Protestants: Could you please do us all a favor??

[Memaw]

We can help him .

And so we pray!!! I place him and all here in the Chalice and on the Paten at morning Mass. God Bless, Memaw

 

[josie_L]

And so we pray!!! I place him and all here in the Chalice and on the Paten at morning Mass. God Bless, Memaw

He does have doubts about his lack of faith by the way (Francis aka humble in doubt).

 

[SHW]

Two hundred years ago, there were not ‘sparks’ which we might, if we choose, call ‘god’; but rather, a blazing fire shining like a sun, which was mystery and question which only the boldest and perhaps most ridiculous men of the time could doubt the apparent light of.

Now, indeed, there are only ‘sparks’; there are tiny lights ‘out there’, somewhere, a perhaps someone, who might or might not be less than imagination, towards which many still sail in the hopes of finding beautiful shores of glory and riches.

What does the future of these ‘sparks’ hold? Will they die out entirely? You have gambled on your opinion, like all men do; but I have little doubt that, unless you choose to exist in the same ignorance as the men of centuries ago did, that you feel tension about your gamble, because there must be a drastic upheaval of all current scientific knowledge, if there can be no tension about the theistic implications of it.

You misunderstood me. I said that Someone whom I call God created these “sparks” out of “nothing.” “Nothing” cannot create. It does not exist.

 

[SHW]

for example?

A flower blooming, a bird singing, children laughing. “They” just did not appear out of “nothing.”

*Last week, I was remembering a gift to me of homemade apple butter and thinking how delicious it was and how I’d like to eat it again so that perhaps I could develop my own recipe. All of the store bought brands are too spicy with too many cloves for my taste.

Yesterday, my friend who gave me the original apple butter gift five years ago as a housewarming gift, handed me a jar of apple butter as she is getting into my car and said that she remembered that I liked it. She said that she had ordered several apple pies from an apple products vendor whom she sees once a year at a show, but did not order the apple butter this year because her husband had been diagnosed with diabetes. Because she ordered so many frozen pies, they gave her a jar of apple butter as a free gift. She thought that I would enjoy it, so she gave it to me.

Only God and my guardian angel knew that I was hankering for apple butter.

*I always pray before I drive for protection for me and my car, but this certain day a few years ago, I prayed extra because I felt a special urging to do so. About 3 minutes after I am finished, I feel a jolt and my car leaps forward as if it was hit from behind. I motion the driver behind me to follow me and he follows me into a convenience store parking lot. He gets out and says, “Lady, I did not hit your car. I felt the bump and I saw your car jump, but my vehicle did not hit yours. I could still see space between our vehicles. I don’t understand this at all.” I told him that I had just gotten done praying for safety. He said something like, “You must have a good guardian angel.” And I agreed!

*I am being carjacked at gunpoint in 1992 by two men. I can feel the beginning of panic rising up within me. Immediately, I hear a voice saying inside my head, “Do not be afraid, your guardian angel is here.” My next thought was, “I could die.” The voice repeats, “Do not be afraid, your guardian angel is here.” The feeling of panic completely disappeared and I felt and acted completely calm, much to the surprise of the carjackers.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I love and serve a God who cares about me personally. He truly cares about each one of us in this way, but we have to let Him.

This does not mean that we will not suffer if it His will, but He is with us in our sufferings just as He was with His own Son when He watched Him suffer and die for our sins. Jesus prayed Psalm 22 while on the cross in order to be close to His Father during His own agony: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”

Prayer is talking to God, whether it is asking for help and comfort while we and our loved ones are in distress, or for praise for Him, or supplications for the needs of others, or thanksgiving for blessings given, etc. The Psalms are a valuable resource for our own prayers to God. Let’s imitate Jesus and pray them, too.

 

[jean8]

Things that Protestants get wrong about Catholic theology.

mike,
Are you saying that only Catholics are saved? Oneness Pentecostals teach they are the only people saved?
The Bible reads “For God shows no favoritism.” What is a person to believe??
Mt.7:1-5 is a warning, not to judge others.

God bless,
jean

 

[SHW]

mike,
Are you saying that only Catholics are saved? Oneness Pentecostals teach they are the only people saved?
The Bible reads “For God shows no favoritism.” What is a person to believe??
Mt.7:1-5 is a warning, not to judge others.

God bless,
jean

Did you hear about the “Lutheran” who went to heaven and was asked to “shush” and to tiptoe quietly as she passed a certain door?

After they passed the door and got further down the corridor, St. Peter explained, “The “Catholics” are in there. They think they’re the only ones here.”

Fill in the " "s with whatever denominations you wish.

 

[Peter_J]

Did you hear about the “Lutheran” who went to heaven and was asked to “shush” and to tiptoe quietly as she passed a certain door?

After they passed the door and got further down the corridor, St. Peter explained, “The “Catholics” are in there. They think they’re the only ones here.”

Fill in the " "s with whatever denominations you wish.

Actually as it happens the first time I heard that joke, it was about the LCMS, told by a member of the LCMS.

 

[PRmerger]

mike,
Are you saying that only Catholics are saved? Oneness Pentecostals teach they are the only people saved?
The Bible reads “For God shows no favoritism.” What is a person to believe??
Mt.7:1-5 is a warning, not to judge others.

God bless,
jean

The CC does not teach that only Catholics are saved. Everyone is called to enter the kingdom (CCC543).

Who, then, are saved? We don’t know who or how many. Luke 13:23

 

[humble_in_doubt]

A flower blooming, a bird singing, children laughing. “They” just did not appear out of “nothing.”

*Last week, I was remembering a gift to me of homemade apple butter and thinking how delicious it was and how I’d like to eat it again so that perhaps I could develop my own recipe. All of the store bought brands are too spicy with too many cloves for my taste.

Yesterday, my friend who gave me the original apple butter gift five years ago as a housewarming gift, handed me a jar of apple butter as she is getting into my car and said that she remembered that I liked it. She said that she had ordered several apple pies from an apple products vendor whom she sees once a year at a show, but did not order the apple butter this year because her husband had been diagnosed with diabetes. Because she ordered so many frozen pies, they gave her a jar of apple butter as a free gift. She thought that I would enjoy it, so she gave it to me.

Only God and my guardian angel knew that I was hankering for apple butter.

*I always pray before I drive for protection for me and my car, but this certain day a few years ago, I prayed extra because I felt a special urging to do so. About 3 minutes after I am finished, I feel a jolt and my car leaps forward as if it was hit from behind. I motion the driver behind me to follow me and he follows me into a convenience store parking lot. He gets out and says, “Lady, I did not hit your car. I felt the bump and I saw your car jump, but my vehicle did not hit yours. I could still see space between our vehicles. I don’t understand this at all.” I told him that I had just gotten done praying for safety. He said something like, “You must have a good guardian angel.” And I agreed!

*I am being carjacked at gunpoint in 1992 by two men. I can feel the beginning of panic rising up within me. Immediately, I hear a voice saying inside my head, “Do not be afraid, your guardian angel is here.” My next thought was, “I could die.” The voice repeats, “Do not be afraid, your guardian angel is here.” The feeling of panic completely disappeared and I felt and acted completely calm, much to the surprise of the carjackers.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I love and serve a God who cares about me personally. He truly cares about each one of us in this way, but we have to let Him.

This does not mean that we will not suffer if it His will, but He is with us in our sufferings just as He was with His own Son when He watched Him suffer and die for our sins. Jesus prayed Psalm 22 while on the cross in order to be close to His Father during His own agony: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”

Prayer is talking to God, whether it is asking for help and comfort while we and our loved ones are in distress, or for praise for Him, or supplications for the needs of others, or thanksgiving for blessings given, etc. The Psalms are a valuable resource for our own prayers to God. Let’s imitate Jesus and pray them, too.

You can attribute anything you want to a god … do you seriously expect me to view any of this as profound proof? I mean come on …

 

[PRmerger]

You can attribute anything you want to a god … do you seriously expect me to view any of this as profound proof? I mean come on …

Who said anything about “profound proof”? :whacky:

Who asks for “profound proof” from their lover before committing to them? Sheesh! No one would get married if that’s the criteria…

God gives us just enough light so that those who seek will find, but not too much light that those who don’t want to find will be compelled against their will.

 

[humble_in_doubt]

Who said anything about “profound proof”? :whacky:

Who asks for “profound proof” from their lover before committing to them? Sheesh! No one would get married if that’s the criteria…

you’re comparing a tangible lover to an invisible god whose never shown himself to mankind in an objectively verifiable way (and we can only believe reports of our primitive superstitious ancient ancestors)? OK

God gives us just enough light so that those who seek will find, but not too much light that those who don’t want to find will be compelled against their will.

If god came down and said humble … follow me; why would it violate my free will (unless he actively compelled me to follow him using some sort of psychological or physical coercion). Your logic here is peculiar (to say the least).

 

[PRmerger]

you’re comparing a tangible lover to an invisible god

Yup. It’s the comparison God gave us as well!

If god came down and said humble … follow me; why would it violate my free will (unless he actively compelled me to follow him using some sort of psychological or physical coercion). Your logic here is peculiar (to say the least).

Because God wants our love, and our faith. Just like you would never fall in love with a person based on the objective criteria she presented to you about why it’s beneficial to marry her.

 

[humble_in_doubt]

Yup. It’s the comparison God gave us as well!

Because God wants our love, and our faith. Just like you would never fall in love with a person based on the objective criteria she presented to you about why it’s beneficial to marry her.

huh?

Hey … I guess some people will believe anything

 

[PRmerger]

huh?

Hey … I guess some people will believe anything

Right back at 'cha, humble! Some people will believe anything…

 

[SHW]

You can attribute anything you want to a god … do you seriously expect me to view any of this as profound proof? I mean come on …

Personally, “I” do not expect “you” to view anything as profound “proof” since I think that anything pertaining to God is beyond your mental and spiritual capabilities at this point in time due to your own free will choices.

Someone created this world. I call this Someone “God” and He created this world out of “nothing.” This world did not always exist and this has been proved by Science.

However, Science can only deal with things pertaining to “already created things” such as “matter and energy” since Science cannot “create” anything including “matter or energy” out of “nothing.” Science is therefore subject to creation and its Creator. It is not above it nor Him.

I have never seen any scientist, atheist or not, create anything out of nothing, yet all things, such as creating the universe out of nothing, are possible with God my Creator.

 

[humble_in_doubt]

just because this universe likely didn’t exist before the big bang (btw it was created from a singularity, not exactly nothing) doesn’t mean something didn’t exist before that. We just don’t know (although we can show the beginning chapters of Genesis to be nothing more than primitive mythology; similar to other creation stories during that period in the near east).

 

[SHW]

…an invisible god whose never shown himself to mankind in an objectively verifiable way (and we can only believe reports of our primitive superstitious ancient ancestors)? OK

So, just how many times do you think that God’s only begotten Son should be required by you, and others such as you, to become Man and die a horrible death on the cross in order for you and other non-believers to believe in Him? The Jews were expecting a Warrior leader to throw off the yoke of the Roman Empire. What are you expecting?

Are you expecting God to appear on earth and die an excruciating death for each generation of mankind in order to prove that He exists? I wonder what the means of execution should be, in your opinion, for each generation since death by crucifixion, the most painful death possible, is not legal in our time and hasn’t been for nearly 2000 years?

I don’t think there can ever be a more objective verifiable way to profoundly prove Godly existence than to send your own Son to earth to tell you that I AM. I do not think that there can ever be a better way to show love for sinful mankind than to willingly lay down Your own Life for Your creatures in order to atone for the inherited willful disobedience of their own “first parents” so that they can one day live with You forever in Paradise.

Gee, what more should we (the created) ask for and expect from our Creator in order to accept Him and believe in Him? Humility towards one’s Creator seems reasonable to me.

 

[SHW]

just because this universe likely didn’t exist before the big bang (btw it was created from a singularity, not exactly nothing) doesn’t mean something didn’t exist before that. We just don’t know (although we can show the beginning chapters of Genesis to be nothing more than primitive mythology; similar to other creation stories during that period in the near east).

What were the “components” that caused the “Big Bang?” “They” were not “nothing.” The Big Bang did not create its own components which then “banged.” Someone created these components in order for the Big Bang to be possible.

Genesis mythology: So what if it is or not? This is certainly at least a “story” to explain that mankind had a “beginning” and that our Creator is interested in us and our lives and it shows that He loves us and therefore warns us of the consequences of our free will choices to do evil. God did not create evil. He is all good.

 

[O.S.Luke]

Humble - if you are such a fan of rationalism and reasoning, do this: disprove the existence of God using the scientific method.

“God is dead.” - Friedrich Nietzsche (substantiated in The Gay Science, 1882)
“Friedrich Nietzsche is dead.” - God (supposed)
“He may have written a book about me, but i still think he’s an *sshole.” - Zarathustra on Nietzsche (probably not, but funny nonetheless)

 

[PRmerger]

Humble - if you are such a fan of rationalism and reasoning, do this: disprove the existence of God using the scientific method.

“God is dead.” - Friedrich Nietzsche
“Friedrich Nietzsche is dead.” - God

:clapping:

Yep. No rationalist has ever been able to disprove the existence of God using the scientific method. They accept it on Faith.

Yet, humble, still has that whisper of a doubt in his spirit that his atheistic belief may be wrong. Hence, his visits to this Catholic forum. The Holy Spirit has been the Voice during his quiet moments of doubt.

Heck, even his name alludes to the doubt he feels.

And, hey, we all have doubts. Nothing wrong with that!