Protestants Preoccupation With Catholics

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I would like to know, in your opinion, why you think so many protestants come to the Catholic Forum? I have seen some who are truly interested in learning about our faith, but there are also those who are only here to bash our faith.
I have no desire to visit web sites of other religions because learning and living my faith takes all the time I have. From comments made by some of the Protestant visitors it’s obvious that some of them are more familiar with a lot of the Catholic sites than I am. Why is this?
Why are they so preoccupied with the Catholic Church?
We live in area where we are the minority and are visited by evangelicals on a regular basis. We have a Blessed Virgin statue in our front lawn (I would prefer to have her in the back yard, but my dog digs up the flowers around her). It would be obvious to anyone that we are Catholic and instead of it detouring these visitors it seems to attract them. I do realize some of them have read or heard their preachers speak on some of the anit-Catholic literature that is available, such as Loraine Boettner’s “Roman Catholicism” and think they have an obligation to save our souls.
More than wanting to save our souls many of them do have a preoccupation with the Catholic faith. I just don’t get it.
Please keep in mind I am not speaking for all protestants.
 
Findnmway:
I would like to know, in your opinion, why you think so many protestants come to the Catholic Forum? I have seen some who are truly interested in learning about our faith, but there are also those who are only here to bash our faith.
I have no desire to visit web sites of other religions because learning and living my faith takes all the time I have. From comments made by some of the Protestant visitors it’s obvious that some of them are more familiar with a lot of the Catholic sites than I am. Why is this?
Why are they so preoccupied with the Catholic Church?
We live in area where we are the minority and are visited by evangelicals on a regular basis. We have a Blessed Virgin statue in our front lawn (I would prefer to have her in the back yard, but my dog digs up the flowers around her). It would be obvious to anyone that we are Catholic and instead of it detouring these visitors it seems to attract them. I do realize some of them have read or heard their preachers speak on some of the anit-Catholic literature that is available, such as Loraine Boettner’s “Roman Catholicism” and think they have an obligation to save our souls.
More than wanting to save our souls many of them do have a preoccupation with the Catholic faith. I just don’t get it.
Please keep in mind I am not speaking for all protestants.
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I agree with you here, although someone said in an earlier post that we gloat about talking Protestants down, well I DON’T, just the ones that want to bash us over the head with the Bible.
I did post a few times that some people seem preoccupied with the Catholic faith, why ??? is your Faith anti Catholicism ? thats not a good grounds for Faith.
You either believe in your own Faith, or you don’t, I have been to some pretty horrible anti Catholic sites.
It’s very mild here when Catholics rebuke Protestants & people of a different persuasion, wish I had been treated like others are treated on this forum.
But alas !!! no, BLOCKED, BLOCKED, BLOCKED, no point preaching to people if you don’t want to hear a counter point of view.
 
I think in parts of Protestant Christianity there is a huge bias against the Catholic Church, which is nothing less than a few centuries of tension from the Reformation. I think people are much more open-minded today, but I also think that for some anti-Catholicism serves as a uniter in their cause. I look at people like R.C. Sproul and his literature, and I definitely see a sense of “us vs. them” that, in his mind, is absolutely essential to maintain for some sort of legitimacy in being a Reformed Protestant (again, I definitely don’t think all Protestants are like that, but I have met enough to support this position and know that it’s true for some).

I see the hatred towards Catholicism no less ignorant or different than the racism that prevailed in the Southern part of our country until this century. The only things that will erase it will be time and education.
 
Some Protestants in this forum want to learn about the Catholic Faith.
Some just feel that they are obliged to let us see “their truth”, and be saved.
Some are just here to bash the Catholic faith.
Some are here to argue, but in the process, will rethink their positions (and hope to be converted back into the true fold).😉

Pio
 
Findnmway:
I would like to know, in your opinion, why you think so many protestants come to the Catholic Forum? I have seen some who are truly interested in learning about our faith, but there are also those who are only here to bash our faith.
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I’m just here because my interests happen to deal a lot with both Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy (I love the study of church history). As such, I have to deal with Catholic interpretations of history quite a bit and it’s useful to get a Catholic layperson’s POV on it.

When I was studying philosophy years ago I spent quite a few years interacting with people and views that differed quite a bit from my own, this is similar to that. I’d rather not spend my days just listening to people who agree with me all the time.

ken
 
Look, they are being good Protestants; they are still protesting! I have been asked why Catholics are always defending their faith and the answer is because of the innumerable protests against our faith, coming from all over the world. I am thankful for their interest in Catholicism no matter what the intention is, and some are truly curious. Catholicism is still the rule, you are Catholic or your a non-Catholic, and the non-Catholics identify themselves by degrees of non-Catholicism, some boast of being more anti-Catholic than the other. Since we hold the full truth we are obviously the largest target for criticism, they should ask themselves why nobody is bothered by them.
 
i personally think and Most are just searching… some are looking to drive a few of us crazy, but most dialog is better than none… really… 👍

don’t you think so… hey, anybody out there? 👍
 
I prefer in all Christian Charity, to believe that these people, even the most horrible “Anti-Catholic” ones, are simply trying to save us from Hell. If Catholics truly believed and practiced what they THINK we did, we would be in need of the Word of God. Even though they reject the patient (and impatient) explanations repeatedly, I do not believe they even heard the explanation in the first place. For example: on one of the threads, there was the attempt to show that even the church fathers knew nothing about the Assumption of Mary. I pointed out 2 times that they were talking about her DEATH and not the ASSUMPTION. The issue either gets dropped (no response yet) or I (anyone) is in error. I think of this in this way, SATAN is deceiving them and what better than to keep His people from understanding the truth about His Church, the Catholic Church. The only defense and solution, prayer. Write our words with prayer, pray for those we are talking to and pray for the lurkers.

God Bless
 
Thank you for this question…

I have been told by many that I am a little of a unique case when it comes to Protestants but I will share why I am here.

I do not think that I am preoccupied with Catholicism so much as enthralled by Christianity in general. This is a very active forum with many members so I get a large volume of information on Christianity in one day. Also because it is more or less an apologetics web site many people here are very informed. I like having that wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

I also like dialog with Catholic individuals because they are generally a little more aware of history than some of the other Christian followers.

I argue at times with Catholics on this board but usually only in defense of my religion and others, I rarely if ever attack Catholicism right out.

Another reason why I am here is because just as the unexamined life is a life not worth living, the untested and unexamined faith is a faith not worth having. I would not learn near as much about my religion and myself if I were on a site where if I made a comment everyone would agree. When people disagree with me it makes me reexamine my point of view and do further research on the issue.

Lastly, I have seen about the same ratio of Catholic individuals on Protestant sights as I see Protestants on this message board.
 
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Shibboleth:
Also because it is more or less an apologetics web site many people here are very informed. I like having that wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

There are many informed and intelligent people who post comments here. I’m very grateful for that. I have learned so much from Catholics and Non-Catholics alike in the little time I’ve been coming here and would like to thank you all.

I also like dialog with Catholic individuals because they are generally a little more aware of history than some of the other Christian followers.

Another reason why I am here is because just as the unexamined life is a life not worth living, the untested and unexamined faith is a faith not worth having. I would not learn near as much about my religion and myself if I were on a site where if I made a comment everyone would agree. When people disagree with me it makes me reexamine my point of view and do further research on the issue.

I agree. To be challeged is a good thing because we are able to look at what we believe in a different persceptive. But, like someone said earlier, to be “beat ove the head with the bible is another thing.”
It sounds like you are here for all the right reasons, so your (name removed by moderator)ut is welcome and very much appreciated.

QUOTE]
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Shibboleth:
Thank you for this question…

I have been told by many that I am a little of a unique case when it comes to Protestants but I will share why I am here.

I do not think that I am preoccupied with Catholicism so much as enthralled by Christianity in general. This is a very active forum with many members so I get a large volume of information on Christianity in one day. Also because it is more or less an apologetics web site many people here are very informed. I like having that wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

I also like dialog with Catholic individuals because they are generally a little more aware of history than some of the other Christian followers.

I argue at times with Catholics on this board but usually only in defense of my religion and others, I rarely if ever attack Catholicism right out.

Another reason why I am here is because just as the unexamined life is a life not worth living, the untested and unexamined faith is a faith not worth having. I would not learn near as much about my religion and myself if I were on a site where if I made a comment everyone would agree. When people disagree with me it makes me reexamine my point of view and do further research on the issue.

Lastly, I have seen about the same ratio of Catholic individuals on Protestant sights as I see Protestants on this message board.
Click to expand...
 
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Shibboleth:
Thank you for this question…

I have been told by many that I am a little of a unique case when it comes to Protestants but I will share why I am here.

I do not think that I am preoccupied with Catholicism so much as enthralled by Christianity in general. This is a very active forum with many members so I get a large volume of information on Christianity in one day. Also because it is more or less an apologetics web site many people here are very informed. I like having that wealth of knowledge at my fingertips.

I also like dialog with Catholic individuals because they are generally a little more aware of history than some of the other Christian followers.

I agree with your comments and am very glad you are here. You do seem to be here for the right reasons. I too learn more when my beliefs are questioned. We are all convinced of what we believe in until we are challenged.

I argue at times with Catholics on this board but usually only in defense of my religion and others, I rarely if ever attack Catholicism right out.

Another reason why I am here is because just as the unexamined life is a life not worth living, the untested and unexamined faith is a faith not worth having. I would not learn near as much about my religion and myself if I were on a site where if I made a comment everyone would agree. When people disagree with me it makes me reexamine my point of view and do further research on the issue.

Lastly, I have seen about the same ratio of Catholic individuals on Protestant sights as I see Protestants on this message board.
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I appreciate your comments and am grateful to people like yourself. We are all convinced that what we believe is right until we are challenged and forced to look at things in a different perspective. Because of some of the comments made here by Catholics and Non-Catholics I have put more time into understanding what I do believe.
I’m thankful for this forum and all the informed and intelligent people who post their comments.
My problem, like someone mentioned earlier, are those who come here to “beat us over the head with the bible.” To challenge what I believe is one thing, but to bash what I believe is another
Glad you are here and look forward to your future comments.
 
I came here because an invitation was posted at a different forum for the new Catholic message boards. I see it as an opprotunity to learn, debate, and dialouge. While my temper may get the better of me at times, I do not come to “beat” any one.

Also, the LCMS has a large amount of shared theology with the RCC, much more than I realized.
 
“I see the hatred towards Catholicism no less ignorant or different than the racism that prevailed in the Southern part of our country until this century. The only things that will erase it will be time and education.”

It’s funny that you mentioned the South and their racism. I live in the South and have often commented that I feel my family and I are African-American at times because of the way we are treated. I have two grown children who attended public school and it was appaling the way they were treated by their Protestant class mates. Just one of many examples: When my son was in the 7th grade his class made pepperoni pizza and it just happend to be on a Friday during Lent. They were told they had to eat whatever they cooked. He told his teacher he was not allowed to eat meat on Friday’s during Lent. He said she made some rude remark and left the class room. The other kids threw him to the floor and forced the pizza into his mouth.
I agree he should have just took the pepperoni off and ate the pizza anyway. To only be the age he was, he was a very good practicing Catholic and was somewhat showing off his goodness. But he was just a kid and kids don’t often think about the consequences of their actions.
We were visited and insulted on a regular basis by our Church of Christ neighbors who always commented that “this is a Christian neighborhood,” as to say we were not considered to be Christian.
This is one reason for my impatience with some of the Protestants who come here to bash me for what I believe.

Ps…Is anyone having a problem with posting today? After I typed this comment I noticed my prior comment somehow was added to this. When I went in to preview my comment wasn’t there?? Is it the forum or my computer?
 
Findnmway said:
“I see the hatred towards Catholicism no less ignorant or different than the racism that prevailed in the Southern part of our country until this century. The only things that will erase it will be time and education.”

It’s funny that you mentioned the South and their racism. I live in the South and have often commented that I feel my family and I are African-American at times because of the way we are treated. I have two grown children who attended public school and it was appaling the way they were treated by their Protestant class mates. Just one of many examples: When my son was in the 7th grade his class made pepperoni pizza and it just happend to be on a Friday during Lent. They were told they had to eat whatever they cooked. He told his teacher he was not allowed to eat meat on Friday’s during Lent. He said she made some rude remark and left the class room. The other kids threw him to the floor and forced the pizza into his mouth.
I agree he should have just took the pepperoni off and ate the pizza anyway. To only be the age he was, he was a very good practicing Catholic and was somewhat showing off his goodness. But he was just a kid and kids don’t often think about the consequences of their actions.
We were visited and insulted on a regular basis by our Church of Christ neighbors who always commented that “this is a Christian neighborhood,” as to say we were not considered to be Christian.
This is one reason for my impatience with some of the Protestants who come here to bash me for what I believe.

Ps…Is anyone having a problem with posting today? After I typed this comment I noticed my prior comment somehow was added to this. When I went in to preview my comment wasn’t there?? Is it the forum or my computer?
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This is terrible. I do not see much of this kind of activity up north. I wonder if they would have forced pepperoni down a Jewish individuals mouth. I do not think that they would have. I hope you make a stink about the issue.

Where I grew up we always had fish on Fridays during Lent in school. Some people complained that they were being forced to follow Catholic practices but at least no one was being denied sustenance. By my sophomore year in 1992 they had also set up a salad bar for vegetarians and the few Muslims that had moved into our neighborhood.

In the end though, those people that required very special diets were able to bring their own food to the school and store it in the cafeteria refrigerators.
 
I am a Protestant and admittedly preoccupied with the Catholic Church, but I couldn’t tell you why, since I have no idea myself. 😉

I’m here to learn, and occasionally discuss. That’s about it.

I do not Catholic bash. I never have and never will. I believe when one has questions, one needs to go the source. I do not consider my fellow Protestants to be the correct source for questions and information about Catholicism any more than Catholics are the correct source for information about Protestantism. (all generally speaking of course.)
 
That’s why I’m here. I am a cradle Catholic and I work for a Judge that graduated from Notre Dame, was an altar boy, and was a devout Catholic at one time. He married a Lutheran and although he never actually joined the Lutheran Church, he attends frequently with her. Every chance he gets, he bashes Catholics in front of me. He has even gone so far as to degrade the Holy Eucharist to me. I think that deep down he misses the Church but his wife would be very upset if he ever went back to the Catholic Church. Sad. Anyway, that is what has led me to study Apologetics, to be able to defend my Faith.
 
It’s the largest group of non-P.Stants, therefore, easiest target, doesn’t help that sadly many American Catholics don’t know s. for bricks about their faith.
 
Findnmway said:
“I see the hatred towards Catholicism no less ignorant or different than the racism that prevailed in the Southern part of our country until this century. The only things that will erase it will be time and education.”

It’s funny that you mentioned the South and their racism. I live in the South and have often commented that I feel my family and I are African-American at times because of the way we are treated. I have two grown children who attended public school and it was appaling the way they were treated by their Protestant class mates. Just one of many examples: When my son was in the 7th grade his class made pepperoni pizza and it just happend to be on a Friday during Lent. They were told they had to eat whatever they cooked. He told his teacher he was not allowed to eat meat on Friday’s during Lent. He said she made some rude remark and left the class room. The other kids threw him to the floor and forced the pizza into his mouth.
I agree he should have just took the pepperoni off and ate the pizza anyway. To only be the age he was, he was a very good practicing Catholic and was somewhat showing off his goodness. But he was just a kid and kids don’t often think about the consequences of their actions.
We were visited and insulted on a regular basis by our Church of Christ neighbors who always commented that “this is a Christian neighborhood,” as to say we were not considered to be Christian.
This is one reason for my impatience with some of the Protestants who come here to bash me for what I believe.

Ps…Is anyone having a problem with posting today? After I typed this comment I noticed my prior comment somehow was added to this. When I went in to preview my comment wasn’t there?? Is it the forum or my computer?
Click to expand...

You know, you could have sued the school over this. Or filed assault charges.

Just pointing that out.
–Ann
 
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