Catholicism series question

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NorthTexan88

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Something has been bothering me lately about one part of the Catholicism series that I cnt grasp…I might just be simple minded.

When Fr. Pacwa is in the pantheon he talks about how there are truths in all the religions of the world and that Catholicism brings them into one, then he states the same thing about Jesus. What does this mean??? If the Catholic Church is the true church then how can it have truths from other pagan religions?

I’m having some struggles with this, so any help would be great 🙂
 
I haven’t seen the Catholicism series but I am sure that the Truths that are being spoken of do not originate with the pagan religions, the pagans may just happened to believe something that is objectively True (ie there is only one God, or that the world is created). IOW, all Truth originates in God. The Catholic Church is the only Church that contains ALL revelation given to us by God, other groups only have some of that Truth.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Something has been bothering me lately about one part of the Catholicism series that I cnt grasp…I might just be simple minded.

When Fr. Pacwa is in the pantheon he talks about how there are truths in all the religions of the world and that Catholicism brings them into one, then he states the same thing about Jesus. What does this mean??? If the Catholic Church is the true church then how can it have truths from other pagan religions?

I’m having some struggles with this, so any help would be great 🙂
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Truth is truth, the fact that some religion that pre-date Catholicism taught that truth does not invalidate that truth.

If a religion teaches that there is One God and Only One God, the Creator of all things, then it teaches an element of truth about God.

That religion may have everything else about God completely wrong, but on this one count they are teaching truth.

I think it is always going to be easier to help bring someone to the fullness of truth if you have some foundation you can agree upon.

Paul’s discussion of the Unnamed God comes to mind.

Chuck
 
clmowry said:
Truth is truth, the fact that some religion that pre-date Catholicism taught that truth does not invalidate that truth.

If a religion teaches that there is One God and Only One God, the Creator of all things, then it teaches an element of truth about God.

That religion may have everything else about God completely wrong, but on this one count they are teaching truth.

I think it is always going to be easier to help bring someone to the fullness of truth if you have some foundation you can agree upon.

Paul’s discussion of the Unnamed God comes to mind.

Chuck
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Thanks! I really appreciate that
 
This art display on JP2’s life that I saw once illustrates the idea that there is truth in other religions quite well to me.

There was a section in the room about his efforts in communication and unity with other religions and at the end of it, there was at top center Matthew 7:12 (do to others as you would have them do to you), and beneath that, for 16 other religions, quotes from their religious texts that say the same thing - Islam, Buddhism, Sikh, Hinduism, etc.

It’s not that all religions are true, but rather that the truth is written on the hearts of everyone, so it seeps out all over the place unintentionally.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Something has been bothering me lately about one part of the Catholicism series that I cnt grasp…I might just be simple minded.

When Fr. Pacwa is in the pantheon he talks about how there are truths in all the religions of the world and that Catholicism brings them into one, then he states the same thing about Jesus. What does this mean??? If the Catholic Church is the true church then how can it have truths from other pagan religions?

I’m having some struggles with this, so any help would be great 🙂
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In Catholicism, Fr. Barron is describing the fact that all religions contain SOME universal truths. The Holy Catholic Church, (and Jesus, it’s founder), are the fullness of truth.

Hope this helps,

Blessings,

Steven
 
Colossians 1:15-19
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and in him. 17 And he is before all, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy: 19 Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father, that all fullness should dwell; 20 And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.
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All things were created through Christ as the firstborn of all creation, and so in his death and resurrection Christ brings all things back into one in Him.
 
God created the human intellect to be able to discern some truths concerning his existence and his nature. For example, pondering creation can lead to pondering a Creator behind it who delights in wondrous variety. Because we are also created to be in a relationship with God, it is natural to expect pagan religions, through use of reason, to yearn for God and identify certain truthful aspects concerning him.

But God is ultimately a mystery to humanity, so there is only so far human reason can go in terms of such discernment. This is why God supplements our intellect with his revelation (contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition). So whereas pagans are able to exercise their human intellect, they are lacking in revelation.

In Catholicism we claim that the fullness of God’s revelation subsists in our Church. Elements of authentic truth that pagans discerned are likewise found in Catholicism. This does not mean we got it from them, it simply means that we both got it from the same divine source. The point I think Fr. Pacwa was making (and let me state that I have not seen the program) is that there is not a teaching of authentic truth within a pagan religion that is not likewise found in Catholicism. But in Catholicism there are many truths not found in paganism.
 
NorthTexan88 said:
Something has been bothering me lately about one part of the Catholicism series that I cnt grasp…I might just be simple minded.

When Fr. Pacwa is in the pantheon he talks about how there are truths in all the religions of the world and that Catholicism brings them into one, then he states the same thing about Jesus. What does this mean??? If the Catholic Church is the true church then how can it have truths from other pagan religions?
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I’d put it exactly the other way round: if the Catholic Church is the true Church then how could it not include all truth, including the truths found in pagan religions?

Edwin
 
Also the early church fathers Augustine etc… used pagan philosophers e.g. Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus. They said that they contained truths but aren’t the fullness of truth, therefore they (church fathers) can extricate the truth and discard the rest. They saw these as grasping dimly at the truth but they didnt have full revelation; unlike Christianity/Judiasm. :signofcross:
 
Since the time when Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden many of their offspring went in different directions. But they knew of the promise made to them. Over time there could be a misunderstanding and spinning of the promise such as a female savior of some primitive religions and others had something about a virgin birth. Even islam has some of the truth since it copied a lot from the OT. Even the Jehovahas have some. Protestants have a lot because they have the bible, but not all. There is much truth out there and we have to evangelize using the common truths we all share.

mdcpensive1
 
Contarini said:
I’d put it exactly the other way round: if the Catholic Church is the true Church then how could it not include all truth, including the truths found in pagan religions?

Edwin
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Amen! A true belief (as in the example used above of there being only One God) is not conditionally true - it is not true only when Catholics believe it, and therefore untrue when Pharaoh Akhenaten of Ancient Egypt believed it. It is true for all times and whoever believes it.

Just like e=mc2 is not only true when an educated scientist believes it, but equally true even when it is taught to a struggling school student in their science class who has difficulty learning anything else that he or she is taught.
 
Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?
  1. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense…
…The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.

NOSTRA AETATE
 
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