i am sincerely asking this question with no offense please. i find it difficult to have a religious debate with catholic people. most cant back up reasons they believe certain things that aren't bible based. i find some catholics i've talked with quite closed minded about even discussing things saying "thats just the way it is" and end the conversation. my question is: when you are young in catholic church classes, do they scare you in some sort of way as to think there is no salvation outside of that church no matter what you do?
2007-09-17 00:30:13 · 15 answers · asked by snowi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yeah, I was raised in the Catholic church and went to Catholic church school and was an altar boy. In those days we were taught that only Catholics can go to heaven. Everybody else was out of luck regardless of how they lived, what they did or refrained from doing. That was in the 1960s though. I don't know if they teach that anymore.
As for discussing the bible with Catholics -- they don't read the bible. At least they didn't when I was Catholic. I went to Catholic church and school as I've said and I never saw a bible. They read excerpts from the bible in the mass from their prayer book but in all the years I was a Catholic I never saw an actual bible.
2007-09-17 00:37:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was baptised and raised a Catholic - quite an ordeal in the north of Scotland, let me tell you - but I no longer profess any religion or have a belief in God.
The fire and brimstone approach to catechism (teaching children the basics of the Catholic faith) hasn't been used for years now. I remember my catechism classes as being full of often lively debate.
I think most Catholics close down on these discussions because they become fed up with being lectured about how their beliefs are non-biblical and simply disengage because they know how pointless those discussions often are with more fundamentalist Christians who use only the bible as their reference point.
The older generation of Catholics - my parents and grandparents, for example - certainly did get the fire and brimstone treatment from the parish priest and the nuns but these days things are quite different.
I think you also need to remember that most Catholics also practice their religion without often understanding where the teachings and practices (transubstantiation, for instance) may have come from and can't enter a more theological or exegetical discussion about their faith. In that sense they're not much different from your average Anglican, Episoopalian or Methodist. The Church teaches it, so that's the way it is and off they go.
2007-09-17 00:38:56 · answer #2 · answered by chris m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you mean and this is common among many faiths and just like other faiths not all Catholics are like this. Some of the wisest and most open minded people I've encountered were members of the clergy. A member of the clergy once told me "I will not try to force my beliefs on others as they are my own and can't be proven.". Catholics are a very diverse group of people. Just don't get into debates with the hardlined and unreceptive dogmatics.
2007-09-17 00:40:47 · answer #3 · answered by Yahoo Sucks 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I answer with due respect to Catholics. I owe Saint Vincent De Paul a huge gratitude and my children have been educated in Catholic Schools, BUT... you must remember the origins of the catholic church.
It is a church that has developed in largely underprivileged societies (cause or effect ... argue that over a glass of altar wine). It has been used to being able to preach in latin to the uneducated and have them assume the priest is right.
This Church has more challenges than any other to cope with the idea that its people are now educated and capable of questioning authority. It's ironic because the whole idea of the Catholic Education System was to bring education to underprivileged children.
So, in summary, I think you're right. I hope not for long.
2007-09-17 00:42:56 · answer #4 · answered by Quandary 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well when I was in catholic school for twelve years they did not really use scare tactics about salvation; although I will admit I never really paid any attention in religion class nor did I pay any attention in church that they marched us into on the first Friday of each month. I was told that we did have to confess and a few times I had forgotten to go to confession and the priest got upset that I forgot when I went to my last confession.
Anyway just wanted to share that with you. No they did not use scare tactic on me; but they did say to me that's just the way it is or gods will or it is part of god's plan; never any real answers, just cop-out ones.
2007-09-17 00:37:37 · answer #5 · answered by Imagine No Religion 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really must have a bad view of catholics because that was never mentioned ever. Why would they scare people? How could they scare them? If people tried to scare me when I was little I simply wouldn't believe them.
I was brought up catholic but no longer am one.
I think your question covers many faiths as most will tell you that salvation is only available through their religion, and only they have the one true god.
2007-09-17 00:39:24 · answer #6 · answered by Stiffler 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I never experienced the scare tactics which you talk about. I discovered the truth that this is the Church founded by Jesus Christ on my own.
"There has always been sin, suffering and injustice in the Catholic Church, yet it continues to thrive after 2000 years. There has also always been saintliness and scholarship in the Church. This is a true sign that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are with the Church, as Jesus promised."
2007-09-17 00:49:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many Catholics- especially cradle Catholics- know WHAT they believe, but not why.
It's the same as asking an average American to explain a bicameral legicslature or checks and balances.
No, there is no coercion involved...just ignorance.
You would be surprised to learn that many things that appear to have no basis in scripture are, indeed, quite biblical!
If you like, feel free to contact me. I have been called an 'unusual' Catholic by protestants who ask me quesitons....and sometimes my pastor asks ME about how things are supposed to go. I call it JOB SECURITY!
2007-09-18 07:53:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mommy_to_seven 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll debate you and back up all Catholic teaching with Scripture or logical reasoning, if you really want to. Just post your issues one at a time on Y!A and you'll get responses not just from me but from other Catholics who know their way around the Bible.
2007-09-17 10:46:58 · answer #9 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"That's just the way it is" is a fine answer.
God is Reality, the Ultimate Reality. So why not treat God's Will as "the Way (it is)"? Before Saint Ignatius coined the term "Catholic (meaning 'universal')", the Church was known as the Way.
Why? Because that's the Way it is.
2007-09-17 04:06:46 · answer #10 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋