How would you react to one who says "we managed to get along for 1600 years before the Protestant Reformation?

Question

Would you die laughing? Would you mention the Council of Nicea called by Constantine in response to Arius? Would you mention the split between the Eastern Church and the Roman Church over the altering of the Nicene Creed and the idolatry of a celibacy requirement for priests to preserve power and wealth? Would you mention the wars between Goths and Romans in Spain and North Africa? Would you mention the wars between Catholics in Spain, France, Germany, and England? Would you mention the Crusades and the Inquisition?

Answer 1

And lets not forget the hunts for heretics, the massacres of the gnostics such as the Boetheans, Albigensians, Cathars etc or the war between the popes which led to the split in the early Catholic Church (and you had the French pope vs the pope in Rome until the French pope was defeated) etc.

Isn't lack of knowing historical facts just great?

Answer 2

I am Catholic. Studying History from a Catholic Priest ... I have come to find the blessings of the Prodestant Reformation.

I disagree with the haste actions of Luther, Calvin, and Henry the Eight. However, the Church was a mess during the 1600's. Reformation was needed. Governments and the Church were separated, but the line of separation was vague if visable at all. The SMALL changes asked by Luther were good changes. However, it's just rude to storm out of negotiations as a hot head. Guess that's where the quote, "Patience and Perserverence is a Bishop to his Excellency" comes from.

Despite the corruption occuring with the Government'S and RC Church, we did have many herioc Saints who didn't walk away and fought for reformation. Guess what, almost all the reformation requested by Luther & Calvin (and others) has happened in Vatican I, and Vatican II. Yet, the Angelican Church has continuted the practice of reforming as they wish resulting in England with too many Church Denomonations to control. Ironically, this was the platform Luther was fighting against.

Well, novels are written and approved by the RC Church (Cardinal of Bishops) and the RC Church is not afaid to look at her follies. In fact, Pope John Paul II (with the research help of Joseph Ratzinger) made over 100 appologies for the Chruches transgressions. To study History honestly is to learn from mistakes and to gain wisdom.

Answer 3

Yeah, they "managed" alright. Managed to kill many men of God and give Christianity a bad name. Managed to put the so-called Church Tradition before God's word. So much fallacy, yet so many followers... people think it's the heaven club. It's what I like to call Therapeutic Moralistic Deism. Either that, or Mormon chic.

Answer 4

Hmm all good points.
I suppose in reality Christians never really got a long after Christ's death. They all felt they had the Truth. Its like playing the game of telephone. The stories change over time.

Answer 5

You forgot the arguments between the original Hebrew Christians and the Pauline Christians, not to mention the Gnostics.

There has NEVER been a consistent Christian doctrine, not even at its inception.

Answer 6

I would simply point out that life in that era was correctly described as nasty, brutish, and short. Not until the rise of science did any real progress take place.

Answer 7

Why would I? Holy Mother Church weathered all that. She's still here, still going strong, still proving Christ's promise that the gates of hell would never prevail against her.

Please note that Christ never said that hell wouldn't TRY to prevail, only that hell would never succeed. Guess that's why we're more than 1 billion strong and growing.

Answer 8

Would you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (our beliefs) and then come back?

Peace!

Answer 9

I wouldn't, no; cause I don't give a crap.

Protestants and Catholics make me sick, and all the rest of those holy people.

Answer 10

I would tell them that they need to go back and study their history-they have no idea what they're talking about.