Protestants: What would Christianity look like if the Catholic Church were to disappear tomorrow?

[M1Garand]

This is of course not possible but I will indulge the question by saying that the Protestants would no longer exist. Their existence is based upon their disagreement with the Catholic Church. Some and I would say most need the Church for a focal boogie man to oppose. After all what would a JW talk about if it is not the evil of the Roman Catholic Church. There is only one Church of Jesus Christ if it falls so will civilization. This is why the forces of evil through out history have focused like a laser beam only on the Catholics and the statist, atheist, and Marxist are still doing it today.

 

[Memaw]

This is of course not possible but I will indulge the question by saying that the Protestants would no longer exist. Their existence is based upon their disagreement with the Catholic Church. Some and I would say most need the Church for a focal boogie man to oppose. After all what would a JW talk about if it is not the evil of the Roman Catholic Church. There is only one Church of Jesus Christ if it falls so will civilization. This is why the forces of evil through out history have focused like a laser beam only on the Catholics and the statist, atheist, and Marxist are still doing it today.

And that is why Jesus promised HE would be with HIS Church till the End of Time, and the Gates of HELL will NOT prevail against it. It hasn’t, it never will and I TRUST the Catholic Church with the Pope as her leader, completely. God Bless, Memaw

 

[kaneata]

It is a comfort to know that this will not happen until the end of time. The gates of hell will not prevail.

 

[esieffe]

One or more of the following:

The earth would descend into Chaos.

Peter II would have already warned everyone.

Certain ArchAngels would be around to oversee the final battle of mankind.

The 700 club would finally move into a better time slot.

 

[JonNC]

One or more of the following:

The earth would descend into Chaos.

Peter II would have already warned everyone.

Certain ArchAngels would be around to oversee the final battle of mankind.

The 700 club would finally move into a better time slot.

No!! Not the last one!!



Jon

 

[Memaw]

One or more of the following:

The earth would descend into Chaos.

Peter II would have already warned everyone.

Certain ArchAngels would be around to oversee the final battle of mankind.

The 700 club would finally move into a better time slot.

I think if that happens we will ALL move to a better “time” slot, Hopefully!!! God Bless Memaw

 

[Peter_J]

Originally Posted by bgfischer View Post
I don’t understand “vanish”. Is there a difference between Catholicism and Christianity?

Hmm… yes and no. There’s a reason we say “I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” rather than “I believe in one holy, Christian, and apostolic Church”.

 

[Peter_J]

That being said, if the Roman Church vanished, nothing would change except the number of Christians being decreased.

Well, I’m sure many Catholics would say the same about "If Lutheranism vanished … "

The hubris of the Roman Catholics amazes me.

Oh, we’re not immune to it I know. But then, neither are protestants. (Granted I spend little or no time on protestant forums, but I’m pretty sure I know what to expect if I did. )

 

[Peter_J]

The Orthodox Church ‘belongs’ to Rome in the same way that my ice cream belongs to my sister. We were both given ice cream, both allowed to enjoy it. Neither gets to claim all the ice cream, no matter how greedy my sister may be. Especially if she starts adding a bunch of non-ice cream to hers.

Sorry, how did we get around to talking about the Orthodox Church ‘belonging’ to Rome?

 

[Rawb]

Sorry, how did we get around to talking about the Orthodox Church ‘belonging’ to Rome?

Not feeling well, so finding this really funny, but my comment stems from what may have been a misunderstanding of an ‘it’ in one of Meemaw’s comments, now that I look back at it. Someone said “The East has/had the gospel as well” and Meemaw said “But it truly belongs to the Catholic Church where the Pope is and the Teaching authority of Christ’s Church resides. God Bless, Memaw” I interpreted her “it” as being “the Eastern Church” whereas she probably meant “the gospel.”

At any rate, that whole conversation has moved on.

 

[Peter_J]

OIC. I guess I can’t really blame you for thinking that … I think this thread has been a very big temptations for us Catholics to display our egos. :yeah_me:

 

[grace115]

Weelll, all i could think of is for humanity to kiss Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch (includes the Letters of Jeremiah), I and II Maccabees books goodbye

 

[Memaw]

Not feeling well, so finding this really funny, but my comment stems from what may have been a misunderstanding of an ‘it’ in one of Meemaw’s comments, now that I look back at it. Someone said “The East has/had the gospel as well” and Meemaw said “But it truly belongs to the Catholic Church where the Pope is and the Teaching authority of Christ’s Church resides. God Bless, Memaw” I interpreted her “it” as being “the Eastern Church” whereas she probably meant “the gospel.”

At any rate, that whole conversation has moved on.

Yes, I did mean the scriptures, Thank you and God Bless, Memaw

 

[Rawb]

Weelll, all i could think of is for humanity to kiss Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch (includes the Letters of Jeremiah), I and II Maccabees books goodbye

Naw, we have those too.

 

[steido01]

Hmm… yes and no. There’s a reason we say “I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” rather than “I believe in one holy, Christian, and apostolic Church”.

Just wanted to point out… I’m LCMS, and each Sunday we say “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.” Whether “Christian” or “catholic” is used in a particular parish depends on the local cultural history of a given area. In either case, “catholic” is the meaning that is intended. It seems silly to argue semantics when the Creed’s meanings are far deeper, and continue to mean what they have always meant. In this case, it makes no difference what word from one of the world’s many thousands of languages is used - the meaning goes unchanged.

The LCMS hymnal says “Christian*****” and purposely includes the asterisk noting that the wording officially reads “catholic, meaning universal” - the single word has been [unfortunately, IMHO] changed in the hymnal only for ease of understanding for English-speakers. :twocents:

Now if, when you say “Catholic” in the Creed, you really mean, “only those in communion with Rome,” then we do, indeed, differ.

 

[JonNC]

Just wanted to point out… I’m LCMS, and each Sunday we say “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.” Whether “Christian” or “catholic” is used in a particular parish depends on the local cultural history of a given area. In either case, “catholic” is the meaning that is intended. It seems silly to argue semantics when the Creed’s meanings are far deeper, and continue to mean what they have always meant. In this case, it makes no difference what word from one of the world’s many thousands of languages is used - the meaning goes unchanged.

The LCMS hymnal says “Christian*****” and purposely includes the asterisk noting that the wording officially reads “catholic, meaning universal” - the single word has been [unfortunately, IMHO] changed in the hymnal only for ease of understanding for English-speakers. :twocents:

Now if, when you say “Catholic” in the Creed, you really mean, “only those in communion with Rome,” then we do, indeed, differ.

Curiously, Don, the hymnal uses the word “catholic” in the Athanasian Creed. How consistent we are! :whacky:

Jon

 

[steido01]

Curiously, Don, the hymnal uses the word “catholic” in the Athanasian Creed. How consistent we are! :whacky:

Jon

Ugh! Tell me about it. I suppose explaining the word once each year on Trinity Sunday is easier for those parishes that get in a tiffy over it.

 

[JonNC]

Ugh! Tell me about it. I suppose explaining the word once each year on Trinity Sunday is easier for** those parishes that get in a tiffy over it.**

Really, it is time for them to grow out of the “we don’t want to appear Catholic” thought process.
And besides, its hard enough explaining the Athanasian Creed, particularly the last two sentences (At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.) without having to explain the word catholic, too.

Jon

 

[concretecamper]

Just wanted to point out… I’m LCMS, and each Sunday we say "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church…

…Now if, when you say “Catholic” in the Creed, you really mean, “only those in communion with Rome,” then we do, indeed, differ.

The operative word in “ONE”. I guess the fathers if they wanted to could have said “practically one” or used some other diminished meaning of the word One…but they didn’t. It is up to us to faithfully follow their definition of One.

 

[rinnie]

Assuming you mean the Roman Catholic Communion:

Other than the fact that it would be hilarious to watch all the fundamentalists and their ilk freak out about how only Roman Catholics had been ‘raptured’ and they were all ‘left behind’ I don’t see how anything would change.

Boy they do hate us don’t they!