Has Catholicism became a One Race Religion?

[SantaBenito]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

 

[saint_rafael]

Yes, everyone is born into their religion. Your religion might depend on the culture you were born, but that does not mean everyone has to die in their religion. I am a Catholic not just because I was born a Catholic, but because I know it is the one true religion.

The biggest problem in getting people to convert, is that no looks for the truth anymore. Once upon a time there was real debate and discussion about truth and which religion was true. Now people just go through life in their religion without questioning it. We have all this relativism in the world.

Anyone can transcend their culture and grasp the truth about religion. If there was fairness, freedom, and missionaries, an Islamic man born in Iran coud grasp the truth of Christianity, but Islamic culture is hostile to other religions.

 

[buffalo]

No, it is not a one race religion. The Church is growing fastest in Africa and Asia.

 

[canne]

I think race has very little to do with ones religion. Catholicism is quite “multiracial”. For example you say you are of Italian heritage and thusly Catholic. I am not italian, yet I am a cradle Catholic, my husband is a cradle Catholic and he is not italian, nor the same race as myself. I think rather ones culture, the environment you were raised in does influence religion sure- but Catholicism a one race religion , No.

 

[rwoehmke]

Ah folks…nationality or ethnicity are not considered race. Germans, Poles, French, Irish,English etc. are white or caucasian, some Africans are black and some are not, being Muslim or Jew is not a race. Muslim, Jew, Catholic, etc. are religions. American Indian, Negro or Black, White or Caucasian, Oriental are races. Race does not determine religion. Country of origin might.

 

[vee8]

Wow go to Rome someday if you can and you will see exactly how universal the Catholic church is as people from all cultures and walks of life gather in St Peters square. Secondly since I think there is only one race, the human race, the question becomes a matter of culture. Yes the culture in which one is raised affects ones childhood religious beliefs but adults have the ability to learn, grow, and change their religious affiliation.

 

[Eileen_T]

catholicscomehome.org/

Look at the first video clip at the bottom of the page - it is advert length.

 

[HashemEchad]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

People can and do convert to religions other than those they were born into.

My mother was raised an Italian Catholic, but converted to Orthodox Judaism in the 1940s (although we later did learn she descended from Spanish Jews who had fled to Italy to escape the Spanish Inquisition.)

My husband was raised a German and Danish Baptist, but converted to Orthodox Judaism in the early 1980s.

I know people in my Torah study group, both of whom were raised as Catholics in Puerto Rico, and who converted to Orthodox Judaism.

I also know an Orthodox rabbi who was born in County Cork, Ireland as a Catholic, but who became an Orthodox Jew.

It happens a lot, that people from one culture/religion switch to another.

 

[consumedconvert]

I was not born into this greatest of Religions, nor were many others who are now Catholic.

As for whether it’s a “one race” religion–absolutely not!

To illustrate:

I remember walking into Church one time and seing a Vietnamese family posing for pictures with their newly Baptised baby. They were posing with the minister of Baptism, an African priest.

No. Not a one race religion. Many Hispanics immigrating to our area have a strong Catholic heritage; Catholicism is exploding in Africa; and Asia has many Catholics as well.

 

[Conservative]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

While we are “born” into our religion by reason of our family, it does not always have something to do with logistics. True, if you’re born in Israel, the chances are pretty good, that you are an Israeli of the Jewish Faith - OR - perhaps a non-Israeli (sorry, there are several nationalites who would fall under the category of “Palestinians”???, and I’m afraid I’ll slight someone by leaving them out) - but people who while born/live in Israel, are of the Islamic Faith.

HOWEVER, as I’ve learned - there are Jewish “colonies” (as I’ve heard them described) - in Italy…Rome - which might be of interest to you based on your Italian roots. So, country-of-origin doesn’t always designate your religion - and while family ties may have gotten someone started in a religion, they may have either fallen away from it, lost interest - or just never practiced…and could be looking / waiting for something MORE !

For instance - as for being born in Iraq…(and someone correct me if I’m wrong) - did you know that Moslems believe Our Lord was a prophet - and they have a respect for Our Lady? (hope my memory serves me right here.) If so, they have some knowledge/foundation - and let’s face it, respect for Our Lady is a good start…If they’re looking for more - Catholicism (or Christianity) might be in their near-future…if they were interested. Alot depends on how serious the person is in practicing their Islamic Faith.

Sadly, Catholicism needs to be spread, evangelized (to people who may not have it in the “family” history) - perhaps one of the points where Catholics are lacking - BIG TIME. We have Jehovah’s Witnesses here - who periodically repeat their walk through the same neighborhood - the same houses - even when they’ve been told, “No, I’m Catholic”, etc. whatever. It’s too bad that Catholics don’t do more in encouraging / introducing our Faith to others - no matter what the nationality…(Sorry for getting on my soapbox here!)

 

[HashemEchad]

Sadly, Catholicism needs to be spread, evangelized (to people who may not have it in the “family” history) - perhaps one of the points where Catholics are lacking - BIG TIME. We have Jehovah’s Witnesses here - who periodically repeat their walk through the same neighborhood - the same houses - even when they’ve been told, “No, I’m Catholic”, etc. whatever. It’s too bad that Catholics don’t do more in encouraging / introducing our Faith to others - no matter what the nationality…(Sorry for getting on my soapbox here!)

Don’t you think that if Catholics were to become just as aggressive as JWs in proselytization, that they would then turn off people to Catholicism, just as JWs turn people off to their beliefs?

In the short time I’ve been on this forum, I’ve been prosleytized numerous times, not always in a friendly way either. It has made me see Catholicism in a different light, even though half my family is Catholic and I know many Catholics offline who have never proselytized me (and I respect them for it.)

People don’t like to have religion shoved on them, esp. repeatedly; I know I don’t, esp. when I am fully committed to my own religion. Catholics should know what that feels like, because fundamentalists and JWs do it to them all the time, even after being told no. In fact one major reason why I tend to get along offline far better with Catholics than fundamentalists is because they DON’T try to convert me to their beliefs.

When someone is known for being aggressive in conversion efforts, I tend to avoid them (ditto for smokers!)

 

[SacredHeartFan]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

Not excatly. I was born in the U.S. and I’m a catholic although I have many protestant, muslim, even buddist friends.

Although my catholicism may be part of my french, cajun, and german ancestory.

 

[buffalo]

Actually I am going to change my position - it is a one race universal religion - that being the human race.

 

[EasterJoy]

I think that the idea that your ethnic group chooses your religion is not only incorrect, but a dangerous one, and here’s why:

I had a friend who started dating a woman, and it came up very soon that she was Presbyterian. What was he? He didn’t know. He went home and asked his mom. She told him, "What do you mean what are we? We’re Catholic!"

His parents had not frequented the sacraments, and did not even attend Mass any more. He had never made his First Communion or ever gone to confession. As nearly as I can tell, they did essentially *nothing *for his catechesis, to the point that he asked me once, “I heard someone say Jesus was Jewish…I don’t get that. I thought he was Christian.”

The gift of faith handed onto us from our parents is* not *an accident of birth. It is a conscious gift of life. Just as in physical parenting, some take that gift more seriously than others, while some others seem to think it is automatic. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Those of us who have been given that gift should not take it for granted. Those of us who are entrusted with handing on that precious gift should never take it for granted, either.

You can’t lose your genes, but you can lose your faith. Guard it with your life, cherish it, nourish it, and always, always be thankful for it.

 

[tomarin]

Ah folks…nationality or ethnicity are not considered race.

not now they’re not. but in the 19th century the jews and irish were considered to be racial groups that were separate from and inferior to “white” america (of anglo and germanic heritage). as their descendents assimilated to american culture they were promoted to “white” racial status (sometime in the 1950’s).

just a footnote.

 

[brotherhrolf]

not now they’re not. but in the 19th century the jews and irish were considered to be racial groups that were separate from and inferior to “white” america (of anglo and germanic heritage). as their descendents assimilated to american culture they were promoted to “white” racial status (sometime in the 1950’s).

just a footnote.

The Irish and Jewish folks here in south Louisiana were never viewed as separate “races” nor were they ever “promoted” to “white” racial status nor were the “foreign French” or the Sicilians, Italians, Serbs, Croats or Germans. This “concept” was unique to protestant “Yankee” states and I am very much aware of the editiorial cartoons coming out of NYC showing the Irish as some kind of simian.

One race? No. Not by a long shot. We have had African American parishes across south Louisiana for well over a century. We have vibrant Vietnamese parishes and Vietnamese parishoners incorporated into our parishes. We had large numbers of Cuban immigrants in the early 60s who simply “melted” into our cultural gumbo here because of the historic ties between Habana and New Orleans. No Miami here. We are now experiencing an influx of folks from Mexico and I fully expect them to “melt” into and enrich our cultural gumbo as well.

We have priests from India aiding my diocese…priests from Columbia…

We are the people of God and we are not one race by any stretch of the immagination.

 

[tomarin]

This “concept” was unique to protestant “Yankee” states and I am very much aware of the editiorial cartoons coming out of NYC showing the Irish as some kind of simian.

well i do live in yankeesland.

my understanding was that those cartoons you mention expressed attitudes that were common to the u.s. (or at least parts of it) and great britain.

 

[DL82]

In what way can a Church that includes major branches in India, Iran, Iraq, Uganda, Nigeria, Australia, Poland, Ireland, Italy, Latin America, Germany, Spain and Portugal, France, Lebanon, the Philippines and Ukraine to name but a few, possibly be considered a One Race Religion?

Speaking for myself, as a Scotsman, raised presbyterian, a recent convert, who went to RCIA in a Catholic Church in England with a largely African congregation, it was the international, global, ‘Catholic’ (i.e. all-embracing) aspect of the Church that was one of the clearest signs to me of God’s blessing.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

Not around here. We have many, many races and nationalities represented at Mass, including even a few Pakistanis and Arabs.

 

[Nickkname]

I’m Catholic, I’d say because I was brought up under a Italian roof, and we went to church etc, But if I was brought up in Iraq I’d be Muslim…

Do you think depending on what race you are it almost certainly chooses your religion?

Italians, Spaniards, Mexicans, Brazilians, Portuguese, etc.

Not unless you believe in stereotypes.

Also Catholicism is, as the name says, Catholic. Catholic = Universal. Univerisal means Catholicism is for everyone, not just for one particular race. This is what Pentecost shows us. This is what the Church believes.