Are Protestants taught to be Anti-Catholic?

[wagner_dave]

No more than we are or should I say were, when I was younger it was a sin to go into a protestant church.Thats is why we should be armed with facts as after the Pope made his remark about Catholic church is the only true church, articles are coming out of the wood work,on this issue.
Dave

 

[happygal]

My niece is staying with us and she is a Seventh Day Adventist. We were discussing religon and I found her to have a litany of problems with the church. She is 18 and I wondered when she had time to study The Church and come up with these problems, so I asked her. She stated that she was taught in her church what was wrong with the Catholic Chrurch. I found this remarkable. I have never been taught about other sects either in Catholic School or during mass.

So back to my question? Is this true of all protestants? Are they taught to believe certain things are wrong with the Church? Do they do the same with other sects or just The Church?

And the last question… WHY? Why is it so important to teach about what you believe is wrong with the Church? In fact I find it sort of “telling” that they spend so much time trying to preach against the Chruch.

Nope, not all protestant are taught to be Anti Catholic, just that we feel that Catholics are at time a little back dated, why !! for example, Catholics detest protestant having a clappy services, for they think we have no respect for God, secondly protestant dress up too fanciful for service, they feel we are going to a fashion show…blar…blar…so much of this thingy…Whether you are a Genuine Christian, others will know by your fruits. God love his creation so much that your heart is what he is looking for, do you think by going to a happy clappy service, protestant have not respect for God. Na!!! wrong and inwardly thinking, does christian who dress fanciful does not have their Love for God, Na!!! wrong and narrow minded thinking…For those who seek God whole heartedly don’t even have thoughts that aim spiritually and look at others with spike in their eyes.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Protestants are not really taught to be anti Catholic. I have been in a number of churches and you would be surprised how little Catholicism is thought about or mentioned at all. When it does come up it is in Bible Study and to point out an error in Catholic thinking in terms of what scripture teaches (and that has been relatively rare). You are not on the radar screen. There is sometimes an unspoken sense of thank God we are biblically based on not misled like …(but it could as well be Catholics, Episcopalains, Mormons and so on). Where it may come up is in discussions and then most Baptists will demonstrate why they believe the church is wrong scripturally.

There are some denominations where I have seen them taught to be anti Catholic. I dated a 7th Day Adventist (former Catholic) who was admanat that the Pope was the anti Christ and had SDA literature to show it.

One area Catholics MUST get better at is apologetics if you want to make a big dent with people like Baptists. Most Baptist middle schoolers (due to prgrams like AWANA) know their bibles far better than the majority of Catholics who are in their 50’s. Heck they even learn the order of all the books. They know scripture back and forth and Baptist adults love Bible Studies that delve into scripture, its meaning, the Greek, etc. And I mean love it. They attend Bible Study at least once a week on Sunday and sometimes mid week as well (home bible studies, personal reading, etc). The RCC needs to step up in parish programs to teach adults scripture and the rest of the RCC faith so that along with Fr. Pacwa when a Protestant says X…you can go well…lets look at verse Y in context of verse Z, etc. The RCC must get lazy Catholic adults (same could be said for Anglicans) out of bed and into the word. There are as most here know ways to answer Protestant assertions but you have to study. Failing to do so reinforces Protestants (when they do think of RC’s) as scripturally and historically ignorant. You also then leave your faithful open to the advances and eveangelization of scirpturally savvy evangelicals.

I so not say this to hurt but to be realistic.

Rev North

 

[Indyann]

Protestants are not really taught to be anti Catholic. I have been in a number of churches and you would be surprised how little Catholicism is thought about or mentioned at all. When it does come up it is in Bible Study and to point out an error in Catholic thinking in terms of what scripture teaches (and that has been relatively rare). You are not on the radar screen. There is sometimes an unspoken sense of thank God we are biblically based on not misled like …(but it could as well be Catholics, Episcopalains, Mormons and so on). Where it may come up is in discussions and then most Baptists will demonstrate why they believe the church is wrong scripturally.

There are some denominations where I have seen them taught to be anti Catholic. I dated a 7th Day Adventist (former Catholic) who was admanat that the Pope was the anti Christ and had SDA literature to show it.

One area Catholics MUST get better at is apologetics if you want to make a big dent with people like Baptists. Most Baptist middle schoolers (due to prgrams like AWANA) know their bibles far better than the majority of Catholics who are in their 50’s. Heck they even learn the order of all the books. They know scripture back and forth and Baptist adults love Bible Studies that delve into scripture, its meaning, the Greek, etc. And I mean love it. They attend Bible Study at least once a week on Sunday and sometimes mid week as well (home bible studies, personal reading, etc). The RCC needs to step up in parish programs to teach adults scripture and the rest of the RCC faith so that along with Fr. Pacwa when a Protestant says X…you can go well…lets look at verse Y in context of verse Z, etc. The RCC must get lazy Catholic adults (same could be said for Anglicans) out of bed and into the word. There are as most here know ways to answer Protestant assertions but you have to study. Failing to do so reinforces Protestants (when they do think of RC’s) as scripturally and historically ignorant. You also then leave your faithful open to the advances and eveangelization of scirpturally savvy evangelicals.

I so not say this to hurt but to be realistic.

Rev North

I say this to be not hurtful, but realistic also. So what? I bet those little Baptist kids that are shouting hateful epithets at the funerals of war heroes can spout chapter and verse too.

I think most Catholics are more concerned with doing the Will of God, than memorizing the Bible. You know, “Preach the Gospel always, when necessary, use words.” If we need to know chapter and verse, we always have references.

 

[StMarkEofE]

I say this to be not hurtful, but realistic also. So what? I bet those little Baptist kids that are shouting hateful epithets at the funerals of war heroes can spout chapter and verse too.

I think most Catholics are more concerned with doing the Will of God, than memorizing the Bible. You know, “Preach the Gospel always, when necessary, use words.” If we need to know chapter and verse, we always have references.

The Devil himself can quote chapter and verse from the Bible.

That doesnt make him a Christ follower. By example, attending church, loving your neighbor and following God’s commandments are what counts.

 

[RevDrNorth]

I say this to be not hurtful, but realistic also. So what? I bet those little Baptist kids that are shouting hateful epithets at the funerals of war heroes can spout chapter and verse too.

I think most Catholics are more concerned with doing the Will of God, than memorizing the Bible. You know, “Preach the Gospel always, when necessary, use words.” If we need to know chapter and verse, we always have references.

Okay…so rather than get the point it zoomed right over your head. You will not reach evanglicals and that is why you are losing ground in South America. Those “little Baptist kids” belong to a little nut job sect (may even just be a church or a few like minded independent nut job churches) run by Rev Phelps it is not THE Southern Baptist Convention (largest Prot denomination in the nation) nor the American Baptist nor…you get the picture.

The Southern Baptist Convention has a phenominal missionary arm that feeds and cares for the poor all over the world. During Hurricane Katrina it was the Baptist men where I was doing laundry for workers and running a kitchen. Also, in most Catholic parishes I have visited Catholics attend Mass for an hour if they get their on time and do not leave early (they are not running around living out the Gosepl). That is not to discount the many RCC orders that do good charitable work. In the Baptist Churches I have been in the members were not only putting their money in to missions (large parts of the church budget) but everyone from kids to adults were doing some sort of missionary work (short term abroad) or even in their own neighborhoods. This is the norm.

Don’t write them off too easily with nonsense about we don’t need to know the bible because we live out the Gospel (maybe yes and maybe no).

You don’t get it and until the RCC does it will continue losing ground to people like the Baptists whose not only know the word of God but live it on individual levels in their churches and in the lives of these poor and un churched people.

Rev North (Anglican - we ain’t doin so hot either)

 

[Gamera]

Yeah, I gotta say, treating Rev. Fred’s Westboro Baptist Church as representative of Baptists is about as fair as treating Catholics for a Free Choice as representative of Catholics.

 

[RevDrNorth]

Yeah, I gotta say, treating Rev. Fred’s Westboro Baptist Church as representative of Baptists is about as fair as treating Catholics for a Free Choice as representative of Catholics.

True

You know once I was helping my wife pass out pro life literature at an RC Church (she was Catholic). A lady from the congregation chewed us out before going in to Mass. Seems she was pro choice.

Rev North

 

[Cat]

I agree that even the devil can recite Bible verses, and that children who have been taught to be racist or homophobic can recite Bible verses, too.

What does this have to do with Catholics memorizing Scripture?

It’s a good idea for Catholics to become better acquainted with the Scriptures. We live in a culture where many people are evangelical Protestant or from other non-Catholic ecclesial communities. We are “ambassadors” for Christ, or “missionaries” in this culture. And the first thing a good ambassador or missionary does is learn about the culture and adapt those cultural customs that he/she can adapt without compromising faith or morals.

When Jesus was tempted, He answered Satan with Holy Scriptures. Are we better than Jesus, that we don’t have to use His “method” of resisting temptation?

Why NOT learn the Bible better? There is nothing more scary to a non-Catholic than a Catholic who can cite verses and references when talking about his/her faith!

 

[RevDrNorth]

I agree that even the devil can recite Bible verses, and that children who have been taught to be racist or homophobic can recite Bible verses, too.

What does this have to do with Catholics memorizing Scripture?

It’s a good idea for Catholics to become better acquainted with the Scriptures. We live in a culture where many people are evangelical Protestant or from other non-Catholic ecclesial communities. We are “ambassadors” for Christ, or “missionaries” in this culture. And the first thing a good ambassador or missionary does is learn about the culture and adapt those cultural customs that he/she can adapt without compromising faith or morals.

When Jesus was tempted, He answered Satan with Holy Scriptures. Are we better than Jesus, that we don’t have to use His “method” of resisting temptation?

Why NOT learn the Bible better? There is nothing more scary to a non-Catholic than a Catholic who can cite verses and references when talking about his/her faith!

Amen Cat…you get it:thumbsup:

And you are so right. I have used some of Fr. Pacwa’s argumentation before from scripture and left an anti catholic person speechless (had nothing to respond). If more Catholics could be armed like that they might actually turn the tables and end up evanglizing the Evangelical. What you have is that many times people encounter these evangelical missionaries who know scripture, share the love of God and in practical ways (food clothing, etc). They (Evang) end up meeting a spiritual and practical need and win a convert. This is practiced from Middle school to adults who do this missionary work (every year Baptist High schoolers and Middle schoolers from a church I know make at least one big foreign mission trip and several smaller local ones). This same church donates thousands to missions from their budget. These people live and breath sharing the word of God (ie they are sincere).

Rev North

 

[BrownR]

Hey, I just wanted to confirm the OP’s original question. I was raised in the South in a Presbyterian church and we were indeed taught anti-Catholic education from a very young age. We were taught that Catholics worshiped statues, idols and prayed to saints without communing directly to God. We were taught that they worshiped ritual, superstition, and did not adequately study scripture. We were taught that Mary was a goddess to Catholics and that the Pope was a god figure. Strong anti-Catholic sentiments were cultivated and even though I forgot many of the details taught over the years, the distrust of Catholicism stayed with me until I was nearly 30 y/o and finally decided to research Catholicism for myself. God led me to the light during that process. I think what people need to understand is that Protestantism almost needs to be anti-Catholic because the entire Protestant movement was a result of schism with the Catholic Church. If the RCC is ever right, then Protestantism is wrong, so anti-Catholic sentiments are alive and well in most churches that I’ve visited, even if the topic is infrequently brought up. Catholics on the other hand aren’t taught to hate Protestants, so it’s very shocking for them when I explain what I was taught to believe as a child growing up in that environment. It’s very difficult for Protestants to view Catholics as “friends in Christ” because that whole sentiment undermines the Protestant faith.

 

[mickey94558]

The Devil himself can quote chapter and verse from the Bible.

That doesnt make him a Christ follower. By example, attending church, loving your neighbor and following God’s commandments are what counts.

So true. I believe that Catholics should now more about the Bible readings, in context. What disturbs me most is when folks, Catholis included, who really know the Bible inside and out use seperate lines as a defense for an arguement when those lines are really taken and used out of context.
I find the Bible more useful in the stories it tells about how to live your life following Jesus.

Bless You,
Michael

 

[RevDrNorth]

So true. I believe that Catholics should now more about the Bible readings, in context. What disturbs me most is when folks, Catholis included, who really know the Bible inside and out use seperate lines as a defense for an arguement when those lines are really taken and used out of context.
I find the Bible more useful in the stories it tells about how to live your life following Jesus.

Bless You,
Michael

You are correct. A biblical scholar once criticzed the separating of the bible into chapters & verses because it is artificial and gives the appearance that every word and piece of punctuation is of eternal significance. You then add to that by taking it out of context and watch out. Classic case of that is the “call no man Father” bit used to some to denounce RC’s, Anglicans, EO’s for calling Priests “father”. A little more reading and some context makes that a ridiculous arguement. But a Protestant with a little knowledge can wack a RC with no biblical knowledge. Same Prot trying to bushwack Fr. Pacwa is in for a surprise.

Rev North

 

[Harpazo]

I’m sure I’ll be shot down for saying this, but I’ll say it anyway. The shear fact that Protestant theology in many ways opposes Catholic theology makes in anti-Catholic, no? For example, Pentecostals reject Purgatory, while Catholics embrace it.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

 

[RevDrNorth]

I’m sure I’ll be shot down for saying this, but I’ll say it anyway. The shear fact that Protestant theology in many ways opposes Catholic theology makes in anti-Catholic, no? For example, Pentecostals reject Purgatory, while Catholics embrace it.

In Pax Christi
Andrew

I suppose you could use that argument if it is also okay to say that the RCC is anti Protestant for the same reason.

Rev North

 

[Harpazo]

I suppose you could use that argument if it is also okay to say that the RCC is anti Protestant for the same reason.

Rev North

Perhaps so, but we know which came first, yes?

Unless of course you buy into the Trail of Blood theory.

In Pax Christ
Andrew

 

[RevDrNorth]

Perhaps so, but we know which came first, yes?

Unless of course you buy into the Trail of Blood theory.

In Pax Christ
Andrew

But suppose the RCC came up with a new theory (eg Mary Co Redemptrix) and the Pope spoke ex Cathedra. That would be a new doctrine.

PS I have known some fine Methodists and the Order of Saint Luke saint-luke.org appears to be a great attempt at a Methodist religious order.

PS I really do have a great deal of respect for the RCC (at least the kind practiced by Mother Angelica God bless her!

Rev North

 

[lak611]

I agree that even the devil can recite Bible verses, and that children who have been taught to be racist or homophobic can recite Bible verses, too.

What does this have to do with Catholics memorizing Scripture?

It’s a good idea for Catholics to become better acquainted with the Scriptures. We live in a culture where many people are evangelical Protestant or from other non-Catholic ecclesial communities. We are “ambassadors” for Christ, or “missionaries” in this culture. And the first thing a good ambassador or missionary does is learn about the culture and adapt those cultural customs that he/she can adapt without compromising faith or morals.

When Jesus was tempted, He answered Satan with Holy Scriptures. Are we better than Jesus, that we don’t have to use His “method” of resisting temptation?

Why NOT learn the Bible better? There is nothing more scary to a non-Catholic than a Catholic who can cite verses and references when talking about his/her faith!

I agree. I have been going to Bible study at my parish for over 5 years now. We are going to be expanding it starting in September. We are now having parishes in cluster groups, sharing resources amongst each other. My parish is the only one out of the 5 in our cluster that has Bible study. We are having the Bible study leader go to the other 4 parishes and give a little talk after Communion and before the Mass is over to invite the people of those parishes to join us for the Bible study. I am excited about this. Next Sunday is the last Bible study before our break, then we will resume after Labor Day, hopefully with a much bigger group! :extrahappy:

 

[Fitz]

I just spent a few days with a childhood friend that was Catholic and went to Catholic school with me years ago. She is so anti Catholic now and has so many of the Protestant arguments about why Catholics aren’t even really Christian. I find it very difficult to be with Christians that can’t even accept that we are saved. It gets old! She wanted to argue with me about the Pope this weekend and also the scandal of the priests. I get real tired of anti Catholicism in this world. I researched the sexual abuse topic and I almost sent her all the articles saying that actually Pastors from other churches, and public school teachers have a higher percentage of sexual improprieties with children, but then I stopped myself. She was Catholic and this is her way of getting back at us. It is like spending time with Rosie ODonnell! I may not choose to spend more time with her.

So, to the OP’s original point. I have to think that Protestants are taught to be Anti-Catholic, because it always comes up, doesn’t it? Fallen away Catholics are the worst at it too.

As a Catholic that went to 14 yrs of Catholic schooling, I was not taught anti Protestantism. I was taught that we should try to evangelize. I really was never taught to confront them though. Did I think they were saved? No. I was taught that we were the one true religion- the same as Pope Benedict was saying recently. Do I agree? I think that God will respect the love that all Christians have for him. Will they all be rewarded? Yes I think so. Do I think that God wants us all to be in the same family of faith? Yes, and it should be the oldest known Christian community and that would be Catholic. How do you ever get around that?

 

[Dulcimer]

Perhaps it’s an unconscious conflation of two distinct concepts?

The bible is “The Word of God” and Jesus is “The Word of God”…Perhaps that’s why Protestants take the Bible as the ultimate authority?

I know there are Christians in certain parts of the world who do not have the Bible available to them, due to lack of resources or persecution, but let us who have the freedom and access not be lazy and ignorant of the richness of God’s word spoken through the ultimate church elders: The Saints, Apostles and Prophets who came before us! After all, Jesus was constantly quoting the Bible (Old Testament)…if it was good enough for the Son of God, it had better be good enough for me!

–D <><