Non-Catholics on the CA Forum

[rikkk1958]

I think it is important that all non-catholics join the Forum. Catholics has nothing to hide and for that we have the opportunity to prove what we are. I welcome them and happy if we can convince some who would accept our faith.

 

[SIA]

I think it is important that all non-catholics join the Forum. Catholics has nothing to hide and for that we have the opportunity to prove what we are. I welcome them and happy if we can convince some who would accept our faith.

I am an ex-cradle Catholic who swam the Thames in 2004. My purpose for being here is to prove that not all non-Catholics are so becasue they are ignorant of Catholic theology. I am also here to share what I have been given in Christ.

 

[RobHom]

It seems like you only want Roman Catholics to be here, even in this section on “Non-Catholic Religions”.

If so, why have this section?

So Roman Catholics can discuss non-catholic religions?

No, that is not the case at all.

I am a Roman Catholic who actually has acquaintances of many different religions and denominations across the world… I enjoy these people immensely.

There are many non-Catholics who have come to these forums who’s on-line company I enjoy a great deal. They are good reasonable people who share their thoughts freely, and do it in a good, decent, non-judgmental manner. They seek to learn as do many of us. They too would like to see more unity in the Christian World as many of us would like to do.

On the other hand…there are others…who “claim” to be followers of Christ…and yet they play the part of “Pharisees” and attempt to be “overlords”…and fully ignore the Word. And yes, they do in fact fully ignore the Word… Christ is farther from their mind than the man in the moon.

That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it!!

 

[rikkk1958]

I am an ex-cradle Catholic who swam the Thames in 2004. My purpose for being here is to prove that not all non-Catholics are so becasue they are ignorant of Catholic theology. I am also here to share what I have been given in Christ.

You have expressed your free will, knowledge is not a prerequisite to salvation but perhaps you did it so to swim that river. My faith comes with instructions from all what was already established and said and I did not need knowledge to interpret them otherwise. This is where we differ, let me stick to the one I truly believe what is really supposed to be followed because it seemed the dogma of the Church is straight as an arrow guided by the Word that will lead me to my target which is to enter the Kingdom of God. Why would I need to swim? It is already there.

 

[SIA]

You have expressed your free will, knowledge is not a prerequisite to salvation but perhaps you did it so to swim that river. My faith comes with instructions from all what was already established and said and I did not need knowledge to interpret them otherwise. This is where we differ, let me stick to the one I truly believe what is really supposed to be followed because it seemed the dogma of the Church is straight as an arrow guided by the Word that will lead me to my target which is to enter the Kingdom of God. Why would I need to swim? It is already there.

and I won’t argue with that. We can talk about our differences but your freewill is also talked about in Scripture.

 

[With_Questions]

I’ve been participating on this forum off and on for four years, and one thing that has always puzzled me is the number of non-Catholics on this forum. Many of course, are in the process of converting to Catholicism, or are thinking about it,

Nope. This is not me.

or are simply curious as to what the Catholic Church teaches, and that is a good thing.

This might be me, but I think I understand Catholicism fairly well. I’d probably get a gentleman’s ‘B’ on a Catholicism for Dummies pop quiz.

But what really surprises me are the number of people active on this forum who have no interest in the Catholic faith

Well I don’t have any interest in becoming Catholic if that is what you mean.

or are downright hostile to it.

Meh, hostile is too strong a word. I do disagree with Catholicism on quite a few things. Then again I disagree with the Baptist church next door to ours on a few things also.

I recall reading a post by one Protestant Christian (I believe a member of the Reformed Church) who proudly declared, “I’ll never swim the Tiber.”

Well I have no intention of “swimming the Tiber either”. Why should I? I am quite content where I am thank you. Does that make me prideful? Is that a bad thing?

Fine and dandy, but then why are you wasting your time here?

Are you saying that unless I intend to “swim the Tiber” I am wasting my time here? Then why does the board have a "Non-Catholic Religions section? To get us all to “swim the Tiber”? I think I have been a good citizen in this regard and have not infiltrated other areas where I might not be welcome.

Still, Good question. I probably am wasting my time. And I do ask myself that sometimes too. Probably because I am bored and addicted to arguing over the internet.

I did mean to leave around a week ago when somebody got really condescending with me. But meh…here I am again.

If you want to excommunicate me from these boards I am fine with that. However so far at least according to the moderators I so far have been a good citizen.

I myself will never swim the Elbe, or the Rhone, or the Thamaes, or convert to some non-Christian religion, but I have better things to do with my life than troll non-Catholic boards and tell them why they’re wrong (I probably spend too much time HERE as it is ).

So do you believe that folks like me who are not particularly hostile to the Catholic church, yet have no interest in converting to the Catholic church and disagree with the Catholic church are trolls?

So, if these people are that against the Catholic Church,

Well “against” is too strong a word. Yes I disagree with the Catholic church. Doesn’t mean I am against it.

then why do they come (before I became Catholic I wouldn’t have been caught dead on a Catholic forum)?

Good question. Probably because I am addicted to arguing over the internet. I dunno.

If you want me to leave, I will.

Are they hoping to “rescue” us from the “Whore of Babylon?”

Ah no. I don’t particularly believe your denomination is the “Whore of Babylon”. In fact I have not received a good answer from those who believe this why this is the case.

 

[RNRobert]

I guess you have never felt the need to share your faith with others.

I have no problem sharing my faith with others. I believe the Catholic Church to have the fullness of the Christian faith, but I don’t go around calling Protestants a bunch of heretics either. Some non-Catholics on this board (not all but some) seem to treat Catholics as a bunch of ignoramouses who need to be “taught the Scriptures.”

 

[cyberwolf001]

I may have missed this but do not forget those that come here to defend there faiths.

Like how Ian Corrigan always clears up misunderstandings about Neo-Paganism. Which made me rethink a lot of my old prejudices and hurts from my time in the Neo-Pagan movement.

Admittedly yes it also made me wonder if I’d made a mistake leaving the Pagan faith so hastily well anyway people have seen my faith struggle here. However do not blame Ian for my choices in life please. I made them of my own will and Ian’s words only helped me put things into a context.

 

[Laurent_LUG]

It seems like you only want Roman Catholics to be here, even in this section on “Non-Catholic Religions”.

If so, why have this section?

So Roman Catholics can discuss non-catholic religions?

Why I’m here ??
To show my disagreement , yes !!
To attack & insult , no !!

Every (non-)religion is allowed to discuss on this section !!
If someone does not agree with my opinion or vision ,
that makes it interesting to discuss !!

Salute & Cheers from a NON BELIEVER:
– Laurent LUG (.@…), october 12, 2008

 

[meedo]

Hello,

As a muslim , i was invited here by a protestant minister. he said that people on this forum have questions on Islam.

Most questions i get have hostile intent , i would say 65% , but some are sincere . I am here on the for the following reasons:-

1- Answer sincere questions on Islam and try to correct misunderstandings

2- Keep updated on the latest fashion and trends in islam and muslim bashing.

3- Have a glimpse on what a lot of christians think about in terms of faith.

As i understand this section is for non catholic religions. Thus i do not see my self distracting on any topic that is exclusevly related to catholicism.

best reagrds,

Meedo, an egyptian arab muslim.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

Some on this thread have commented on the lack of charity on the part of Catholics on these boards. I think this is because when non-Catholics come here not so much to debate as to attack our Church, we go into defensive mode pretty quickly.
I have debated on these boards with a number of non-Catholics who have disagreed with one Church doctrine or another, but we have been able to have a civil discussion. Then there are those who only come to attack the Church as some sort of monster that we ignorant Catholics need to be “rescued” from because we “need to hear God’s written word” (as if Catholics were totally clueless about the Bible!).
You know, I don’t go on Protestant boards calling them a bunch of heretics (not only is it uncharitable, but I have better things to do with my life than tearing down others). I imagine they would be just as offended and defensive as Catholics are on these boards when their Church is attacked (and I might add that I don’t see Protestant churches attacking each other with the same vehemence that they attack the Catholic Church). To those who come to these boards simply to attack the Catholic faith I say this:
Are your spiritual, personal and social lives so bankrupt that you need to justify yourself by wasting your time on Catholic forums telling us how bad the Catholic Church? Get a life!

Personally, I showed up here a couple of weeks ago because I I have a good friend who was Catholic but rather reluctant at times to talk about issues of faith, and I simply wanted to get some background of understanding of what Catholics believe, both officially and colloquially. Along the way, it had seemed fitting to provide the same clarification to Catholics with regard to Protestant beliefs. Sometimes that has involved some poking and prodding which may be be uncomfortable for both sides at times. On the whole though, my goal is greater understanding both between Catholics and Protestants and understanding of their own beliefs, and hopefully some increase in unity. I say this in part to explain myself and in part to invite accountability and correction if someone feels I am straying from these goals.

 

[a_mirror_dimly]

I hate the short edit windows on these forums, it doesn’t mesh with my posting style

Anyway, the first part of my post should read:

“Personally, I showed up here a couple of weeks ago because I have a good friend who is Catholic but rather reluctant at times to talk about issues of faith…”

 

[valiermn]

And Jack Chick, that anti-Catholic bigot who hates us just as well. Well, there are over 1.5 Billion Catholics for a reason, we are still the leading religion in the world, and still growing strong.
If Catholicism is wrong my non-Catholic brothers and sisters, why all the fuss?
Remember Jesus saying that they will hate you because of me, it is obvious he is speaking about the Catholic church and it’s members.

Yes and the Second largest Christian Group in the world is Former Catholics. I am a among the second group and the reason I view this site and listen to Ewtn radio is see and hear what is said next. Some of the attacks catholics have on Non catholics is very un christian. ALso the answers catholic apologist give callers on the radio just shocks me. I want to know why some apologist think they are God? Telling good Christians their mariages are in valid to God because they are outside the Catholic Church. Who do these folks think they are ? I have heard apologist scream at callers and tell them thay are going to hell. I just want to call in and say Whoa hold on there a minute buckaroo your not God

 

[rikkk1958]

Yes and the Second largest Christian Group in the world is Former Catholics. I am a among the second group and the reason I view this site and listen to Ewtn radio is see and hear what is said next. Some of the attacks catholics have on Non catholics is very un christian. ALso the answers catholic apologist give callers on the radio just shocks me. I want to know why some apologist think they are God? Telling good Christians their mariages are in valid to God because they are outside the Catholic Church. Who do these folks think they are ? I have heard apologist scream at callers and tell them thay are going to hell. I just want to call in and say Whoa hold on there a minute buckaroo your not God

It may be true that some catholics acted not in the way you want them to act but I always believed that a good catholic will always be a catholic if he or she believes that the foundation of the Church is divine. While the Church is always divine, we catholics and those who administer the Church are just human beings and are subject to errors. The divinity of the Church is not subject to errors. We are in the Church that Jesus wanted us to be in because He told us to follow the Way, the Life, and the Truth. When I hear and see priests and other catholics commit some form of sinfulness I see a human being subjected to evil ways and it is clear to us that the flesh is different than the Spirit. All we can do is ask God’s mercy and Grace by working for righteousness. It is sad to say you leave the Church. The Church believes in what is in the Scriptures and tradition. No man can judge anybody or say if he is going to enter the Kingdom of God or not, but the Church believes and only wanted to follow everything Jesus wanted us to believe and teach those who wants to follow. Those who preached salvation through the Church were of course just following what is in their hearts and because of what is being said. Are we being literal in interpreting the Scriptures? Maybe, because it is written, but all we want to do is believe in it so that others may also believe and be saved the way the Church interpreted it. We are very sorry if you were offended.