Offended at being called Protestant

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DAML72 said:
It’s not always as easy or as ‘sweet’ as you might think it is. In fact, for many converts, it is a very lonely and alienating experience.
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A type of white martyrdom, in fact. I wouldn’t (and don’t) joke about it. I’m just now beginning to believe that my conversion/reversion won’t cost me my marriage of 17 years.
 
steido01 said:
I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily pejorative (though some Roman Catholics certainly try to use it that way), but simply inaccurate. A ‘protest’ suggests an opposition, and thus a dependence on the existence of the ‘other’ until a desired end has been reached. Many denominations don’t define themselves based on the existence of another church body, so in a majority of cases the label just doesn’t apply (unless one holds an incredibly Romulocentric worldview). Using the term as a blanket for ‘any Western Christian who is not Roman Catholic or Orthodox’ is too broad to be useful.
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Interesting usage of language here Don, I see in your reply to VanSensei’s usage of “non-Catholics” you have conveniently changed it to “Roman Catholics”. I understand the why and I am not here to deny your catholicity but it does prove to the OP that there is no label that will ever be adequate for those outside your own faith. Weather you are trying to be inclusive or exclusive, you will either offend those who feel they should be included or exclude those you are not trying to offend.

I am beginning to embrace more the label “in communion with Rome” for those who are and “not in communion with Rome” for those who are not. But even this needs many qualifiers such as “Christian” or even “Trinity Christians”.

Thank God for papal unity! 👍
Peace!!!
 
Lutherans, in general, avoid the referring to themselves as ‘Protestant’. On CAF, it is nearly impossible not to include Lutherans as Protestants for purposes of distinguishing them from Roman Catholics. Actually, Lutherans were the first Protestants but have very little in common with many Protestants, including Evangelicals.
 
adf417 said:
Interesting usage of language here Don, I see in your reply to VanSensei’s usage of “non-Catholics” you have conveniently changed it to “Roman Catholics”. I understand the why and I am not here to deny your catholicity but it does prove to the OP that there is no label that will ever be adequate for those outside your own faith. Weather you are trying to be inclusive or exclusive, you will either offend those who feel they should be included or exclude those you are not trying to offend.

I am beginning to embrace more the label “in communion with Rome” for those who are and “not in communion with Rome” for those who are not. But even this needs many qualifiers such as “Christian” or even “Trinity Christians”.

Thank God for papal unity! 👍
Peace!!!
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Wasn’t by convenience or any nefarious purpose - only an attempt to be more accurate. I hope I have not offended.

I agree entirely with your second paragraph.
 
As a former Protestant (Baptist), we never called ourselves Protestants, but Baptists.

However, after I dumped the Baptists and went non-denominational, I focused more on my label as a Christian, not Baptist, Lutheran, etc. (I hated church shopping as a Protestant).

As a Catholic, I love using the term Protestant because it’s an easy dividing line to point out my past/my life now.

When I was a Protestant, I did this.
Now that I’m Catholic, I do this.

Given what people have said here, I can see there are some reasons for people to be offended at the term, but the fact is that calling people who are Protestants “Protestants” isn’t telling an untrue statement.

Still, if people are offended, then change your language and apologize for the offense.
 
seanman611 said:
9 times out of 10, non-denominational means baptist.
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NO. NO. NO. This is such a simplification. Baptist (while a diverse tradition) is not a catch all term for any and all autonomous congregation. There are certain things that have to be present before it makes sense to call a church Baptist or even Baptist oriented.

While many non-denominational churches are essentially “Baptist by any other name,” this is certainly not 9 out of 10.
 
babs57 said:
Here’s a little background:

Two years ago, my daughter’s boyfriend (now fiance) entered the Church. During his conversion (and during RCIA) there was a lot of good-natured discussion (between my daughter and her boyfriend, and his parents) about the differences between Catholic and Protestant theology. **But during a recent conversation, the future in-laws politely said that they take offense at being called Protestant. **They said that they are Christians, just like any other Christians.

My question is, would you take this as a hint that they are tired of discussing the issue? Or, should the kids continue the discussions, somehow working around saying the “P” word?

Please be kind with your ideas. These are very wonderful people, and we are looking forward to the joining of our families.
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This might help:
anglicancontinuum.blogspot.com/2009/07/pro-and-con-testantism.html
Then again, it may not. You know them, I don’t. 🙂
 
babs57 said:
Here’s a little background:

Two years ago, my daughter’s boyfriend (now fiance) entered the Church. During his conversion (and during RCIA) there was a lot of good-natured discussion (between my daughter and her boyfriend, and his parents) about the differences between Catholic and Protestant theology. But during a recent conversation, the future in-laws politely said that they take offense at being called Protestant. They said that they are Christians, just like any other Christians.

My question is, would you take this as a hint that they are tired of discussing the issue? Or, should the kids continue the discussions, somehow working around saying the “P” word?

Please be kind with your ideas. These are very wonderful people, and we are looking forward to the joining of our families.
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A Protestant is someone who is a non-Catholic Christian. That is how the term got its name because they “protested” the teachings and authority of the Church from which they were separating. Its not an insult, just a matter of fact.

If they are offended at being called Protestant, they may want to explore why they are offended at being called a term that sets them apart from the Catholic Church. I would perhaps continue the discussion, but just stay away from using the word Protestant, because that part isn’t really that important and is too general.
 
ltwin said:
NO. NO. NO. This is such a simplification. Baptist (while a diverse tradition) is not a catch all term for any and all autonomous congregation. There are certain things that have to be present before it makes sense to call a church Baptist or even Baptist oriented.

While many non-denominational churches are essentially “Baptist by any other name,” this is certainly not 9 out of 10.
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I’m guessing there are a great many non-denominational chapels that are being funded by one or another of the Baptist Conventions, though. There are very few stand-alone chapels that aren’t receiving funding from somewhere, especially when they are first starting out - unless you think 10 or 12 families can support a pastor’s family and an office staff, as well as building expenses? Not likely. Rather, it’s a way for denominational organizations to evangelize the local community and draw in the unchurched and the free spirits who don’t want to join up in a formal way.
 
Bklynguy said:
A Protestant is someone who is a non-Catholic Christian. That is how the term got its name because they “protested” the teachings and authority of the Church from which they were separating. Its not an insult, just a matter of fact.
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It’s not a matter of fact for all non-Roman Catholic Christians, because not all non-Roman Catholic Christians define themselves based on their relationship to one particular denomination that happens to be headquartered in Rome.

Maybe the term applies to Lutherans, Anglicans and a few old Reformed churches, but it certainly does not fit the general run-of-the-mill American Evangelical. See my previous post.
 
Wait a minute, now…I’m beginning to get a bit offended at the term Roman Catholic. I prefer to be called Petrine Catholic, if you please!! :D:D:D
 
babs57 said:
Wait a minute, now…I’m beginning to get a bit offended at the term Roman Catholic. I prefer to be called Petrine Catholic, if you please!! :D:D:D
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It was actually intended as an insult. The term Roman Catholic was invented by Queen Elizabeth. Just like Lutheran was invented by the Catholic Johann Eck 🙂

And the term Protestant does not mean to protest the Catholic Church.
 
babs57 said:
Wait a minute, now…I’m beginning to get a bit offended at the term Roman Catholic. I prefer to be called Petrine Catholic, if you please!! :D:D:D
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Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say that before – which is a bit peculiar really. (Although I do know someone who prefers to be called “Papal Catholic” rather than “Roman Catholic”.)
 
babs57 said:
Wait a minute, now…I’m beginning to get a bit offended at the term Roman Catholic. I prefer to be called Petrine Catholic, if you please!! :D:D:D
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Oh, and you can call yourself that, but only if I’m allowed to call myself a Wittenberg Catholic 🙂
 
There may be some common Protestant belief or way of thinking that their congregation does not subscribe to, or the other way around. I worked with someone years ago who gave me the same blurb when asked what denomination he belonged to. Christian. So I asked the trick question… “So your non-denominational?” Sounds judgmental, but really it was not my intention. We just left it at that and there was peace in the valley.
 
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