Are non-Christian religions acceptable?

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LostSheep7 said:
There are many branches of Satanism, most are bored teenagers mocking Christianity for fun, but there are people who truly worship the Devil and even commit brutal crimes involving human sacrifice.
There have been a recent case in my country where these demented people killed one little boy and a girl in a satanic ritual.
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It is unfortunate. It is counter-religion.
 
Not at all, it is quite an easy thing to distinguish people from the religion they adhere to. For example I know many kind people who are Muslim. Yet I utterly reject the poison inherent in their religion which commands them to murder those who convert to other faiths. Or to levy heavy taxes on those who are Christians.

Now, it is the elements that are of evil origin that are abominable, but the people are not. On the contrary, they are to be pitied for being enslaved to such a diabolical mindset.

However, let us examine the metaphor of the poisoned wine in greater detail-

It is entirely possible, in the abstract, to appreciate a poisoned wine.

For example, I enjoy a good dry red wine. I can look at the brand which is poured into the goblet, I can admire what I know about it, and I can say it is an objectively good wine considered in itself. There is nothing objectionable in it.

Likewise I can look at a false religion and admire, say the works of Charity, the personal devotion, the sincerity called for, and many other positive elements.

But apart from this abstraction, which can only be an intellectual exercise, the reality remains- the drink has been poisoned by error, and the poison has utterly permeated it. It is inseperable from the good wine, and totally corrupts it. The only
Solution is to pour out the poisoned wine and accept pure water from the living wellspring of life.

Everyone is welcome to that, and the offer is an act of mercy. But only for those who are willing not to drink poisoned wine.
 
QwertyGirl said:
Negative??? You have to be joking. I was responding to a poster who basically stated that Catholics can’t mingle with people of other religions. And my post was a positive explanation of why I don’t think that is an acceptable viewpoint. I kept in line with the original post, using the word “acceptable”. I encouraged some open-mindedness and reflection about how we treat one-another. I believe that is a Christinan and Catholic principle, if I am not mistaken. I guess you find that to be a negative one. Call me crazy.
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I am sorry if I was not clear…
Your post was a “negative reaction” in the sense that you chose to disagree with another’s post. You then posted that I should have not chosen to disagree with your post, hence the reference to the pot calling the kettle black.
 
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I am sure those Muslim’s you have so wonderfully judged to be kind people really appreciate your broad-brush painting of their religion and faith. I am sure they further appreciate the pity you bestow on them. Judgement and pity. A winning combination.

I think I am actually quite done discussing this issue with you. Thanks.
 
I don’t think there is any broad brush painting to state that which is a tenet of another’s faith. We must make judgments every day, it’s how we maintain our physical lives. For example, the decision to not commit suicide is one we must make after judging life is worth living.

As in physical life, so in the spiritual life, so we must decide to not commit spiritual suicide by adhering to errors. Remember, freedom exists in order to serve truth, it does not exist to serve error, just as your body is made for health, not drugs.

So error has no rights, just as drug use has no rights, and to maintain spiritual health is therefore to abandon error. But this is only possible after judging something as erroneous.

However it has nothing to do with anger or frustration or unkindness, not even coldness nor haughtiness, simply dispassion.
 
How can we possibly have “profound respect” for non-Christian religions that our Lord has specifically condemned?

The quotes in the OP are confirmed by Pope Pius XI in Mortalium Animos where he states, "Certainly such attempts can nowise be approved by Catholics, founded as they are on that false opinion which considers all religions to be more or less good and praiseworthy”…
 
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I would say, as I mentioned above, we can Abstract from a false religion the elements that are identical to elements of our own faith. They can then be starting points to aim for conversion.

But you are right, as a totality and a reality in everyday life, there is no respect for the death-dealing poisoned wine, only a hypothetical respect for those intellectually consistent elements we can use as springboards to the conversion process.

Again, taken abstractly.
 
Your questions are all answered in the Vatican document I linked to. Cherry picking single verses out of scripture or single sentences out of a long complicated document out of context will get you nowhere fast, except perhaps totally confused.

Your conclusions so far have not been consistent with the teaching of the Church.
 
Let’s also remember the teaching of the Church on a particular topic is not exhausted in the documents of Vatican II, but in the constant teaching of the Church throughout time which is the lens through which the documents must be viewed.
 
I thought I should clarify on your comment that “God created diverse religions”. God created ONE religion by sending His Son to die on the cross and rise from the dead. Other religions are started by men.

Our Lord is very clear in the quotes provided in the OP - all I can recommend is that you go back and read them again.
 
I suggest you read Jesus’s own position on other religions, specifically, the parable of the Good Samaritan.
 
Like when he tells St. Photini (The woman at the well), “You Samaritans worship what you don’t understand, we Jews worship what we do understand, for salvation is from the Jews.”

That part?
 
Well I am agnostic so I believe differently. But thanks for clarifying the Catholic beliefs for those who didn’t know. No disrespect intended.
 
You must remember that Scripture is closed and cannot be changed. The entire Catholic faith is also built upon it. If anyone tries to change what Scripture says, we know it cannot be right.
 
Sorry, but that is a Protestant view of scripture, and not one that is recommended by the Church. I’ve pointed you to the relevant Vatican document on this matter. Read it, or not. I’ve done all I can do.
 
Jesus is not commending the Good Samaritans false religious practice, but his objectively good actions.
 
Who made the Bible? Catholics. How can you say that the people who made the Bible are not Bibilical?
 
There is no salvation for
Anyone in any circumstance without this faith. Amen.
 
Nonsense. Pope Francis is not a liberal (not that that would necessarily be a bad thing).

People who say that have never read his books or homilies. His style is very informal, but he teaches the faith like any other Pope. He’s considered changing canonical approaches to the divorced/ remarried, couples in nontraditional situations, extended mercy to women who’ve had abortions. He has the authority to do that. He also has the authority to extend Communion to non-Catholics in certain circumstances. His humility and merciful love are very refreshing.

It’s almost like he’s the Vicar of Christ or something.
 
Eddie18 said:
I thought I should clarify on your comment that “God created diverse religions”. God created ONE religion by sending His Son to die on the cross and rise from the dead. Other religions are started by men.

Our Lord is very clear in the quotes provided in the OP - all I can recommend is that you go back and read them again.
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Someone should tell that to the roughly 4,000 different world religions.
 
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