This will be my last posting on this site because the legalistic regulars don’t want to get the point.
- Many of the traditions clung to by most Roman Catholics are viewed by Protestants as having absolutely nothing to do with anything Jesus preached, or His disciples taught; and the net result of their practice in the “Roman Catholic Church” was gross misuse and abuse of power, not to mention distraction from the much more important aspects of Chris’s message.
Evidence of this can be seen by taking a step back from what you are accustomed to and asking yourself whether a thing is something Chris spoke of, and thus “Christian,” or whether it is “Roman Catholic tradition.”
Folks wearing smocks, holing up in nunneries and monasteries, grazing on grass like sheep, shaving their heads like Moe, sprinkling things, crossing themselves, twirling beads, praying to Mary–all these things have, arguably, little to no justification in the Bible, yet they literally DEFINE what it is to be “Catholic.” Many Protestants will simply shake their heads, think “whatever,” and try to focus on places we can find common ground, if you will let us.
However, most of those who post on this site are not interested in finding common ground. They are like legalistic folks who will not be happy until they convince all around them that they are RIGHT! Well, find me one verse that mentions the word Pope who is infallible, wears a funny hat, and lives in a place like the Vatican, elected by a secret process, announced by mystical smoke. That’s correct, these are all things MEN invented.
A study of folklore will reveal that, when Christianity hit many cultures in Europe and Eurasia, it transplanted onto existing pagan practices, one of which was worshipping three primary gods, one of whom was female (Mokosh’ in Slavic folklore). Mysteriously, after a couple centuries went by, many Slavs would tell you that the Christian trinity meant the Father, Son, and Mary. Interestingly, the other main Indo-European culture in which worship of the female pagan god was particularly strong was in the Romance language speaking groups. Guess where worship of, or prayer to Mary has remained strongest? In these 2 cultural groups.
Christmas settled itself in right around the winter solstice, tying itself up withi pagan trees and logs; Easter around the vernal equinox, along with pussywillows, fertile rabbits, and eggs (all signs of pagan Mother Earth worship). The point is, our “traditions” are replete with practices that come from pagan sources.
Protestants have tried hard to eliminate things that distract us from the main teachings of Chris, and feel that Catholics cling too stubbornly to things that identify them clearly as being “Catholic,” but don’t have quite so much to do with being “Christian.” If you took away all such traditions I have mentioned, as a Catholic, what would you have left? What would you be? Lost? Sad? Confused? Missing that with which you had been comfortable before? Why does it have to be that way?
These points are steeped in logic, and explain why the majority of white, Anglo-Saxon Chrstians in the US have turned away from “Roman Catholicism.” It is not because they lack faith or have backslidden; it is because they have with good conscience rejected practices, traditions, and power structures deemed evil historically and silly and unnecessary today. But angry Catholics choose not to see the latter reason; they stubbornly cling to the former.
I would argue that the more important reason these practices and this authority has been rejected is the attitude of people similar to that of those who continue to post and lecture and insist on their quantum leap logic on this site, as if they were all-knowing, wish they could be all-powerful, but exhibit not one iota of the love Jesus mentions in 1 Corinthians 13. It doesn’t matter if you end your rant in a pithy nicety; the tone overall is one completely devoid of love, grace, empathy, sympathy, or compassion. It is the aura of an angry, stern, end-of-the-nose-reading-glasses-bespectacled nasty neighbor we all remember that lived on our street. No child wanted to go near him or her because they were no fun to be around.
Finally, whoever started this thread missed the boat on 3 counts.
- You can’t say “Protestants.” It lumps too many people together, blames some for something they don’t do, and is immediately accusatory to all.
- You incorrectly think this is directed as a back-handed swipe at Catholics. Nobody I know, myself included, uses this term with the thought in mind, “see, I am getting in a dig at Catholics!” What paranoia!
- When we say “Bible-believing,” we mean only that we believe in the Bible; we don’t make extra stuff up or worship the Lord in an unnatural way. Why read more into it than that? Why can’t you call yourselves “Bible-believing Christians” too? If you examine this critical question, you will arrive at the conclusion that unlocks this whole debate. Could it be that some are more interested in being “Roman Catholics,” with all that entails, than “Christians?”
Which leads me to my initial point: as you choose to get offended by an inoffensive term,
can you not see that people who supplant “good Catholic” for “good Christian” offend non-Catholic Christians? Or do you feel secret shame deep down inside that you aren’t really Bible-believing, but want to be “Catholic ritual believing” instead? Do you really feel that non-Catholics aren’t really Christians after all?
There are plenty of my Catholic brothers and sisters who have read my comments and completely get my ecumenical message of love and understanding; you instead chose to belittle it and toss insults this way. That is why I’m quitting this site…it’s a waste of emotions and energy lost on deaf ears. Have fun praying your rosary and twirling those beads. It’s really helping people in need of Christian love and assistance.
