Catholisism and Christianity?

Question

I am a relatively new Christian, and I just want to understand peoples points of views a little better.

Whith Catholic Traditions like praying to Mary, asking forgiveness from the Priest instead of Jesus, and the standing firm (rigid) with the way one conducts Church activiety/sevices and ceramonies. Can that not be seen as Idolitary? If one did it differentley would that be percieved as wrong?

I dont mean to offened anyone, I just struggled to find scripture supporting the Traditions or the praying to Mary/ The Saints etc.

Forgive me if I have offened, it is not my intention, I would just like to educate myself in the word and find out how one got to go about these things and the reasoning behind it.

God Bless!
*H*

Answer 1

I have heard people say Catholics aren't Christians, but I disagree. They believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He is Our Savior. However, I do agree that some of their practices are not biblical. It is my understanding that they pray to Mary and the saints, go to a priest to confess their sins and ask forgiveness and that the priest tells them to perform works, such as so many hail Marys. Jesus also told us to call no one father except Our Father in heaven and they call their priests father.
It all began when Constantine decreed that all of his empire convert to Christianity. The problem was, they didn't have the first clue of what it meant to be a Christian. They combined their pagan rituals, festivals and holidays with that of their new religion. This is how the Catholic Church began. In fact, that's where we got the word Easter. It was derived from the name of the pagan goddess Ishtar, but that doesn't and shouldn't stop all Christians from celebrating the resurrection of Christ.
Those in the Catholic Church are usually, but not always, people who were raised as Catholics and brought up to worship God in the manner in which they do and they don't question the Church even when it contradicts scripture.
All of this being said, I believe most Catholics sincerely love God and try to follow Jesus. I have some reservations about the church administration itself, but I won't go into that right now. Remember, God used a Catholic(Mel Gibson) to bring us the movie "The Passion of the Christ".
Since you are aware of the fact that they are doing certain things which contradict scripture, you should think carefully and pray earnestly before making any decision regarding your church affiliation. May God bless you and may His Holy Spirit guide you in all you do.

Answer 2

I understand your point but as a former catholic (and there are many of us) and catechisim teacher way back in the day, they do not actually pray to Mary or the saints, nor do they ask the priest for frogiveness in confession. They are conduits. The purpose of the priest at confession is basically to assign penance for sins, ie; ten hail mary's, five our fathers, etc... or to act as a person that can lend advice on how to handle a situation. Kinda like a messed up guidance counselor. The whole deal about praying to Mary or any of the saints though is widely misunderstood by tons of people, even in the catholic faith. They are simply people to pray through to God. How and why this started I have no idea and really wish someone had the answer to that. It seems pretty odd to go to them when going to god is just as easy and the target you're searching for anyway. Is it idolatry? I wouldn't say so as they are not held in reverence above god, but it is decidedly weird- at least in my opinion.

Just an addittion to the first respondant, but you are aware that Martin Luther did change parts of the bible to suit his own needs when breaking away right? Is that really a good thing to be happy about?

Answer 3

As well explained in a number of posts above the division between the RCC and Protestantism is contained in a number of issues; idolatry, intercession and magisterial being the predominant ones.

It all pretty much boils down to this. The RCC is not practicing idolatry by use of the Cross, images of Mary and/or the Saints. Idols as portrayed in the Bible are Pillars, obelisks and statues that are prayed to AS gods. That is not the case with RCC or Protestantism.

Magisterial refers to the trappings, traditions and government of the church.

Intercession is the biggie! The RCC believes that the Pope and by extension Bishops, Priests and Deacons are directly descended through Apostolic Succession and is God’s Vicar on Earth with all the power given the original Apostles, specifically Peter. Although the way, the truth and the life are Christ, the way to Christ is through His Apostles.

Protestants on the other hand believe that all men are able to have a personal relationship with Christ (everyman a priest) and that the only “intercession” is Christ on our behalf with God.

Either way it is Christ that is the root of our Salvation, and only Christ. I don’t know that it matters if you believe He is personal or that you have to go through another as long as He is the final destination you are a Christian and your Salvation is assured.

That being said there are some sects (Mormon’s, JW’s and others) that do not teach the Trinity. These are not Orthodox Christians. The Divinity of Christ IS essential to Christianity.

Answer 4

I've wondered the same thing. I've not been able to find anything to support praying to Mary or asking Priests for forgiveness. Honestly, I don't think those practices are bibilical. That was the whole purpose of Jesus coming to this earth - that the veil was torn and that we could have a direct relationship with God and pray to Him and ask Him for forgiveness - not Mary or a Priest. But, to be honest, I haven't had the greatest interactions with Catholics either. Not to group all Catholics together, but several Catholics I've met I've found to be judgmental and critical of Christians who are Non-Catholics.

Answer 5

A LOT of Protestants feel Catholic worship is idolatry and that is why they are Protestants. Think of the word "protest' and you see where this comes from. They were protesting how the Catholic church behaved and the selling of indulgences to wipe away sins was the final straw for many. This was in the 1500s I believe.

Then of course there is the Mary controversy, do they worship her... And the priest forgiving sins, so just keep reading the Bible and church history and make up your own mind, no one is hurrying you...

Answer 6

You have raised some of the points I raised myself when I left the Catholic church. I understand to Catholics that, although they claim it's not idolatry (it is), when they pray to Mary and the saints it's no different than asking a friend to pray for them. I see it differently. There is nothing in the Bible that tells us to do so. We pray directly to God and Jesus intercedes for us. We confess our sins directly to God and not a human intercessor. Mary and the rest of the saints were not taken directly to Heaven, but are buried in the ground and not yet risen. Mary was chosen for a particular role, but so were many others.

Baptizing a baby was another issue for me. Baptism is a commandment and one needs to be old enough to know the reason for it, and be able to make their own choice. In other churches, babies are dedicated to God, but baptism comes later.

Many of the Catholic traditions were created by man, and are not bibically correct. I have in-laws who are Catholic and we've been round and round on some issues. I saw an advertisement recently that said you have the right to believe what you want to believe, but you have the responsibility to learn the truth. None of the above is meant to offend anyone, it reflects my own beliefs and teachings. Keep in mind, I was raised Catholic.

Keep studying, ask whenever you have questions, pray for guidance and wisdom. May God bless you!

Answer 7

I saw a lovely answer to this on a Catholic web site when I was wondering about the same question
this is what it says

Mary is a mother to all men. Catholics believe that the Son of God chose to come into the world through a mother in order that that mother might accept as His brothers all the children of the sinful race of man. He set an example as to how she should be honored and loved. He prepared her for this motherhood of all by asking her to suffer every conceivable form of pain, thus teaching her sympathy for the sorrows of her children. Had she been His Mother alone, He would have spared her from pain, because He had the power to do so and because He loved her with an infinite love. He wrought His first public miracle at her request, and when He was dying He reminded her that she had been destined from the beginning to be a Mother to all. Catholics therefore believe that Mary will be as eager to help them, in troubles of soul and body, as every natural mother is eager to promote the welfare of her child.

Answer 8

Well you do have to remember Peter and Paul and later Constantine were converting a Pagan people into the ways of Jesus.

Technically they should have first trained them to the be Jewish. Jesus, you know, was Jewish, not Christian. He was a reformist Jewish Rabbi basically.

Jesus and his disciples were having or about to have a rather traditional Seder dinner in the Jewish tradition with 24 ounces of wine, some meat, flat bread, burnt egg. You're also supposed to read from the Torah, chant, sing.

These are the traiditions Jesus was raised with.

All unmarried men where to have Beards and cover their heads.

So all Christianity has departed far from the was Jesus was trained in on Earth.

I suppose Jesus might find it all interesting.

I also expect Jesus would take issue with just about every Christian religious sect for some of the things they embrace.

Based upon Jesus in the Bible he would be as controversial, ornary, thought provoking, logical and at odds with lots of people and things and concepts.

Then if he were to announce he was Jesus, it would be the Christians who call for his execution for being a fraud.

Prehaps that's what Revelations is about. The second comming of Jesus and his rejection by man as a fraud.

The following of the wrong prophet.

Answer 9

Yes, it is idolatry. But, Catholicism and Mormonism do not teach the bible to be the final word of God. They have made revisions and go by what the Pope says. He is the final authority according to them. As for Mormons, they say they go by the bible if it is correctly translated. Meaning that if it goes with their teachings, then it is correct. Mormons, as well as Catholics have additions to the bible that most others do not have.

Answer 10

As Catholics, we pray to Mary as intercessor on our behalf and not to her in the same way that we pray to God. We pray in this way because, as seen in the wedding at Canaan, Jesus listened to His mother when He performed His first miracle (the turning of water into wine). Since He listened to Mary in a case like that, Catholics believe that Mary has pull with Jesus as an intercessor and we believe that Mary will take our cares and concerns to Jesus for us. This is also the same way that we pray to specific saints...as intercessors, not themselves divine. As Jesus died on the cross, He even gave us His mother by saying to the apostle John, "Son, behold your mother" and also to Mary, "Woman, behold your son". In doing this, Jesus symbolically gave His mother to all of us, not just to the believers and gave us all to her. In answer to the other part of your question, we Catholics are rigid in our ceremonies to show respect for God. Admitedly, there are certain things that Catholics do that could be misconstrued as idolworship, but, we believe that a statue of Jesus is just a statue. We do NOT pray to the statue of Jesus, we pray to Jesus just like all other Christians.