Is it truly a conversion?

[reteeks21]

I asked this question in another thread, but I felt like it would make a better topic of discussion if it could be addressed directly (i.e, I did not want it to distract from the other thread and take it off topic). If someone comes into the RCC from a Protestant, and if it is not a conversion but a “coming home” (i.e, finally being in full communion) why is Protestantism considered a heresy? It would make more sense to refer to heretics who become RC’s as converts since they are leaving a heresy, wouldn’t it? The idea that they are not converts but those who have made their way homewould seem to negate the comments of many on here who refer to Protestantism as a heresy.

 

[puzzleannie]

not everyone who believes heretical ideas is a material heretic. they may simply be misinformed. conversion means turning away from sin and the topic has been fully answered on the previous thread.

 

[reteeks21]

not everyone who believes heretical ideas is a material heretic. they may simply be misinformed.

So a person who goes to a heretical church can be excused if they are ignorant of some things? If that is the case wouldn’t you need to differentiate between converts and those who were innocently ignorant? Why are they are not called converts if they come from a heretical church? After all, is that not what you consider the Protestant church to be?

 

[puzzleannie]

no a person who was baptized and brought up in another Christian denomination, faithfully follows the precepts of the faith and commandments as they have been taught, reads the bible and does their best to follow Christ and conform their life to His, is not a material heretic and is not a sinning by so doing. Except insofar as we are all sinners in need of continuing conversion, their status is not the same as that of someone who has heretofore lived an ammoral or sinless life without moral compass or direction, and is responding to grace by seeking true conversion. The special status of the baptized must be recognized and is so in the RCIA provisions. The best way to do apologetics and evangelization is not to fling aspersions like “heretic” at people. yes, some or all of what is being taught by this or that Protestant denomination is heretical, and yes those who first proposed and disseminated those teachings were material heretics. No, not everyone who adheres to such a denomination is a material heretic. You have to know the truth first, and then reject it to be a heretic.

 

[reteeks21]

no a person who was baptized and brought up in another Christian denomination, faithfully follows the precepts of the faith and commandments as they have been taught, reads the bible and does their best to follow Christ and conform their life to His, is not a material heretic and is not a sinning by so doing. Except insofar as we are all sinners in need of continuing conversion, their status is not the same as that of someone who has heretofore lived an ammoral or sinless life without moral compass or direction, and is responding to grace by seeking true conversion. The special status of the baptized must be recognized and is so in the RCIA provisions. The best way to do apologetics and evangelization is not to fling aspersions like “heretic” at people. yes, some or all of what is being taught by this or that Protestant denomination is heretical, and yes those who first proposed and disseminated those teachings were material heretics. No, not everyone who adheres to such a denomination is a material heretic. You have to know the truth first, and then reject it to be a heretic.

And by the “truth” what are you referring to? The truth of Christ being our savior?

 

[puzzleannie]

the entire truth as revealed by God, handed on and preached by the Catholic Church, founded by Christ and protected by the Holy Spirit for that purpose.

what is your point in this discussion? you have introduced 3 ideas. please pick a topic to discuss. conversion has been fully answered in the previous thread. there are numerous discussions current on what constitutes heresy. if you want a thread to discuss “what is truth?” better start a new one.

 

[reteeks21]

the entire truth as revealed by God, handed on and preached by the Catholic Church, founded by Christ and protected by the Holy Spirit for that purpose.

what is your point in this discussion? you have introduced 3 ideas. please pick a topic to discuss. conversion has been fully answered in the previous thread. there are numerous discussions current on what constitutes heresy. if you want a thread to discuss “what is truth?” better start a new one.

You inserted the idea of truth, not me. I am asking you if Protestants who join the RCC are considered to finally entering full communion are not considered converts, then why is Protestantism call a heresy by so many people here? I asked that from the very beginning and all I was told was it depends on if they know the truth. Based on that, I asked you what you meant by that. And you told me, slearly, that the RCC is the only one with it. So, that leads back to my very first question: if Protestants are not considered converts (i.e, pagans or members of non-Christian religions), why is Protestantism a heresy? It is a very simple question.