
Why don't you set through a service one time before you pass judgement.
I say good for him, his wife to be is obviously a Catholic girl and wants to be married in the Catholic church and he is willing to go through all of the necessary steps of conversion to make her wish a reality.
It is not an easy process to convert to Catholicism in fact it is very difficult.
2007-01-19 08:12:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Investigate the historical roots of Catholicism. Look upon the critics of Catholicism over the many centuries. Read the history of the Holy Bible. How did these letters become one manual?
Read about the Apostles after Jesus resurrection into heaven, Biblical and non Sacred text.
The Truth will set you free.
2007-01-19 08:09:56 · answer #7 · answered by Lives7 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Get a life Todd, Catholocism is no more ridiculous than any other religion in Christianity, and last i checked, you weren't the authority on what does and doesn't qualify as christian religion.
This is your friends wedding by the way, so why don't you stop being a prick and give him a little support in what is probably the happiest time of his life.
That's what real friends do!
2007-01-19 08:10:07 · answer #8 · answered by answerman 4 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Catholics are Christians, we were the first Christians, most Protestants broke-off from the Catholic Church.
2007-01-19 08:19:19 · answer #9 · answered by Maurus B. 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Sorry, I can't present any argument that Catholicism is not a valid Christian religion, simply because it is a valid Christian religion, and once more, sorry!
2007-01-19 08:09:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 1⤋
Catholics are Christians.
The only argument you can make against Catholicism is that Jesus would not have approved. Jesus was very much against the corrupt church heirarchy of his time -- which was why he told his disciples to pray directly to God... no need for a huge priesthood.
2007-01-19 08:53:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋