Once again, I have read numerous posts saying what "Christians" believe and don't believe, and most of them by protestants (who somehow think the name "Christian" is theirs alone). My questions is: How can you say what Christians believe? Here are some simple facts:
The total number of Christians in the world is: 2.1 billion. This is how it breaks down:
1) Catholics: 1.4 billion
2) Eastern Orthodox: 0.3 billion
3) Protestansts (Baptists, Lutherans, etc. etc): 0.4 billion
In light of these statistics, how can a group that represents about 21% percent of Christians say what Christians believe? And, more than that, among themselves they argue endlessly because that 21% is divided into hundreds of "denominations" who all disagree on doctrines. Yet they claim that the Holy Spirit guides them when they read the Scriptures as they argue. The arrogance is stupifying. Again, I really would like to hear someone try to answer this question.
2007-10-09 06:55:08 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An Appendix:
Together the pope and the bishops form the teaching authority of the Church, which is called the magisterium (from the Latin for "teacher"). The magisterium, guided and protected from error by the Holy Spirit, gives us certainty in matters of doctrine. The Church is the custodian of the Bible and faithfully and accurately proclaims its message, a task which God has empowered it to do.
Keep in mind that the Church came before the New Testament, not the New Testament before the Church. Divinely-inspired members of the Church wrote the books of the New Testament, just as divinely-inspired writers had written the Old Testament, and the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit to guard and interpret the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments.
Such an official interpreter is absolutely necessary if we are to understand the Bible properly. (We all know what the Constitution says, but we still need a Supreme Court to interpret what it means.)
2007-10-09 06:56:42 · update #1
Very good points. Remember only His Church the Catholic Church contains the promises and not the man made churches that came 1500+ years later. It seems that they are attempting to usurp the authority that Christ has already given to His Church. That cannot happen but they still persist driven by a unholy zeal for division. Seems like Satan has created another Tower of Babel to divide and conquer in Protestantism. But we as Catholics have His promise to endure and no other.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-S6YMuFYyaa9ESBoW5DFwEjL_HhqA;_ylt=AtHS7U_vmu_59_F4H5EhHYq0AOJ3
2007-10-09 07:10:19 · answer #1 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 5⤊ 5⤋
It seems pretty obvious to me that you must be Catholic. Honestly I've had the some of the same thoughts about the term Christian before. Definitions change as time goes by. During the time shortly after Jesus's Resurrection there were many different terms for the people that believed in him and followed him. Terms such as Christian, Agnostics. etc. After the church separated into Roman and Greek, Catholics still called themselves Christians. I think the terminology of Christian really got taken away from the Catholics when Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church. He started his own Church... although he was ordained a priest, so they are still part of the Catholic Church although not Catholic but Christian. Later as people continued to brake away from the Catholic Church but still believe in Jesus just not all the teachings of the Catholic Church it just became normal for them to call themselves Christians. Most people do not understand the Catholic Church, they have no idea that it was the first Christian church started by Jesus. When I hear someone call themselves Christian I simply think Protestant. It's pretty much the same as the way Libertarians have to call themselves that instead of using the term classical liberal... because the term liberal is so closely related to leftist views instead of a free market society with small government. When all is said and done I come to the conclussion we are all individuals seeing things from completely different points of view. Too often people want to put generalizations on cultures/races/religions. In the bible there is one thing Christians can all agree on and that is that everyone we be judged by God individual for the life that person lead. Before Christians/Catholics/or anyone from any religion says what is true or not true by God they should think of the consequences of misinforming people of what is right or wrong.
2007-10-09 08:23:17 · answer #2 · answered by Ciel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well
Christians do not define who is a Christian..
The Bible is where the term came from and it defines who is and who isn't.
Now if you think that the Catholic church defines it or the Govt defines who is or isn't then that is a term that becomes relative to who uses it..
If I define a Republican as a person that votes Democratic then I can argue with everyone about my definition. But am I right? In my own opinion I am.
The term church came from the New Testament, and they didn't have churches before that, Synagogue, Mosque or some other name Temple. Jesus is the first to say " I will build my church" so you are saying someone else did that..
If you continue on this line of thinking then Webster will have to apologize for their definitions in the dictionary as you will re-define the whole language..
2007-10-09 06:58:25 · answer #3 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There are certain truths in the Bible that Catholics and Christians cannot dispute. Such as the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, etc), the prophecy of the coming of Christ, Jesus here on earth, his death, resurrection and that He will come again.
These facts in are in the Bible, whether it is a Catholic Bible or Christian Bible.
I am not certain what your question means. There are many Protestants, who claim that Christianity is their own and frankly, some Catholics do the same.
However, do not lump me or people that I know (Catholics) into this catagory.
It is possible that the people you see answering the questions are Christians who are not necessarily Catholic. Perhaps more Catholic Answerers are what you are concerned about; that you would like to see more Catholics answer questions here.
Perhaps you would feel better if people would not generalize statements such as "all Christians believe" this or that. If I were a Catholic, I would not like to hear people say "All Catholics believe" because I know it would not be true.
2007-10-09 07:08:57 · answer #4 · answered by autimom 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If a person is only 1 of 2.1 billion Christians, regardless of denomination or doctrinal views, how can any one person speak for a group that large with such vast differences in beliefs? Seems to me that even if you are in the group that represents the 1.4 billion, it is arrogant to be that one person who tries to speak for all Christianity.
In the same light, when I voice my opinion it is my own, not as a Christian, a woman, or any other group or classification I can represent. It is as an individual. So if someone wants to know the opinion of a Christian, as an individual I can voice that without fear that I am representing all Christianity, which is such a loose word these days. I am just representing me.
2007-10-09 07:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by SadieB 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Catholic, and am thankful to have the Bible, the sacraments, the tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church. Nonetheless I am saddened to obseve that less than 20% of Catholics still attend Church. I assume the number of Catholics who read the gospels regularly is around the same. Is not a Protestant who reads and practices the Bible and is sure to worship God every Sunday doing more with their available resources than a Catholic who never reads the Bible, does not go to Church, and seldom or never receives the sacraments?
2007-10-09 07:09:03 · answer #6 · answered by morkie 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
are you SERIOUS? i'm not sure what is more staggering: the sheer arrogance of your 'only catholics can speak for and about christian beliefs' attitude, or the blatant ignorance of your reasoning! take it further...put all 3 groups you mentioned together, and you STILL have a minority of people on this planet...by YOUR reasoning, ALL christians should just shut up about God...bottom line, i am a Christian...and i'm at least smart enough to know that MY church cannot provide salvation-guess what? neither can yours! as i said, i am a Christian, a follower of Christ...and given the choice between following my denomination and my Savior, guess who wins by default???? worship 'the one true church' if you want, follow the 'leadership' of some old feeble and fallible guy in rome, if that makes you happy...i'll follow Christ
2007-10-09 10:09:15 · answer #7 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So you think that only Roman Catholics can say what Christians believe? Talk about arrogant. The Protestant population may have become larger if you Catholics hadn't murdered so many protestants back in the day.
Not even all Catholics believe (or practice) the same things. Birth Control, for example????? I know lots of Catholics who use birth control. Sex before marriage??? Give me a break -- you won't find too many virgins at marriage these days. Divorce, remarriage, etc...
Get off your high horse. What matters is the principles of Christianity -- not the small details. Just because the so-called "true" Baptists believe that alcohol and dancing is a sin, doesn't mean that they don't believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected. THAT's the part that matters!
Just because as a Lutheran, I don't have to go tell some child molesting priest hiding in a dark room all of my sins, does not mean I am not a Christian. I tell God those things, and hHe forgives me. I don't need some human being wearing a funny robe to tell me I am forgiven. Where in the Bible does it say you have to confess to a Priest? It says you should confess to the Lord!
And, what's all this Catholic nonsense about "worshipping" or praying to all of those Saints? We are supposed to pray to God -- not to some intermediary. Catholicism is more closely related to Taoism when it comes to that. They do the same thing -- pray to the "god" of health, family, etc.
Next time think before you spout off against fellow Christians that only you can say what is the truth. Try taking a class in comparative religion, like much of the rest of us have. It may be pretty eye-opening for you!
2007-10-09 07:07:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 5⤋
Very well said. Now, by the exact same logic, you can not claim to speak for christianity either. The Truth is not a democratic process, just because catholics are the majority does NOT mean they are infallibly correct in all matters of faith.
To go back to the original statement, you should also consider that many protestants do not consider catholics to be christians at all. The reasoning seems flimsy to me, but it amounts to them accusing you of idol-worship.
2007-10-09 07:01:04 · answer #9 · answered by juicy_wishun 6 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Because pride goeth before the fall? It seems to me that some of these people are doing just what they reviled the Catholic church for in centuries past: claiming to be the sole source for truth.
2007-10-09 07:24:12 · answer #10 · answered by strplng warrior mom 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why not? Anybody can say or act on what they believe. Even satan can say or act on what he believes. I would think it would be up to you to decide who to listen to in your own discerning of what is right, wrong and leading you where you want to go and become. If you find safety in numbers and a long track record sort of shooting for the type of life you would like, the law of large numbers would say that you are probably reducing your risk from being way out wrong from where you want to be, become, do, and go.
2007-10-09 07:06:23 · answer #11 · answered by dumb 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋