Non-Catholic Christians: What is your main goal here?

[Mannyfit75]

This is a poll, so you will be given choices. You can discuss them on the thread if you want to provide more specifics in your answers.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Sorta to find out but picked Other, came here following a jack chick tract trying to debunk it. Anyway, decided to stay to understand more about the Catholic view to see what was so different.

Then stayed to understand the differences. So far theres some things but Im still of the opinion that its a tomato / to matto thing.

As long as there is stuff to learn about God, its all good here.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Sorta to find out but picked Other, came here following a jack chick tract trying to debunk it. Anyway, decided to stay to understand more about the Catholic view to see what was so different.

Then stayed to understand the differences. So far theres some things but Im still of the opinion that its a tomato / to matto thing.

As long as there is stuff to learn about God, its all good here.

Did you find Jack Chick’s idea of Catholicism is much different that what the actually Catholic Church teaches? I read some of his works and they totally misrepresent Catholicism. I am pleased that you want to understand Catholicism more.

 

[mozart-250]

This is a poll, so you will be given choices. You can discuss them on the thread if you want to provide more specifics in your answers.

I dunno. I answered other.

Probably because I am addicted to arguing Christianity over the internet and this is as good of a place as any to do so.

I got too frustrated at the assorted Protestant/Evangelical sites I tried because too many folks who were supposed to be like me acted and argued like idiots.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I dunno. I answered other.

Probably because I am addicted to arguing Christianity over the internet and this is as good of a place as any to do so.

I got too frustrated at the assorted Protestant/Evangelical sites I tried because too many folks who were supposed to be like me acted and argued like idiots.

Are we, Catholics, any worst?

 

[mozart-250]

Are we, Catholics, any worst?

Certainly not worse. In fact I would grade this forum probably a letter grade higher than the 2 Protestant/Evangelical forums I tried.

It might be, however, that I can tolerate stupidity more the other side of the house than my side. And I do respect all of the Protestant regulars here (and most of the Catholic regulars).

I do get a hoot when a newbie comes here with the goal of saving from eternal damnation all of the Catholics who worship Mary and are working for their salvation. They have made me realize that the traditional “anti Catholic” position is intellectually bankrupt unless you start from a position of bias against Catholicism

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Did you find Jack Chick’s idea of Catholicism is much different that what the actually Catholic Church teaches? I read some of his works and they totally misrepresent Catholicism. I am pleased that you want to understand Catholicism more.

I didnt like Jack Chick even before I came, I knew he was wrong, I know people say stuff about the Catholic church, I may not know all the specifics, but I knew enough to know it was wrong.

I was and still am a skeptic, then I found Jesus saying dont believe it, test all things, so I was rather happy, so I do.

So, I knew it was wrong. (Also, essentially people generally stay alot of stuff anyway. and if Catholics believe in something like the creed (obviously) then that is my benchmark for any believer. So when I apply that Chicks wrong.

I feel sorry for the people who are attracted to that sort of awful presentation they make. Hate is like acid, it destroys what it touches and the container that holds it.

hope that all makes sense

 

[distracted]

I dunno. I answered other.

Probably because I am addicted to arguing Christianity over the internet and this is as good of a place as any to do so.

I got too frustrated at the assorted Protestant/Evangelical sites I tried because too many folks who were supposed to be like me acted and argued like idiots.

Please elaborate!

 

[Mannyfit75]

Certainly not worse. In fact I would grade this forum probably a letter grade higher than the 2 Protestant/Evangelical forums I tried.

It might be, however, that I can tolerate stupidity more the other side of the house than my side. And I do respect all of the Protestant regulars here (and most of the Catholic regulars).

I do get a hoot when a newbie comes here with the goal of saving from eternal damnation all of the Catholics who worship Mary and are working for their salvation. They have made me realize that the traditional “anti Catholic” position is intellectually bankrupt unless you start from a position of bias against Catholicism

The newbies are kinda amazing. They come here with zeal to convert us, yet I didn’t think they would find Catholics here have a zeal as wrong as theirs.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I didnt like Jack Chick even before I came, I knew he was wrong, I know people say stuff about the Catholic church, I may not know all the specifics, but I knew enough to know it was wrong.

I was and still am a skeptic, then I found Jesus saying dont believe it, test all things, so I was rather happy, so I do.

So, I knew it was wrong. (Also, essentially people generally stay alot of stuff anyway. and if Catholics believe in something like the creed (obviously) then that is my benchmark for any believer. So when I apply that Chicks wrong.

I feel sorry for the people who are attracted to that sort of awful presentation they make. Hate is like acid, it destroys what it touches and the container that holds it.

hope that all makes sense

Since you been here. How would you describe Catholicism in its correct doctrine and practices?

1. Like Mary, Purgatory, Pope, Eucharist, Confession?

 

[SyCarl]

I came here to see if I could gain any insights with respect to my own beliefs from Catholics. Even if I cannot believe all Catholic doctrine there are many areas where Protestant and Catholic do agree and I am willing to learn in whatever way the Lord will provide. I also wanted to see if I could defend my beliefs through discussion with others who did not agree with them. I think that I have been strengthened by responding to critiques of what I have said.

 

[Zooey]

The newbies are kinda amazing. They come here with zeal to convert us, yet I didn’t think they would find Catholics here have a zeal as wrong as theirs.

Yah, they all do tend to sound alike, don’ they?
It’s like there is this “Mysterious Underground Area Where Crazy Ideas About Catholics Are Invented And Fed By IVs Into Anticatholic Brains”.
And then they come to CAF, &
[SIGN]
** Whap**!!!http://bestsmileys.com/hitting/10.gif with a Somewhat-Less-Than-Fresh Halibut!!
[/SIGN]

And I hang out here, because this is the:thumbsup: best place on the 'Net to meet other Christians!

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hello,

I came here originally because a catholic friend thought I would enjoy it. I like to talk about the bible and meet new people.

At first, I became thoroughly addicted I have since almed down and am not as active. I came to learn and ended up defending my faith a bit. So my faith has become stronger. My knowledge in catholocism and knowledge of my own beliefs have increased exponentially:thumbsup:

I feel smarter thanks to all of you.

I feel some what bored now because it is the same topics over and over.:yawn: Besides one could rightfully say to me "Woman I have seen apologists and you are no apologist "

There are many here who do a much better job then I explaining biblical beliefs.

I am more of a reader now.

 

[mozart-250]

Please elaborate!

Well arguing anything is a bad habit of mine. Sheesh I even argue with myself. Arguing Christianity over the internet is one particularly obnoxious manifestation of this vice of mine.

But if I am going to argue over the internet, I’d rather argue with Christians who are different than myself who would stimulate my feeble intellect to look at something from a perspective that I have not considered than argue with people supposedly like myself who hold extreme, intellectually uncohesive, and bigoted perspectives. Personal preference I suppose.

As far as a comparison of the various boards…I guess I am tired of the “false religion, whore of Babylon, pope is the antichrist, Catholics work for their salvation and worship Mary stuff” that gets bandied about there with no substantiation. I seem to tolerate that less than the “We are the one true church, you are heretics, We have the fullness of truth and you don’t” stuff that gets bandied about here with no substantiation. Dunno why…personal preference I suppose.

 

[bengal_fan]

to commune with other Christians

 

[Kitty_Chan]

Since you been here. How would you describe Catholicism in its correct doctrine and practices?

1. Like Mary, Purgatory, Pope, Eucharist, Confession?

Hmm like a test ?? in my own words too eh?

Mary - She is adored, there are statues in churches and in private homes, sometimes for decoration, or for reminders. Some statues are old and forgotten and some are right out front in the church. Known as the Mother of God and spouse of the Holy Spirit one prays to her so she can also pray to Jesus for them. Catholics think she stayed a virgin all her life and had no other children than Jesus. The whole assention part, I havent spent any time on.

Pope - Catholics figure he was descended from Peter, not in blood but in authority. He is head of all the churches and representive of the Catholic Church. Seems to write alot of books on different things, that I didnt know, I found that interesting. The last pope John was it? from what I heard of his speeches, he seemed pretty good and if Bono respected him enough to wear the rosary (after he gave him the sunglasses) well that was good enough for me.

Confession - confess to a priest, seems to me something you could do daily, but in practice looks like once a week more due to hours open. You want to confess to have the sin removed, because you dont want to die with unconfessed sin. One needs a priest to let them know the sins are forgiven. Last rites are just before you die to clear up those. You feel if a person dies then they will have to go to…

Purgatory - to think about that sin, havent quite figured out how one clears this up. Pretty sure one isnt wandering like Kane until they get it, but some way to clear up that unconfessed sin. purgatory is a step to Heaven not hell. hells just one big step down

Eucharist - communion with the difference of the wine actually turning into the blood and the wafers actually turning into the flesh. The wine is a special kind and the wafers are unleavened. Its all treated carefully if there is any left and stored in a tabernacle or something til the next time. Seems most important thing in the service to do and is done each Sunday and perhaps at other occasions, and or Mass times. Also a sacrament which I believe is a particular thing or cermony thats done as obedience.

done, any stars for me ?

 

[Mannyfit75]

Hmm like a test ?? in my own words too eh?

Mary - She is adored, there are statues in churches and in private homes, sometimes for decoration, or for reminders. Some statues are old and forgotten and some are right out front in the church. Known as the Mother of God and spouse of the Holy Spirit one prays to her so she can also pray to Jesus for them. Catholics think she stayed a virgin all her life and had no other children than Jesus. The whole assention part, I havent spent any time on.

It’s assumption. Catholic Church affirms she assumed into heaven not ascended. The only person who ascended is Jesus Christ. For the most part, you got it right.

Pope - Catholics figure he was descended from Peter, not in blood but in authority. He is head of all the churches and representive of the Catholic Church. Seems to write alot of books on different things, that I didnt know, I found that interesting. The last pope John was it? from what I heard of his speeches, he seemed pretty good and if Bono respected him enough to wear the rosary (after he gave him the sunglasses) well that was good enough for me.

Partial true. The Catechism states,

899 The initiative of lay Christians is necessary especially when the matter involves discovering or inventing the means for permeating social, political, and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life. This initiative is a normal element of the life of the Church:

Lay believers are in the front line of Church life; for them the Church is the animating principle of human society. Therefore, they in particular ought to have an ever-clearer consciousness not only of belonging to the Church, but of being the Church, that is to say, the community of the faithful on earth under the leadership of the Pope, the common Head, and of the bishops in communion with him. They are the Church

.

((continue))

 

[Mannyfit75]

According to the Catechism Jesus is the head of the Church:

669 As Lord, Christ is also head of the Church, which is his Body.552 Taken up to heaven and glorified after he had thus fully accomplished his mission, Christ dwells on earth in his Church. The redemption is the source of the authority that Christ, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, exercises over the Church. “The kingdom of Christ [is] already present in mystery”, “on earth, the seed and the beginning of the kingdom”.553

You got the general idea of who the Pope is though, I think this is good.

Confession - confess to a priest, seems to me something you could do daily, but in practice looks like once a week more due to hours open. You want to confess to have the sin removed, because you dont want to die with unconfessed sin. One needs a priest to let them know the sins are forgiven. Last rites are just before you die to clear up those. You feel if a person dies then they will have to go to…

We can. I confess my venial sins to Jesus everyday. His grace works even more in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where the priest act in the Person of Christ; there the grace of God has to power to forgive mortal sin. In the confession, it is not the priest who forgives but God who uses the priest to transmit his sanctifying grace.

The Catechism again states,

1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops’ collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins **“in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” **

1466 The confessor is not the master of God’s forgiveness, but its servant. The minister of this sacrament should unite himself to the intention and charity of Christ.71 He should have a proven knowledge of Christian behavior, experience of human affairs, respect and sensitivity toward the one who has fallen; he must love the truth, be faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, and lead the penitent with patience toward healing and full maturity. He must pray and do penance for his penitent, entrusting him to the Lord’s mercy…

 

[Mannyfit75]

Purgatory - to think about that sin, havent quite figured out how one clears this up. Pretty sure one isnt wandering like Kane until they get it, but some way to clear up that unconfessed sin. purgatory is a step to Heaven not hell. hells just one big step down

Purgatory is more of a state of being. I think 1 Cor. 3:15 explains this very clearly.

CCC states,

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

Eucharist - communion with the difference of the wine actually turning into the blood and the wafers actually turning into the flesh. The wine is a special kind and the wafers are unleavened. Its all treated carefully if there is any left and stored in a tabernacle or something til the next time. Seems most important thing in the service to do and is done each Sunday and perhaps at other occasions, and or Mass times. Also a sacrament which I believe is a particular thing or cermony thats done as obedience.

done, any stars for me ?

The Eucharist doesn’t actually turn physically into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Since the appearance remain the same. Theological term for appearance is accident.

The CCC states,

1374 The mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend."201 In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained."202 "This presence is called ‘real’ - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be ‘real’ too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present."203

1375 It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. The Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and of the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion. Thus St. John Chrysostom declares:
*
It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but he who was crucified for us, Christ himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their power and grace are God’s. This is my body, he says. This word transforms the things offered.*
204
And St. Ambrose says about this conversion:

*Be convinced that this is not what nature has formed, but what the blessing has consecrated. The power of the blessing prevails over that of nature, because by the blessing nature itself is changed. . . . Could not Christ’s word, which can make from nothing what did not exist, change existing things into what they were not before? It is no less a feat to give things their original nature than to change their nature.*205

In the Latin Rite, unleaven bread in use in the Eucharistic Liturgy. In the Byzantine Rite Catholic, leaven bread is used.

When the priest breaks the large Eucharist into four parts. Each Eucharist is Jesus wholely, completely. This is a mystery I say. When Christians says God is Omnipresence, the Eucharist taken this very literally.

You got most of it correct. I give you a 3 stars out of five

 

[paradoxy]

I’m Eastern Orthodox, do I count?

I don’t avoid sharing my Orthodox faith here, and wouldn’t mind it if someone found it so overwhelmingly beautiful and true and decided to join.

I also have a soft spot for Catholics. My mother and maternal grandfather were Catholics (non-practicing though) and I do enjoy learning more about Catholicism from a Catholic perspective.

But those are not really my primary ‘goals’ here. I just really enjoy the forums and there are some great people here. I can also learn a lot here, and not only religion-related.

I’d say ‘other’