Post-Protestant, but not quite Catholic?

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I have a few friends who are like this, and I was wondering if this was a general trend that is becoming more pronounced as of late.

These friends are Protestant, but in a “post-Protestant” (my term) way. That is, they are easily critical of traditional Protestantism, and they are friendly towards Catholicism and even Orthodoxy.

That is, they tend to transcend denomination. They may say they like to appreciate what is best from all Christian traditions, while deciding that no one church “gets it all right.”

Granted, this is a good step forward. A step toward liturgy and tradition, and even respecting those traditions that were once automatically frowned upon.

Is this a modern trend? Or is it just unique to my friends? LOL
 
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RealisticCatholic said:
These friends are Protestant, but in a “post-Protestant” (my term) way. That is, they are easily critical of traditional Protestantism, and they are friendly towards Catholicism and even Orthodoxy.
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By Protestantism, do you mean Traditional Protestantism (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and so forth) or do you mean American Evangelicalism (Southern Baptist, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, Mega-Church Word of Faith and so forth)?
 
All of the above really, because it’s not attached to a single tradition (even though they may be raised that way). Additionally, there’s this (odd?) tendency to reject traditional Protestant soteriology and even sola scriptura. That’s one way what I meant by being critical of Protestantism.

But no real dedication towards Catholicism or Orthodoxy, either.

Even appreciation of saints (even Catholic saints), and will be sympathetic to the WHYs of Catholic theology (e.g., “if there is a priesthood, I can see why only male priests makes much more sense. But Protestants don’t have an excuse for male-only ministers” etc.)
 
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RealisticCatholic said:
But no real dedication towards Catholicism or Orthodoxy, either.
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I don’t really know. All I can tell you is that in the tradition I was raised, Southern Baptist, there is a huge swing toward Reformed Theology. I’ve noticed the same thing among my friends who are Methodist and Assembly of God. My personal opinion is that people are discovering that a Christian life built on emotional highs, which much of American Evangelicalism is built, is a weak way to live the Christian life. Not that emotional highs are bad but I think people are wanting something deeper and more meaningful. Both Reformed theology and Catholicism are a “deeper” expression of Christianity than your typical Baptist or Assembly of God church teaches.
 
People that say they are “Omnists” claiming that they believe in given parts of each religion and that they transcend past denominations is heretical and prideful. Jesus says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

Jesus is not a way but the way. To claim you have transcended above denomination or even further to claim you are “omnist” denies the very teachings of the Bible and Jesus. Heretical
 
That makes sense.

But also, my OP may make more sense for people “on the journey” to conversion to say, Catholicism. But this isn’t necessarily their case. They are content with their church. I think. It has no denomination in the title, so I guess it’s just non-denominational? I’m not sure. However, even non-denominational aren’t usually Catholic-friendly.

Just wondering if this was a new trend.
 
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Jesus is not a way but the way. To claim you have transcended above denomination or even further to claim you are “omnist” denies the very teachings of the Bible and Jesus. Heretical
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This is not quite what I way saying.

In fact, in a way, it is reflective of traditional Protestantism, which doesn’t identify “the church” with one denomination. I think it’s just fleshing out the logical conclusion, if you indeed want to hold this opinion while also respecting traditional, liturgical Christianity.

I.e., “the Church = Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, etc.” But for them, even more than this to respecting the traditions themselves as manifestations of the church, since they are sympathetic to apostolic Christianity like Catholicism.
 
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I know a number of folks like this; I think it describes a lot of people in my current denomination, ACNA. Generally folks who would consider themselves catholic but not Catholic. Lots of buy-in to Branch Theory and Via Media. Believe in the Real Presence, cross themselves, observe the liturgical calendar, and many other things that more fundamentalist denominations would call papist.
 
I woudn’t say that my friends are that Catholic.

One way would be to say they are not sectarian, though. So they are not dedicated to defending a certain tradition over an over necessarily.

But this doesn’t mean anything goes. They are very traditional Christian theology. I.e., believe in Trinity, Resurrection, etc. They just happen to make room for Catholic accommodations and will gladly criticize aspects of even foundational Protestant beliefs.

It makes sense for an Anglican tradition to think this way.

But for others, I’m just sorta perplexed by the mentality. It seems to be stuck in the middle, when that doesn’t have to be the case. It just seems to be yet another attempt to “get Christianity right.”
 
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I believe it would be a good idea to explain canon law to them. See how they feel about theologians throughout the years coming together for a complete or better understanding of god’s laws. That is where some find peace and strength and other reject Catholicism. Vatican.va is a website with canon law writings. I find the parts about the mentally ill most intriguing.
 
RealisticCatholic said:
no one church “gets it all right.”
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This, all by itself, is Protestant.
RealisticCatholic said:
Is this a modern trend?
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I think that the further Protestant ecclesial communities fall from the Scripture and the Sacred Tradition, the more those who yearn for the faith of the Apostles will flee toward the more traditional.

I hope that this causes a coming home to Catholicism, despite the frailties of certain members of the Church that have demonstrated the sheep among wolves.

Jesus desires One Faith, One Church, One Baptism, to be One Lord of All. It is sad that this might be achieved by those who are compromising the faith making it clear that they have left the fold.

“Indeed, there have to be factions (αιρεσεις = heresies)among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.” (Corinthians 11:19)

How is one to determine clarity? Jesus will only preserve the Church He founded. All those founded by men, or based upon heresies will disintegrate.
 
RealisticCatholic said:
That is, they are easily critical of traditional Protestantism, and they are friendly towards Catholicism and even Orthodoxy.
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Interesting. Haven’t met those. John Calvin would accuse them of duplicity, call them Nicodemus and ban them. Maybe they are being moved by the Holy Spirit to the truth. Pray for them.
 
RealisticCatholic said:
I have a few friends who are like this, and I was wondering if this was a general trend that is becoming more pronounced as of late.

These friends are Protestant, but in a “post-Protestant” (my term) way. That is, they are easily critical of traditional Protestantism, and they are friendly towards Catholicism and even Orthodoxy.

That is, they tend to transcend denomination. They may say they like to appreciate what is best from all Christian traditions, while deciding that no one church "gets it all right."

Granted, this is a good step forward. A step toward liturgy and tradition, and even respecting those traditions that were once automatically frowned upon.

Is this a modern trend? Or is it just unique to my friends? LOL
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A quia subscription Lutheran would say that the Lutheran Confessions “get it right”.


I am sure there are other communions, casually categorized as Protestant, who hold a similar view of their teachings.
 
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