Catholic vs Protestant Spirituality: Lets compare faith walks

[Wannano]

Jesus said our enemy is to be our friend or at least to love him. In my experience I have never witnessed a united stand against Catholicism.

 

[Wannano]

TULIPed:

And this is just the start for Reformed Protestants. Anglicans (also Protestant) go much, much deeper.

Generalizations are always fraught with peril. This is especially true with “Protestants” - whatever that means…

You used the word twice, then you ask what it means? You obviously have some idea. Or you wouldn’t classify Anglicans as Protestant.

He is out golfing and where I live it is raining so I will allow myself to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong. Actually, he never asked what it means at all.

 

[Tommy999]

That has been my experience as well. Most non-Catholic Christians I know are too busy with day-to-day concerns like work, family, trying to live out their faith in the real world, their love life, etc to focus on Catholicism, especially opposition to it, even if they don’t agree with some of the Catholic beliefs.

These folks may have ideas (pro or con) about Catholicism but normal rank-and-file protestants don’t live and breathe this opposition like some Catholics who are seemingly consumed with it seem to think (mostly Cradle Catholics on CAF, in my opinion). Non-Catholic Christians are not unified against Catholicism as far as I can tell, and I was born and raised a protestant and have been one all my life. It’s more of a piecemeal kind of opposition, with different groups having different levels of knowledge and intensity in their feelings toward Catholicism, but definitely no united front. If there is a united front against Catholicism, I never learned the secret handshake or got invited to their meetings.

 

[Wannano]

You worded it very well. I think the condition is called Protestaphobia.

 

[TULIPed]

About the only thing that keeps you guys together is your opposition to the Catholic Church. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Giving my Protestant brother or sister the benefit of the doubt, I would say that what keeps us together is the same thing that keeps me together with my Catholic brothers and sisters - a love for and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of all.

Otherwise, I would say that the vast majority of Protestants think almost nothing at all about opposition to the Catholic Church. (My guess is that the same thought in reverse is held by Catholics.).

All of which is to say, respectfully, I think you’re wrong

 

[De_Maria]

De_Maria:

TULIPed:

And this is just the start for Reformed Protestants. Anglicans (also Protestant) go much, much deeper.

Generalizations are always fraught with peril. This is especially true with “Protestants” - whatever that means…

You used the word twice, then you ask what it means? You obviously have some idea. Or you wouldn’t classify Anglicans as Protestant.

He is out golfing and where I live it is raining so I will allow myself to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong. Actually, he never asked what it means at all.

Look above, where he says, ““Protestants” - whatever that means…”

How do you interpret those words?

 

[TULIPed]

The Protestant argument is that Catholic Teaching is absent from the Bible. That is why they have discarded Sacred Tradition and stick to the Bible alone.

Perhaps I misinterpreted what you said or meant. If so, I apologize. I interpreted your statement above to mean that all Protestants argue that Catholic Teaching is absent from the Bible, and that all Protestants have discarded all Tradition.

My point was that this is not true for all Protestants. Again, if I misinterpreted your writing, my apologies.

 

[De_Maria]

These folks may have ideas (pro or con) about Catholicism but normal rank-and-file protestants don’t live and breathe this opposition like some Catholics who are seemingly consumed with it seem to think (mostly Cradle Catholics on CAF, in my opinion).

My experience has been the other way around. I’ve worked with Protestants who make it their business to make it tough on Catholics.

Non-Catholic Christians are not unified against Catholicism as far as I can tell, and I was born and raised a protestant and have been one all my life. It’s more of a piecemeal kind of opposition, with different groups having different levels of knowledge and intensity in their feelings toward Catholicism, but definitely no united front.

A piecemeal kind of opposition, with different groups having different levels of knowledge and intensity in their feelings?

I think you just described the only type of opposition that busy people can wage against another group. Not that they’re biding their time. Just that they don’t have time to act on their actual feelings. The priority being, putting food on the table. I know.

If there is a united front against Catholicism, I never learned the secret handshake or got invited to their meetings.

That happens. I watch the Journey Home program very often and I’ve heard some say that, even though they were raised in a virulently anti-Catholic home, they didn’t get the bug. And there are those who were not raised anti-Catholic but became so, I think Dr. Scott Hahn was one of those.

 

[De_Maria]

Giving my Protestant brother or sister the benefit of the doubt, I would say that what keeps us together is the same thing that keeps me together with my Catholic brothers and sisters - a love for and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of all.

Lol! Your the only Protestant I know that uses the term, “my Catholic brothers and sisters”. So, you’re not typical.

Otherwise, I would say that the vast majority of Protestants think almost nothing at all about opposition to the Catholic Church. (My guess is that the same thought in reverse is held by Catholics.).

Agreed.

All of which is to say, respectfully, I think you’re wrong

No problem.

 

[Wannano]

Wannano:

De_Maria:

TULIPed:

And this is just the start for Reformed Protestants. Anglicans (also Protestant) go much, much deeper.

Generalizations are always fraught with peril. This is especially true with “Protestants” - whatever that means…

You used the word twice, then you ask what it means? You obviously have some idea. Or you wouldn’t classify Anglicans as Protestant.

He is out golfing and where I live it is raining so I will allow myself to stick my nose in where it doesn’t belong. Actually, he never asked what it means at all.

Look above, where he says, ““Protestants” - whatever that means…”

How do you interpret those words?

Since it is not formed with an actual question I felt he was not asking what it means but rather confirming that the term is hard to define and thus open to inconclusive generalizations.

 

[De_Maria]

You worded it very well. I think the condition is called Protestaphobia.

Nope. I’ve got several Protestant friends. I’m surrounded by Protestants, even in my family. But I have eyes to see. And I see that Protestants jump from one Protestant denomination to another with ease. But rarely consider the Catholic Church.

And I also see them, in person, deriding the Pope and priests and Catholic Doctrines.

But if you never see that, then that’s good.

 

[De_Maria]

Then how does he know that Anglicans are basically Protestant? If it’s hard to define, it would be difficult to characterize someone as such.

Anglicans (also Protestant) go much, much deeper.

 

[Wannano]

I think @GKMotley would say Anglicans themselves are hard to define so calling them Protestants is probably a safe generalization.

 

[Wannano]

Wannano:

You worded it very well. I think the condition is called Protestaphobia.

Nope. I’ve got several Protestant friends. I’m surrounded by Protestants, even in my family. But I have eyes to see. And I see that Protestants jump from one Protestant denomination to another with ease. But rarely consider the Catholic Church.

And I also see them, in person, deriding the Pope and priests and Catholic Doctrines.

But if you never see that, then that’s good.

Honestly I find my Catholic acquaintances more derisive of the Pope and especially priests than I do the non-Catholics.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

I’ve got several Protestant friends. I’m surrounded by Protestants, even in my family. But I have eyes to see. And I see that Protestants jump from one Protestant denomination to another with ease. But rarely consider the Catholic Church.

And I also see them, in person, deriding the Pope and priests and Catholic Doctrines.

But if you never see that, then that’s good.

I think protestants who were born and raised in a particular, usually mainline, denomination do not jump around as much but you are right it does happen very frequently. There is a protestant song from the 80’s, about church hopping.

In the show the Journey Home on EWTN most every protestant that was searching says they kept saying to themselves during their search, “anywhere but Catholic” and so are usually surprised when God leads them to the Catholic church but usually always realize they are home.

I would say that the vast majority of Protestants think almost nothing at all about opposition to the Catholic Church.

I think you’re right, on a daily basis they don’t think much about the opposition but there aren’t too many that feel connected to the Catholic church. Perhaps mainline denominations do but it’s not common. If the Catholic Church is brought up among protestants the conversation isn’t usually too flattering.

Just my personal experience.

 

[Wannano]

There is no doubt or arguing that non-Catholics hop around more easily to find their niche. Other than for going to different parishes, Catholics do not have that option. I am not saying it is a good thing to hop around. People looking for the perfect church won’t find it because it will be no longer perfect when they get there.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

People looking for the perfect church won’t find it because it will be no longer perfect when they get there.

True. Every church is full of people who are sinners.

 

[Wannano]

De_Maria:

I’ve got several Protestant friends. I’m surrounded by Protestants, even in my family. But I have eyes to see. And I see that Protestants jump from one Protestant denomination to another with ease. But rarely consider the Catholic Church.

And I also see them, in person, deriding the Pope and priests and Catholic Doctrines.

But if you never see that, then that’s good.

I think protestants who were born and raised in a particular, usually mainline, denomination do not jump around as much but you are right it does happen very frequently. There is a protestant song from the 80’s, about church hopping.

In the show the Journey Home on EWTN most every protestant that was searching says they kept saying to themselves during their search, “anywhere but Catholic” and so are usually surprised when God leads them to the Catholic church but usually always realize they are home.

I would say that the vast majority of Protestants think almost nothing at all about opposition to the Catholic Church.

I think you’re right, on a daily basis they don’t think much about the opposition but there aren’t too many that feel connected to the Catholic church. Perhaps mainline denominations do but it’s not common. If the Catholic Church is brought up among protestants the conversation isn’t usually too flattering.

Just my personal experience.

Unfortunately whether in Catholic or non-Catholic conversation about other faiths the conversation is often not too flattering.

 

[De_Maria]

Unfortunately whether in Catholic or non-Catholic conversation about other faiths the conversation is often not too flattering.

That is true. But I don’t see it as much, Protestant to Protestant. I do see it some. For example, Jehovahs and Mormons seem to be on the bottom of the Protestant totem.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Unfortunately whether in Catholic or non-Catholic conversation about other faiths the conversation is often not too flattering.

Umm, yes, unfortunately that would be true.

I would agree with @De_Maria, though I rarely hear protestants speak of Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ.