do you have to be Catholic to get into Heaven??

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distracted said:
i did not say anything in my post about Believing in the Real Presence… I probably wouldn’t necessarily believe it myself… if i hadn’t been There – and spent HOURs there… i wish i could be There now… I may have to move so as to be closer to Him… hmmmm…:hmmm: ***There is VAST difference between believing in someone and being WITH that someone… ***
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Guess what I did when I was Catholic? I spend 10 months living at a nunnery and my hallway was only accessible through the chapel giving me the unique opportunity to be there very often… Daily mass, daily rosary, liturgy of the hours (and when I missed them due to me still being in school at the time I prayed them alone), etc.
I know that there is a vast difference… I do not believe anymore that what you believe to be God is God and I still am in His presence every day and more intimate than I could ever have imagined. I do not need to spend hours in front of the tabernacle to be with Him…
 
ronin67 said:
The average protestant? I can asure you that the average protestant 9 times out of 10 will have a better working knowledge of the overall message of the bible when it comes to salvation through Christ by the Grace of God, then the average Catholic. I carry a bible when I go to church and to mass (Catholics look at me funny when I do this). What is truth??? This is the big reason I’m going to be a Catholic, got to get them in the bible so they not only hear the words at mass, but know them when they are spoken. Also, I will still maintain my memberships in my Baptist church and Lutheran church. To understand the Catholic experience, you have to live it, so that is what I’m going to do. So when a Catholic starts saying I don’t understand the Catholic view, I can guide him in the right direction of knowledge that I know from the Catholic experience. Lead by example. Jesus is the greatest example of this. A man or woman with the knowledge of the truth of Christ is armed with all they will ever need.

Take Care and May God Bless!

Ed
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Huh?
You’re trying to be Catholic, Baptist and Lutheran at the same time? Which one is it going to be in the end?
 
Janet1983 said:
Huh?
You’re trying to be Catholic, Baptist and Lutheran at the same time? Which one is it going to be in the end?
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Which ever one answers the question, “What is Truth”? Besides where is it written that I can’t seek the truth in these different denominations? The Baptist and Lutheran churches I am a member (no trying, I have succeeded). Trying the Catholic side now so I can get a better understanding of what goes on in the mind of a Catholic. Maybe if I can get a better understanding of the Catholic church, I will be able to be a better representative for the Catholic cause when it comes to confussion on why Catholic doctrines are so different in many aspects than the Protestant side. Who knows what will happen, but it is all in the interest of bringing unity to my Christian community thru the saving grace of God our Father. I hope I can make a difference.

Take Care and May God Bless!

Ed
 
ronin67 said:
Which ever one answers the question, “What is Truth”? Besides where is it written that I can’t seek the truth in these different denominations? The Baptist and Lutheran churches I am a member (no trying, I have succeeded). Trying the Catholic side now so I can get a better understanding of what goes on in the mind of a Catholic. Maybe if I can get a better understanding of the Catholic church, I will be able to be a better representative for the Catholic cause when it comes to confussion on why Catholic doctrines are so different in many aspects than the Protestant side. Who knows what will happen, but it is all in the interest of bringing unity to my Christian community thru the saving grace of God our Father. I hope I can make a difference.

Take Care and May God Bless!

Ed
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That is good Ronin, searching with an open mind. And a very good place to seek and learn here at Catholic answers.
God bless you in your search. 👍 Carlan
 
Carlan said:
That is good Ronin, searching with an open mind. And a very good place to seek and learn here at Catholic answers.
God bless you in your search. 👍 Carlan
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Thank you sir. To be honest, I’m so tired of the arguing and bickering amongst men and women of God over man made doctrinal differences (as it applys to the Christian denominations that accept the biblical truth as Jesus is our way to salvation, extended to us by grace from God the Father/Jehovah Witness’ and Mormon’s are on their own). Nothing to me is more wrong then one denomination looking down on another and not extending the love of Christ. Styles are very different, but if the truth of Biblical Scripture is being taught, who cares about the man made formal proceding differences? The whole thing reminds me of that Dr. Suess story about the star belly sneetches thinking they where better then the plain belly sneetchs. Why do denominations exist? Well, the bottom line is corruption and man made doctrine that started to take precidence of scriptural truth. I had one person on this group say it was due to the protestants that division exists and they should repent, swallow their pride, and return to the Catholic church. Yes, this is true, however why did Martin Luther do it? Because he had nothing better to do? He saw the corruption that man’s pride can do and he asked question that those in charge refused to answer (so was the division the result of the Catholic church itself?). Martin Luther himself didn’t want to break away from the Catholic Church. Man’s pride and greed caused the reformation. Now after that, all the different churches that sprung up on the protestant side is a little excessive (my opinion on the matter) due to petty differeneces (not the major issues during Martin Luther’s time). Bottom line, if I walk up to any Christian (no matter what denomination) and ask him or her how do you attain eternal salvation, the answer should always be accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That is all I have to say about that.

Take Care and May God Bless!

Ed
 
ron77nyc said:
Many Catholics are also ignorant of the Mass and the Eucharist and no one is worried about their salvation because they belong to the Church. They are in so they’re OK as far as anyone is concerned.
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PRmerger said:
I don’t know where you get that sentiment, either, ron. According to the Christian faith, “redemption”—salvation—is not simply a given. (See PopeB16’s encyclical that I cited earlier, Spe Salvi).
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The Church has always taught:
  1. baptism saves you
  2. once saved we are required to live obediently and that means obeying the rules of the Church. Go to Mass. Go to confession.
    The result of this teaching is that many people within the Church don’t really believe in the resurrection of Jesus but they are living under the Old Covenant trying to please God by obeying rules.
 
ron77nyc said:
The Church has always taught:
  1. baptism saves you
  2. once saved we are required to live obediently and that means obeying the rules of the Church. Go to Mass. Go to confession.
    The result of this teaching is that many people within the Church don’t really believe in the resurrection of Jesus but they are living under the Old Covenant trying to please God by obeying rules.
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Yes, sad that many Catholics aren’t catechized well.
 
PRmerger said:
No, ron. They’re saying the same thing.
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THE CHURCH TODAY

839 "Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways."325
The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,326 "the first to hear the Word of God."327 The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God’s revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews “belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ”,328 "for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."329

841 The Church’s relationship with** the Muslims**. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day."330

847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337

848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338
THE CHURCH BEFORE VATICAN II

Pope Eugene IV and the Council of Florence (A.D. 1438 - 1445): “[The most Holy Roman Church] firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart `into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matt. 25:41), unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.”
 
tweetymom said:
CHRISTIAN:extrahappy:
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The issue is that there are differences between the groups…
Being Catholic he cannot be Baptist and being Baptist he cannot be Catholic… If he is trying to do so he will only be a member of one group by name and member of the other by heart and by name…
 
Janet1983 said:
The issue is that there are differences between the groups…
Being Catholic he cannot be Baptist and being Baptist he cannot be Catholic… If he is trying to do so he will only be a member of one group by name and member of the other by heart and by name…
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I am a Catholic, Baptist, and a Pentocastal:dancing:
 
tweetymom said:
I am a Catholic, Baptist, and a Pentocastal:dancing:
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So do you believe what the CC tells you to or do you mix?
What about apostolic succession, the significance of baptism, the timing of baptism, the status of the Bible, the number of books in the Bible, the forgiveness of sin, the immaculate conception, Spirit baptism, limbo, purgatory, infallibility of the pope, prayer to saints, Mary’s status, non-Christian faiths, sacraments / ordinances, salvation, visibility of the Church, etc.?
Which position do you generally hold? You cannot serve two masters…
Are you saved or do you believe in the Catholic definition of salvation (you were saved, are getting saved and will be saved)?
 
Janet1983 said:
I don’t believe in the real presence anymore and I actually do know Him. I was raised Catholic and I was raised into this belief.
I do not believe it anymore… Jesus Christ is a part of my life and this intimacy is not dependent upon going into a church and it does not end after digestion and after the blessing at the end of mass. I do not only live in the presence of the Lord for a maximum of 2 hours a day… I talk to Him… I praise Him, I thank Him for His blessings, I ask Him to forgive me and I can come and ask for my needs…
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Janet 1983,

How are we to obtain eternal life and be raised up (to His Kingdom) on the last day? Jesus tells us this in that single sentence: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…….” How can anyone misconstrue or deny what this statement made by Jesus is telling us. Some religions do not believe this statement made by Jesus, believing it to be a form of cannibalism, and totally ignore everything Jesus said about eating His body and drinking His blood - but how can they possibly deny the above statement. Was Jesus just joshing when he said that, was he joking, was he just making small talk? I don’t think so. Remember, Jesus created the whole world out of nothing, could He not come into our bodies through bread and wine while still maintaining the original texture of the bread and wine? Is this impossible for Him to do? If one believes in the Holy Spirit, whom you can not see, why not believe that Jesus can come into our bodies through the vessels of bread and wine? Hey, are we to tell Jesus what he can and can not?
 
Sean,

I’m just trying to get behind the logic… How can one human being believe both when they do not say the same?
 
Janet1983 said:
So do you believe what the CC tells you to or do you mix?
What about apostolic succession, the significance of baptism, the timing of baptism, the status of the Bible, the number of books in the Bible, the forgiveness of sin, the immaculate conception, Spirit baptism, limbo, purgatory, infallibility of the pope, prayer to saints, Mary’s status, non-Christian faiths, sacraments / ordinances, salvation, visibility of the Church, etc.?
Which position do you generally hold? You cannot serve two masters…
Are you saved or do you believe in the Catholic definition of salvation (you were saved, are getting saved and will be saved)?
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I am not serving 2 masters. I only serve Jesus Christ. Born a Catholic, went to Baptist Church when I was 35 for 10 years, then went to Pentacostal Church fo 15years and am back at Catholic Church so I am a lot of all three and am very happy in my walk with Christ. And hope that you are too.🙂
 
Janet1983 said:
Sean,

I’m just trying to get behind the logic… How can one human being believe both when they do not say the same?
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The same way that the Church teaches there is no salvation outside the Church but those outside can be saved. I’m also trying to get behind the logic.
See my post #1226.
 
ron77nyc said:
The same way that the Church teaches there is no salvation outside the Church but those outside can be saved. I’m also trying to get behind the logic.
See my post #1226.
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Even though I disagree with these claims of the CC it still has more logic in it:
The more you know the more responsibility you have… You never heard of the CC? Then it’s ok if you’re not a member…
However knowing about 2 denominations, one of which claims that they are the one true church and trying to be a member of both while their teachings are partly contradictory is more than just puzzling to me… It is a logical impossibility…
There is no logical way out through lack of knowledge…
 
Janet1983 said:
Even though I disagree with these claims of the CC it still has more logic in it:
The more you know the more responsibility you have… You never heard of the CC? Then it’s ok if you’re not a member…
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That’s what the Church teaches today in the catechism but it’s not what earlier popes were saying. How could one pope contradict another pope? That’s what I find illogical. One pope says you must be Catholic to be saved and another says you don’t.
 
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