I think I'm done.

[ScottH]

montanaman:

You’re an oddly helpful Protestant. And you’re right–I’ve made more inroads when I swallow my galactic ego than when I present airtight arguments.

Hmm…Don’t call 'em ignorant jerks. I’ll try more of that.

I love that quote- “Oddly Helpful”… LOL!

I suppose the expected protestant response then would be “Predictably Harmful”!!! Argh…

…some of us are so misunderstood.

There are some of us that know we serve the same master, but in different buildings, with slightly different customs. Some of us- like me- are uncomfortable with the “Eurocentric” customs that the RC church seems to have, which we feel - at best- could be considered strangely unnecessary, or- at worst- borderline idolotry. (Particularly with the statues… namely the Mary ones.)

Again- I say this not to offend, but just so you understand where I’m coming from personally. Many of us feel that RCism resembles a strictly-european flavored Christianity, a “flavor” (if I may simplify it by using that noun) that some of us cannot easily acquire. This is where I would stumble upon entry.

However, I know some of my Protestant cohorts dispute the transubstantiation of the Eucharist, yet feel that salvation can be achieved via infant baptism in a Presby church. So you’d think to have a problem with one would be to have a problem with the other- but you know it doesn’t work like that.

Remember- I’m a rather new Christian (3 years). So for better or worse, that means I may be a bit more open to discussion and not adhering to mere tradition of any sides argument.

 

[DianJo]

Hey Montanaman! I’m with you on this one!

I did the same thing only I was on the CARM boards for a while! Talk about venom! Those are some of the most vile people I’ve ever run into!!! No matter how air tight and reasonable your argument or explanation was it wasn’t good enough. I was amazed at the fact that this was a Protestant board with a Catholicism section with no Catholics in sight! I only joined hoping to clear a few things up, not to really debate, just to explain - but when you try to explain how and where our beliefs came from - well…it just didn’t matter. It’s like a child sticking her fingers in her ears and yelling, “Na,na,na,na,na…” at the top of her lungs so she can’t hear a word you’re saying!

I finally HAD to leave because it was making me physically ill! My stomach was always torn up, headaches, all of it! I really let it get to me. I really thought I could make a difference where the lies and misconceptions were concerned. I soon discovered that these people are not interested in the truth, they just want their own private forum where they can bash the Catholic beliefs in peace and not have to worry about the truth! I thought if they realized what they believed wasn’t true then they might at least tone down the rhetoric, but…

Don’t go back to those boards - stay here! That’s what I did and I am much better for it! Those physicial maladies are gone! No more stomach aches! Oh, I occasionally sneek back (not to the CARM board, though!) to one of those protestant forums just to see what’s going on. I may answer a few posts but then I’m done. I get out of there and come back here! It’s given me a little better perspective.

BTW, I’ve followed you over at Protest Warrior and you have been wonderful! You’ve kept your cool! I understand how you could becomefrustrated. That board is still not near as bad as the CARM board! Just come and stay home for a while and get re-centered! Then just go to others boards for a “quick visit” once in a while!

 

[ScottH]

DianJo:

Hey Montanaman! I’m with you on this one!

I did the same thing only I was on the CARM boards for a while! Talk about venom! Those are some of the most vile people I’ve ever run into!!! No matter how air tight and reasonable your argument or explanation was it wasn’t good enough. I was amazed at the fact that this was a Protestant board with a Catholicism section with no Catholics in sight! I only joined hoping to clear a few things up, not to really debate, just to explain - but when you try to explain how and where our beliefs came from - well…it just didn’t matter. It’s like a child sticking her fingers in her ears and yelling, “Na,na,na,na,na…” at the top of her lungs so she can’t hear a word you’re saying!

I finally HAD to leave because it was making me physically ill! My stomach was always torn up, headaches, all of it! I really let it get to me. I really thought I could make a difference where the lies and misconceptions were concerned. I soon discovered that these people are not interested in the truth, they just want their own private forum where they can bash the Catholic beliefs in peace and not have to worry about the truth! I thought if they realized what they believed wasn’t true then they might at least tone down the rhetoric, but…

Don’t go back to those boards - stay here! That’s what I did and I am much better for it! Those physicial maladies are gone! No more stomach aches! Oh, I occasionally sneek back (not to the CARM board, though!) to one of those protestant forums just to see what’s going on. I may answer a few posts but then I’m done. I get out of there and come back here! It’s given me a little better perspective.

BTW, I’ve followed you over at Protest Warrior and you have been wonderful! You’ve kept your cool! I understand how you could becomefrustrated. That board is still not near as bad as the CARM board! Just come and stay home for a while and get re-centered! Then just go to others boards for a “quick visit” once in a while!

We all (Prots and Caths alike) spend too much time in trying to be “always correct” instead of attuned to the will of God and humbly following His teachings.

 

[ferdie]

Hang in there, just like what Doihavtosay said, you are planting seeds, You will never know how many lurkers are cracking just because of a thing or two that you said to defend the church. One thing is for sure, God is teaching you humility and perseverance.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

montanaman:

I recently wiped it clean, so there isn’t much there. But, here it is: lifeasacatholic.blogspot.com. I’ll probably be posting there much more–just as soon as I can break myself of the forum addiction. Seriously–it’s getting to be a problem.

Good for you! You’re beyond denial…I’m still working on the denial part myself.

Seriously, pray on it…though you probably have…distraction from other more important tasks can be a problem. I’ll throw a prayer your way while I’m at it.

 

[mom_07]

ferdie:

Hang in there, just like what Doihavtosay said, you are planting seeds, You will never know how many lurkers are cracking just because of a thing or two that you said to defend the church. One thing is for sure, God is teaching you humility and perseverance.

I agree. I was at the same point as Motanaman when a Priest posted this on our local secular news faith forum:

Comments: "Young Lady, you are a champion defender of our most Holy Roman Catholic Church.

I have found your literary writings on our church to be refreshing and uplifting. You write with understandable simplicity, you are rarely critical and your knowledge of our dogmas, teachings and our faith can only come from the “Holy Spirit of God”.

Cardinal Ratzinger is a Devine Choice to succeed The most Holy Pope John Paul II. Regrettable, we find it necessary to dispel false accusations about his past but it is comforting that the Lord prepares faithful followers like you who have the gifts and desire to obediently defend His Church.

We are all called to apostleship, especially Catholic Women who are the hearts of our Catholic families and our Catholic Church

May our Lord Bless you and your family abundantly." Fr. James

Although, I must admit the good Father had me at 'young Lady" his encouragement has kept me reading but only replying to clear up gross “misconceptions” about the Church.

My site is detnews.com then go to forums at the left, then faith forums. Pray first.

 

[Tinkerbell]

ferdie:

Hang in there, just like what Doihavtosay said, you are planting seeds, You will never know how many lurkers are cracking just because of a thing or two that you said to defend the church. One thing is for sure, God is teaching you humility and perseverance.

I agree with ferdie Come on…just hang in there and plant them seeds.

 

[montanaman]

Life is funny.

This morning I had a PM from the other site from a guy who liked my replies and wanted some apologetics book titles. So, in the midst of chaos, hate, bile, anger and judgment, there is the occasional quiet one with an open mind…

 

[Contarini]

montanaman:

Protestants believe they can sin grave sins all day long, but they’ll still go to Heaven. Then, out the other side of their mouths, they try to convince Catholics they’re going to Hell. Oh, and they’ll deny that they believe they can sin gravely and get to Heaven.

Shouldn’t that be a red flag warning you that you may not understand Protestantism as well as you think? (I don’t care if you were a former Protestant–lots of former Catholics misunderstand Catholicism, as you know quite well I’m sure.) It’s rather arrogant of you to assert that you know what these Protestants believe better than they do, or that they are brazenly lying (unless you know them to be dishonest people, in which case you need to find better conversation partners).

Edwin

 

[montanaman]

Contarini:

Shouldn’t that be a red flag warning you that you may not understand Protestantism as well as you think? (I don’t care if you were a former Protestant–lots of former Catholics misunderstand Catholicism, as you know quite well I’m sure.) It’s rather arrogant of you to assert that you know what these Protestants believe better than they do, or that they are brazenly lying (unless you know them to be dishonest people, in which case you need to find better conversation partners).

Edwin

The gripes I posted above were a composite of several different people, but I can assure you, I’ve come across exactly that kind of thinking. The best a lot of them can do is say “Well, you won’t WANT to sin all the time, and if you do, it’s evidence of a salvation that didn’t “take.””

It’s actually rare that a Protestant will come out and say they can sin gravely and still get to Heaven. However, you can never get some of them to explicitly deny that, either.

We HAVE TO speak in generalities. There are no objective standards by which to judge all the flavors of Protetantism. On the other hand, all Protestants have to do is open up our Catechism to determine who the real Catholics are.

So, no, I’m not being arrogant. Everything I posted above has been said to me by one Protestant or another. YOU may not agree with it, but is the “Biblically based” creed of some of your spiritual cousins.

 

[MamaGeek]

I’ve been accused of all sorts of horrible things on the one secular forum to which I regularly post. I’ve been told that I’m intollerant because I believe that homosexual relations are sinful, that I’m a Bible-thumper (although I rarely quote the Bible), that I am hateful, that I tell people they are mortal sinners (because I say that certain acts, like birth control, are gravely sinful in the eyes of the Catholic church), that I shove my religion down their throats (because they are constantly goading me and asking what I think about this or that “ridiculous” teaching of the Church), and that I try to make all Catholics (the cafeteria variety) be just like me, a “radical ultra-conservative.” Seriously.

It is so frustrating, and I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to just give up. Then I remember Jesus saying that blessed are those who are reviled because of His name. I pray for them, and trust that God might use my words to reach someone, even if not the person with whom I’m arguing.

 

[space_ghost]

jimmy:

Thankyou

Your not the only one that has this addiction. I think they need a CFA(Catholic Forums Anonymous) for us addicts.

…agreed!

 

[space_ghost]

montanaman:

Life is funny.

This morning I had a PM from the other site from a guy who liked my replies and wanted some apologetics book titles. So, in the midst of chaos, hate, bile, anger and judgment, there is the occasional quiet one with an open mind…

…maybe, some Holy Ghost lurking around?, Maybe!?

 

[montanaman]

space ghost:

…maybe, some Holy Ghost lurking around?, Maybe!?

Perhaps, just perhaps…

I’ll dust my computer for prints.

 

[wildjmp]

Some days after debating these guys I want to either become a full-time agnostic or a priest. Go fig.

If not for a few seemingly sincere Prots, I’d easily write them all off as Hellbound “useful idiots.” Some days, man, I tell you–the Dark Side is so tempting.*

*Naturally, by “Dark Side,” I don’t mean devil worship–just the nice, easy pessimistic worldview of the fundamentalist lunatics who think everyone’s going to Hell but them.

Aaaahahaha I love it i totally feel the same way “…after debating these guys I want to either become a full-time agnostic or a priest”

Well, in my case, a nun haha