What is the most ridiculous misconception people have about your religion?

Question

And do you feel amused or offended by these?

Answer 1

There are several, it's hard to pick just one:

1. That we worship Mary
2. That we worship Idols
3. That we pray to the dead
4. That all priests are pedophiles
5. That Catholics practice pagan rituals
6. That we believe the Pope is higher then God or Christ
7. That we believe the priest forgives our sins

That's the main ones I could think of...but if you read answers in here pertaining to Catholicism, the misinformation both because of arrogance and ignorance, runs rampant.

I am offended by some, but mostly frustrated at the lack of desire by those who regurgitate this misinformation, to find out the truth. Even when given volumes of evidence to the contrary, they close their eyes and put their fingers in their ears and refuse to acknowledge the truth.

Answer 2

It's a tough choice, as a Catholic, to pick the one most ridiculous misconception people have ... there are soooo many ... but the one that offends me the most is the assertion that "Catholics don't read the Bible" (or worse, aren't allowed to read it).

As for the rest, come to think of it, the claim that we "worship" Mary/saints/statues is beginning to amuse me ... in a here-we-go-again sort of way.

Answer 3

Its tough to narrow it down to one. I guess the most important for me is when people on here assume that christians are perfect and never sin. One of the biggest reasons that Jesus caused so much controversy is because he loved the sinners. He changed to old law and made a way for anyone of any walk of life to go to heaven. Christianity is nothing more than a bunch of sinners who have been saved by grace and are so thankfull for that which leads them to repent and try to do good.
I'm not easily offended, so I guess I'm amused by this and the fact that people claim to be looking for absolute truth but they only skim through the Bible and take parts of it that fit them to try and discredit christianity.

Answer 4

I am Catholic and there are so many misconceptions out there it is hard to pick just one. The one that offends me the most is the misconception that Catholics cannot pray for themselves, and that we must go through the priest. Or, that we cannot ask for forgiveness ourselves, and that we must go through the priest. Yes, I believe in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We still have to repent ourselves, the priest can absolve, but we must ask God for ourselves as well.
Peace be with you.

Answer 5

That Christians hate everyone else, when it's actually the opposite. That we feel superior to everyone else. There may be some that profess these feelings, but most Christians try to be humble and loving to everyone else. I may not agree with other people's opinions about religion, we are all still God's children no matter what anyone believes.

Answer 6

Since i am catholic i will go with the most common one. We worship idols. I'm not amused or offended, it just shows that people judge things they don't know.

Answer 7

That it's is forced on people, and it is not. I am not offended because I have separated myself from the church. I can be spiritual on my own. I know where to go to find answers, and I know to live life as a decent human being. For those who struggle with that, that is too bad, it's much easier than being a tyrant.

Answer 8

A lot of people seem to think that because I am a Christian, I should be perfect.
I am not offended, I just wish that people would understand that everyone has an old sin nature, Christian or not.
:)

Answer 9

I'm an atheist and someone once said that atheists worshiped the devil. It was quite hilarious seeing as atheists don't worship anything. It was also quite offending since it was obvious this person had no real knowledge about atheism and had probably been mislead by her church.

Answer 10

That we worship the devil. I'm usually amused though I've had people follow me to "talk" to me about my Wicca fish in the back window of my car...that can be scary.