Is this board typical of Catholic thought?

[BrianH]

I know a lot of Catholics. All three of my brothers have converted. My best friend is Catholic etc. Take me at face value on this Well how many Brian? Ok…25 pretty darn well…and I did count in my head.
Since I started this board, I have been introduced to Catholics…well they seem as sure, confident, even a little smug …maybe (just an opinion not trying to be rude) of the truth of their faith as the fundamentalist church I spent 10 years growing up in.
This is very new to me. It is not my experiences in the real world, so to speak, with Catholics I know…and did I say I know a lot
Does this board just draw more devout Catholics, but man I know some devout ones, or is this…the way they REALLY think and just dont like to admit. Just asking an opinion!
BrianH

 

[Andrew_11]

BrianH:

I know a lot of Catholics. All three of my brothers have converted. My best friend is Catholic etc. Take me at face value on this Well how many Brian? Ok…25 pretty darn well…and I did count in my head.
Since I started this board, I have been introduced to Catholics…well they seem as sure, confident, even a little smug …maybe (just an opinion not trying to be rude) of the truth of their faith as the fundamentalist church I spent 10 years growing up in.
This is very new to me. It is not my experiences in the real world, so to speak, with Catholics I know…and did I say I know a lot
Does this board just draw more devout Catholics, but man I know some devout ones, or is this…the way they REALLY think and just dont like to admit. Just asking an opinion!
BrianH

I would say that this board draws mainly orthodox Catholics, and not many of the cafeteria variety that you may be more used to.

 

[MrS]

It also draws the occasional anti-catholics who try to replace the Truth of the Catholic Church with their own beliefs…

God willing, most leave with a better sense of what Truth is… and a better sense of what problems there are in their own theology… and just plain beter sense.

 

[NotWorthy]

So many Catholics at my parish and in my Renew Group don’t feel confident in talking about their faith to others. We live in Southeast Texas, where a lot of Evangelicals and Fundamentalist are (There were 4 Catholics out of 110 in my graduating class).

I’m seeing a change in this, as so many of them are seeking to learn more about their faith. Those that are seeking usually ending up craving to learn more.

God Bless!

Notworthy

 

[aurora77]

Everyone should be sure and confident in their faith. That doesn’t mean we should look down on or be rude to others who don’t share that faith. I think a lot of people aren’t sure in their faith (all sorts of Christians in my experience, not just Catholic or Protestant) and that’s sad.

That being said, most of the Catholics on this board are probably more likely to be more orthodox than average. People who aren’t as interested in their Church aren’t going to be hanging out here.

 

[reen12]

Hello, Brian,

Please understand that the CC firmly believes that

the CC is the one, true Church, founded by

Christ.

The CC further believes that there is no

salvation outside the CC…in the sense that,

when someone ends up saved, it is somehow

“through” the Church…

[The following links to short paragraphs from

the Catechism of the Catholic Church may

explain the teaching of the Catholic Church

more clearly] :

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/838.htm

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/846.htm

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/847.htm

While I do not hold to this myself, it is the

belief of the Catholic Church.

best,

reen12

 

[Lapsed]

I can only speak of my experiences in my local Catholic community, but I would have to say the the people here are not representitive of average Catholics. For the most part, the people who participate regularly here are much more orthodox, ie adhere more strongly to the actual teachings of the Catholic Church than the average Catholic.

In real life, the average Catholic I know tends to pick and choose the teachings of the Church that they agree with and either ignore or actively oppose the rest.

 

[BrianH]

reen12:

Hello, Brian,

Please understand that the CC firmly believes that

the CC is the one, true Church, founded by

Christ.

The CC further believes that there is no

salvation outside the CC…in the sense that,

when someone ends up saved, it is somehow

“through” the Church…

best,

reen12

I am glad I found this board…not because I agree with it…but I have now met Orthodox Catholics…if you will.
BH

 

[Reuben_J]

BrianH:

Does this board just draw more devout Catholics, but man I know some devout ones, or is this…the way they REALLY think and just dont like to admit. Just asking an opinion!
BrianH

I’d say all kinds. Those already steep in the knowledge of their faith and those who are not but want to know more. What do you mean by devout? The knowledgeable or the holy?

I guess all are concerned Catholics one way or the other, otherwise they won’t spend so much time here.

Is there any typical Catholic? I don’t know. That’s new to me! You need to meet more of them and decide for yourself.

God bless.

 

[exoflare]

Yes, there are Catholics, and then there are “Catholics”.

I’ve been Catholic for maybe about three years now. The more experience you get, the easier it becomes to spot the “Catholics” around you and separate them from the real ones. I liken this to the parable of the weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). Some people aren’t aware of the deeper dimension to this story, beyond the simple separation of the evil from the good on the day of judgement. The “weeds” mentioned here are specifically called darnel, and they were poisonous plants, but in the early stages of growth resembled wheat and so could not be distinguished until fully grown.

 

[Reuben_J]

exoflare:

Yes, there are Catholics, and then there are “Catholics”.

I’ve been Catholic for maybe about three years now. The more experience you get, the easier it becomes to spot the “Catholics” around you and separate them from the real ones. I liken this to the parable of the weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). Some people aren’t aware of the deeper dimension to this story, beyond the simple separation of the evil from the good on the day of judgement. The “weeds” mentioned here are specifically called darnel, and they were poisonous plants, but in the early stages of growth resembled wheat and so could not be distinguished until fully grown.

Goodness. I can’t remember if I was ever thought to spot the ‘darnel Catholics’ in my catechism class.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

I was taught that we are all weeds from time to time. It’s not about spotting “them.” It’s more about examining your conscience in the light of Christ and begging Him to turn your sorry weed-like self into the wheat that he wants you to be.

 

[exoflare]

Reuben J:

Goodness. I can’t remember if I was ever thought to spot the ‘darnel Catholics’ in my catechism class.

I’ll wager a “no” on that. I’m pretty sure you’re the first person that ever existed to use that phrase.

Seriously, though… I’d be really suprised if you weren’t already familiar with the general concept of “cafeteria catholics”, “CINO’s” or whatever else they’re called.

 

[Reuben_J]

itsjustdave1988:

I was taught that we are all weeds from time to time. It’s not about spotting “them.” It’s more about examining your conscience in the light of Christ and begging Him to turn your sorry weed-like self into the wheat that he wants you to be.

No problem with that.

It’s spotting “the Catholics” around you, not yourself. (Which I can’t find in my Sunday school classes. Or maybe it was too long ago and teaching changes) .

 

[Reuben_J]

exoflare:

I’ll wager a “no” on that. I’m pretty sure you’re the first person that ever existed to use that phrase.

Seriously, though… I’d be really suprised if you weren’t already familiar with the general concept of “cafeteria catholics”, “CINO’s” or whatever else they’re called.

No problem with the defintions. We just don’t spot our fellow Catholics and judging them.

 

[exoflare]

itsjustdave1988:

I was taught that we are all weeds from time to time. It’s not about spotting “them.” It’s more about examining your conscience in the light of Christ and begging Him to turn your sorry weed-like self into the wheat that he wants you to be.

What is “it” here? The meaning of the parable? There are other parables that deal with examining your own conscience, but I don’t see how this is one of them.

 

[exoflare]

Reuben J:

No problem with the defintions. We just don’t spot our fellow Catholics and judging them.

I don’t think we should judge them either, but merely recognizing sin doesn’t equal imposing judgement on the one who sinned.

 

[Pug]

BrianH:

This is very new to me. It is not my experiences in the real world, so to speak, with Catholics I know…and did I say I know a lot

Brian, it sounds like you are drowning in Catholics! But, even so, how they behave in real life does not seem to correspond to the general population here. 25 real life Catholics aren’t going to match the crowd here, unless you get really unlucky/lucky.

What that is a function of, I don’t know. Language? Income? Education? Age? Freetime? Internet boards never seem to match real life.

 

[Reuben_J]

Yes, there are Catholics, and then there are “Catholics”.

I’ve been Catholic for maybe about three years now. ** The more experience you get, the easier it becomes to spot the “Catholics” around you and separate them from the real ones.** I liken this to the parable of the weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). Some people aren’t aware of the deeper dimension to this story, beyond the simple separation of the evil from the good on the day of judgement. The “weeds” mentioned here are specifically called darnel, and they were poisonous plants, but in the early stages of growth resembled wheat and so could not be distinguished until fully grown.

Maybe I misunderstand you. I bold the phrases in your post. What do you mean by them? Then you went on to quote Matt 13 - the separation of the evil from the good.

How do you apply that to your phrases esp "Catholics’. Who are they? How do you know them as the ones (separated; darnel; weed). I was merely trying to paraphrase you - I didn’t conjure the term “darnel Catholics”.

If you are implying that we can spot the “darnel” Catholics, then that’s not right as that amount to judging because we don’t know what in their hearts, and it’s not our business to do so anyway.

 

[exoflare]

Reuben J:

Maybe I misunderstand you. I bold the phrases in your post. What do you mean by them? Then you went on to quote Matt 13 - the separation of the evil from the good.

How do you apply that to your phrases esp "Catholics’. Who are they? How do you know them as the ones (separated; darnel; weed). I was merely trying to paraphrase you - I didn’t conjure the term “darnel Catholics”.

If you are implying that we can spot the “darnel” Catholics, then that’s not right as that amount to judging because we don’t know what in their hearts, and it’s not our business to do so anyway.

I don’t think I should have said “separate”, probably “distinguish”. But anyway most of the parables have different layers of meaning, and it’s my fault that I’m not the best at putting things into words a lot of the time. You’re right that you shouldn’t impose judgement on people, since it’s only reserved for God. What I’m getting at basically is that “Catholics” are anyone who call themself such but actively disobey the Church/just don’t care. Different from Catholics who acknowledge the truth of what they claim to be following. In the secular way of thinking, they tend to have a different way of seeing it where being Catholic is nothing more than a label, regardless of one’s actions. To them, all the plants look similar enough, so to speak, and they can’t tell any difference. When you realize what being Catholic really means, though, you see it in a totally different light… as the way somebody lives (or, tries to live) their life. In this case, I guess I’m having the “weeds” (now visibly different from the wheat) representing those who are nominally “Catholic” but not by any resolution made on their part.

Anyhow I guess it’s just another angle I saw the parable from. I should have explained it more thorougly at first, but oh well.