Non-Catholics how do you view Catholicism?

[manualman]

I don’t think it’s a cop out at all.

Not so much a cop-out as a reflection of the apathy the parents themselves hold.

Parents don’t let their kids just eat whatever they feel like and figure out for themselves what is healthy without parental influence or pressure. Loving your kids includes teaching them crucial life lessons. Leaving out matter of eternal destiny can only be explained if the parents themselves don’t really believe there is one.

Put it this way: If you see your kids playing on active railroad tracks are you going to let them figure out for themselves if that’s a smart move or instruct and discipline them?

 

[gcnuss]

I always wondered if non- Catholics viewed the Catholicism as strange. With rote prayers, incense, sacred tradition, etc. Would love to hear how you think

I do not think of Catholicism as strange. I believe it to be a faithful expression of the Christian faith.

 

[Potter]

I’m very fond, even jealous of, the Catholic church. I rely on much of its culture to strengthen my own religious life. I most appreciate its institutional, conserving strength in a world long gone mad.

 

[Prodigirl]

It’s a mess, to be sure. I don’t think it invalidates doctrine. It just means the nuts need to go away into their own dens and leave the rest of us alone.

Curious: what is the contemporary role of the Catholic vis a vis evangelizing? Does this attitude embrace the responsibility to carry the message?

 

[Lek]

Before I make this post I want to say that I am in no way meaning to be offensive to anyone through my comments here. I consider Catholicism to contain a valid path to salvation for its members, through faith in Jesus Christ, but I’m trying to be honest about my perceptions. I would also never try to pull anyone away from the Catholic Church against the own conscience. I’m stating my own opinion. I see the gospel as the good news of salvation, in which the curtain that separated us from direct communication with God as being removed. We now have Jesus as a mediator through whom we can we can go directly to God. Jesus has removed the legal requirements of the old testament law and has given us a simple pathway to salvation through him and he has given us the Holy Spirit and the scriptures for guidance. The Catholic Church reminds me, in a way, of the Jewish elders who wrote pages and pages of additions and stipulations to the law, which confused the law and added additional burdens to the Jewish people. Jesus condemned the elders for adhering to these man-made traditions while ignoring the real requirements of the law. I see the Catholic magisterium as doing the same thing. When a Catholic looks for Jesus how does see him through all the layers of rules and regulations in the way? Miss mass on Sunday - mortal sin. Miss mass on holy day - mortal sin. Don’t go to confession and communion once a year - mortal sin. Eat meat on Friday during Lent - mortal sin. When I look to the Father, I see Jesus and, through him, the Father. I have an idea of a Catholic looking to the Father and having to see through this giant organized church with layers of priests, bishops and cardinals with big hats, before they can see Jesus. It all seems so artificial and not as Jesus intended his church to be. Anyhow, that’s a glimpse into my view of catholicism.