Just once I would like to see a reasoned criticism of the Catholic Church instead of one creating a straw man belief that is not a belief of Catholicism and then attack that belief as if it was Catholic, such as:
Catholics worship Mary.
Catholics practice works righteousness.
Catholic beliefs are not biblical.
Catholics forbid their members from reading the Bible.
Constantine created the Church.
The Church practices derived from Pagan practices.
Catholics pray to dead people.
Just to name a few!
I have no problem with people disagreeing with Catholic practices and beliefs. My problem is with those who create practices and beliefs that are not Catholic and claim Catholic error when attacking what Catholics do not believe or practice in the first place. Isn't this bearing false witness against others and Christ's Church?
2007-09-07 13:31:13 · 21 answers · asked by cristoiglesia 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Meissen97,
I did the research as both a Protestant and a Catholic and these practices did not come from Pagan practices as Alexander Hislop claims. I am a Church historian and professor of early Church history.
We do not worship St. Mary but simply ask her to pray for us. If you ask someone to pray for you are you worshipping them? Perhaps it is you that does not understand worship as Catholics reserve all worship for God.
Catholics do not pray to dead people as St. Mary and the saints are very much alive as part of the communion of saints. Jesus is certainly alive and is risen. Perhaps you are the one who is clueless.
2007-09-07 13:48:41 · update #1
Riff,
That is a straw man
because sex with( mostly male) adolescents by vowed celibates is completely contrary to Catholic teaching and doctrines
Also such perverts are at least as common among clergy of other religions and even more so in secular society
In the US secular public school teachers have a pedophilia accusation rate many,many times higher than that of Catholic or other clergy. Thank you
2007-09-07 13:51:42 · answer #1 · answered by James O 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't like it when they do things like that too. Catholics do not worship Mary but they have elevated her higher than she should be and they do pray to her when they probably should not. Some Catholics do not pray to dead people but if you pray to a saint you have prayed to a dead person. The Catholic Church did change many things to try to get pagans to come over to their church for example Christmas was put on Dec 25 to coincide with the winter solstice It is highly unlikely this is Jesus's birthday They are not practicing a pagan belief the pagans adopted a Catholic belief. Constantine did not create the church Jesus did. Catholics are not forebiden to read the bible, but from my experience of being from a heavily Catholic family, they seldom ever read their bibles I know I didn't my family didn't and we went to church ever week. Last I want to respond to your last words The Catholic church is not Christ's church. Christ's church is the individuals that make up the body of believers. Christ's church does not have a name.
2007-09-07 13:45:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
I have respect for many aspects of the Catholic Church. But what about some things, like the teaching that Muslims who don't know Christ are saved??
Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 16, November 21, 1964: “…The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day…”
That's so far from the true Gospel teachings...
2007-09-07 13:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Wow! 32 solutions earlier me and not ONE man or woman presented an occasion! maximum individuals look the two incapable of *reading* the question, or incapable of *know-how* what a straw guy argument is (even once you defined it!). A straw guy argument isn't purely a susceptible argument (like "why does not God heal amputees?"). A straw guy argument is once you intentionally misrepresent your *opponent's* argument, as a manner to make it much less complicated to refute. (I.e. you build a "straw guy" effigy that particularly resembles your opponent's place, in order that which you have some thing it fairly is basic to burn.) In different words, it extremely is refuting some thing your opponent under no circumstances pronounced. As a Catholic (no longer an atheist) i won't be in a position to think of of an occasion utilized via an atheist, via fact as much as now as i'm able to tell, they do no longer use straw guy arguments. yet purely for occasion what a straw guy argument sounds like, Creationists supply an adequate source of examples. indexed under are 3: a million. "If human beings developed from monkeys, then why are they nonetheless here?" this could be a straw guy argument via fact no scientist says that we "developed from" the comparable monkeys that are "nonetheless here." 2. "How does X, prepare evolution?" (the place X is somebody piece of info, like the ninety 8% DNA commonality between human beings and chimps, or Lucy's kneecap, or the human appendix). this could be a straw guy argument via fact scientists do no longer communicate approximately "info" they communicate approximately *info*. 3. "there is not any way that organic danger could produce a strand of human DNA." this could be a straw guy argument via fact no scientist *claims* that organic danger produced human DNA ... evolution is organic decision, which isn't danger. Is it conceivable that the reason Creationists won't be in a position to locate equivalent examples for atheists (or evolution-supporters ... which isn't the comparable factor) ... via fact atheists (and evolution-supporters) do no longer USE straw guy arguments? (Is that your factor?)
2016-10-04 04:23:55 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definition of 5/8 catholic ..inherited nice person live life by the 10 commandments ...have no serious issues with other religions ...whatever its the one god isn't it ..go to church when and if I want to ...read the bible if I want to ...love mother earth ... respect the saints because they were nice people ... sometimes have issues with the pope .. he is just mouth of god and he is up for an argument ... kill no person ..to get to heaven and pray to dead people ...come on for goodness sake have my deities ..is Allah alive and well does this make me a bad person think not ..have other beliefs but there you go...don't need to defend my faith
2007-09-07 22:51:48 · answer #5 · answered by bobonumpty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics pray for the dead especially in the month of November know as the month of the holy souls. Prayers benefit the ones who have passed on.
Catholics don't worship Mary they sometimes ask her to intercede for them just like asking her to pray along with them.
Catholics are Christians.
2007-09-07 14:22:27 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Are you claiming, as it certainly appears, that the Catholic Church is not Christian? Or that Christians are not in the Catholic Church?
Just really, really curious.
Oh, and apostasy is still apostasy.
2007-09-07 13:36:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It may or may not be bearing false witness against catholics, but not christ's church. No modern religions in existence today that claim that they are based on the bible and/or christian doctrines follow the teachings of Jesus.
2007-09-07 13:44:59 · answer #8 · answered by single eye 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Got no patience with all this - religion has always been controversial and the cause of so much suffering. Organised religion church temple mosque etc all seem to foster difference and despair - I believe in us(you and me)and in how we behave one to another, If we use our lives well and in consideration of others we are the temples of our own souls but if we act against decency and love then we are building our own places of purgatory and that is it! Live wisely and well and be healthy and happy
Dot
2007-09-07 14:35:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I was born and raised Catholic. The baptism at Holy Family Church in Parkdale, the taking of a Saints name, high mass, confession, the holy communions, and the sacrament of confirmation. I still have my first communion papers from May of 1962, my Catholic Certificate of Baptism, from Holy Family dated November 7, 1954, confirmation certificate from Bishop Harrington from April 1970.
As far as I'm concerned they mean nothing but sentimental values.
The priests and church could not answer my questions well enough. I left. I went to find the truth and I did find it and " I ", decided that I would be baptized as an adult, so I'm an "Anna baptist", but in August of 83 this man went searching for wisdom, and I found her, She led me to Christ who knows me now, and He stands for me at God's feet.
When I criticize the Catholicism, it comes from a critique that is based in knowledge and intelligence. But I do know that my denomination is no more perfect. We all have our faults, there are Christians in every denomination, the Christians are the true church, not any specific denomination.
I find the Catholic church arrogant in claiming to be the only "true church". The true church is the church of Jesus the Christ and He know all his lambs, in all the lands, in every denomination. HE knows us by our names!
2007-09-07 13:51:57 · answer #10 · answered by the old dog 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋