Why do people follow a pagan pope?

Question

Why does the catholic cross still have Christ on it? Didn't he die and was resurrected three days later?
Why do the catholic priests call themselves "father"? Isn't there only one "Father", GOD?
Why do the catholics require that you confess your sins to a man, and then that man gives you absolution? "No one comes to the 'Father' except through Me" Jesus. Not some poser man, playing God. No one on this earth, not even the pope himself can absolve you of your sins. That is reserved for GOD and GOD only.
Why do catholic people worship the virgin Mary? She can do nothing for you. Only GOD can, through Jesus Christ, save you. Not Mary. READ the BIBLE. Don't just look at the words.

Answer 1

You asked a lot of questions so this answer is rather long.

+ The Crucifix +

The MOST important thing that Jesus did for us was die for our sins to give us the gift of everlasting life.

He did rise from the dead but rising from the dead did not open the gates of heaven for us, dying for our sins did. The crucifix in no way denies the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the MOST important point in all of history.

The crucifix reminds us of this moment.

The following Scriptures even suggest that Jesus wants us to lift up his image:

Numbers 21:8-9 states: And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.

And in John 3:14-15, Jesus says in correlation: "And just as Moses lifted up the [image of a] serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

+ Call no man father +

Matthew 23:6-9 reads, "They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."

Are we also not to call anyone "teacher" or "doctor" which is how "rabbi' would translate?

This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.

We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.

Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.

+ Confession and Reconciliation +

The Bible instructs us to confess our sins to each other:

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

Acts 19:18 - Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices.

Matthew 3:5-6 - At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

Mark 1:5 - People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him (John the Baptist) and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 John 1:9 - If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

Numbers 5:6-7 - "Tell the Israelites: If a man (or a woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the LORD, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged."

Nehemiah 9:2 - Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all who were of foreign extraction, then stood forward and confessed their sins and the guilty deeds of their fathers.

Sirach 4:26 - Be not ashamed to acknowledge your guilt, but of your ignorance rather be ashamed.

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ Mary and the other saints +

Catholics do not worship the Blessed Virgin Mary. We ask her to pray for us.

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

What do you know about these other religions? How do you know they are not following the same basic principles that Christ teaches. True, they do not follow what Christ himself said, but for the most part, other religions have the same values and principles as christians. You should do some more research about these 'pagan' religions and see what their teachings are...then you can ask the question if you still don't get it. Also, I pray with people who are not christians all the time. Despite who you are praying to, whether it be God or Yahweh, or the Moon Goddess, there is still faith involved. If you are praying for people's lives, it is going to do more good than not.

Answer 3

God loves you anyway. There is something I never understand, what is the problem with the mother of God, God chose her, not us Catholics. She is the image of the new eve, through eve sin came to this world and through the yes of Mary, Jesus came to this world to save us from sin. God also choose Peter, not us Catholics and even Jesus recognized him as the rock, upon whom God will build the Church. "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."

Answer 4

Some Christians follow a nice, clean cross. Catholics remember what had to occur in order to be washed in the blood of the lamb.
Some people cannot discern the difference between "father" and "Our Father."
Some people cannot understand that, even though confession is said to a priest, the priest says "I absolve you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," such that it is God who is actually doing the forgiving.
Some people constantly accuse Catholics of worshipping Mary, even they Catholics routinely deny it. Those people do not know the difference between "honoring" someone and "worshipping" someone. Jesus honored His mother. Why should we do different? The phrase "hail Mary" literally means "Hello, Mary." Why does saying "hi" constitute worship to the ignorant of the world?

Answer 5

I think you are a bit of an extremist, yourself. The pope is not pagan. He is God's human representative on earth. I'd hardly call Benedict XVI a pagan.

Answer 6

You think that pagans venerate the image of a crucified man? Call themselves Father? Confess to and receive absolution from a priest? Venerate the Mother of Jesus Christ?

Answer 7

Get some education please. The pope is not at all pagan. You are so uninformed it is pathetic.

Catholics do NOT worship Mary. She is revered as being the mother of God the Son.

People like you give Christians a bad name.

Answer 8

For the complete answers these and other unknown questions about the Catholic faith visit;
www.catholic.org.
It`s better to light a candle than curse the dark!

Answer 9

Let me think a minute. Fun -d- mental- ist. Oh ya, it is clear. We must be nice to them. They are the ones that take the short bus. Trying to help them understand is like expecting a cat to read. I will not waste my time. The man above me is right.

Answer 10

At one point in the near future,

people will start saying: God is God and Jesus was Jesus and Just because Jesus said I am, doesnt necessarily mean he was God Himself.

As he only asked people to pray to God not him.

So youre looking at the same old pagan beliefs being outdated.

Answer 11

Catholics aren't pagans, you fruitcake.

They believe in the resurrection. I don't think you hear anyone - including born again types like you saying 'He was brought back to life for your sins' do you?