Non-Catholics- Were you once prejudiced against Catholics?

[JohnnyReb]

david75,

Welcome to the forums!

I grew up as a Southern Baptist too. I understand what you are saying. I formally left the SBC a little over a year ago. They are very rigid about who’s in and who’s out.

I’ve learned a lot from Catholic friends here. Even though Catholics believe they are the one true Church (and they may be right-I haven’t ruled out that possibility); they will tell you that we will be judged according to the measure of Grace we are given. Catholics, please correct me, if I haven’t stated this exactly right.

Also, though Catholics believe it is through Christ that we are reconciled to the Father; they are much less judgmental, when it comes to Heaven and Hell–many would not presume to judge the fate of their own souls, let alone the fate of others–a sharp contrast with the “absolutes” preached in Southern Baptist Churches. SB’s have no trouble telling you who they think is going to Hell.

Hope you enjoy the forums.

Peace,
Anna

Yes, having grown up SBC, and later A/G and Evangelical, there is certainly a list of people who are going to heaven and going to hell. My family were much more charitable towards Catholics than most SBCs. We had many good Catholic friends. I did have prejudices against the CC in the sense that the CC never taught from the Bible, the Catholics don’t really read their Bibles, that Catholics only go to church on Easter and Christmas, that they live any way they want to and its ok because they go to confession and get it forgiven, and so on. Some Catholics may do these things but I have learned that it is in spite of church teaching, not because of it.

 

[Inquiringperson]

I was brought up Southern Baptist. As such, I was taught that Catholics were the enemy. The basis of this, as I come to understand them, stems from Catholics praying to Virgin Mary and other Saints to interceed on their behalf. Forgive me if i have not worded this right. Many Southern Baptist, there may be other Protestants as well, see this as idol worship. Since Jesus bridged the gap between man and God. There is also the belief the many of the Catholic rites and traditons border on rituals. But what denomination doesn’t have traditions?

I have denounced these Southern Baptist teachings when I was in high school, when I began to get invovled in Higher Dimensions. Which was an extra curicular Christian group. As I got to know and become friends with Catholics and to see what they really believed, I learned they are not evil Idol worshipers.

It is a shame that these beliefs are still circulating today. I also find it a shame that many Catholics have the same minds set to Protestants, ie. Protestant = rejectors of the true Church and God’s will.

Both sides have their concrete all or nothing beleivers. I have also seen in both groups a more tolerant mind set that I hope will bring more continuity to the Christian faith.

These issues only help perpetuate the conundrum that i am in today. I feel both sides have merits and faults, but this labels me a heretic in both groups. In this I feel the only winner is Satan as he has divided the Christian faith. If believers can’t agree among themselves what chance do unbelievers have?

Welcome. I’m glad you changed your beliefs. If only these beliefs were gone, but Jesus said that as Catholics, we aren’t having a walk in the park. We’re running an eternal marathon.

 

[Anna_Scott]

Yes, having grown up SBC, and later A/G and Evangelical, there is certainly a list of people who are going to heaven and going to hell. My family were much more charitable towards Catholics than most SBCs. We had many good Catholic friends. I did have prejudices against the CC in the sense that the CC never taught from the Bible, the Catholics don’t really read their Bibles, that Catholics only go to church on Easter and Christmas, that they live any way they want to and its ok because they go to confession and get it forgiven, and so on. Some Catholics may do these things but I have learned that it is in spite of church teaching, not because of it.

JohnnyReb,
We both grew up as SB’s and our religious designation on this forum is almost identical. We have much in common.

As for the charge against Catholics in living any way they want and going to confession; one of my Jewish friends made a similar observation about Evangelicals who claim OSAS. She said they do whatever they want and just ask for forgiveness–since they are certain they are going to heaven, they just don’t worry about how they are living. And sadly, the very Christians who had tried to convert her and her husband were not exactly living a life that reflected the teachings of Christ.

That really made me stop and think about my life. I suppose it all comes back to the famous quote by St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

So, if we aren’t walking the walk, it’s best to keep our mouths shut.

Peace,
Anna

 

[JohnnyReb]

A Baptist Theologian sort of got into trouble with agreeing with what your Jewish friend had to say about OSAS. He said the SBC had become a Southern deep friend version of “Roman Catholicism” -where people went to church on Sunday out of religious duty, and lived no different from the world Monday-Saturday and it was ok because they were secure in Christ and could never fall away.

I am sure there are Evangelicals who use OSAS as a safety net like this and Catholics who do sort of treat confession the way I described, but none of those people living in accordance with what their church is teaching them. Paul warns that those who use the grace of God as a license of immorality are going to have to answer to God for it.

I’m not here to Baptist Bash, I mean without the foundation they laid for me, I don’t know if I would be a Christian today or not. Probably Buddhist, or agnostic, but thats a whole other discussion.

JohnnyReb,
We both grew up as SB’s and our religious designation on this forum is almost identical. We have much in common.

As for the charge against Catholics in living any way they want and going to confession; one of my Jewish friends made a similar observation about Evangelicals who claim OSAS. She said they do whatever they want and just ask for forgiveness–since they are certain they are going to heaven, they just don’t worry about how they are living. And sadly, the very Christians who had tried to convert her and her husband were not exactly living a life that reflected the teachings of Christ.

That really made me stop and think about my life. I suppose it all comes back to the famous quote by St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

So, if we aren’t walking the walk, it’s best to keep our mouths shut.

Peace,
Anna

 

[Anna_Scott]

A Baptist Theologian sort of got into trouble with agreeing with what your Jewish friend had to say about OSAS. He said the SBC had become a Southern deep friend version of “Roman Catholicism” -where people went to church on Sunday out of religious duty, and lived no different from the world Monday-Saturday and it was ok because they were secure in Christ and could never fall away.

I am sure there are Evangelicals who use OSAS as a safety net like this and Catholics who do sort of treat confession the way I described, but none of those people living in accordance with what their church is teaching them. Paul warns that those who use the grace of God as a license of immorality are going to have to answer to God for it.

I’m not here to Baptist Bash, I mean without the foundation they laid for me, I don’t know if I would be a Christian today or not. Probably Buddhist, or agnostic, but thats a whole other discussion.

I’m not here to “Baptist bash” either. I have some wonderful Baptist friends, who take their walk with Christ very seriously. Though I did personally endure some very painful experiences with the Baptist Church before I left.

I suppose every Church has Christians at different points in their journey, and I have much to account for myself. It is only through the Grace and Mercy of Christ our Lord that I live in the hope of salvation.

Still “working out my salvation in fear and trembling,”
Anna

 

[JohnnyReb]

Amen to that.

I’m not here to “Baptist bash” either. I have some wonderful Baptist friends, who take their walk with Christ very seriously. Though I did personally endure some very painful experiences with the Baptist Church before I left.

I suppose every Church has Christians at different points in their journey, and I have much to account for myself. It is only through the Grace and Mercy of Christ our Lord that I live in the hope of salvation.

Still “working out my salvation in fear and trembling,”
Anna

 

[Greg27]

I don’t consider myself anti-Catholic and this website has not changed my views, though its ultraconservative tone does put me off its particular ‘version’ of Catholicism.

 

[shinytoy]

duhh if people were non catholic AND didnt have a sympathy for catholicism i doubt they would be reading and postin on a catholic forum!!!

when i was non cath i used to find caths kinda creepy, with weird rules for when you could eat certain foods (lent), only eating fish on fridays, the schoolgirl sterotype, the creepy stern miserable looking nuns, and the whole thing about them worshipping Mary and the rosary and having loads of obsure old language prayers with words like ‘beseech thee’ and ‘misericordiae’ . it all seemed outdated and old school. and the only visible signs of faith manifesting itself in my fellow caths lives were what food they were giving up for lent (none gave up alcohol or even attended Mass)

plus, the media image of the Pope, the schoolkids abuse, the no-condomns rule, the frequent excorcisms of ghosts by Cath priests in films, the Opus Dei in Da Vinci Code self-harming with a crucifx, etc all was a bit weird.

also before my sister converted she said that catholics were going to hell for worshipping the dead, and worshipping Mary, and speakking in dead languages (Latin).

 

[Ruben_Vera]

Well I am non-Catholic and I do sympathize for Catholicism and you see me here posting.

I actually love all religions and enjoy talking and helping those with all kinds of backgrounds, and was I ever anti-Catholic? I really don’t think so, well of course there are lots things that I do not agree with the bible and the church but I never act aggressive against it. But like all religions there is always something corrupted or misleading, but that’s in all religions and its normal.
NOTE PREVIOUS PARAGRAPH: I said RELIGIONS not GOD there is a difference.

 

[Anna_Scott]

I don’t consider myself anti-Catholic and this website has not changed my views, though its ultraconservative tone does put me off its particular ‘version’ of Catholicism.

Greg27,
Would you give an example of the “ultraconservative tone”? I’m curious, because I don’t really see CAF as having a “version” of Catholicism.

Anna

 

[shinytoy]

Well I am non-Catholic and I do sympathize for Catholicism and you see me here posting.
.

if you actually read the first line of my post above it said:

" duhh if people were non catholic AND didnt have a sympathy for catholicism i doubt they would be reading and postin on a catholic forum!!!"

 

[babylonsfalling]

Just a thought. Were you non-catholics once anti-catholics? Did this website helped change your thinking?

Edit: What was I thinking? Fellow Catholics, you can’t vote on the poll.

When I stopped going to the Catholic Church and whilst still not going to other churches, I got mixed up with some anti catholic types and for a short time was borderline to becoming anti catholic. Eventually I got transferred overseas (away from the anti catholic crowd) and once there was able to read my Bible on my own, without any of their anti catholic guidance and figured out their Biblical references were all just…well, you know what.

From that point I ended up in different non catholic churches over the years, usually just when a church-going non catholic girlfriend would invite me. In those churches, I didn’t encounter anti catholicism. Being non catholic and disagreeing with parts of catholicism doesn’t equal ANTI-catholicism. Anti catholics are an embarrassment to the overwhelming majority of non catholics. They’re just a very noisy sliver-sized percentage non catholicism and they get much more attention than they deserve.

 

[vickimonica]

I was raised Baptist, and I do not recall my parents, or any of the other adults at my church “Catholic bashing”. I feel that people “bash” things that they do not fully understand. I have read on this forum plenty of times that we Catholics “worship” Mary. Once we explain that we are not worshiping her, we honor and adore her, then they tend to rethink the “Idol worshiping” thoughts…