A problem with these forums

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Mango,

I’m sorry that you have experienced this on the forum. I have noticed some of it too, and even some of the titles seem to me to be unnecessarily provocative (“Protestant, where do you get your authority”—things in that vein). However, as someone has already said, you’re going to get uncharitable jerks no matter what their religious affiliation (trust me, I have seen nothing on this list that compares to the vitriol that was hurled at me on a Baptist site—I think because the moderators here would not allow such venom). It’s too bad—it’s not as if they are going to convince anyone of their position when it is delivered uncharitably—probably quite the opposite. I have noticed certain individuals pop up repeatedly in this regard, and I have gotten to the point where I simply skim past their posts without reading. But, as a Catholic, you have my apologies and you have my scorn for those Catholics who would act that way.
 
I just wanted to say thanks to all those who replied for their comments. It means a lot to me. You Roman Catholics aren’t half bad! 😉 🙂 👍

And, I just want to reiterate…I understand that you don’t agree with us (Protestants), and that’s fine. I’m hear to learn, and I have learned greatly thus far. I hope that the Roman Catholics on these boards can learn from us non-Roman Catholics as well!

Now lets all hold hands and sing Kumbaya! :dancing:

~mango~
 
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mango_2003:
Now lets all hold hands and sing Kumbaya! :dancing:

~mango~
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I read that that was Karl Keatings favorite song.
 
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Katholikos:
I am a former Southern Baptist, agnostic, atheist. For years, I was taught bull-oney in my Sunday School class and from the pulpit about the Catholic Church and the Bible. I know it’s still going on, because I attended a Protestant funeral recently and out of courtesy for the deceased, I had to sit quietly and listen to the preacher bash the Church I love. You’ll never hear a Protestant church mentioned in the Catholic Mass. But listen to Protestant programs on the radio or TV – Catholic bashing is the name of the game.

All Protestant churches were founded by men – we know the names of the men and the dates they started their organization from the historical record. They understand that each of them arrived at their beliefs because of their personal interpretation of the Bible (or their pastor’s interpretation). They dialog (or argue) as equals. That’s not the case when one dialogs with an Catholic who knows his Faith. You’re bound to be offended when a Catholic tells you that he’s right, because that means you’re wrong.

The Catholic Church is God’s own Church. It was founded by God Himself, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. There is a certain feeling – call it an attitude – that one gets from knowing that the doctrines of the Church come not from reading a book and trying to figure out what it means, but from the lips of the Apostles who sat at the feet of Jesus for three years while he taught them what they needed to know. And the Apostles in turn taught the Church what she needed to know before, while, and after the NT was being written. The Catholic Church wrote the New Testament. So we don’t dialog on religious questions as equals. That doesn’t make me personally superior to Protestants – but it certainly puts my beliefs on a higher level, since they come from the Holy Apostles themselves.

I find it very irritating when Protestants try to tell me what I believe, and they haven’t a clue. So this complaining cuts both ways, my friend.
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(edited for space)

I cannot imagine what you could disagree with in this post; however you are entitled to your opinion, mango.

In all honesty, having visited my share of protestant “Christian” forums, I must say that your complaint of this site sounds like so much whining.

I’m sorry if you disagree with Catholic Church teaching, Catholic history, or the way it is presented on this forum. It is sometimes presented with boldness, but I’ve not seen protestant beliefs “attacked.” I’m sure no one here has called your church a “whore,” accused you of “idolatry,” twisted your beliefs into vulgar little cliches such as turning “purgatory” into “puke-atory,” or the Eucharist into “the god cookie,” just to name a few.

A great amount of charity is displayed on this forum, as well as information and education. I’m here to learn more about my Catholic Faith, but also to correct false ideas about our beliefs. I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings, yet at the same time, I didn’t come here to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. For me, it isn’t about getting the warm fuzzies.

I enjoy the intellectual stimulation. The more history, Bible quotes, writings of the ECFs, etc., the better! I tend to leave the emotional aspect out of the equation, though I don’t intend to be rude or hurtful.

If you think any of us are rough on our separated brethren, you should just see how adamant we are in defending or criticizing within our own ranks! 😉

Pax Christi. <><
 
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mango_2003:
All I’m saying is to think twice before hitting the “Submit Reply” button.
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A perfectly reasonable request; and when we are thinking twice, we should take our emotional state into account because we may need to think thrice!
 
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theMutant:
… we should take our emotional state into account because we may need to think thrice!
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Our emotional state? In matters of the Faith, I generally rely upon reason, not emotion. 🙂

Pax Christi. <><
 
It is always possible to disgree agreeably. I grant you that some of the differences in theology between Catholics and Protestants are enormous; and also that they are truly important, vital matters. That does NOT mean we can treat the “other side” with scorn. I too have been subjected to astonishing venom on “Christian” boards when I reveal that I am a devout and happy Catholic: let us not do the same here to our Protestant brothers and sisters, or Wiccans, or Zen Buddhist, or whatever.

As one poster already said, They will know we are Christians be how we love each other, NOT by how many nasty comments we can make or how many apologetical “zingers” we can score.

As a convert to this Faith, I assure you that I was not led to Truth by being insulted, ridiculed, or lectured to: I was led to the Truth by having my questions answered in a respectful way, and by being LOVED. 👍
 
I’ve gotten some feedback from some of my posts where I apparently sounded a little less than charitable and for that I am sorry.

I am here to defend my faith because I am so frusturated with the fact that Catholic-bashing seems to be generally acceptable (not on these forums so much as with the media and in some churches that might teach anti-Catholicism from the pulpit). “The last acceptable prejudice”…

I’ve also read on several of these posts where a non-Catholic questions a Catholic belief, gets an answer, and then ignores the answer and re-states the question. :banghead: That’s enough to try anybody’s patience. But, I guess what I should do then is pray for more patience. OK, I’ll try. :gopray:

I have visited carm.org (talk about frusturating!!) and their moderators are among the worst for talking down to anybody who questions their beliefs. They are arrogant and biased. They even start their own Catholic-bashing threads. The moderators do this. I couldn’t believe it. I said as much as was immediately banned. I still sleep very well at night, though. And I’m very glad that these forums (I consider them my “home forums”) don’t stoop to that level.

Mango, I’m sorry you’ve been made to feel this way. I hope you stay for the good and ignore the bad. We are all sinners who have to start over again and again because we’ve screwed up one way or another. 🙂
 
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mango_2003:
As to what you said in that post…you missed the point entirely. I know what you said is what you believe…the thing is, I don’t. It is complete truth to you, but an error to me. These disagreements happen and that’s fine, but when one comes with an attitude of spiritual haughtiness, no learning and /or growth can come.
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Forgive me if I am misunderstanding here, but it seems like you are speaking about disagreements of doctrine, such as praying for the dead, while Katholikos was speaking about people who have a false idea of what Catholics believe, such as worshipping Mary. In the first case, both parties understand the proper belief of the other party but don’t agree, while in the second case one party persists in attributing an untrue (as in not held) belief to the other party.

I do have to agree with Katholikos, it’s very frustrating when the person you are talking with doesn’t properly understand what you believe, let alone agree with you.

Peace
 
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chemcatholic:
…I do have to agree with Katholikos, it’s very frustrating when the person you are talking with doesn’t properly understand what you believe, let alone agree with you.

Peace
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Yes, and if you’d like to see an example of this as it unfolds, jump over to the Apologetics forums and look under “Need an explanation please …the rosary”. You will see how Jesusthesavior and Jesusistheway pose questions and then ignore the answers. Their ignorance of the Catholic faith is quite evident, yet they are not here to learn. 😦 They are here to criticize.
 
Panis Angelicas:
Our emotional state? In matters of the Faith, I generally rely upon reason, not emotion. 🙂
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As do I, but that does not mean that I do not get frustrated or upset when in the midst of debate (especially when I think I’ve made a really good point that’s being ignored). This is why I made my suggestion to check your posts thrice before hitting the submit button; to ensure that what you are posting is based on reason and not on emotions.
 
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mango_2003:
As to what you said in that post…you missed the point entirely. I know what you said is what you believe…the thing is, I don’t. It is complete truth to you, but an error to me. These disagreements happen and that’s fine, but when one comes with an attitude of spiritual haughtiness, no learning and /or growth can come.

All I’m saying is to think twice before hitting the “Submit Reply” button. ~mango~
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No, Mango, what you’re saying is that your private interpretation of the Scritures (only part of the Scriptures, at that) is superior to the teaching of the Catholic Church that was founded by Christ and instructed in her doctrines and practices by the Apostles. You want us to know that the teaching of the Church is “an error” and that you don’t believe it.

You’re not expected to believe it. But you reject it out of hand, which prompts me to ask, what do you want here? Are you hear to learn what the Catholic Church teaches, or are you here to tell us that we’re wrong? You consistently do that, Mango – you tell us that we’re wrong. And then you complain because we’re not all warm and fuzzy toward you. Go figure.

Peace be to you and to all who post at Catholic Answers, Jay
 
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Katholikos:
No, Mango, what you’re saying is that your private interpretation of the Scritures (only part of the Scriptures, at that) is superior to the teaching of the Catholic Church that was founded by Christ and instructed in her doctrines and practices by the Apostles. You want us to know that the teaching of the Church is “an error” and that you don’t believe it.
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It has nothing to do with superiority, and that is the root of the problem. My studies have nothing to do with me. I want to study Him and His teachings more. That’s why I’m here. To see why the RCC teaches what it does. I don’t care about you knowing that I believe some teaching of the RCC aren’t correct. That doesn’t matter to me…however, I cannot lie about what I think/feel. I just try to go about it tactfully.
You’re not expected to believe it. But you reject it out of hand, which prompts me to ask, what do you want here? Are you hear to learn what the Catholic Church teaches, or are you here to tell us that we’re wrong? You consistently do that, Mango – you tell us that we’re wrong. And then you complain because we’re not all warm and fuzzy toward you. Go figure.
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No. You’re reading WAY to much into things. Honestly, how many of my 100+ posts have you actually read? I am not consistently saying that the RCC is wrong. Most of my posts here have been honest questions about why the RCC does some of the things that it does and how things work (Liturgy and otherwise). You don’t have to be warm and fuzzy to me…if that’s how it has to be, sobeit. I was simply posting a concern…and it is extremely sad and disappointing to me to see the negative turn this thread has taken.
Peace be to you and to all who post at Catholic Answers, Jay
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And also with you.

~mango~
 
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mango_2003:
In general, I’ve liked these forums. However, I am beginning to grow weary of how many Roman Catholics treat and talk about us Protestants. I’m really tired of hearing us “talked down to” and being talked about like we’re second rate people/Christians.

I do realize that these sentiments are not of all, but of some…and it’s sad.

~mango~
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A New Church Minister once said to me. “You learn to be better than yourself,not better than others.” This goes for Christians in different churches that they mustn’t think they’re better than people of different Christian churches outside their own. The New Church’s doctrines are base on the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. I join this church in the year 1968,two years after studying Swedenborg’s writing.Before that I was a Catholic. I change churches because of truth,not anger and hate,but our of truth.

Harry
 
I know in my experince the heated debates at Catholic Answers are *nothing *compared to the horrible attacks I have recieved, at “nondenomiational” sites, motivatied by prejudice and hatred toward the Catholic Church. Please remember what Catholics are up against, that we dearly love the Sacred Tradition and Scripture and bravely aim keep it intact and protected. Try being called the Whore of Babylon, and called a pagan
 
Mango,

I always enjoy your comments and posts. Don’t confuse the people who represent the truth with The Truth. If I based my decision to become Catholic (prev. Mormon, Lutheran, and Church of Christ-er) on if I found Catholics to be good christians I’d be in big trouble.

Instead, I have decided to never again let people get between me and God. Now I’m free to “love’em where they’re at”.

You have something to teach us, I’m sure of that. Please hang with us in this great journey.

Faithfully yours,
 
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SpiritualSon:
The New Church’s doctrines are base on the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. I join this church in the year 1968,two years after studying Swedenborg’s writing.Before that I was a Catholic. I change churches because of truth,not anger and hate,but our of truth.

Harry
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And, of course, Swedenborg’s teaching was straight from the mouth of God – as are all the thousands of other “truths” floating around in Protestantland.😛

To follow Swedenborg (or Wesley or Calvin or whomever) is to believe that there is no Capital T Truth. Protestantism is a test where the answers to the hard questions of life and truth are multiple guess.

I won’t base my eternal life on the teachings of any man. There are only two religions that are God-made: Judaism and Catholicism.

Blessed Father Damien, Pray for us! Jay
 
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and a man’s foes will be those of his own household.”
Matt. 10:34-36

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Heb. 4:12

"Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man!”
Luke 6:22
 
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