Anti-Protestant bigotry has become too much here.

[Syele]

I didn’t read all this thread until now because after posting it I unsubscribed from all threads and left CAF for about a month (came and lurked one day and made one post during that time.) So now that someone toped it, I read it all through.

This is a serious accusation. Can you provide any examples of this “putting down”, “rudeness” and “bigotry”? Being uncharitable is against the forum rules and you should report it to the moderators. Unless you tell us who said what that offended you, every Catholic on this forum is tainted by your accusation.

When I started this thread I had had a rough couple of weeks at CAF, one poster said I was obviously a plagiarist cause I couldn’t possibly have bought a $250 book, another implied I was a liar.

I also had the “pleasure” of reading the following quotes (among others):

Protestants ignore the New Testament.

Sort of like invasion of the body snatchers!

Except the Protestants are more creepy.

Let’s call them(Protestant Churches) “Anti-Catholic Social Clubs”.

Of which “Anti-Catholic Social Club” are you a member?

until a person becomes an ACTIVE Protestant. Then it is rather obvious that they are against the Church, which still doesn’t remove them from the Body of Christ, it only makes them an unhealthy CANCER that needs healing.

Another poster told me that my thread need not be kept on topic because I was not Catholic and it’s a Catholic Forum.

then there was other stuff the same week not directed at me, including:

Because baptists like to fancy themselves as some sort of Christian warlocks who are waging a spiritual war against liberals, minorities, children’s book authors, satanic ritual abuse, demons, and idolators.

I reported a couple of the posts, and notified those who were rude to me directly either in the thread they did it in, or in PM before I started this thread. One of them was banned.

I did post in frustration, but I don’t believe my accusation that people had been rude to me was too far off (though I didn’t mean to imply the entire forum was rude to everyone.)

I never expected CAF to be all sweetness and light, I did expect people to be banned for excessive nastiness (and one did).

Anyhow it was all a year ago now and Wampa was only trying to defend me against some of the above quotes, so I don’t see why this was all dug up again.

 

[Enoch]

I don’t get it, why top a year old thread to questions someone who left the forums 4 months ago?

Hi Syele:

Sorry to open a can of worms. I was searching through old threads and read this one. Just made an observation based on my opinion, which I know doesn’t mean much to anybody, nor should it. I can certainly see how based on what you’ve probably seen on these forums you may think most Catholics sit around worried about what the Protestants, Evangelicals, Mormons, JW’s, and Muslims are up to. However, most don’t.

Personally, I couldn’t care less about what the other faiths are doing or how many of them there are. There are enough misinformed and poorly catechized Catholics to keep me busy for 100 lifetimes. Unfortunaely, most of them now try to go by the title of “Former Catholic”. Which is a contradition itself.

Again, this is just my opinion and I’m sure other will not agree, but as Catholics we need to take care of the wooden beam in our own eye before we try to remove the thorns from others. I live in a very liberal diocese that hasn’t even had a bishop for going on two years. Again my apologies.

 

[Lee44]

When I first cam to this forum, Non-Catholic religions was an interesting and fun place to be. I wasn’t here to convert anyone but to clear up misconceptions about protestants and I have always been willing to have my own misconceptions about Catholics cleared up. This used to result in lively interesting conversations that not only helped me learn to defend my faith but spurred on my own study of Scripture. To all of you who were in those conversations (Like Lak and MariaG and the protestants like AllForHim (sorry I didn’t name everyone)), I will miss you guys and for you I won’t delete. I’ll poke in now and then to check PMs.

Lately, it has been none of that. The forum has become, instead, a place for Catholics to put down people who are not Catholic and be rude. Therefore I have no reason to believe there is any point to continuing here while this is the way things are going to be. It is with a sad heart I leave.

Finally someone is speaking the truth, this forum is in attack mode against non Roman Catholics.

 

[Hisalone]

In all honesty this is a Catholic forum run by Catholics for Catholics. I expect it.
what better way than to put a mirror up so they can see themselves as others see them.

 

[bklynbrat]

In all honesty this is a Catholic forum run by Catholics for Catholics. I expect it.
what better way than to put a mirror up so they can see themselves as others see them.

And vice-a-versa Hisalone. Personally I avoid the threads where there’s continual bashing back and forth. Nothing gets accomplished that way.

I come to the Non-Catholic board to see if there are questions asked about Non-Catholic religions that interest me. I want to learn others belief systems & that’s it. If I don’t agree, I don’t agree. I don’t have the audacity as some on these boards do to just constantly tell someone they’re wrong. Blah! Blah! Blah!

Sometimes I feel like I’m back in elementary school when reading some of these posts supposedly written by adults. It’s insane!

People on both sides need to knock their pride down a few notches!

God Bless

 

[ralphinal]

The anti-anti-Catholic rhetoric comes and goes. As a Catholic, it bothers me sometimes. Sometimes, it is not as bad as we read it to be. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. There are anti-Semites, anti-Muslims, anti-CAtholics, anti-Eastern Orthodox, and anti-Protestants on here. There are others as well. The fact is that this represents those who seek to discuss faith. Not all of them do so with good intentions. This thread probably got bounced up again because of the thing where they feature other threads at the bottom of the page. Some may have long since gone cold.

 

[1234]

Don’t leave!

:crying:

Grow a thick skin,

as I have,

and I’m an atheist, for God’s sake!!

 

[mozart-250]

For starters Pope JP called Billy Graham his brother. How clearer can you get. Straight from Peter himself.

Therefore I have concluded that the Anti-Protestants who post here (and you know who they are) are cafeteria Catholics who don’t even believe and follow their own popes. Why should I pay any attention to cafeteria Catholics.

Of course these folks don’t view themselves as cafeteria Catholics. But certainly they are just as much as Catholics for Free Choice.

Also I have observed over time that these cafeteria Catholics inevitably end up getting banned by the mods. It might take a little longer than I would prefer, but it does eventually happen.

 

[O.S.Luke]

I hear you, Syele. The “ignore” function is a nice way to deal with some of it. I have had the distinction of defending Catholics in a community I lived in only to be slighted by them not weeks later.

Resist the urge to piegon hole all Catholics that way; not all Catholics are Protestant-bashers; there are very, very dear people in the Catholic faith who are among the most charitable people I know.

As Thurgood Marshall once said about his fellow black men and women, “We have our stinkers, too.”

 

[rpp]

For starters Pope JP called Billy Graham his brother. How clearer can you get. Straight from Peter himself.

Therefore I have concluded that the Anti-Protestants who post here (and you know who they are) are cafeteria Catholics who don’t even believe and follow their own popes. Why should I pay any attention to cafeteria Catholics.

Of course these folks don’t view themselves as cafeteria Catholics. But certainly they are just as much as Catholics for Free Choice.

Also I have observed over time that these cafeteria Catholics inevitably end up getting banned by the mods. It might take a little longer than I would prefer, but it does eventually happen.

As a Catholic, I agree with you.

We all have our buttons and sometimes people can feel they are so correct and the truth is so obvious that only fools disagree with them. When someone finds him/herself thinking that way, it is time to stop, log off CAF, turn off the computer and go pray, or at least quietly meditate, for a while. The same holds true if you feel the heat rising, especially when people hurl insults.

The Ignore function is a great benefit on this website. I encourage its judicious use.

Do not forget the “Report Problem Post” button in the upper-right corner of every post. It is against forum rules to insult people, make personal attacks, hurl epitaphs, use derogatory terms for groups of people, profanity, and so on. It is not permitted to hijack a thread. It is not permitted to insult any religion. Do not hesitate to report such posts.

Anti-Protestant, Ant-Catholic, Ant-LDS, Ant-Muslim, Anti-JW, Anti-… (you get the idea) language and posts have no place here.

Am I perfect? Have I ever gone too far? Have I made inappropriate remarks? No. Yes. Yes. But I continue to try to do better.

One very helpful thing it to admit when you make a mistake. In my case, doing that has significantly increased my post count!

 

[1234]

As a Catholic, I agree with you.

Do not forget the “Report Problem Post” button in the upper-right corner of every post. It is against forum rules to insult people, make personal attacks, hurl epitaphs, use derogatory terms for groups of people, profanity, and so on. It is not permitted to hijack a thread. It is not permitted to insult any religion. Do not hesitate to report such posts.

All true, but also remember:

it’s a good thing if a forum isn’t too moderated. There’ s another phorum, phatmass.com, that’s heavily moderated. It’s much smaller with many fewer regular posters (except maybe for their new politics section…)

Heavy moderating means fewer ideas. no matter how bad. No matter how many epithets are hurled.

We all need to quit when the steam rising from the keyboard fogs our glasses, and we all need to grow a thick skin.

But heavy moderating isn’t the best way to clear the smoke, IMHO.

 

[Syele]

Don’t leave!

:crying:

Grow a thick skin,

as I have,

and I’m an atheist, for God’s sake!!

Don’t Cry. . I only left for a month, sometimes a break is best.

 

[ralphinal]

I agree. take a break form time to time. I have a couple of times, once for over a year.

If any of you consider me anti-Protestant, I am sorry for giving that indication. If any of you find me hard headed and difficult to deal with, tough. Paul was too. I should be so lucky

 

[Swan]

I’ll be blunt and admit that a big part of why I’m leaving the RC is the holier-than-thou attitude of so many on this forum. I don’t agree with the papal infallability and they’ve convinced me I should leave. I have some very good Catholic friends who think I’m being hasty. But this “total authority, total truth” stuff has put me off to the point that I am investigating the Quakers, who believe in the priesthood of all followers - something I also believe.

Most of the people I know who aren’t Christians are that way because they are so put off by the constant fighting of Christians. And not just today, but throughout history. How many people have suffered because one sect claimed to have a truer truth about the Prince of Peace.

My beliefs are my own and I don’t attempt to foist them on anyone. I work to respect the beliefs of others and I expect and appreciate that same respect. Let’s remember that Jesus embraced the Samaritans, whom the Jews abhorred. Christianity is not about one being better than the other - it is the direct opposite. It seems that man will only cease to argue when he is alone (and in some cases, not then). I don’t think this is what Christ had in mind.

Peace

 

[Elric]

Swan,

Good luck with your search/journey mate. I hope all goes well for you

 

[rpp]

I’ll be blunt and admit that a big part of why I’m leaving the RC is the holier-than-thou attitude of so many on this forum. I don’t agree with the papal infallability and they’ve convinced me I should leave. I have some very good Catholic friends who think I’m being hasty. But this “total authority, total truth” stuff has put me off to the point that I am investigating the Quakers, who believe in the priesthood of all followers - something I also believe.

Most of the people I know who aren’t Christians are that way because they are so put off by the constant fighting of Christi. And not just today, but throughout history. How many people have suffered because one sect claimed to have a truer truth about the Prince of Peace.

My beliefs are my own and I don’t attempt to foist them on anyone. I work to respect the beliefs of others and I expect and appreciate that same respect. Let’s remember that Jesus embraced the Samaritans, whom the Jews abhorred. Christianity is not about one being better than the other - it is the direct opposite. It seems that man will only cease to argue when he is alone (and in some cases, not then). I don’t think this is what Christ had in mind.

Peace

Frankly, I find this post hard to believe as the person posting it has only been a member here for less than one month.

It is the disengenuous attitude exemplified here that most find annoying. If someone wants to criticize the Church or question its doctrines that is a good thing. But to misrepresent yourself and lie about what you believe in order to make point proves that the very point you are trying to make is utterly devoid of any value.

THIS post exemplifies exactly what this thread is complaining about; people who behave in a dishonest and, therefore, uncharitable manner.

 

[kalt]

I’ll be blunt and admit that a big part of why I’m leaving the RC is the holier-than-thou attitude of so many on this forum. I don’t agree with the papal infallability and they’ve convinced me I should leave. I have some very good Catholic friends who think I’m being hasty. But this “total authority, total truth” stuff has put me off to the point that I am investigating the Quakers, who believe in the priesthood of all followers - something I also believe.

Most of the people I know who aren’t Christians are that way because they are so put off by the constant fighting of Christians. And not just today, but throughout history. How many people have suffered because one sect claimed to have a truer truth about the Prince of Peace.

My beliefs are my own and I don’t attempt to foist them on anyone. I work to respect the beliefs of others and I expect and appreciate that same respect. Let’s remember that Jesus embraced the Samaritans, whom the Jews abhorred. Christianity is not about one being better than the other - it is the direct opposite. It seems that man will only cease to argue when he is alone (and in some cases, not then). I don’t think this is what Christ had in mind.

Peace

You’re choosing to leave a particular faith because you don’t like the people you’ve found on an Internet forum?!

I don’t believe it. Honestly. I think you don’t like the Catholic faith, and the personalities here are just something you’re picking out to assure yourself that leaving the RC is a good idea.

There is politics in every group of people. Every religion has its own “fighting”. Look at the Muslims! And what about the Jews? They may not “argue” as epenly as Christians, but you can bet the different groups have their “issues” with the others. I know someone who is a reform Jew. Some members of his family (in Israel) are Orthodox. Because of that difference, they don’t get along at all.

If the personalities here are really a “big part” of your reason for giving up your faith, I’d suggest taking it very slowly. Don’t visit the forums any more. Coming here is your choice. No one here is really part of your life. You can live just fine without this forum.

Giving up a religion because you don’t like some people on an Internet forum really doesn’t make much sense.

Have you talked to your priest or deacon about infallibility?

I like these forums, but this isn’t the place to ask questions when you are using the answers to make a huge decision like this. I’ve noticed that most people here regurgitate what they’ve read, mostly in the CCC. There’s very little knowledge beyond that. We’re not theologians. Most of us have no real education regarding religion, like a priest has.

I’d say talk to your priest. At least you’ll get a very good answer to your question, and the answer will be free of the animosity I’ve seen here toward non-Catholics. (I agree that it’s risky business asking a question here that even looks like you’re questioning something Catholic.)

 

[1234]

…

9excerpt) But this “total authority, total truth” stuff has put me off to the point that I am investigating the Quakers, who believe in the priesthood of all followers - something I also believe.

Don’t forget UU!

UU and the Quakers are sort of kissing cousins…

 

[Hisalone]

For starters Pope JP called Billy Graham his brother. How clearer can you get. Straight from Peter himself.

Therefore I have concluded that the Anti-Protestants who post here (and you know who they are) are cafeteria Catholics who don’t even believe and follow their own popes. Why should I pay any attention to cafeteria Catholics.

Of course these folks don’t view themselves as cafeteria Catholics. But certainly they are just as much as Catholics for Free Choice.

Also I have observed over time that these cafeteria Catholics inevitably end up getting banned by the mods. It might take a little longer than I would prefer, but it does eventually happen.

 

[Publisher]

Don’t forget UU!

UU and the Quakers are sort of kissing cousins…

More like friends.