Catholics don't read their Bibles?

[Trinityisgod]

I must admit, I have not yet been received into the Catholic church (I haven’t even been Baptized), yes I have always been interested in Catholicism, and am a little angry about the attacks on it. I read the Bible on a daily basis, and I plan to do so after I am received into the church as well. I have also come to the conclusion that Protestants think they know their Bible, yet they seem to to only pick and choose certain texts from the Bible. They believe in something called faith alone, which is indeed in the bible. In the form of a rejection of faith alone. The Bible also states that intercession be made on behalf of all men, yet Protestants compare intercession to worship. Someone needs to explain to me why modern Protestants think the crucifix is idolatry? If that’s the case, than Protestants worship a book and two pieces of wood. Look, I’m not against people being Protestant, or Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, or even not being Christian. I have a muslim friend, and Jewish friends, and friends that claim to be wicca (who know, ironically, nothing about Norse Paganism). Look, don’t tell me I’m wrong unless you can prove it. Ad for things like Marian apparations, NOT EVERY MIRACLE HAPPENS IN THE BIBLE!

 

[theistgal]

I must admit, I have not yet been received into the Catholic church (I haven’t even been Baptized), yes I have always been interested in Catholicism, and am a little angry about the attacks on it. I read the Bible on a daily basis, and I plan to do so after I am received into the church as well. I have also come to the conclusion that Protestants think they know their Bible, yet they seem to to only pick and choose certain texts from the Bible. They believe in something called faith alone, which is indeed in the bible. In the form of a rejection of faith alone. The Bible also states that intercession be made on behalf of all men, yet Protestants compare intercession to worship. Someone needs to explain to me why modern Protestants think the crucifix is idolatry? If that’s the case, than Protestants worship a book and two pieces of wood. Look, I’m not against people being Protestant, or Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox, or even not being Christian. I have a muslim friend, and Jewish friends, and friends that claim to be wicca (who know, ironically, nothing about Norse Paganism). Look, don’t tell me I’m wrong unless you can prove it. Ad for things like Marian apparations, NOT EVERY MIRACLE HAPPENS IN THE BIBLE!

OK! Let me see if I can sort this out!

You’re mad at:

1. people who attack the Catholic Church.
2. Protestants who think they know the Bible but just pick and choose from it.
3. Protestants who believe in “faith alone” and don’t realize it’s rejected in the Bible.
4. Protestants who think the crucifix is idolatry, yet seem to worship the Bible.
5. People who don’t accept Marian apparitions because they’re not in the Bible, because miracles can happen outside the Bible.

Took me a little while to sort it out, but I think I got the gist of it - am I right?

 

[Della]

As I read your post, Trinityisgod, basically your question is: “Why do Protestants have so many misconceptions about the Catholic Church?”

Of course, it all stems from the Reformation and the rebellion by the reformers against the Church, for a variety of reasons.

As to why modern Protestants believe such things, it’s because they are taught to believe these things. Most know no better, so it’s best to not be angry with them over it.

These misconceptions are the very reason Karl Keating began Catholic Answers. Instead of getting upset, he did something about it.

We may not be able to convince Protestants that they’ve got the wrong end of the stick, but at least we can state what the Church actually teaches so that they won’t remain in ignorance and will have the opportunity to let go of their animosity.

We must pray for our separated brethren in love and with the hope of unity.

 

[Jenny_Z]

This reminds me so much of when my husband and I came into the Church a few years ago. My father-in-law came to visit, and we started talking about our conversation.

He said “You know Catholics don’t read the Bible, right?”… so we invited him to Mass with us that Sunday, so he could see that we read the Bible at every Mass.

He mailed us an audio CD from his church, and also a print-out from an anti-Catholic book to try to convince us that the Eucharist is not biblical (Hey, I never said he was logical )

I sent him a CD from Father Corapi on the Eucharist

The best thing you can do is learn your faith inside and out, and defend it when you can. And never be afraid to say “I’m not sure, let me look that up for you”

 

[tobinatorstark]

As I read your post, Trinityisgod, basically your question is: “Why do Protestants have so many misconceptions about the Catholic Church?”

Of course, it all stems from the Reformation and the rebellion by the reformers against the Church, for a variety of reasons.

As to why modern Protestants believe such things, it’s because they are taught to believe these things. Most know no better, so it’s best to not be angry with them over it.

These misconceptions are the very reason Karl Keating began Catholic Answers. Instead of getting upset, he did something about it.

We may not be able to convince Protestants that they’ve got the wrong end of the stick, but at least we can state what the Church actually teaches so that they won’t remain in ignorance and will have the opportunity to let go of their animosity.

We must pray for our separated brethren in love and with the hope of unity.

It stems long before the reformation. The reformation simply was the defining moments between people who rejected the Catholic Church and those who accepted her. There were some schismatic groups well before hand.

 

[Della]

It stems long before the reformation. The reformation simply was the defining moments between people who rejected the Catholic Church and those who accepted her. There were some schismatic groups well before hand.

Certainly, but those groups died out because Europe had a Catholic emperor who stamped them out. The break up of the empire led to a renewed opposition to both Church and government, and thus to the Reformation.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Trinityisgod,

I understand your frustration. As time goes on I have come to have somewhat some sympathetic understanding for Protestants who have such nasty feelings about Catholicism, because if what they think the Church teaches was what the Church actually taught then I would hate it too. The best thing to do is to let that be a motivator to learn your Faith as much as you can and then take what you learn and use it to clarify and defend it with others who misunderstand the Faith. The mission field for a Catholic apologist is huge with many opportunities.

There are obviously many Protestants who will not open their mind to listen, but on the otherhand there are some out there that all they need is that logical, reason-filled, love based explanation that allows them to find those missing pieces to their theology that Catholicism provides.

Unfortunately many Protestants think Catholics are a bunch of Bible illiterate drunks who follow an empty religion. Unfortunately there are enough Bible illiterate drunks who are Catholics-(by name) to give them a reason to think that, but that is a stereotype that we Catholics need to abolish.

 

[bobbymac]

Hi All,
As a member of the Catholic Evidence Guild in NYC and we meet our separated brothers/sisters on the “streets” all the time. I think Della has a great point, these people are not our enemies or adversaries. You must find the comom ground with people and work from that point to explain the teaching of the Catholic Church. We do this with gentleness and respect for them.
There is a great deal of misunderstanding on what the Chuch teaches. A great example of this is my brother-in-law who is a Lutheran Pastor. He once said to me, “you know the Catholic Church did not begin to teach that Mary was the mother of god until the 4th century”. You know it was once said by Bishop Fulton Sheen, that there are not more that 1000 people who hate the Catholic Church, but there are over 1 million people who hate what they “think” the Catholic Church is.

 

[jblake]

Trinityisgod;:

why modern Protestants think the crucifix is idolatry?

It is a re-crucifixion of Jesus, and thus cancels out His Resurrection.

jonathon

 

[Fidelis]

It is a re-crucifixion of Jesus, and thus cancels out His Resurrection.

jonathon

Yes, that is the standard non-Catholic mis-perception. Aside from the fact that this uninformed statement about crucifixes cannot be found in the Bible, the idea defies common sense. How can a piece of wood and plaster literally “recrucify Jesus and thus cancel out his resurrection”?

What **does **recrucify Jesus? According to the Bible, it is being saved, but then falling into unrepented sin:

For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

 

[Della]

It is a re-crucifixion of Jesus, and thus cancels out His Resurrection.

jonathon

The crucifix is entirely biblical:

Gal.3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

Since the Galatians weren’t at the crucifixion to what was Paul referring? Either it is the consecration of the bread and wine or a physical representation of the crucifixion. Either way, it is right there in the Bible.

As Fidelis wrote, just another misunderstanding of Catholic teaching with no basis in biblical truth or reason. Just because a misconception is stated or is preached doesn’t make it truth.

 

[Mark77]

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, unto the Greeks foolishness;” 1 Cor 1:23 (KJV).

I guess St. Paul was teaching his followers to “cancel out His resurrection”?

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

Mark