Catholics... Just As Bad As Protestants?

[Singinbeauty]

Hello All…

I am new here on these boards but I just have to say that this seems like a very spirited board and I am looking forward to meeting and discussing things with everyone here!

Ok, for my first thread I wanted to address something that I am seeing on this board and many other boards I have been a part of and please let me know if you agree or not… I have spoken with many catholic attendees and many who are not catholic. It seems to me that this is a purpose that the RCC is striving for. To be separate from the rest of the Christian faith. Correct me if I am wrong in this observation.

But the ONE thing I am always running into when it comes to talking to those in the catholic faith is that they act VERY wounded and defensive the moment you start asking them questions about what they believe and how they practice. If it even sounds like you are trying to infer that you don’t understand why they do this or that they jump down your throat and start throwing verses at you that don’t make a lot of sense. This has been my experience at least. I am very disheartened against the RCC or the Orthidox Catholic Church because of this. I have been told I am a bigot and basically that I am going to hell because I am not a catholic and I ask too many questions about the faith.

Now for the hypocritical side… When I got to this forum I was happy to finally see a forum set up to see questions and answers to finally come from both sides in a calm manner… But I wasn’t thinking that for too long. Many times on this board from many catholic members I have seen them trash protestants (I am assuming that Protestants are ANYONE who claim christianity as their own but don’t profess catholocism as the ONE TRUE CHURCH). They mention that protestants don’t know what they are doing (which is something that a ‘wounded’ catholic claimed that they were offended at that protestants thought this of catholics) or that they are confused and led astray. Basically I get the impression that many of you catholics think that us protestants are stupid for believing the way we do. Wow.

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side.

 

[Genesis315]

Singinbeauty:

Hello All…

I am new here on these boards but I just have to say that this seems like a very spirited board and I am looking forward to meeting and discussing things with everyone here!

Welcome!!!

Ok, for my first thread I wanted to address something that I am seeing on this board and many other boards I have been a part of and please let me know if you agree or not… I have spoken with many catholic attendees and many who are not catholic. It seems to me that this is a purpose that the RCC is striving for. To be separate from the rest of the Christian faith. Correct me if I am wrong in this observation.

This couldn’t be farther from the Truth. The problem is, the “rest of the Christian faith” is in error on various important points. We do not want to separete ourselves from them, but rather bring them into the fullness of the Truth with us. Now. do all Catholic live this, unfortunately no.

But the ONE thing I am always running into when it comes to talking to those in the catholic faith is that they act VERY wounded and defensive the moment you start asking them questions about what they believe and how they practice. If it even sounds like you are trying to infer that you don’t understand why they do this or that they jump down your throat and start throwing verses at you that don’t make a lot of sense.

Well, you won’t find that here. This place is great if you are asking honest questions. Now, if you quote a Jack Chick tract, you’re gonna get flamed

This has been my experience at least. I am very disheartened against the RCC or the Orthidox Catholic Church because of this. I have been told I am a bigot and basically that I am going to hell because I am not a catholic and I ask too many questions about the faith.

Well, i can’t speak for the Orthodox, but you must have been talking to Catholics who did not have a very good understanding of Catholic doctrine.

Now for the hypocritical side… When I got to this forum I was happy to finally see a forum set up to see questions and answers to finally come from both sides in a calm manner… But I wasn’t thinking that for too long. Many times on this board from many catholic members I have seen them trash protestants (I am assuming that Protestants are ANYONE who claim christianity as their own but don’t profess catholocism as the ONE TRUE CHURCH). They mention that protestants don’t know what they are doing (which is something that a ‘wounded’ catholic claimed that they were offended at that protestants thought this of catholics) or that they are confused and led astray. Basically I get the impression that many of you catholics think that us protestants are stupid for believing the way we do. Wow.

Oh, I wouldn’t say stupid. they don’t know because they are born and raised a certain way or they may not have investigated what the first century chuch believed. By saying they are unaware or led astray, we are simply giving them the benefit of the doubt. To knowlingley and culpably reject revealed Truths would be damnable.

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side

Well, you have to understand that there is One Truth. God is not a matter of personal interpretation. To say God can be different to different people is a great heresy. Likewise, people do not compromise Truth. That is why when people are set in their ways and have convinced themselves that their image of God is correct, things unfortunately get a little hairy. Since God knew that without a mechanism to protect revealed Truth people would begin to interpret Him to fit their own personal sensibilities, He founded One, Holy, Apostolic, Church to safe guard the Truth revealed to the OT prophets and to the Apostles and to pass it down from generation to generation.

 

[b_justb]

If you’re new here, why not wait to collect more data before coming to a conclusion.

People are people, and we’re all sinners.

Look to God and the teachings of Christ as handed down through His Apostles rather than at the actions of an individual to see what is what.

Is the Catholic Church wrong because a person who is Catholic behaves poorly? That hardly seems reasonable. Is the individual that professes to be Catholic wrong in his attitude because his actions bear out that he is not putting forth in those actions what the Church teaches? That seems more likely.

Don’t look at people, look to the Lord. It doesn’t matter if every swinging Richard is a poor witness; you just do your best to be a good one.

Listen to me for one moment and you will see that only the service of God will console us and make us happy in the midst of all the miseries of life. To accomplish it, you do not need to leave either your belongings, or your parents, or even your friends, unless they are leading you to sin. You have no need to go and spend the rest of your lives in the desert to weep there for your sins. If that were necessary for us, indeed, we should be very happy to have such a remedy for our ills. But no, a father and a mother of a family can serve God by living with their children and bringing them up in a Christian way. A servant can very easily serve God and his master, with nothing to stop him. No, my dear bretheren, The way of life that means serving God changes nothing in all that we have to do. On the contrary, we simply do better all the things we must do! - St. John Vianney

 

[Catholic4aReasn]

Hi and welcome!

2 Tim 2:23-26 is a good verse for ALL Christians to memorize and put into practice:

23 reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.

In Christ,
Nancy

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Singinbeauty:

Hello All…

I am new here on these boards but I just have to say that this seems like a very spirited board and I am looking forward to meeting and discussing things with everyone here!

Ok, for my first thread I wanted to address something that I am seeing on this board and many other boards I have been a part of and please let me know if you agree or not… I have spoken with many catholic attendees and many who are not catholic. It seems to me that this is a purpose that the RCC is striving for. To be separate from the rest of the Christian faith. Correct me if I am wrong in this observation.

But the ONE thing I am always running into when it comes to talking to those in the catholic faith is that they act VERY wounded and defensive the moment you start asking them questions about what they believe and how they practice. If it even sounds like you are trying to infer that you don’t understand why they do this or that they jump down your throat and start throwing verses at you that don’t make a lot of sense. This has been my experience at least. I am very disheartened against the RCC or the Orthidox Catholic Church because of this. I have been told I am a bigot and basically that I am going to hell because I am not a catholic and I ask too many questions about the faith.

Now for the hypocritical side… When I got to this forum I was happy to finally see a forum set up to see questions and answers to finally come from both sides in a calm manner… But I wasn’t thinking that for too long. Many times on this board from many catholic members I have seen them trash protestants (I am assuming that Protestants are ANYONE who claim christianity as their own but don’t profess catholocism as the ONE TRUE CHURCH). They mention that protestants don’t know what they are doing (which is something that a ‘wounded’ catholic claimed that they were offended at that protestants thought this of catholics) or that they are confused and led astray. Basically I get the impression that many of you catholics think that us protestants are stupid for believing the way we do. Wow.

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side.

Catholics do tend to complain of Protestants for dong what Catholics do - but that’s human nature . It’s what comes of being as sure of one’s own faith as others are of theirs - each group does the same things, and neither can see it is no better-behaved than the other.​

Each

• misunderstands the other
• caricatures the other
• accuses the other of bigotry
• thinks the doctrines of the other are unbelievable…
• …or immoral
• has its share of scandals
• has its share of dirty linen
• insists that its interpretation of the Bible is right
• …and that the other’s is rubbish which no rational human being could possibly believe
• thinks the other is unbelievably brainless
• has an awful lot to say about the faults of the other; and goes very quiet about its own; or tries to prove they are not faults.

It’s quite funny actually. There must be a God Who protects the Church - only that could explain how Christianity hasn’t suffocated on its own bile centuries ago. The faults of Christians, are the strongest proof there can be of the Divine origin of the Church. Nothing else could survive such a torrent of ceaseless sinfulness. We can be our own worst enemies

Obviously, a lot of Christians would die rather than drag up the faults of others, and a great many don’t treat other believers as brain-dead morons - but they are not the ones who make the most noise. ##

 

[Egg4christ]

Singinbeauty:

Ok, for my first thread I wanted to address something that I am seeing on this board and many other boards I have been a part of and please let me know if you agree or not… I have spoken with many catholic attendees and many who are not catholic. It seems to me that this is a purpose that the RCC is striving for. To be separate from the rest of the Christian faith. Correct me if I am wrong in this observation.

Yeah, there was a catholic who answered this, i thought i might rephrase it. To catholics, they are the christian faith, and everyone else is severly missing things.

Singinbeauty:

But the ONE thing I am always running into when it comes to talking to those in the catholic faith is that they act VERY wounded and defensive the moment you start asking them questions about what they believe and how they practice. If it even sounds like you are trying to infer that you don’t understand why they do this or that they jump down your throat and start throwing verses at you that don’t make a lot of sense. This has been my experience at least. I am very disheartened against the RCC or the Orthidox Catholic Church because of this. I have been told I am a bigot and basically that I am going to hell because I am not a catholic and I ask too many questions about the faith.

Yeah. i think there are definitly many catholics who are only Catholic “through birth”, or “through marriage”, and honestly do what they do because they’ve always done it. They run on just raw tradition.
However, not all Catholics are like that. Particularly the ones on this forum, because the people who are here choose to be here. it’s not a requirement, and most of them really know their stuff, and are devoted to God.

Singinbeauty:

Now for the hypocritical side… When I got to this forum I was happy to finally see a forum set up to see questions and answers to finally come from both sides in a calm manner… But I wasn’t thinking that for too long. Many times on this board from many catholic members I have seen them trash protestants* (I am assuming that Protestants are ANYONE who claim christianity as their own but don’t profess catholocism as the ONE TRUE CHURCH).* They mention that protestants don’t know what they are doing (which is something that a ‘wounded’ catholic claimed that they were offended at that protestants thought this of catholics) or that they are confused and led astray. Basically I get the impression that many of you catholics think that us protestants are stupid for believing the way we do. Wow.

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side.

Well, i guess we honestly use the same tactics for either side. Talk to any Catholic basher, and you’ll find that he or she uses just the methods you described.
I’d have to say there’s a split in opinions of protestants. Certainly, there are some who would describe Protestants just as i described catholics above, doing what they do because it is expected. Having religion simply because your parents or spouse had religion.
There are others, however, who believe that protestants may have some good point. The concept of “seperated bretheren” essentially is that we as protestants have some good ideas about God, but are lacking the Church. They see me as i see them. a few good ideas, but unfortunatly confused on a few major issues.

 

[Darrel]

Singinbeauty:

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side.

They are just as bad. We are all human and we are all bad. It’s not about bashing protestants for me. I was a prot my whole life. The issue is that the CC is the true Church of Christ starting with Peter and the Eucharist is totaly valid and true Christ presence. Does that fact make all of Catholics on Earth perfect? Not at all but that fact does make Gods church valid in the world.

-D

 

[adnauseum]

Defensive is not the right word. It’s exasperation.

The next time someone comes here and asks why we are justified in calling priests “father” I’m gonna pop my cork.

Do protestants have a gene preventing them from grasping the concept of a Search function?

Another source of my exasperation is the attitude of fundamentalists who are so brimming with self-assurance that they think they’ve discovered some big mistake in Catholic scripture interpretation the Church has not noticed for 2,000 years.

When a professor of English Literature rolls his eyes at the young punk who says that Shakespeare is a bad writer, it is not the professor being defensive. I assure you.

The Catholic Church is not an organization within history. In a very literal sense, it is history itself. The typical fundamentalist who comes here seems to think everything was invented in the 16th century. So don’t take any of this as being defensive, my friend. It is impatience, and a firm desire for fundamentalists to learn their place in history or at least search the forum for previous answers, before they ask insipid and insulting questions.

Nothing personal against you. I’m glad you’re here. You are totally welcome here to participate but also to learn.

 

[Singinbeauty]

If you’re new here, why not wait to collect more data before coming to a conclusion.

I would if this was the first place I had seen this but sadly I see it everywhere I go. I will admit that there are things about the catholic faith that perplex me to no end. I am hoping to find out from REAL catholics the answers to these questions. To me, it seems like the basis for the catholic church is more about tradition than christianity. Jesus spoke so many times about love but I don’t see that reflected in most catholic’s posts or answers when it comes to them describing protestants. I am not saying this is their mission but it’s the way it comes across to me.

What I believe…

I am NON DENOMINATIONAL. I do not commit to ANYONE except God and Jesus Christ. No MAN will tell me anymore what to think and how to believe when it comes to my faith. I am a CHRISTIAN. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth to be the sacrifice needed to save us. I believe that if you believe with all your heart that Jesus is the way (the ONLY way) to God then you are going to Heaven. No matter what you do in this life. God looks at your heart not your actions. This means that if you TRULY believe that Jesus is who He said He was you will strive to follow His teachings. You may faulter but God does not punish you for being human. Why would God create us to react in certain ways to certain situations and then condemn us for reacting in such ways? If God is a Just God then He would not do this.

Bottom line… ALL religion is MAN-MADE but a relationship with God is MADE BY GOD…

 

[Zooey]

Well, first of all, hello!! Welcome to CAF!

I am your “friendly neighborhood Methodist”, but I am here a lot. (I would say, ‘you should see my floors’, but no one should http://bestsmileys.com/surprised/4.gifsee my floors!)

This is actually a very friendly place. I think that folks are pretty well behaved. I have discovered this: When I first came here, I was a little concerned. But I very rapidly discovered that the kind of thing you are talking about, generally happens because a protestant poster, pushes some buttons.
You see, a lot of people come here, not for dialogue, but to http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/4.gifpick a fight with Catholics! That is not what CAF is about!!
Look at it this way: This is after all, Catholic Answers. Most people here are Catholic. If someone comes just to troll, that upsets people. It is kinda like going to somebody else’s house, & criticizing them & their family; you wouldn’t expect to be treated the same as if you were a polite person!

But if you ask questions, or make statements, in a :yup: reasonable tone, you will be happier.These people are like friends. If you don’t fight, you can have discussions–& a lot of fun).

Perhaps, if you read some more of the threads, you will get a better feel for what we are like around here!
And, hopefully, like me, you will find that this is a great place to learn & to share, with other Christians-- Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox. (And sometimes very nice people from other faiths too!)

I hope this helps, & God bless.

 

[adnauseum]

Singinbeauty:

I would if this was the first place I had seen this but sadly I see it everywhere I go.

For those who missed it, b_justb politely suggested that the newcomer withhold judgment until gathering more information on this site.

Apparently, the answer is “no.”

I’m shocked!

 

[Singinbeauty]

What does the above have to do with the topic at hand???

I noticed how the above poster totally ignored the question I was raising and just read into my post and put words in my mouth that I never uttered… I am just making an observation…

 

[scylla]

Hello, nice to meet you!,

I used to be non-denominational too, which one do you go to? I used to go to Calvary Chapel.(Chuck Smith)

Feel free to start a thread and as a question, just one that perplexes you about Catholicism. I will be happy to respond to it. Don’t judge Catholicism by some of it’s members, this would be like me judging the Bible by some of it’s readers.

I have come to find that the belief in the Bible alone is a man-made tradition. Started by men and the Church is a God made organization. This is a great topic for discussion if you would like to discuss that. Please look it up historically and we can discuss the “man” who started Catholicism.

There are many people who love to discuss the faith with you and will do so in a charitable manner.

God Bless and welcome to the forums,
Scylla

 

[anon49823460]

What does the above have to do with the topic at hand???

I noticed how the above poster totally ignored the question I was raising and just read into my post and put words in my mouth that I never uttered… I am just making an observation…

Isn’t it wonderful to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. May God continue to bless you and keep you on his path that he has for you. It sounds as if someone has hurt you or led you astray when you wrote “No MAN will tell me anymore what to think and how to believe when it comes to my faith.” Don’t you think that God uses people with greater knowledge of the faith and experience to guide/lead you?

May the peace of Christ be with you.

 

[dhgray]

Hi Sam, I know both sides of the fence. I was a Catholic Basher. I knew all the ins and outs of the anti-catholic litature. I use to fully believe all the garbage Jack Chick was sending out. I married a nice young Catholic girl who was weak in her faith and it was not long before I pulled her away from the Church and those “Idol worshiping Cookie eaters.” The the Lord placed it on my heart to find the truth. The more I dug in to different denominations and religions the more I was led to the Catholic Church.

I would like to welcome you to the forum. If you have any questions, please ask, but understand, we are Catholic and we do defend our faith. (note we defend and don’t attack).
You wrote:

It seems to me that this is a purpose that the RCC is striving for. To be separate from the rest of the Christian faith. Correct me if I am wrong in this observation.

The Roman Catholic Church has not moved in over 2000 years. If there is a gap between Catholic and non-Catholics, guess who moved. We have made some changes in doctrine and made the Church more user friendly, but we have not waivered in our faith.

You keep making the referring to non-Catholics as Christians. According to Merriam-Webster, a Christian is: *one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. *

And given that definition, Catholics are Christians. And since Jesus called Peter the “Rock” and said to him, “Upon this rock, I will build my church.”

And since the Catholics can trace the succession of the Pope all the way back to Peter, we can conclude that Peter was the first Pope of the Church and Catholics were first Christians (or followers of The Way).

Therefore we can colclude that all other Christian denominations are subsets (or watered down versions) of the of the Catholic church.

If you trace all other Christian denominations back, as the saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome.”

God Bless,
Davis

 

[carol_marie]

Hello! welcome to the fourms!

I think if you hang out here for awhile you’ll soon see that Catholics are just like everybody else - some are very nice & try their best to answer your questions and some get their feathers ruffled pretty quickly. I’m sure there are folks like that at your church also? Just human nature…

I was started posting here over a year ago. I was a born again Christian with lots of questions. I have found this website to be an excellent place to get my questions answered. After much prayer, I felt God calling me to the Catholic Church and I officially “crossed over” this past Easter. I praise the Lord for that!

If you have questions about the Catholic Church, I would encourage you to post away. Hopefully you’ll get the answers you need.

God Bless you!
CM

 

[Church_Militant]

What I believe…

I am NON DENOMINATIONAL. I do not commit to ANYONE except God and Jesus Christ. No MAN will tell me anymore what to think and how to believe when it comes to my faith. I am a CHRISTIAN. …

Bottom line… ALL religion is MAN-MADE but a relationship with God is MADE BY GOD…Really? The New Testament seems to disagree with you.
**James 1:26 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one’s self unspotted from this world
**

 

[MEP]

Singinbeauty:

So, I am concluding that catholics are just as bad as protestants and that is not a good witness on either side.

I think you’ll see just as many levelheaded responses as you see flames. The problem with public forums like this is that the levelheaded posts and the flames all occur in the same thread so it’s easy to be distracted from the reasonable respones by the more inflammatory ones. That’s just the way the human mind is wired, to detect the unusual or the potentially more dangerous more accutely than the normal (it’s part of our survival instinct).

This thread is a good example. More than a few people have responded to your post civilly and respectfully, but more than a few others have responded rudely and derisively as well. It’s very easy to think that this thread is nothing more than a flamewar, but taking a step back for a second and really looking at all of the posts without getting too involved in any emotional response would indicate that the flames have not completely consumed this topic yet.

As with everything else on the internet, you have to learn to filter the noise from the signal sometimes. If these forums are to remain public (and therefore useful) a certain amount of rudeness has to be unfortunately tolerated. Please try not to let that reflect on everyone here though. The answers you want can be found here, and there are plenty of decent, polite people willing to converse with you. Just try to ignore the trolls in the corner.

‘interent’? I need to use spellcheck sometimes

 

[Church_Militant]

Egg4christ:

Yeah, there was a catholic who answered this, i thought i might rephrase it. To catholics, they are the christian faith, and everyone else is severly missing things.

Yeah. i think there are definitly many catholics who are only Catholic “through birth”, or “through marriage”, and honestly do what they do because they’ve always done it. They run on just raw tradition.
However, not all Catholics are like that. Particularly the ones on this forum, because the people who are here choose to be here. it’s not a requirement, and most of them really know their stuff, and are devoted to God.

Well, i guess we honestly use the same tactics for either side. Talk to any Catholic basher, and you’ll find that he or she uses just the methods you described.
I’d have to say there’s a split in opinions of protestants. Certainly, there are some who would describe Protestants just as i described catholics above, doing what they do because it is expected. Having religion simply because your parents or spouse had religion.
There are others, however, who believe that protestants may have some good point. The concept of “seperated bretheren” essentially is that we as protestants have some good ideas about God, but are lacking the Church. They see me as i see them. a few good ideas, but unfortunatly confused on a few major issues.

Thank you for a balanced and objective response on our behalf. I, for one, very much appreciate your understaning of where we are coming from, and why.

As a cradle Catholic that spent over 34 years as various shades of n-C (including non-denoms) and someone who had a pretty much “no fear” witness going on, now I try not to give as good as I get from those who seem to feel that argument and attack are the right and proper way in which to share their faith. I have never been that way, but needless to say, I can answer it.

As for Singinbeauty’s contention that we seem “wounded and defensive” when questioned about our faith, I would have to point out that (in my experience), that is a response to the tone of the person or persons asking the “questions”. I have been the subject of that sort of aggressive “sharing” and as the street saying goes, “it ain’t nuthin’ nice.” It’s difficult not to respond in kind, and I find myself silently praying to the Holy Spirit to give me the right words and wisdom in my responses.

Pax tecum,

 

[Singinbeauty]

I should clarify…

James 1:26-27

26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.

When I made the statement about religion being man-made I was not so much speaking of christianity itself (believing Jesus is the risen Messiah) but about the different denominations sprouting up out of the ground…