I know several Catholics, in fact I married into a very large family of Catholics, but I have noticed very few of them follow the 10 commandments, in fact they have down right disgraced them. Do you think this is just coincidence that they don't practice what they preach? Or do you think it just gets noticed more because they are usually a very strict religion?
2007-12-23 15:11:32 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't mean to say that other religions do not break the rules. I am just asking, as someone who is constantly questioning faith. Why are you able to break the 10 biggest rules, and then ask for forgiveness and then everything will be fine? Why have the commandments to begin with?
2007-12-23 15:31:14 · update #1
a demonstration of DOUBLE STANDARDism.
thanks for your interesting question. Here's another interesting one:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20071222015103AAJPZCE
2007-12-23 17:36:43 · answer #1 · answered by Bob V 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic family members you speak of didn't make any rules.
Catholicism is a journey. The rules are there to show us where we can go -- the "gold standard" of living the Christian life. I don't know anybody who succeeds 100%, but wherever you are on the journey is a good place to be, so long as you are constantly moving closer to Christ.
I don't happen to know your family members or why you judge them to be "disgracing" the 10 commandments -- are they murdering and stealing and sleeping around and worshiping the devil or something? I suppose that must mean they have a longer path to walk than you do, but then you must be merciful with them and help them along on their journey instead of being harsh with them (see Galations 6:1-2).
As for breaking the rules and going to confession, EVERYBODY breaks rules -- nobody's perfect. At least we Catholics have a way of going to confession and getting help in overcoming our sins. It doesn't mean "everything is fine" -- it means we have a road map to get back on track and MAKE things fine in the future.
Having been an evangelical before I converted, I do not find Catholicism to be MORE strict. Rather less so, and now I have more assistance in learning the rules and adapting my life to be within those rules. Evangelical protestants are often left on their own, to interpret the Bible with little education or training or background understanding, and one feels much like one is in danger of flopping about willy nilly without any help at all. I prefer the Catholic way. It's simultaneously more merciful and more supportive on one's journey to Christ.
2007-12-26 05:40:40 · answer #2 · answered by sparki777 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if they were strict, then they would not have a problem practicing what they preached. But we have got to remember that it is easier to tell somebody what they need to do, than to do it ourselves. I am not Catholic, but this practice is generally
widespread. Most all types of religions follow this trend. That is one main reason why the serious christian has a hard time converting a lost soul, because most of them are living a life similiar to the one who professess that they love the Lord. That will always be like that, but don't let that detour you from your obligation to serve God with everything that is in you.
2007-12-23 15:37:56 · answer #3 · answered by acts238 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Catholic who goes to a different church now. But I caught your question, and felt like I had to answer. I don't know about your family (in-laws) but speaking for myself, I would like to respond. You know, people look at Christians & think that we should all be perfect---or close to it. But, actually we're not. We are human beings just like everyone else, and we have a hard time making it thru this old life. We have financial problems. Marital problems. Kid problems. Job problems. You name it---we are not a cut above everybody else. We have the same temptations (some people say more, because Satan wants us back), as anybody else. We have the same heartaches, the same down-days. We are no different than anybody else---EXCEPT that we have God who will lead us down the path, if we let Him. Thats the hard part---if we let Him. Because we are just people who tend to like to do things our own way, we get into trouble sometimes. Our ways are NOT Gods ways---and they never will be. So, it's a learning process. And some of us take longer to learn than others. but all God asks of us is that we TRY. Sooner or later, we'll get it.
2007-12-23 16:05:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your premise is wrong so your conclusion is wrong. Not all Catholics break the 10 commandments. Protestants break the 10 commandments too. My father was a Protestant minister and he was an adulterer.
Fact: The Catholic Church has more saints than all Christian denominations.
2007-12-23 16:15:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Church teaches that the two Sacred Scripture and Sacred custom make up the fullness of Divine Revelation, a concept which could be discovered interior the Bible itself in 2 Thessalonians 2:15. the two not in any respect contradict one yet another, yet somewhat one complements and validates the different. Christ generic the Church and the authority of the papacy in Matthew sixteen:17-19, and He promised that the Holy Spirit may well be with the Church till the tip of time. in case you have extra questions, please be at liberty to e mail me. God Bless!
2016-12-11 12:00:34 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do Protestants and basically any other Christian doesn't follow rules? It's not only Catholics, it's people of all denominations who like to pick the rules they want to follow. It's human nature. It's not a strict faith at all. Compare it to what LDS, Jehovah's witnesses, Pentecostals, and Seventh day adventists follow, they have stricter rules than Catholicism.
2007-12-23 15:16:49 · answer #7 · answered by cynical 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well it is not like Protestant Christians are without fault anyways. Most Catholics today are sadly Cafeteria Catholics. Ones who support abortion and gay rights, watch the Da Vinci Code, and believe in everything the liberals tell them. However there are traditionalist catholics like me who believe in the old doctrine and do not back down.
2007-12-23 15:24:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we are weak as humans , and we cant follow The Ten Commandments , catholics are given a very easy law to obey and that is to love thy neighbor.
2007-12-23 15:21:11 · answer #9 · answered by nattienes 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now really. Who do you know that affiliates in any religious ritual who follows the rules as mandated by the tenants of their religion. I know of no one who does. Sometimes I don't even practice what I preach, but seldom.
2007-12-23 15:19:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it happens as often with Protestants as it does with Catholics. Humans in general have a problem with following their own rules.
2007-12-23 15:17:43 · answer #11 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋