Catholics: Whats the point?

Question

Why post questions like the one linked below? Do questions like this support Christian unity? You wonder why people hate Catholics and then you go and try to prove you are better than everyone else. Why? Do you think it makes Jesus happy?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar3DFPraDcBNNC_nEciezfrsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071103095616AAboU74&show=7#profile-info-dd4f9e5a3968b1188fede3fa4b3e51b5aa

I just don't see the point in attacking fellow Christians or trying to show you are better than them.

tur b - You don't think that question targeted Protestants? I do. I do not hate Catholics and I avoid attacking you. I would like the same respect. A war of mud slinging helps no one.

tur b - read my questions I do not attack Catholics. I do not call you non-Christian. Yes some Protestants do but that is no excuse for Catholics to attack back. It is wrong when any Christian attacks another.

Sapere Aude - When protestantism first came about it was the Catholic church that did the persecuting. As to your 500 year comment it is ridiculous. Jesus founded a church not a denomination. He did not create the Roman Catholic church. He created a church. A church comprised of all believers.

free2getready - I don't know who you have me confused with. I have questioned Catholic tradition but always in a polite manner. I have never slung mud at the Catholic church.

Answer 1

Edge, believe it or not, you -- and others like you, who at least acknowledge Catholics as Christians -- can be much more effective than us, at this point, in reducing this sort of backlash.

When your bigoted brethren continually spout that we are a "cult", "unsaved", following the "whore of Babylon" (you know the drill), Catholics have two choices: To defend against this garbage, or remain silent and allow it to proliferate.

We are between a rock and a hard place with either alternative. If we get passionate about the defense, we're considered surly or brainwashed or worse. If we are silent, then it's "see, they can't answer this because it's the truth".

Please know that frustration with this sort of thing (which is also something I am certain would not please Jesus) is behind most of our less-than-charitable posts. I include some of my own in this.

I know that "two wrongs don't make a right". But if we didn't have to keep fending off the bigots, we'd certainly be more available (and amenable) to discussing doctrinal differences with our brothers in a respectful way. You have no idea how much we would dearly love to do so.

Answer 2

Edge,

The point is that The Raven is right. The *only* disagreement he and I have on this matter is whether sacramental Protestantism was really an innovation (as I'm guessing he would say), or the outcome of a belief system that had existed in tension with mainstream Catholicism all along.

The Raven has done nothing more than to point out the great flaw of the Calvinist, Wesleyan, and Mennonite branches of Protestantism. Are you saying it is wrong for him to do so?

I think it really comes down to a question of whether people are allowed to point out differences of belief, or whether we may only point out commonalities of belief. If you say the latter, then what you're advocating is Christian liberalism, which is rapidly losing its identity as it discards one belief after another in an effort to identify only what people have in common.

I wonder if this is what Jesus was talking about when He said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household."

Answer 3

Well, I think what that person meant was that he was calling all Christians to re-examine their belief systems, and re-look at the Catholic faith. (I assume he meant the Catholic faith.) I, too, would like to see the uniting of our Christian brethren back to the Mother, our Church. It would be a great thing if it were to happen, after all many of the arguments are so old, and were long ago resolved, but heretics continue to drive wedges between us.

Then again, edge. Maybe it's a test for you.

Answer 4

It's okay to question another Christian's beliefs. That called dialog and it helps us understand each other. What we need to refrain from is personal attacks, name calling, appearing that we're better than others, or telling them that they're going to hell.

As a Catholic I come across many, many Protestants who tell me that Catholics are not Christians, and that we're all hopelessly doomed.

When we die and appear before God, we will not be questioned on where we went to church. God won't care about how well trained we are in theology, or how many Bible verses we set to memory. What will matter will be our hearts own desire for God and the results of that love.

Answer 5

edge, you should know that we are not attacking you. why do you take offense? so many anti-Catholics have spread so many unjust things about Catholics, so why just highlight what Catholics do? it is not fair. at least Catholics don't say that you're not a Christian and that we are the only ones who are saved.

edit: problem is, you're just one of the few among Protestants who try to avoid targeting the Catholics (at least you are trying according to you). if only Protestants would stop targeting the Catholics, then Catholics wouldn't be forced to point out anything that Protestants do.

I am talking about the majority of the Protestants. Bible-fundamentalists to be precise.

Answer 6

The problem with your sentence there is "fellow Christians." I know that Catholics are Christians, you obviously know that Catholics are Christians, and that puts us in a serious minority. All two of us need to hold R&S's first Ecumenical Council.

Catholics are routinely attacked in this Forum and told that we're not "real Christians." People who claim the Name of Christ spew their hatred of us without any thought to how Jesus might feel about it. Then they turn around and accuse us of not supporting 'Christian unity' because we hold true to our Church and its teachings or show any pride in our Faith. To me, that's a case of "Sit down, and I'll shoot you. Stand up, and I'll shoot you. Lay down, and I'm still going to shoot you."

Maybe a question like the one you pointed out isn't the best way to build bridges between Catholics and Protestants. But there are times when we Catholics get very tired of the abuse heaped on us by those who deny our Christianity and yet expect us to treat them with Christian love.

Answer 7

i notice you're rather new to the board but questions like this try to get those who constantly bash the Rcc to stop and think. there are SO many people on this board who blatantly lie about the Rcc it's pathetic. gracious just wait - there are those who even posted thinking that the book the davinci code was real LOL it's truly pathetic. instead of coming to listen and learn from one another people do nothing but lie to make themselves look better.
so again, the point - trying to help people understand so they can stop speaking mistruths which also hurt our dear Lord.

Answer 8

I don't see the point in attacking ANYBODY. "Fellow Christians"? Hmmmmmm. Aren't we ALL sisters and brothers who are on this earth to love each other? I think we are. Unity is a fabulous virtue to remember!

Namaste!

Answer 9

And all of this back and forth arguing isn't getting ANYONE any closer to HIM either!

I personally don't understand why its important to anyone that they "know" what religion anybody is.

If you believe in God isn't that what people who believe in God want for others is to believe in Him too. OK then how simple is that for all who believe to understand?

Faith is faith, God is God.........it doesn't matter how you got to Him it's just that you did. Or am I wrong?

Answer 10

you are one of the biggest mud slinger in here, I for one am tired of reading your opinion that the catholic church is a cult. Jim Jones had a cult, not Jesus christ.