Are we liking other religions too much?

[Bohm_Bawerk]

I am becoming increasingly aware of the Catholic Churches acceptance of the other world religions, esp Islam, since it is considered one of the great monothestic religions. My book Catholism for Dummies speaks of the commonality we share, and I have noticed how the Church will not call Muslims or Jews unbelievers, but will focus on their belief in God, even though the Muslim belief in God is very different than ours. When I was Protestant, you either followed Christ or you didnt…no middle ground, but it seems the Catholic Church will not make such distinctions. Christ is the only way, not just believing in God or having the same ancestor, ie Abraham. Both Jews and Muslims deny Christ as the Lord…how can we cozy up with them? Is anybody else finding this unsettling?

I think you’re right, even though I’m now an unbeliever. I think Christianity in general is becoming way too tolerant, or is being perceived as being too tolerant. I live in a predominantly Christian country, and people erroneously believe that this country should be secular because it’s Christian. They despise talks about God, Jesus, etc. I had a debate with a Jewish friend who was upset that a headteacher at a Catholic school speaks about Jesus. I was asking myself…is he kidding me? Yet when it comes to a Muslim country or a Muslim school, no one has a problem with their own devoutness.

In the theological marketplace, one religion is going to dominate all else. That is a fact of life we are going to have to accept. We live in a world where Christianity is that religion. But the more it becomes overly-tolerant, the more it is destroyed from within by naive people who think of the world as being a great big camp where we sing kumbaya, the only ultimate result can be its own demise.

Thank you,
Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk

 

[TrueLight]

It’s usually best to worry about what immediately concerns us, and to leave higher things to those who have received the authority from God.

Evangelization concerns me or will when I really know what I’m talking about LOL.

I want people to experience the fullness of the faith just as I am experiencing it.

A Catholic sister in my parish becoming muslim and denying Jesus as the Messiah would concern me. Wouldn’t it concern you?

 

[Inishfree]

I feel that we have respect for other religions.

 

[Stylites]

no, Catholics are most definitly Christian!!! by my statement, I mean not not only Catholics are Christian but so are all who claim Jesus as Lord, ie Protestants, those who have been baptised in the Name of the Most Holy Trinity.

You created this thread asking whether the Catholic Church “likes other religions too much”, and you received your answer. If you want to be a good Catholic then you must accept all her teachings. You can’t just follow Catholic teachings when you agree with her, and then claim to be a pure follower of Christ when you don’t like what the Catholic Church teaches. Either you trust in the Holy Spirit and His ability to guide the Church or you don’t.

 

[TrueLight]

Truth is always unsettling when our minds are so cozy with deceptions and prejudices. You have to accept all of the Church’s teaching in love and trust, such as CCC 841, or don’t become Catholic.

I feel this is harsh. We obviously must accept all Church teachings, but is it wrong to question?

I’m asking this seriously.

Is it wrong to say I don’t understand why it is so?

 

[perro_sarnoso]

So have the Jews rejected Christ. I understand it is popular among some to challenge or deny the teaching of the Church when it relates to Islam, but being a good Catholic is really an all-or-nothing proposition. Don’t be a Cafeteria Catholic by clinging to prejudices and hatreds and fears.

I believe that other people on this thread have valid views and concerns. That they are not expressing them in a charitable way is another thing.

Let me give you my mangy dog perspective.

I am tolerant, supportive and pray for the Jews. They are God’s people and Jesus’ home.
I am tolerant and pray for peaceful Muslims. They are people of the Bible also. Even though their ideas are a little more “out there”.
I pray for radical, terrorist (so called) Muslims. They are dangerous. Dangerous to Christianity abroad and at home.

I don’t think the above makes me a [cafeteria catholic] or a half-_ _ _ one either.

What I do see! is a slackening in reverence,devotion, tradition, prayer and support of the Papacy among many, many Catholics and so called catholics.

We (Catholics) need to go back to a life of prayer and a life of the spirit , nurtured by the Sacraments. Especially the most neglected Sacrament…Confession.

Maybe then we’ll recieve the grace of discernment that doesn’t require us to throw CCC codes at fellow Catholics who are seeing the trends occuring in our time and are expressing concern.

 

[Samuel63]

I agree with your original claim, “it is unsettling.”

The god of Islam is not the same God of the Catholic Church. That one is for sure.

This “coziness” is a more recent phenomenon. It is an attempt to be ecumenical. This is OK as long as the solid truths of the Catholic faith are not modified. Unfortunately, many parishes have gone way past this point.

People with the real and authentic catholic faith recognize the great gift we have - our faith. It is our job to grow in holiness and help as many as possible to their salvation. We do this by continually learning our faith, prayer, good works, etc.

Confirming people in another faith is not correct. This is a false ecumenism.

The last episode of The Vortex with Michael Voris highlighted this very well. You might want to see it at - www.realcatholictv.com

 

[TrueLight]

I believe that other people on this thread have valid views and concerns. That they are not expressing them in a charitable way is another thing.

Let me give you my mangy dog perspective.

I am tolerant, supportive and pray for the Jews. They are God’s people and Jesus’ home.
I am tolerant and pray for peaceful Muslims. They are people of the Bible also. Even though their ideas are a little more “out there”.
I pray for radical, terrorist (so called) Muslims. They are dangerous. Dangerous to Christianity abroad and at home.

I don’t think the above makes me a [cafeteria catholic] or a half-_ _ _ one either.

What I do see! is a slackening in reverence,devotion, tradition, prayer and support of the Papacy among many, many Catholics and so called catholics.

We (Catholics) need to go back to a life of prayer and a life of the spirit , nurtured by the Sacraments. Especially the most neglected Sacrament…Confession.

Maybe then we’ll recieve the grace of discernment that doesn’t require us to throw CCC codes at fellow Catholics who are seeing the trends occuring in our time and are expressing concern.

Well said.

 

[Stylites]

We obviously must accept all Church teachings, but is it wrong to question?

No, it is good to question, but the questioner needs to be open to the possibility of acceptance of the answer, and if they do not accept after getting their answer then they need to accept that they need to pray about it until they can accept it. What is unacceptable is to reject the answer or to think that they know better than the Church.

 

[t68ware]

I feel this is harsh. We obviously must accept all Church teachings, but is it wrong to question?

I’m asking this seriously.

Is it wrong to say I don’t understand why is it so?

i agree…questioning is why I left the Protestant church and why I became Catholic, but now I cant question the RCC??

 

[Stylites]

The god of Islam is not the same God of the Catholic Church. That one is for sure.

Where is that taught? I see CCC 841, but none which makes your “for sure” claim.

 

[t68ware]

Where is that taught? I see CCC 841, but none which makes your “for sure” claim.

Reading the Koran is a good place to start…there you will see how different Allah is than our God…Allah isnt Love, as our God is, Allah didnt send His Son to purchase salvation, as did ours, so there are quite a few differences…

 

[Stylites]

Reading the Koran is a good place to start…there you will see how different Allah is than our God…Allah isnt Love, as our God is, Allah didnt send His Son to purchase salvation, as did ours, so there are quite a few differences…

Certainly the pious Muslim’s understanding of the God of Abraham is different than our understanding, but that is different from saying that Allah is not God. Catholics in the Middle East call God ‘Allah’ by the way, which is Arabic for ‘God.’

Again, we need to follow what the Catholic Church teaches, and not our own whims, especially if one is so concerned for the souls of those who do not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Reading the Koran is a good place to start…there you will see how different Allah is than our God…Allah isnt Love, as our God is, Allah didnt send His Son to purchase salvation, as did ours, so there are quite a few differences…

I know that God promised Ishmael many nations. But Jews were the chosen people, and they were not excused for not believing in jesus. Protestants also preach a different Jesus than Catholic Church does…

 

[TrueLight]

Reading the Koran is a good place to start…there you will see how different Allah is than our God…Allah isnt Love, as our God is, Allah didnt send His Son to purchase salvation, as did ours, so there are quite a few differences…

Just curious: Does the Quran say Allah isn’t love? Do you have any specific passages? I don’t think Allah does not love.

In any case, this is what the Quran says about Jesus:

“The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!” (Quran 5:75).

“Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be’ and it is” (Quran 19:34-35).

"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156) “God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .

So should we love Muslims? Absolutely.

Should we share with them the truth, if given an opportunity? Absolutely.

Are they our brothers in sisters in Christ? How can they be?

 

[t68ware]

I know that God promised Ishmael many nations. But Jews were the chosen people, and they were not excused for not believing in jesus. Protestants also preach a different Jesus than Catholic Church does…

i was Protestant for over 30 years, with a degree in Bible/Theology from a Christian University, so your statement that Protestants believe in a different Jesus than the RCC is very interesting. Perhaps you can tell me these differences? I am genuinely interested in how you perceive the two Jesus’.

 

[t68ware]

Just curious: Does the Quran say Allah isn’t love? Do you have any specific passages? I don’t think Allah does not love.

In any case, this is what the Quran says about Jesus:

So should we love Muslims? Absolutely.

Should we share with them the truth, if given an opportunity? Absolutely.

Are they our brothers in sisters in Christ? How can they be?

“What is accepted as commonplace in Christianity is a dim reflection in the Qur’an. While “God is great” [Allahu akbar] is a statement of faith, affirmation and expression, “God is love” [Allahu muhibba] is absent from the attributes of God.”

 

[wisdomseeker]

i was Protestant for over 30 years, with a degree in Bible/Theology from a Christian University, so your statement that Protestants believe in a different Jesus than the RCC is very interesting. Perhaps you can tell me these differences? I am genuinely interested in how you perceive the two Jesus’.

Sure.

The Church
Eucharist
Pope
One Faith
Baptism
confession
Apostolic Succession
priesthood
Purgatory
Mother of God virginity,Immacullate conception
Jesus had brothers
faith alone
Bible alone
I can go on and on…

 

[t68ware]

Sure.

The Church
Eucharist
Pope
One Faith
Baptism
confession
Apostolic Succession
priesthood
Purgatory
Mother of God virginity,Immacullate conception
Jesus had brothers
faith alone
Bible alone
I can go on and on…

yes, yes, i am fully aware of those differences, but how do protestants preach a different Jesus? They believe in the Apostles Creed, the Incarnation, the Resurrection, the reason Christ came and died, etc.

 

[TrueLight]

Sure.

The Church
Eucharist
Pope
One Faith
Baptism
confession
Apostolic Succession
priesthood
Purgatory
Mother of God virginity,Immacullate conception
Jesus had brothers
faith alone
Bible alone
I can go on and on…

Protestants believe in the same Jesus, who came, died, rose and is coming again.

Everything else you listed makes Protestantism different from Catholicism but Protestants believe in the same Jesus.

Disclaimer: I’m only speaking from the perspective of the evangelical churches I grew up with which believe in the trinity.