I'm calling on everyone here in this forum EXCEPT Catholics !!!

[Soutane]

Unfortunately, there are always those who will make up their own theology within the Roman church.

I once (in a theology class, no class) was told that there are three unforgivable sins. One is murder, the second is premarital sex, and the third is using a Ouija board.

Firstly DO NOT refer to my Church as the "Roman church"that is a deliberate perjorative insult that most thinking Catholics find greviously offensive.It is the Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church as not just latin-rite Catholics belong to it.
Secondly if you are making a claim that you were taught that there is more than one unforgivable sin then you were taught by a moron.I find this claim to be specious at best,malicious at worst.

 

[MelanieDN]

Hi ChristianKnight,

Add the above closed Communion to Christians to my list of why I will not join the Catholic Church.

God Bless!

Ahhh… But don’t you know that some Independent Fundamental Bible Baptists won’t even let OTHER Bible Baptists participate in communion at their churches? They believe in ONLY the local church. It seems to me that most any charge laid against the Catholic Church can be turned back on Protestants…maybe because both churches are filled with people.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

Ahhh… But don’t you know that some Independent Fundamental Bible Baptists won’t even let OTHER Bible Baptists participate in communion at their churches? They believe in ONLY the local church. It seems to me that most any charge laid against the Catholic Church can be turned back on Protestants…maybe because both churches are filled with people.

Only if you make the mistaken assumption that someone from one Protestant tradition will defend every aspect of all Protestant traditions. I like, emerald, believe it is a sad error to deny the fellowship of Communion, regardless of who is doing the denying.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Ahhh… But don’t you know that some Independent Fundamental Bible Baptists won’t even let OTHER Bible Baptists participate in communion at their churches? They believe in ONLY the local church. It seems to me that most any charge laid against the Catholic Church can be turned back on Protestants…maybe because both churches are filled with people.

Hi MelanieDN,

Thank you for the information thave some Indepent Fundamental Bible Baptists do not welcome fellow Christians to their Communion as well. I will not be joining those churches either.

God Bless!

 

[pegging]

A new member today, I couldn’t resist checking out this topic. I am a convert to the Church …born Methodist…joined Episcopal church when married…converted 15 years later. No one has really addressed your experience with Mary and your possible conversion to the RC church. I believe the Holy Spirit led me through a LOT of questions and out of a lot of anti-catholic misinformation that I had accumulated through the years. Scott Hahn did a tape set that answered a lot of the questions and “reasons for not being a Catholic” that have been presented here. The Pope, Mary, Eucharist, communion of saints and confession, if I remember correctly. If you are being called to the Faith, it is very hard to resist the Lord’s love for you.

 

[Richard_Abanes]

hey pegg

Nice to meet you. I’m coming at things from the other way – raised a RC, altar boy, private RC school all the way. But didn’t know God until I accepted Christ at the age of 17, and spent the next however many years learning the ways of scripture and God rather than the ways of “tradition” or a “church.” So, it’s interesting to see other experiences. I’m an evangelical now.

R.A.

 

[pegging]

I would really recommend Scott Hahn…he was an active anti-catholic, protestant minister, and had a student ask where it was in Scripture that we are saved by faith alone, and that was the beginning of his intense study and eventual membership in the RC church. One of his sites:
www.salvationhistory.com

My husband was raised Catholic, and could never answer one question that I had about the faith prior to our marriage. And I had lots of questions. I am so grateful to be Catholic.

 

[Richard_Abanes]

ohhh, I’ve known about Scott for years and I have read his stuff and heard him speak. We agree to disagree agreeably. I could put it a lot stronger than that, but hey, why not play nice.

R.A.

 

[Reformed]

I would really recommend Scott Hahn…he was an active anti-catholic, protestant minister, and had a student ask where it was in Scripture that we are saved by faith alone, and that was the beginning of his intense study and eventual membership in the RC church. One of his sites:
www.salvationhistory.com

My husband was raised Catholic, and could never answer one question that I had about the faith prior to our marriage. And I had lots of questions. I am so grateful to be Catholic.

I want to remind everyone that Scott Hahn is laity and is not considered Sacred Tradition. Please don’t exhalt Protestant converts over and above the Holy Scirptures.

 

[pegging]

I don’t recommend anyone who does not recognize the Magesterium as our quthority to interpret scripture. Scott can explain “churcheze talk” and church history and such in a way that is easily understood. He is a lay person, and as such, is totally faithful to what is truly Catholic. He helped me sort out what I “thought the Catholic Church believed” and what the Catholic Church REALLY believes.

 

[shushawnna]

Hello Shush!

Can I make a few comments?
**

1. The trinity doctrine–the bible clearly states that God and Jesus are seperate not the same. They are father and son.**

The Trinity doctrine does NOT deny the Father and the Son distinction. You seem to not understand the Trinity. I would hope that you’d understand it before rejecting it. Please, perhaps, see my **“Today: 3:04 pm post” **on this thread.

2.Hellfire doctrine- God is love, there is no fiery place of torment. Hell is simply the grave.

Then, I am assuming you reject the Bible as God’s Word, which of course, is your right, as long as you do not allege that the Bible does not teach a place known as hell, according to the RC and Protestant understanding of it as a place of eternal separation from God our Creator.

**
3.Bible-Everyone should read the bible for themselves.not just the clergy.**

Very true. But even as an evangelical, might I defend RCs at this point and mention that I am unaware of any RC teaching that says RCs should not read the Bible. Although, certainly, there is the issue of “tradition” associated with biblical interpretation.

R. Abanes

 

[Reformed]

I don’t recommend anyone who does not recognize the Magesterium as our quthority to interpret scripture. Scott can explain “churcheze talk” and church history and such in a way that is easily understood. He is a lay person, and as such, is totally faithful to what is truly Catholic. He helped me sort out what I “thought the Catholic Church believed” and what the Catholic Church REALLY believes.

Ohh… you have a misuderstanding. Please study the Sacred Oral and written Tradition thread. Catholic theolgian cannot agree among themselves on the actual deposit of faith of Sacred Tradition. I don’t think the apologists from Catholic Answers can either.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=276435

 

[shushawnna]

Richard,

I do understand the trinity fully. I have talked to many Catholics about it, and it seems that all Catholics do not have the same defintion of the trinity. Perhaps, that’s the case with you. The bible does not support Jesus deity at all. Yes, he is a god, but not The One True God. That title belongs to Jehovah, God, Yahweh. Jehovah has made Jesus King, they are not equal.

As far as hell- Many Catholics believe it to be a place of torment. The bible speaks of hell as hades, sheol, translated the grave. The bible says Jesus went there, as well as other people that God clearly spoke of as good people.

 

[Alix1912]

I coming late to this thread, but here are my thoughts.

I don’t think there is a Church on earth that is the exact model, of what Christ originally intended the Church on Earth to be. I am Lutheran, because I think this denomination is the closest, but it as all others is far from perfect.

On that note, I do not believe that the Catholics are wrong on most topics, and my reasons for not being Catholic Mostly are due to other reasons besides doctrine or theology.

My main BIG reason for not being Catholic is the EXTREME elitist attitude expressed by many, NOT ALL, but many catholics. I have had many friend who were Catholic and I admire and respect them and their faith greatly. However, skim these boards and you will see a whole other face of Catholism, and it ain’t pretty. (not to say this doesn’t go on in other denominations too.)

Other reasons I would not convert:

I am not comfortable with the Mariology that the Catholic Church confesses, and I find no Biblical base for it. That being said, the pope cannot be infailble because he has spoken from the Throne of St. Peter on this matter. That being said, I really have no problem with Papal infailbility because it’s only in certain circumstances and just isn’t that big of a deal to me. If the mariology had not been one of the things he had spoken on, I would have no issue with this at all.

I also find asking saints to pray for you seems weird to me, but probably only because I didn’t grow up doing that, I don’t think it’s wrong, and I love reading different saints stories, and I think their lifes can serve as great examples.

I think the BC position is a bit harsh. I am all for NFP, it makes sense and is much better for people healthwise than the pill. However, if my life would be in danger if I got pregnant, I would use a permant means of preventing conception. Abstinence is great, but there is more to sex in a commited relationship that just procreation. Just like there are more ways than just sex to express love.

I also find the position on divorce a bit harsh. I do think our society is to free with divorce. It is in my mind a sin to divorce because you do not want to try and work on issues you are facing. However divorcing an cheating, or abusive spouse or someone who is jeopordizing your health or your children is not in my mind a sin. I have seen many posts telling women who have MAJOR problems in their marriage , and should be being advised to go to the police or a lawyer, to simply pray and talk to a priest.

On an ending note, I respect the Catholic Church for sticking to it’s moral guns, publishing a voters guide, and refusing to comprimise on abortion, gay rights, cloning and other aspects. I wish more protestant churchs would do the same. I think the local parrish my husband belongs too is an amazing congregtation that does awsome work in our community.

 

[ChristianKnight]

**
Hi Rob2
Christian Knight said on another thread he was thinking about swim the Tiber. On the internet he could be a 56 year old cop or a 90 year old woman! You actually believe what anyone says on these threads? Oh , I better get out of here before someone checks my baptism certificate and the cyber cops show up! I’ll see you at the Temple Saturday night! WINK!!

God Bless you

Later
Rob1 **

I was thinkinin about swim the Tiber? What is that, please show me where I said that, so I can understand.

I am 15, whether you choose to believe that or not, I don’t know.

 

[RobinSebas]

1. The trinity doctrine–the bible clearly states that God and Jesus are seperate not the same. They are father and son.

2.Hellfire doctrine- God is love, there is no fiery place of torment. Hell is simply the grave.

3.Bible-Everyone should read the bible for themselves.not just the clergy.

Two good reasons why you should be Catholic.

 

[StMarina303ad]

Would you be so kind as to give me your 3 biggest reasons as to why, according to your denomination and faith, the Catholic Church is unequivocably WRONG in it’s teachings and practices.

My reason for asking this is because I will then research each of the reasons you give, and personally satisfy myself as to their validity, or not, for myself, as part of my journey into faith.

I hope this question does not break any forum rules; Im not looking to give a platform for anti catholic rhetoric and respect the fact this is a catholic board. I merely want to try and get into one place, i.e. here, what the main arguements are against Catholicism, and then investigate them for myself. I thought it would be the most expedient way to do this. If Im wrong, I apologise to the admins, and please delete this post as you see fit.

This is really for my own education and exploration, and trying to get the things I want to research into some sort of ordered fashion.

Bruxilda.

Hi Bruxilda,

So you want 3 reasons - just 3. Okay. The Orthodox Church is not anti-Catholic, but our Churches which were established before Peter entered Rome would still be united with Rome if it weren’t for these 3 things.

1. Filioque - a phrase added to the Nicene-Constantinoplian Creed in a local council of Toledo (which was condemned by the Roman Catholic Pope of the time) & was specifically against the two Councils which created by the direction/guidance of the Holy Spirit as several of the Ecumenical Councils declared that anyone who adds one word to the Creed or takes away one word from the Creed is Anathama.
2. Understanding of the Role of the Pope of Rome and the basis for that Role. The Early Church taught and Orthodoxy still does that Rome was to be given a place of honor and the title First Among Equals because Rome was the Roman Empires Secular Capitol City…when Constantine moved the Roman Empires Secular Capitol to Byzantium which he remained after himself: Constantinople the council declared that although Constantinople now has been elevated to Patriarchate (as had 1st Jeruselem, then Antioch, then Alexandria and then Rome in the 1st Century) they would continue to give a place of honor based on the secular historical significance of Rome. Today’s Roman Catholics now claim, although not claimed by the Early Church, that Rome is more special than the other Patriarchs because St. Peter established it; however, most don’t even realize that St. Peter first founded the Patriarchate of Antioch and although it is true that he co-founded the Patriarchate of Rome with Paul - he spent most of his life in the Church in Antioch.
3. Purgatory and Indulgences. Christ Himself and the Early Church and the Orthodox Churches today still teach that after death and before the final resurrection people: spirit and soul (without their body since they will not get their transformed body until after the final judgement) go to a waiting place which has a great chasim between the righteous and unrighteous - those who will enter Heaven and those who have condemned themselves to Hell and in this waiting place people will begin to experience that which they will experience for all eternity once they get their transformed bodies and have gone through the Final Judgement. Jesus describes that those who are in the area of the righteous will be as fully content as they are able to be without their bodies and will be unable to see the suffering of the unrighteous while the unrighteous on the other hand will be suffering to the extent they can suffer without a body and they will be able to see the joys of those who are in the righteous area. Both will have full memory of those who are still on Earth, still have their reasoning ability, personality, etc. as our soul is made up of our mind, personality, reasoning, our heart and our nous.

If I had to limit it to 3, I would think that those I’ve listed are the 3 biggest dividing factors of our Churches.

Original Patriarchates:

Jeruselem - founded by St. James - still Orthodox
Antioch - founded by St. Peter - still Orthodox
Alexandria - founded by St. Mark - still Orthodox
Byzantium - founded by St. Andrew - still Orthodox
Rome - founded by Sts. Peter & Paul - now Roman Catholic

Couple of the Churches founded by St. Paul (that I can remember off the top of my head)

Thessalonica - still Orthodox
Corinth - still Orthodox
Ephesus - still Orthodox

 

[teachccd]

Why my church says I am not catholic?

“Because you do not believe Jesus is God” my priest said " and there is nothing I can do for you. Go home."

It is a sad day when a priest would say that there is nothing that he can do for you. Yes, knowing that Jesus is God is the core of Catholicism but your priest should have been more pastoral. Jesus would have never sent you home. Good grief…You are in my prayers…teachccd

 

[Richard_Abanes]

Richard,I do understand the trinity fully. I have talked to many Catholics about it, and it seems that all Catholics do not have the same defintion of the trinity. Perhaps, that’s the case with you. The bible does not support Jesus deity at all. Yes, he is a god, but not The One True God. That title belongs to Jehovah, God, Yahweh. Jehovah has made Jesus King, they are not equal…

Are you a Jehovah’s Witness?

RA

 

[Molly2000z]

I am not Catholic for some reasons. Here:

1. A major part of this forum is devoted to bashing non-catholics, thats a very christian thing to do.
2. I have never been to 1 mass, and am not allowed to do to a Catholic Church.
3. I like to believe what I believe, and do what I do under those beliefs without anyone telling me except Trinity.

1. I have never seen any bashing on this site, if I had I never would have joined it.
2. Anyone can come to Mass, unless you mean that your religion forbids it.
3. I agree with you