It is surprising to find such ignorance.
It's very easy to judge and point finger when theological history has not been studied and has only been examined in a narrow-minded sense, which is a big part of the problem. The Protestant religions rose out of Catholicism in the 1500's, meaning Catholicism has a much richer and robust history. Many Christians who reject Catholicism as being pagan and whatnot fail to remember this and where the roots of their beliefs stem from. It is the narrow-minded teachings that bring about the kind of discrimination that you see today.
Either way, who is to say one is better than the other. That is a personal choice and I find it small-minded for people to say with such conviction that Catholics are pagan and are not true Christians--that in of itself just attests to the fact that they have been misinformed and have lived a very bigoted existence.
2007-11-05 06:30:43
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Bingo! If they think we are so awful, then they really should not be using the Bible that the RC Church compiled or any of the doctrines that the RC Church developed. How do we feel when they say these things? For my part, I feel very sad. I think it's tragic that some of our Protestant brothers and sisters are so bent on protesting against the faith handed down to us by the Apostles that they are willing to say that we are not Christian when we plainly are, or that we are all condemned to Hell when no one but God has the authority to make that decision.
Mostly, though, I try not to listen after a certain point. The folks that say we are not "real" Christians turn a deaf ear when we explain Catholic theology. As Catholics, we have an obligation to try and help them understand our beliefs, which many of us do on these forums. If they will not listen, then all we can do is pray for them and try not to be goaded into using the same insulting tactics they employ.
2007-11-05 23:07:21
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answer #2
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answered by nardhelain 5
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My frequent answer to this has been that they "bite the hand that fed them", but this is such a thoughtful question that a pithy phrase doesn't quite cut it.
It amazes me, too. And that's coming from someone who spent a number of years in an evangelical Christian environment before converting to Catholicism, so it's not like I've been blindsided. Even the more reasonable folks I knew, who allowed as how perhaps "some" Catholics are genuine Christians, lowered their voices to comment "well, they're *Catholic*, you know", and sober nods and sad head-shakes would ensue. Even when the Church took a stand on some contemporary issue that was completely and totally in agreement with the evangelicals' position, their approval and support was heavily qualified with "well, it's admirable as far as it goes ... but we certainly don't agree with the Catholic Church on X, Y, and Z".
The more openly bigoted fundamentalists, of course, don't bother qualifying their disdain or open hatred for the Church. These are the ones who can't seem to stand the thought of the Bible they hold in their "saved" hands ever passing through tainted "pagan" Catholic ones, and proceed to revise history to suit.
My theory is that the best way for Catholics to answer this is to *know* their faith .... know what the Church teaches, and the Biblical basis for its doctrines ... know what the misconceptions are, and learn how to answer them with the truth. WE need to help each other do this, and not expect our priests and religious and teaching laity to shoulder the entire burden.
It would be nice, too, if those of our Christian brothers and sisters who recognize us as fellow believers could convince their rabidly anti-Catholic brothers to pipe down from time to time. Hatred against a brother is shameful at the very least, and also a sin.
2007-11-05 12:41:39
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I'm an outsider too, and it's amazing.
Chris was presented, as well as other ersatz Christians to give an answer to some of the "false doctrines" that Catholics teach, but was wholly unable to even begin.
I asked a question that from a Biblical perspective noted some of the tenets of Catholicism which protestants usually refuse to follow. NOT ONE of those who claim that Catholicism is false EVEN ATTEMPTED to answer A SINGLE one of these points.
Chris responded with his usual "Catholicism is a cult" crap, but didn't address a single point.
Those protestants who claim Catholicism is a cult have no understanding of what Catholicism is. They speak from bigotry and ignorance. When given a chance to defend their position based on facts, they bark like a dog saying nothing and then run away.
I had hoped a few days ago for a single answer, but none came. I can only conclude that these people don't wish to be troubled by facts.
2007-11-05 06:48:28
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answer #4
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answered by Deirdre H 7
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Most non-Catholic Christian denominations accept Catholics as Christians. A very few do not.
The World Council of Churches which brings together more than 340 churches, denominations and church fellowships in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world, representing some 550 million Christians accepts the 1.1 billion Catholics as Christians. http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/faq-e.html#07
A dictionary would say that a Christian is someone professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
Catholics would fit this definition.
In the Nicene creed, from 325 C.E., Catholics profess:
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are baptized as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
We truly are spiritually "born again," we just don't usually use those words.
For a complete description of what Catholics believe, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/index.htm
With love in Christ.
2007-11-05 17:24:27
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answer #5
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answered by imacatholic2 7
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You know, I always thought I would find negativity and criticism from those who were athiest, agnostic or another religion all together. Surprisingly, yet sadly, I have found the greatest amount of negativity and opposition from my own Christian brothers and sisters. If they choose not to believe what the church teaches, that is their decision, but I always urge them to make sure that what they are criticizing, actually exists. Many times, they hate what they MISTAKENLY believe the Catholic Church, rather than what it truly is. I do not claim to know more about Judiasm than a Jew or about Islam more than a Muslim...so I don't really appreciate or understand why those who are not of the Catholic faith feel so empowered to spread false information.
This is a website that will clear up a lot of the misconceptions. Like I always say, if you aren't going to agree...then that's up to you. Just make sure you are opposing something real rather than just a false image of it.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Fundamentalist_or_Catholic.asp
Peace be with you.
2007-11-05 07:01:13
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answer #6
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answered by WhiteTiger29 2
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Well, what is being shown, here and elsewhere, time and time again is ... catholic-bashers do themselves in!
I thank our non-catholic Christian brothers for pointing out mere FACTS, and the error in those 'others'.
Interestingly, some of 'those' now deny things like the Trinity (because it's not in the bible) ... egad! ... ignore Easter altogether! Simply put, they are 'in error', and need to correct themselves, QUICK!
2007-11-05 15:46:22
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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<> I laugh - because Catholics are Christians. <> Those who carried out the Inquisition, in a morally improper manner, were the "secular" authorities, who may or may not have been Catholic themselves. <> How do you define "true Christians"?
2016-04-02 06:37:23
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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You need to assume Catholics are "unsaved" in order for your question to make any sense at all. You can't make that assumption. No one can. Only the Man Upstairs.
I can't speak for everyone but, rather than concern myself with what some self-righteous internet big-mouth thinks what constitutes a Christian, I concern myself with how God defines a Christian.
Worry less about what people think. Concern yourself more with what God thinks.
2007-11-05 06:44:04
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answer #9
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answered by Daver 7
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I hear you. Thanks for being as observant as you have been.
How do I feel? Tired of it sometimes, or maybe weary is the better word. The critiques are always the same primitive and flawed bigotry, and never seem to become more inventive or intelligent.
How tired I get of it makes it hard to respond sometimes... but then I hate to let people make such statements unchallenged. So I get even wearier of it.
That's just how I feel.
What bothers me is that I am never like this to them... how many times have I posted a compassionate and consoling answer to a troubled (presumably) Protestant Christian? And for my trouble, I'm told I'm an unsaved Baal follower who worships a guy in a fish hat and Mary.
2007-11-05 06:18:18
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answer #10
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answered by evolver 6
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