Separated Brethren: Were They On To Something?

  • Thread starter Thread starter obvious_ron
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
O

obvious_ron

Guest
Is there any benefit that could be integrated into Catholicism by separated brethren and their faith groups? Could separated faith groups teach Catholicism anything about God in general and about Christ in particular? Might Catholic reverts be able to enrich the Church by their experiences away from their now former home? Is it possible that God might intentionally allow someone to go away from the Church in order to lead him back stronger in his Catholic faith than ever before?
 
Last edited:
Yes to all four questions. I think we all learn and benefit from each other… for the most part 😁
 
obvious_ron said:
Is it possible that God might intentionally allow someone to go away from the Church in order to lead him back stronger in his Catholic faith than ever before?
Click to expand...
I am convinced this is what happened to my best friend. Saved her from the “spirit of Vatican II”, too.
 
Yes, yes, yes, yes. It happened to me. Our separated brethren can teach us about fellowship and spontaneous prayers, and I learned a lot about the bible while going to a non-denominational church. Even though we read from the bible at Mass, it is not the ideal place to learn about the bible. “Christian” church services are much better at teaching the bible. Their services are really just a bible study with music when you get down to it, but my Catholic faith is much stronger now because I understand the scriptures better now.
 
@obvious_ron

Yes, this is an accepted mode of thought, that Catholics are able to glean insights - including spiritual insights - from people of other faith traditions, insofar as those insights do not contradict Sacred Tradition.

Because humanity universally suffers from concupiscence, it is common for a Catholic to be wrong about something, or less perfect.

I do think there is a unique, rich, and gargantuan body of spiritual reading available within the Church, but that entirely depends on if we make use of it. I am currently reading through St Faustina’s Diary, and every page is drenched with beauty & truth. In retrospect, I can’t imagine going through life and skipping out on it. FOMO.
 
Last edited:
That’s the problem with Protestants though is that it all ends with the Bible.
It never was supposed to be that way. The Bible is the word of God however there are so many countless other early Christian writings that justify our beliefs…I’m sure if the Church Fathers knew how much people would rely on the Bible and not on the Church they would have put in another 15 books that were popular in early Christianity just so people could have it in the Bible so they could believe it.
Yes. The Bible was chosen . The New Testament Canon wasn’t settled until the end of the 4th century. Many books which hold sacred tradition weren’t put in the Canon. That doesn’t mean they were heretical. The New Testament Apocrypha aren’t all the same. There’s Orthodox writings and Gnostic writings, the latter which you need to be careful of. But a book like the Protoevangelium of James is a beautiful book and tells the story of Mary’s birth.
 
I sometimes wonder if the Protestant tradition ends up idolizing a book. Yes, it’s divinely inspired. Yes it’s edifying. However, Christ is the “living Word of God”. The first few verses of John’s gospel communicate this to us.

Am I understanding correctly?
 
obvious_ron said:
I sometimes wonder if the Protestant tradition ends up idolizing a book. Yes, it’s divinely inspired. Yes it’s edifying. However, Christ is the “living Word of God”. The first few verses of John’s gospel communicate this to us.

Am I understanding correctly?
Click to expand...
First, there is no Protestant tradition. There are traditions that loosely categorized as Protestant.
So, You are correct that Christ is the living Word of God. And scripture is the word of God.
Do Catholics idolize the pope and the magisterium? I don’t think so, and I don’t think nonCatholics idolize a book.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top