Is God a Catholic?

[Lost_Sheep]

Well, is He?

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

Well, is He?

Please explain your question.

 

[benjaminleschke]

Hi Lost_Sheep,

That is an interesting question. My kids have asked me that a few times and the answer usually depends on where the question comes from. Is God, strictly speaking Catholic? No, not at all. However, does this imply that He needs to be? I don’t think so.

Perhaps you are drawing your question from an experience you have had or a desire for clarity of faith. Tell us a little more and I am sure we can assist you in your search for an answer.

Benjamin

 

[Heuchler]

I would say that God is Catholic as Catholicism is supposed to be the fullness of truth and the best description of God we have is found in Catholicism. Christ also instituted the Catholic Church which impllies that he supported it.

 

[Catholic90]

God is beyond our tiny human understanding we have of Him, the most clear understanding which is through the Catholic Church. God is so much bigger than any institution here on earth.

It is like being on one side of a HUGE door with a teeny tiny peep hole. We are on one side, and God and heaven are on the other. As we peer through the peep hole, we see just a very small portion; however, what is beyond the door is so great and so unimaginable, we have no idea of everything that is there.

God is not limited by our human labels.

 

[NewsTheMan]

Since Catholicism is a religion, and religion is man’s way of reaching out to God, God is not Catholic. God is not baptised, does not confess, etc. Catholicism is a gift from God to use to know, love and serve Him.

God does, however, want us to be Catholic. He wills it and demands it.

 

[adv1sor]

Look up the real meaning of the word Catholic.

God is not a Catholic.

God *is *Catholic.

 

[whitecrayon]

dear all

i believe that god loves all of those on earth, including all humans and all sentient animals, and all life in this universe, without reference to anyone’s particular belief systems. that is, god loves muslims, atheists, jews, christians (including protestants and catholics), agnostics, buddhists, hindus, etc.

what separates christians, in my humble opinion, is that they accept the doctrines of christ and take it on faith that he performed miracles and led us by example (thus helping us learn how to lead a sinless life, through emulation of him and through practicing his teachings).

with love
whitecrayon

 

[Newbie2]

Since Catholicism is a religion, and religion is man’s way of reaching out to God, God is not Catholic. God is not baptised, does not confess, etc. Catholicism is a gift from God to use to know, love and serve Him.

God does, however, want us to be Catholic. He wills it and demands it.

Look up the real meaning of the word Catholic.

God is not a Catholic.

God *is *Catholic.

As in “Universal”, yes.

As in “Universal(ly) Christian”, no.

It’s been pointed out that “Catholic”, in it’s common usage refers to a sect of Christianity, i.e. a religion.

God is not religious, rather he is the object of religion. So if the OP’s question refers to the religious nature of God, he doesn’t have a religion. Newstheman puts it rather well, methinks.

 

[ThatOneDudeAlex]

dear all

i believe that god loves all of those on earth, including all humans and all sentient animals, and all life in this universe, without reference to anyone’s particular belief systems. that is, god loves muslims, atheists, jews, christians (including protestants and catholics), agnostics, buddhists, hindus, etc.

what separates christians, in my humble opinion, is that they accept the doctrines of christ and take it on faith that he performed miracles and led us by example (thus helping us learn how to lead a sinless life, through emulation of him and through practicing his teachings).

with love
whitecrayon

 

[Lost_Sheep]

OK.

I was a semi-facetious question.

My point is that if God is of no particular religion, how do we know we are the ones doing it “right”?

And please don’t tell me “Scripture says this” or “Scripture says that.”

Scripture was written 1000s of years ago by people who still though the Earth was flat.

 

[Catholic90]

OK.

I was a semi-facetious question.

My point is that if God is of no particular religion, how do we know we are the ones doing it “right”?

And please don’t tell me “Scripture says this” or “Scripture says that.”

Scripture was written 1000s of years ago by people who still though the Earth was flat.

Scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

 

[meltzerboy]

Well, is He?

I don’t think G-d needs to follow any particular religion. The practice of religion is for OUR benefit so that we can come to understand what G-d expects of us and love Him and His creation based on this understanding. So it is we who need to follow our religion in the service and love of G-d.

 

[Jcnava15]

OK.

I was a semi-facetious question.

My point is that if God is of no particular religion, how do we know we are the ones doing it “right”?

There is a very serious incoherence of Logic going on in this statement. Why would the Creator need salvation? It would make no sense that he would be a follower of any religion.

But I see the point that you might be trying to drive at. How do we know that Catholicism is the true Faith. Primarily that falls on what you believe regarding Jesus Christ. If you accept that Jesus really was the Son of God, and that he demonstrated this by his resurrection, than you have to take his teachings pretty serious. Especially when he says “I am the way”

You did at least acknowledge that there is at least a “right” way. However, don’t make the mistake of assuming that to be a Christian you have to say “I’m right, everyone else is wrong”. Instead remember that there are hints of the truth in other religions.

I could probably talk about this all day, but to sum it up here is C.S. Lewis;
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

And please don’t tell me “Scripture says this” or “Scripture says that.”

Scripture was written 1000s of years ago by people who still though the Earth was flat.

Well there is your problem… You are bringing in assumptions and treating them as facts. Read this article to help you out a little bit regarding the whole “they thought the earth was flat” myth.
veritas-ucsb.org/library/russell/FlatEarth.html

I always get a little irked when people make assumptions that somehow people of the past were intellectually inferior, taking for granted that it was there intelligence that brought us this far.

I mean just this week I was reading that light speed is no longer the fastest thing in the universe. This has serious implications to our modern concept of physics. If it turns out to be true, that means that in the future people could say “Don’t trust them, they thought light was the fastest thing in the universe. We are much smarter now though.”

I have a question for you… Do you find yourself rejecting facts or data simply because they point to the truth of Christianity? Don’t let pessimism get in the way of God.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

I have a question for you… Do you find yourself rejecting facts or data simply because they point to the truth of Christianity?

I wouldn’t call it rejecting. It is more like cynicism. I take everything with a grain of salt. Even my faith.

 

[centurionguard]

I wouldn’t call it rejecting. It is more like cynicism. I take everything with a grain of salt. Even my faith.

I thought this gentlemen answered your question adequately.

Originally Posted by NewsTheMan
Since Catholicism is a religion, and religion is man’s way of reaching out to God, God is not Catholic. God is not baptised, does not confess, etc. Catholicism is a gift from God to use to know, love and serve Him.
God does, however, want us to be Catholic. He wills it and demands it.

Jesus (the Son of God) is the founder of the Catholic Church.

Gospel According to Saint Matthew Chapter 16 verses 16-20
drbo.org/chapter/47016.htm

[16] Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. [20] Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

**[18] “Thou art Peter”… As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

[18] “Upon this rock”… The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, St. Matt. 7. 24, 25.

[18] “The gates of hell”… That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.

[19] “Loose upon earth”… The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted. **

 

[JohnVIII]

Well, is He?

Yes, She is!

 

[The_Joe]

dear all

i believe that god loves all of those on earth, including all humans and all sentient animals, and all life in this universe, without reference to anyone’s particular belief systems. that is, god loves muslims, atheists, jews, christians (including protestants and catholics), agnostics, buddhists, hindus, etc.

what separates christians, in my humble opinion, is that they accept the doctrines of christ and take it on faith that he performed miracles and led us by example (thus helping us learn how to lead a sinless life, through emulation of him and through practicing his teachings).

with love
whitecrayon

I don’t. I think God hates a lot of people for being hypocritical humanists. I could be wrong, but God sent Jesus to evolve us spiritually so that we can get in touch with the Holy Spirit and find heaven without having to die first. For instance, Jesus asked God to forgive the Jews because they did not understand what they were doing. Martin Luther said “Jews are a serpent’s brood and one should burn down their synagogues and destroy them”. In other words, the Anglican King George VI and the Nazis were big fans of Martin Luther’s book On the Jews and their lies.

 

[Jcnava15]

I wouldn’t call it rejecting. It is more like cynicism. I take everything with a grain of salt. Even my faith.

Ok, I see where you are coming from. The real problem then isn’t any big questions, philosophical or theological. The real problem is your stubborn heart. Everytime you learn something new, that encourages your faith, you will find a minor flaw and treat it like it’s a fatal one. I think mostly it’s a lack of trust. You don’t trust yourself, and you don’t trust others especially.

More than that though, you probably have trouble following through, and finishing what you started. This combined with a lack of general trust creates a perfect ground for cynicism. But the cynicism is unfounded, your cynicism isn’t the only rational choice, or the most intellectually honest position one could take, it’s an excuse. You don’t believe in yourself so you find excuses, and use them to justify your defeatist attitude.
Before you can love God, or others deeply, you must reform this part of your personality. I bet God is reaching out to you, but you’re standing in your own way.

Sorry, I was describing myself, but I have a feeling you can relate. The good news is that once we stop believing our excuses and accept God, we will be unstoppable.

I will pray for you.

 

[NewsTheMan]

Yes, She is!

What?