Name 3 reasons you are not Catholic (yet).

[murtad]

1. Images and Statues - I just can’t get my head around it

If you have a problem with that, then you surely have more problems with Muslims worshipping a black stone located in the Ka’abah in Makkah.

1. Veneration of Mary - From the studies that I have done I see no where that Jesus or his apostles intended for us to think this highly of her or that she was sinless

If you have problems with the veneration of Saint Mary the Theotokos, then you surely have problems with the veneration of Prophet Muhammad by Muslims.

 

[Mannyfit75]

1. Truth cannot change. In Catholicism, the authority of the magisterium can change truth for the believers.
2. Catholicism has changed traditions vastly since the time of Christ. The Roman Catholic church is not an authority on tradition.
3. I was a cradle Catholic and I left the church, I will never return.

The Magisterium didn’t change anything regarding faith and morals. What the Church taught has been there since the beginning, and many of it develop overtime. Second, the Early Christians did not have the full context of the Bible (Both OT and NT). The Gospel was preached orally. If yhou do not believe in developmental doctrine then you might as well throw away your Bible for the Bible is founded by the Church.

It was the Church who decided what 27 NT are acceptible. They accepted 4 Gospels out of the 50 Gospels floating around… The Catholic Church my friend contains the fullness of truth.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Most of the reasons I see is completely misunderstood by Non-Catholics and Ex-Catholics… some are even ridicules… IMO

 

[Mirdath]

Most of the reasons I see is completely misunderstood by Non-Catholics and Ex-Catholics… some are even ridicules… IMO

I was being completely serious.

 

[murtad]

Is there a reason for that? Sorry if I’m derailing the thread but I was just curious.

I will try to clear your curiousity. In Zoroastrianism (ie Magians), there is a cosmic struggle between two gods, the Good God (ie Ahuramazda) and the Evil God (ie Ahriman). Both Gods keep competing among themselves for followers in an eternal war. Iranians (who are descendants of the Zoroastrians) even today pray to both Gods so as to appease them.

 

[Singinbeauty]

If you have a problem with that, then you surely have more problems with Muslims worshipping a black stone located in the Ka’abah in Makkah.

If you have problems with the veneration of Saint Mary the Theotokos, then you surely have problems with the veneration of Prophet Muhammad by Muslims.

Well I can tell you have some major issues with muslims… I really don’t in the aspect that you have mentioned because since they are not christians and don’t claim to be they are not held by the standards that we are. So no, in either case I do not have problems with the muslims doing what they are doing…

 

[montague]

its an apostate religion built up for gain the its leadership going to the higest bidder in the early church and maybe even connected with crime ( political )

id rather worship God than Mary. whom the pope said saved the world I always taught it was Jesus that saved us then again i dont have apostate views

its doctrine of the trinity is not taught in the bible.

its a shame you only wanted 3 reasons…

 

[O.S.Luke]

My reasons are similar to Contarini’s.

1. I believe that the sacraments I have received as a Protestant (not just talking about Anglican sacraments here) are valid means of covenantal grace, and I am further unwilling to accept the idea that any baptized Trinitarian Christians are only part of the Church in some tenuous, partial way. (sorry Edwin, you said it better than I could).
2. Turning away a baptized Christian away from the Eucharist seems a mortal sin to me. Communion is always at best imperfect. Withholding Jesus from someone? I couldn’t be a party to that. And yes, I understand the Catholic Church’s teachings on this - did my thesis on the Eucharist.
3. My calling to ordained ministry is one I ran from, and discovered through a lot of spiritual discernment. Because I am now married, I could never fulfill that in Catholicism. Scott Hahn and company have not convinced me.

 

[KarenNC]

I will try to clear your curiousity. In Zoroastrianism (ie Magians), there is a cosmic struggle between two gods, the Good God (ie Ahuramazda) and the Evil God (ie Ahriman). Both Gods keep competing among themselves for followers in an eternal war. Iranians (who are descendants of the Zoroastrians) even today pray to both Gods so as to appease them.

Interesting, and may explain why Zoroastrians are not monotheists, but has nothing really to do with why I do not accept monotheism as an adequate or accurate description of reality.

 

[kell0618]

1. Turning away a baptized Christian away from the Eucharist seems a mortal sin to me. Communion is always at best imperfect. Withholding Jesus from someone? I couldn’t be a party to that. And yes, I understand the Catholic Church’s teachings on this - did my thesis on the Eucharist.

[The] Didache also grabbed my attention in another regard. It is common among evangelicals today to allow anyone who professes to be a Christian to receive communion even though that person is not a member of the serving church. In that 9th chapter, the author says “Let only those who are baptized in the name of the Lord eat or drink from your Eucharist.” Since there was only one real Church at that time, this meant in effect that the Church leaders had an obligation to ensure that the communicants were members of that one true church. This kind of pastoral care, once common in mainstream Protestant churches, is now almost totally absent.

From Conversion Story of Kenneth J. Howell

 

[believers]

1. Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

3 Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

 

[Valke2]

Could you please list 3 reasons why you are not Catholic and elaborate.

Thanks… God bless…

I’m Jewish.

I wouldn’t be able to enjoy “Family Guy”

I couldn’t get used to the short services.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

1. Incense makes me sneeze
2. I was never any good at Bingo.
3. Those “sacred heart” paintings give me the willies.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevan

1. Incense makes me sneeze

1. I was never any good at Bingo.

1. Those “sacred heart” paintings give me the willies.

(oh admit it… this one is kinda funny)

Yes I agree that was good:thumbsup: I too have a problem with incense(Im allergic)
But my top three
1.) No assurance of salvation till death do us part(obviously I believe in Faith alone saves)

2.)I do not believe the CC is the One and Only Church that Jesus established on earth.

1. The Marion Doctrines or Dogmsa–Everytime I hear a priest say we have to pray to Mary it makes me cringe. The bible is so clear that we are to pray only to God through Christ.

 

[pedja]

1. Dont believe the day of worship is Sunday instead of Sabbath
2. Dont believe God created through millions of years of evolution
3. Dont believe/ Cant find any significance considering Pope, Mary, saints etc…

 

[Publisher]

1. God has not revealed Himself to me through Catholic teaching.
2. I find no reasoning that I should rely on forms and ceremonies to achieve communion with the Father.
3. I do not accept the idea of a sacrificial priesthood that may or may not act in my best interest in performing their “priesthood” duties on my behalf before God.

 

[Erich]

My wife is unwilling to become Catholic, and becoming Catholic would result in conflict with her and with my parents, and would also create complications in raising our daughter. This is probably the place to mention my belief in women’s ordination, since it only makes the Top Three list insofar as it is my wife’s main objection to Catholicism, and since I agree with her (even though I am less sure about it than she is and would personally be willing to submit to the Church’s judgment on this) I would find it very difficult to defend this particular teaching to her.

Not to derail the thread, but I recommend reading The Catholic Mystique: Fourteen Women Find Fulfillment in the Catholic Church and The Privilege of Being a Woman

 

[Vaclav]

I am a recent convert to Catholicism and I wanted to discuss something briefly.

There is far too much to go into when people are discussing sacrements, dogma, and specific issues with the history of the Church (apostolic succession, etc).

Yet, I can very much relate to the issues of Mary and statues and paintings.

If these are real issues that are obstacles blocking your path to the Church, then please discuss them with me or someone else here that you feel comfortable talking with. I was a Protestant prior to my conversion (first a very Baptist-like church and then a High Church Lutheran). I understand the trepidation, especially with these two issues.

I think you will find that they tend to be made into a tempest in a teacup.

 

[gcnuss]

1. I am a Lutheran pastor and I have yet to be convinced that Lutheranism is less valid than Catholicism.
2. I have some difficulties with Marian devotion – this does not mean that I have a problem with honoring Mary as the Mother of God.
3. The Lutheran pastor who confirmed me (some 50 years ago) would roll over in his grave if I became a Catholic. On the other hand, he’s probably rolling over anyway because I even speak civilly to Catholics.:bigyikes:

Well, that’s two serious reasons and one that really did affect my view of Catholicism for many years. I now am committed to working to increase understanding between Lutherans and Catholics – a challenge at times as I know some Lutherans who remain very anti-Catholic (and I’ve run across a few of their Catholic counterparts, too).

God’s blessing to you, brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[faelpsanfeel]

1. I have not been impressed with the Catholic people in my life (I know that’s not a very good reason, but it’s still a big one.)
2. I’m annoyed by the liberties historically taken by the Catholic Church in compiling, editing, translating and interpretting the Bible. This wouldn’t be a problem if Catholics had just kept it to themselves and not tried to forcefully impose their beliefs on everyone who would ever be interested in reading Christian documents for the duration of the existence of planet Earth.
3. I don’t like how everything that could possibly be construed as anti-Catholic is automatically inspired by demons/Satan (this might be related to # 1.)

 

[cheddarsox]

I) I don’t believe in the Catholic concept of God

1. I think a good bit of the theology is whack
2. I cannot practice and participate in a faith that I don’t believe in

cheddar/ Ardent Pantheist