Why Do Catholics Have So Many Un-Biblical Doctrines?

Question

Like worshipping Mary or the saints, buying salvation, etc.? Especially since they wrote the Bible and all... you'd expect that they wouldn't be so foolish as to contradict the book they wrote...?

Answer 1

+ Sources of Doctrine +

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

+ Saints +

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 here on earth to pray for you. Or you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints is communication, not worship.

+ The Blessed Virgin Mary +

In Luke 1:48, Mary prophesied: "From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

A question for Christians who take the Bible literally: Do you call Mary "blessed"? If no, why?

The Hail Mary prayer simply recites Bible passages (the Word of God) and asks Mary to pray for us:

Hail Mary Full of grace, the Lord is with you. (These are the words the angel Gabriel said to Mary, a Bible quote.)

Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. (This is Mary's cousin Elizabeth's greeting, another bible quote.)

Holy Mary, (The angel Gabriel said she was full of grace and Elizabeth said she was blessed.)

Mother of God, (the Bible says Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, God the Son)

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. (A simple request to pray for us.)

Amen.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt4sect1chpt2art2.htm

+ Purgatory +

To discuss indulgences, first we have to talk about Purgation (or Purgatory).

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ Indulgences +

The concept is that a person can do acts of penance now on earth to make purgation easier.

Penance is internally turning one's heart toward God and away from sin in hope in divine mercy and externally by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.

A corruption grew in the Church many years ago where rich people would give enough alms (money to the Church) to essentially buy an easy way to heaven. This was one of Martin Luther's protests (hence Protestants) and shortly thereafter the Catholic Church cleaned up this practice.

In 1567 Pope Pius V canceled all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions.

But remember because everyone in purgatory is already on their way to heaven, indulgences do not get you into heaven. They just make purgation easier.

I guess if you did not believe in purgatory then there would be no reason to worry about indulgences.

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: well since Catholics do not give Godly worship to Mary or any saint, and after considering the Catholic Church doesn't teach people can "buy their salvation" you sir are confused. Which comes first the carrot or the horse? Which comes first the Church or the bible?
As I recall Christian bibles did not fall at Pentecost from the clouds in leather binding.


some research for biblehelpman --> http://www.reformation.com

I'd use a four letter word for kait but that would be too good. Fact is kait is a slanderer the revisionism just presented claims pagan incorporation by Emperor Constantine, just wondering if kait can name one such pagan practise incorporated by the pressure of Constantine? You see revisionism of history sounds good on the surface but when you press these propaganda lackeys for greater detail they usual bust like a balloon with hot air.


topazelf I really don't understand your question, e=mc2 is unbiblical or not in the bible does that make it not true or proven wrong? I really wish people would learn the original purpose of the bible.

Answer 3

since they don't worship Mary or the Saints nor do thy think you can buy salvation, i guess the question would be - why do you listento the ignorance of others instead of checking things out for yourself? in regards to catholic traditions --- without them you would have no bible.
all Rcc beliefs can be found in the bible, some plainly others indirectly indicated. Scripture itself points out an authoritative church & tradition. St Paul points out in his second letter to the Thess – stand firm & hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or letter. Here are some scriptures to check out 2 Thess 2:15, 1 Cor 11:2, 2 Thess 3:6, 2 Tim 1:13-14 & 2:2. When the first Christians had disagreements they didn’t open their bibles – they didn’t exist – they held councils and held binding decrees – these councils were those who knew more then the others and they came to an agreement/understanding and thus made a binding decree (acts 15:1-29). The very books of the bible were determined by the Church (Rcc) and didn’t even happen until the 4th century – centuries of oral tradition. Without their determination and will to listen to the Holy Spirit, sent by God to inspire them there would be no bible.
If the traditions and leaders of the Rcc did not hold to the scriptures (while some held violently or savagely) the majority shared and taught. Had the hierarchy of the Rcc not established the foundations where would Christianity be today? Would there even be a bible in print – I really don’t think so. Because people would not have shared their traditions. Most people century’s back never owned a bible like we do, gracious they couldn’t even read.

dear virgo - good luck on shoving their face in the bible for they too can do the same citing scriptures for their reasonings and such.

Answer 4

The Roman Catholic Church contends that its origin is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ in approximately 30 A.D. The Catholic Church proclaims itself to be the Church that Jesus Christ died for, the Church that was established and built by the Apostles. Is that the true origin of the Catholic Church? On the contrary. Even a cursory reading of the New Testament will reveal that the Catholic Church does not have its origin in the teachings of Jesus, or His apostles. In the New Testament, there is no mention of the papacy, worship / adoration of Mary (or the immaculate conception of Mary, the perpetual virginity of Mary, the assumption of Mary, or Mary as co-redemptrix and mediatrix), petitioning saints in Heaven for their prayers, apostolic succession, the ordinances of the church functioning as sacraments, infant baptism, confession of sin to a priest, purgatory, indulgences, or the equal authority of church tradition and Scripture. So, if the origin of the Catholic Church is not in the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, what is the true origin of the Catholic Church?

For the first 280 years of Christian history, Christianity was banned by the Roman empire, and Christians were terribly persecuted. This changed after the “conversion” of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine “legalized” Christianity at the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313. Later, in A.D. 325, Constantine called together the Council of Nicea, in an attempt to unify Christianity. Constantine envisioned Christianity as a religion that could unite the Roman Empire, which at that time was beginning to fragment and divide. While this may have seemed to be a positive development for the Christian church, the results were anything but positive. Just as Constantine refused to fully embrace the Christian faith, but continued many of his pagan beliefs and practices, so the Christian church that Constantine promoted was a mixture of true Christianity and Roman paganism.

Constantine found that with the Roman Empire being so vast, expansive, and diverse – not everyone would agree to forsake their religious beliefs and instead embrace Christianity. So, Constantine allowed, and even promoted, the “Christianization” of pagan beliefs.

Answer 5

Your conclusions are all wrong so your question is out of order.
First, we do not worship Mary or the saints. We ask them to pray for us. That is not unbiblical - Luke 16,9; 1 Corinthians 12,12.20f; Revelation 5,8.

Second, we do not buy our salvation. This is our doctrine on salvation.

Faith justifies initially, but works perfect and complete our salvation. If all it takes to be saved is "to confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10,9) then why must I change? Oh sure, I should change my sinful ways. I should try to please God. But if I don't does it really matter? My salvation is assured?

Salvation is a process of perseverance through faith, hope and love. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that one is justified or saved by "faith alone." On the contrary, man is not justified by faith alone. A person is justified by faith and works acting together, which comes solely from God's divine grace. Faith alone never obtains the grace of justification. Also, the word "justified" is the same word Paul uses for justification in Romans 4,3 in regard to Abraham (so Protestants cannot argue James is not referring to "justification" in James 2,24 unless they argue Paul wasn't either in Romans 4,3).

(See also: Luke 24,47; Acts 2,38, 3,19, 17,30; John 3,36; 2 Corinthians 10,15; 13,15; Galatians 5,6)

I hope the foregoing explanation clears up your misconceptions about Catholicism.

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 6

The book was written over a thousand years ago by a counsel of old men claiming to be speaking for god, but many of the Bibles rules were ways to keep the people in line or things inherent to that society. God did not speak through, or even to these people, but they thought they spoke for him. That continues today as men in power over religion continue to think up rules that no God ever told them, but that they think are best for the people. It's simply a matter of conflicting eras.

Answer 7

They DID NOT WRITE the Bible!

(2Peter 1:20-21) knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of its own private interpretation.

(2Pe 1:21) For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.

The problem comes from Following a Church, as I once followed the Catholic Church!

I = = now = = Follow THE WORD OF GOD!

Thanks, RR

Answer 8

+ Purgatory + The idea of purgation is hinted at within the Bible. Here are a few areas: "But if anyone's paintings is burned up, that one will undergo loss; the individual will probably be stored, however best as via hearth." one million Cor three:15 "So

Answer 9

The Catholics didn't write the Bible, first off, they just claim that the ones who did write the Bible were some of their "saints." Now I know people are going to hate me for saying this, but Catholics are the BIGGEST Christian cult(a cult is a group of people who take a religion and change it to whatever they like, examples:Jehovah's Witness, Seven Day Advent, and Roman Catholosism) in the world. Actually they are just the biggest cult(period)in the world.

Answer 10

most of my family is catholic. i believe alot of good people are in the catholic church but they are just deceived. i think many will recognize this when rome and the world council of churches start bringing down their forced worship on the world thru economic pressures to start with. you can't buy or sell unless you join up with them and eventually they will kill us thinking they are doing God a service. some of the catholics will be part of the martyrs or some will help the Lords brethren by feeding them and clothing them or sheltering them.
most catholics haven't read their own catechism where it specifically states the worship of mary and angels and buying paying the priest so much money to pray their loved ones out of purgatory called the selling of indulgences

Answer 11

>>Like worshipping Mary or the saints, buying salvation, etc.?<<

We DON'T worship Mary OR the saints, and we DON'T buy salvation! STOP BEARING FALSE WITNESS!

Malvin: I'm so angry, I accidentally gave you a thumbs down when I meant to give you a thumbs up. Sorry about that.