Protestants

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coleraine

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I just don’t get it at all. I mean, come on, there was not even a protestant church until Luther, and that was only 500 years ago. Protestantism has been around for a 1/4 of what Catholicism has, and yet protestants act as though their religion has been around for such a long time. Many talk bad about Catholics for no reason, and never have any idea what they are talking about. Besides Luther, what caused all this? How do people get convinced so easily that somehow the church that was the one and only church for so long was all of a sudden wrong, just because a man said so? Im sorry if i have offended any protestants, but if this is the case…just ask yourself if it makes one bit of sense.
 
I think its just that a lot of people dont know, and are misguided. I’m thankful that I’m not misguided and I know the truth, as well of the history of the church. For those taught otherwise, I think we should be patient and loving in order to bring them home.
 
I can’t find a way to justify Protestantism historically, either. But we have to confront such problems with patience and charity (as in all things). It isn’t as much fun as blasting them with everything we’ve got, but it’s much more effective. We have to remember that we are not out to win arguments, but to win souls 🤷
 
Barnabas0830 said:
I think its just that a lot of people dont know, and are misguided. I’m thankful that I’m not misguided and I know the truth, as well of the history of the church. For those taught otherwise, I think we should be patient and loving in order to bring them home.
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I see what you mean. However, we have to be firm. We have to show that we can fight back when it comes to criticism. You know, we do need to be patient but that just wont do it for those who have had fundamentalist garbage force fed to them. I guess it just makes me a little angry that these people think they are so much better than us, but when we challenge them they don’t actually search for the truth. They just recite the same old trash that has been burned into their minds. So, with the little respect left, i will hereby except any challenge presented by a protestant, so long as you actually look into what i say, not just discount it because your pastor says its not true.
 
:thumbsup:Agreed! We need to have a response when asked or when we are, in some cases, interrogated about our faith.

Maybe this will help, but my approach to Protestants that think they are better than us is to not care. Why? It’s a challenge to my ego and my pride, and I don’t want to respond to that. 😉

Besides, if anyone really thinks that a string of verses thrown at me is going to change my mind in an instant, what good is my loyalty? :confused:

Get along with your Protestant friends, hang out with them, quote what you know when asked and always keep in mind the words of St. Francis “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

Jesus’ own ministry reflects this, his actions of healing and of fulfilling scripture was supplemented by his words but was mainly and forcefully exemplified in the way he lived, died and rose. 👍
 
Want a suggestion for some reading material that will help a lot?This guy ROCKS by Hillaire Belloc

How the Reformation Happened by Hilaire Belloc

The Path to Rome by Hilaire Belloc
[ Essays of a Catholic](http://www.amazon.com/Essays-Catholic-Hilaire-Belloc/dp/0895554631/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223110987&sr=1-10) by Hilaire Belloc
 
Speaking as an ex-Protestant I’ll give you my understanding of my family’s protestantism, in no particular order:
  1. It’s easier. Make a one-time profession of faith and Bam! you’re saved.
  2. It’s easier to ‘prove’ by simple, out-of-context, memorized one-liner Bible verses.
  3. All of our extended families were Protestant. It’s part of the culture.
  4. We, like most people, had only a vague idea of Church history. We knew we were right, so why bother learning history?
  5. Simple prejudice. Catholics were different, 'nuff said.
  6. The theology was simple. Let’s face it, understanding and doing justice to Catholic theology needs Scripture and an 800 page catechism.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Prejudice against different cultures, ignorance of history, not going deep into scripture, and laziness to pursue the truth were hallmarks my family’s faith.

All these reasons might give you a clue as to why all the Protestants here on this forum aren’t persuaded by our arguments
vindicating the Catholic faith—their faith is not rational, it’s based on an emotional experiernce/response to God. Think of all those Bible-thumping, heart-stirring sermons where not a dry-eye’s left in the house. That’s their faith—and overcoming emotional experiences with arguments rarely work.
 
scriabin said:
Speaking as an ex-Protestant I’ll give you my understanding of my family’s protestantism, in no particular order:
  1. It’s easier. Make a one-time profession of faith and Bam! you’re saved.
  2. It’s easier to ‘prove’ by simple, out-of-context, memorized one-liner Bible verses.
  3. All of our extended families were Protestant. It’s part of the culture.
  4. We, like most people, had only a vague idea of Church history. We knew we were right, so why bother learning history?
  5. Simple prejudice. Catholics were different
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, 'nuff said.
6) The theology was simple. Let’s face it, understanding and doing justice to Catholic theology needs Scripture and an 800 page catechism.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Prejudice against different cultures, ignorance of history, not going deep into scripture, and laziness to pursue the truth were hallmarks my family’s faith.

All these reasons might give you a clue as to why all the Protestants here on this forum aren’t persuaded by our arguments
vindicating the Catholic faith—their faith is not rational, it’s based on an emotional experience/response to God. Think of all those Bible-thumping, heart-stirring sermons where not a dry-eye’s left in the house. That’s their faith—and overcoming emotional experiences with arguments rarely work.Wow! A very good post sir. And it makes sad sense.

Maybe when you get a second you can PM me your conversion story because I suspect there’s a good one behind all this insight.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
 
I think that part of it, at least, is that if Protestants were open to the truth of our Church, they would be wrong and have to become Catholic. It’s hard to admit that we’ve been wrong about something as big as religion, and many Protestants have been raised, through no fault of their own, with strong prejudices against the Catholic Church that are very difficult to overcome. Much less threatening to just not investigate. Many strong Catholics who converted have said that their prayer was,“Anything, Lord, just not Catholic!” My dad converted from Episcopal in the days when one met with a priest for “instructions”. It took him 2 years (!) of weekly meetings because he fought everything he was told.

Peace,
Linda
 
scriabin said:
Speaking as an ex-Protestant I’ll give you my understanding of my family’s protestantism, in no particular order:
  1. It’s easier. Make a one-time profession of faith and Bam! you’re saved.
  2. It’s easier to ‘prove’ by simple, out-of-context, memorized one-liner Bible verses.
  3. All of our extended families were Protestant. It’s part of the culture.
  4. We, like most people, had only a vague idea of Church history. We knew we were right, so why bother learning history?
  5. Simple prejudice. Catholics were different, 'nuff said.
  6. The theology was simple. Let’s face it, understanding and doing justice to Catholic theology needs Scripture and an 800 page catechism.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Prejudice against different cultures, ignorance of history, not going deep into scripture, and laziness to pursue the truth were hallmarks my family’s faith.

All these reasons might give you a clue as to why all the Protestants here on this forum aren’t persuaded by our arguments
vindicating the Catholic faith—their faith is not rational, it’s based on an emotional experiernce/response to God. Think of all those Bible-thumping, heart-stirring sermons where not a dry-eye’s left in the house. That’s their faith—and overcoming emotional experiences with arguments rarely work.
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Great post 👍

We also have to remember that Luther wasn’t out to break away from the RCC, rather he was interested in reforming abuses within it. We may disagree with his methods, but I would think that what passes for Protestantism nowadays isn’t what he had in mind.
 
Newbie2 said:
Great post 👍

We also have to remember that Luther wasn’t out to break away from the RCC, rather he was interested in reforming abuses within it. We may disagree with his methods, but I would think that what passes for Protestantism nowadays isn’t what he had in mind.
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I would agree. There were problems in the Church in the time that were crying out for reform (Bishop Sheen wrote that the Reformation reformed doctrine when it was morals that needed reforming), but Luther was the wrong man to do it, as he seemed very prideful and “full of himself.”
 
I agree that Protestants make Christianity into something easy and simple. That’s why they just can’t believe the ordinary looking Eucharist is really the Body and Blood of Jesus (Jesus looked pretty ordinary too, until he revealed His true self at the Transfiguration). They also proudly admit that they tell their sins to no man, in spite of what Jesus said (who’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven, who’s sins you bind, they are held bound). They probably have never read Romans 8:17 and Colossians 1:24 about how humans must suffer to enter the Kingdom. Catholicism means that you have to study scripture, not just read it like a textbook. It’s just too hard for some people…
 
RNRobert said:
I would agree. There were problems in the Church in the time that were crying out for reform (Bishop Sheen wrote that the Reformation reformed doctrine when it was morals that needed reforming), but Luther was the wrong man to do it, as he seemed very prideful and “full of himself.”
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He was out to start something, the Church addressed most of his points, and some of his problems weren’t really problems =p
 
It makes sense that the Protestant religion is easier.
Does divorce factor into the equation at all? Don’t Protestant churches make it easier for divorce or no?
 
If by make it easier you mean actually permit it, then yes. If you are talking about really making divorce possible, it’s a lie, Christ said it was impossible.

Contraceptives may play a part in today’s perverse day and age as well.
 
Lisa44 said:
It makes sense that the Protestant religion is easier.
Does divorce factor into the equation at all? Don’t Protestant churches make it easier for divorce or no?
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I believe most Protestant churches allow divorce. In the book Suprised by Truth Catholic convert Steve Woods writes:
Protestants are blind to the fact the divorce and remarriage is unlawful because Protestantism is an unlawful divorce from the Church. In Hosea’s case, the true spiritual condition of the Covenant People with God is reflected in marriage. There may have been several areas within the Catholic Church that needed change at the time of the Reformation, yet problems within the Church, like problems within a marriage, do not merit a divorce.
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Do Protestant Churches grant divorces? I have never heard of a Protestant Church doing it.
Does the Catholic Church grant divorces? I do not know, you tell me.
The Catholic Church grants annulment which is just a big loophole so that catholics can get remarried, Protestant Churches do not grant annullments.
Most Protestant Churches that I know of will not marry anyone that has been divorced ,no way no how
 
allischalmers said:
Most Protestant Churches that I know of will not marry anyone that has been divorced ,no way no how
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Then you don’t know much about Protestant churches. Besides churches don’t marry people, ministers of those churches marry people. Each week in our local newspaper I can show you wedding announcements of divorced people who were married in Protestant churches.
 
Zenas said:
Then you don’t know much about Protestant churches. Besides churches don’t marry people, ministers of those churches marry people. Each week in our local newspaper I can show you wedding announcements of divorced people who were married in Protestant churches.
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So show me !
 
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