Christian and Catholic Forums unhelpful

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thistle said:
In case you didn’t realise it Catholics ARE Christians!
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thistle said:
My comment was to the OP. It seems many people don’t understand that Catholics are Christians but I expect all Catholics to know that. Catholics who continue to talk about Catholics and Christians simply exacerbate that issue.
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guanophore said:
It would be more accurate to say Protestant and Catholic
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The phrase “Catholic and Christian” can be used in two ways:
  • Catholics are not Christians, the anti-Catholic canard
  • referring to the smaller subset of Catholics and the larger group of all Christians (including Catholics) at the same time
You have to look at the context to determine which way the speaker means it. Given that @Jump4Joy is Catholic and assuredly considers herself a Christian, it’s far more likely she means the latter and is saying “I frequent both Catholic-specific and generally Christian forums and…”.

Or to put it in very clear terms for a different topic, she’s saying the equivalent of “From my experience, Yankee and baseball forums and subreddits haven’t helped my love of the game grow.”

Now granted, people who mean it the second way could avoid having people wrongly accuse them by adding some additional explanatory words, such as (these are real examples from CAF where it’s meant the second way):

Greatest Catholic and Christian Speakers?
What speakers on the Catholic faith, or more broadly Christianity…

and

I would like to study some good Catholic and Christian poetry in general

(although, in the second case, somebody still accused the OP of thinking Catholics aren’t Christians despite the clarifying words, which immediately hijacked a poetry thread into a Catholics-vs.-Protestants debate).

My bottom line: to everyone who jumps on that phrase every time they see it on CAF: recognize that this wording has two meanings and please take the time to read the context and reserve the accusations for those actually saying Catholics aren’t Christians (hint: it’s going to be the anti-Catholics).

Actually, this is kind of an illustration of the point of the OP’s thread: she uses a phrase innocently (if ambiguously) and gets accused and hijacked - almost 20% of her thread is now about this phrase.
 
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Right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Much more so trivial things like internet forums.
 
Please consider going on a Spiritual retreat to grow in your Spiritual life…you will be able to talk to amazing priests who provide wonderful Spiritual directors.

I can recommend Ignatian Silent retreats…treasure in heaven.

Prayer and learning to discern God in your life to stay on the right path is very important…God’s Voice Within is a great book for discernment. Pray the rosary every day if you can by God’s grace.

Praying God guide you.
 
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Because of disability and circumstances, the internet has been a great blessing to me. The fellowship and sharing of ideas has been invaluable. I’m picky about what I read and where I go, and I’d not suggest places like Reddit for those new to the faith at all!!
 
Yeah, I’ve been thinking recently that this place is probably a net negative to my spiritual growth. I might peace out for a bit too.
 
Forums are places for community…if people expect to get Spiritual Direction about where God is calling them to grow in their spiritual life from strangers on a forum then they have been mislead…they should talk to a Spiritual director.
 
My best advice, stay away from ANY political posts. They will suck the hope out of a Disney Princess!!
 
TheLittleLady
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My best advice, stay away from ANY political posts. They will suck the hope out of a Disney Princess!!
LOL…would have to agree…politics…not Catholicism… IS the religion on those threads…
 
Ecclesiam Suam, Paul VI’s first encyclical, provides guidelines on dialogue with Catholics, Christians and others. It is worth reading if you want better ideas about how to discuss religion with others, particularly the description of dialogue at paragraphs 78-82. The beginning of that passage provides a vision of how we should approach others:
it seems to Us that the sort of relationship for the Church to establish with the world should be more in the nature of a dialogue… It must be adapted to the intelligences of those to whom it is addressed, and it must take account of the circumstances. Dialogue with children is not the same as dialogue with adults, nor is dialogue with Christians the same as dialogue with non-believers. But this method of approach is demanded nowadays by the prevalent understanding of the relationship between the sacred and the profane. It is demanded by the dynamic course of action which is changing the face of modern society. It is demanded by the pluralism of society, and by the maturity man has reached in this day and age. Be he religious or not, his secular education has enabled him to think and speak, and conduct a dialogue with dignity.

Moreover, the very fact that he engages in a dialogue of this sort is proof of his consideration and esteem for others, his understanding and his kindness. He detests bigotry and prejudice, malicious and indiscriminate hostility, and empty, boastful speech.
If, in our desire to respect a man’s freedom and dignity, his conversion to the true faith is not the immediate object of our dialogue with him, we nevertheless try to help him and to dispose him for a fuller sharing of ideas and convictions.
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Maybe you shouldn’t…being spoken to directly like that can make someone look to themselves instead of others for their lack of Faith. And there is nothing wrong about praying for someone to grow in their Faith.
 
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His comment was singularly unhelpful. His posts are difficult to follow so using more words might make it worse.
 
Forums are useful for fellowship, making friends and learning things. But as far as growing in holiness, I have found it more helpful to try to spend time, even if it’s just a short amount of time daily – to just turn everything off and spending time alone quietly with the Lord, especially if adoration is available, or praying the rosary.
 
Wampa said:
The phrase “Catholic and Christian” can be used in two ways
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Many “non-denomenatational” Christians claim they are “not protesting anything” and therefore, are not Protestants. Despite their ignorance they espouse multiple anti-Catholic/Protestant doctrines.
 
I totally agree and I think that related point fits within the part of the first usage I gave. My point is that the OP here was using the second, so that’s irrelevant here.
 
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