Switching Religions

[mikew262]

paramedicgirl:

Do you think only Catholics commit mortal sins?

Catholics have Mortal Sins and Venal Sins. All other Christians have just sins. What do you think?

 

[mikew262]

Rand Al'Thor:

Peace be with you!

Mike, how can you say it’s not a sin if they reject the Church? Sin is not whatever someone chooses it to be. Say I wanted to live with my girlfriend and have sex with her outside of marriage. Well, the Catholic Church says that’s a sin, right? So does the Bible. But what if I choose to leave the Catholic Church and join the Episcopal Church, where that is OK? Do you mean to tell me that it is no longer a sin? You don’t have to be Catholic to commit venial or mortal sins, you know. If you leave the Church and join another that teaches that a certain behavior is not sinful, that doesn’t make it not sinful. God’s Word and His Church are UNCHANGING. You are talking about relativism and subjectivism here.

In Christ,
Rand

I understand what you are saying. However, nobody human can judge what’s in another person’s heart. If person has not established that relationship with God while belonging to the Catholic Church, but has in another Christian denomination, then do you really think God is going to condemn this? I find that just incredible if you feel that way. You may condemn for that, but I will not. If I’m wrong here, then so be it.

 

[johnq]

mikew262:

Mortal sin is a catholic term. If they have renounced their catholic faith, how can the term mortal sin have any relevence?

Mike :tiphat:

I can see where you are coming from since our protestent brothers and sisters reject this term. However, if we reject the term “mortal” we are rejecting Christ’s words to us. Mike you’re not rejecting Christ teachings on mortal sins are you?

1John.5

16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a** mortal** sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not** mortal**. There is sin which is** mortal**; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not** mortal**.

Sounds like a Christian term to me.

 

[mikew262]

johnq:

Mike :tiphat:

I can see where you are coming from since our protestent brothers and sisters reject this term. However, if we reject the term “mortal” we are rejecting Christ’s words to us. Mike you’re not rejecting Christ teachings on mortal sins are you?

1John.5

16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a** mortal** sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not** mortal**. There is sin which is** mortal**; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not** mortal**.

Sounds like a Christian term to me.

I accept the Church’s teachings on what is a mortal sin. I do not hold accountable (nor is it my right too) non-Catholic Christians to the Catholic Mortal Sin Standard. I also do not condemn (nor is it my right too) them for not being Catholic, even if they left the Church for another denomination.

 

[thistle]

mikew262:

I accept the Church’s teachings on what is a mortal sin. I do not hold accountable (nor is it my right too) non-Catholic Christians to the Catholic Mortal Sin Standard. I also do not condemn (nor is it my right too) them for not being Catholic, even if they left the Church for another denomination.

Are you trying to say that only Catholics can sin and non-Catholics cannot sin?

 

[vz71]

If an atheist commits murder, has he sinned?

 

[WorBlux]

pig boy:

This topic has come up often in my religious ed class and I was wondering the answer. Is it a sin to switch from the Catholic faith to another Protestant denomination? If so, what is the degree of sinfulness? Thanks for your help.

I suppose that depends on weather your asking the catholic or protestant.

 

[mikew262]

thistle:

Are you trying to say that only Catholics can sin and non-Catholics cannot sin?

Thats not even close to what I said. Of course, non-Catholics can sin. However, to them a sin is a sin. They don’t differentiate between mortal and venal sins, as far as I know. Additionally, while going against a Catholic doctrine or teaching may be a sin to a Catholic, it may not be to a non-Catholic because they may not recognize it as a sin.

 

[mikew262]

vz71:

If an atheist commits murder, has he sinned?

Yep. Just because the atheist doesn’t believe in God, doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist; the same for his commandments.

 

[paramedicgirl]

mikew262:

Catholics have Mortal Sins and Venal Sins. All other Christians have just sins. What do you think?

I think the wages of unrepenant mortal sin is hell, and that all people, Catholics and all others, will all be judged by God at the end of our lives. I don’t think God is going to say to someone, Well, since you don’t believe in mortal sin, you get a free pass to heaven, when that is clearly not His teaching.

 

[paramedicgirl]

mikew262:

Thats not even close to what I said. Of course, non-Catholics can sin. However, to them a sin is a sin. They don’t differentiate between mortal and venal sins, as far as I know. Additionally, while going against a Catholic doctrine or teaching may be a sin to a Catholic, it may not be to a non-Catholic because they may not recognize it as a sin.

Just because they don’t believe in the term mortal sin, doesn’t mean it does not apply to them. Abortion is a mortal sin, whether you are Catholic or non-Catholic. God knows our minds, and will know whether we glossed over certain sins to reduce our guilt.

 

[mikew262]

paramedicgirl:

I think the wages of unrepenant mortal sin is hell, and that all people, Catholics and all others, will all be judged by God at the end of our lives. I don’t think God is going to say to someone, Well, since you don’t believe in mortal sin, you get a free pass to heaven, when that is clearly not His teaching.

He will judge the sin, period.

 

[mikew262]

paramedicgirl:

Just because they don’t believe in the term mortal sin, doesn’t mean it does not apply to them. Abortion is a mortal sin, whether you are Catholic or non-Catholic. God knows our minds, and will know whether we glossed over certain sins to reduce our guilt.

Ok, one more time. Mortal Sin is a catholic term. However, that doesn’t mean something like abortion isn’t recognized as a serious sin to a non-Catholic Christian. Of course it is. It’s a breaking of one of the commandments.

 

[johnq]

mikew262:

Ok, one more time. Mortal Sin is a catholic term.

Hey Mike,

I see what mean, but did you skip over my scripture quote? According to scripture, the term mortal is a gospel term. Meaning it is a univerisal term applied to all. Just a refresher for you.

1John.5

16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a** mortal** sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not** mortal**. There is sin which is** mortal**; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not** mortal**.

Sounds like a Christian, Catholic or Gospel term to me. How about you?

 

[mikew262]

johnq:

Hey Mike,

I see what mean, but did you skip over my scripture quote? According to scripture, the term mortal is a gospel term. Meaning it is a univerisal term applied to all. Just a refresher for you.

1John.5

16] If any one sees his brother committing what is not a** mortal** sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not** mortal**. There is sin which is** mortal**; I do not say that one is to pray for that. 17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not** mortal**.

Sounds like a Christian, Catholic or Gospel term to me. How about you?

Well, it depends what version of Bible you quote from. The New King James Version does not mention the word “mortal”. I just asked my Baptist co-worker and he showed me. To him a sin is a sin, its all bad in the eyes of God.

 

[Linnyo]

I know for a fact that non-catholics can also be Christains so how would it be sinful to choose to worship in a different denomination. I have worshipped in various churches and know that the truth is taught in many of them!

 

[mikew262]

Linnyo:

I know for a fact that non-catholics can also be Christains so how would it be sinful to choose to worship in a different denomination. I have worshipped in various churches and know that the truth is taught in many of them!

Yep!

 

[vz71]

mikew262:

vz71:

If an atheist commits murder, has he sinned?

Yep. Just because the atheist doesn’t believe in God, doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist; the same for his commandments.

So one would be held accountable for their behavior regardless of religious affiliation.

Wouldn’t it then stand to reason that God’s standard would not change for sin from one christian denomination to the other?

 

[kparlet]

pig boy:

This topic has come up often in my religious ed class and I was wondering the answer. Is it a sin to switch from the Catholic faith to another Protestant denomination? If so, what is the degree of sinfulness? Thanks for your help.

Objectively it would be a mortal sin; but, we must be careful not to judge one’s culpability in the matter. If said person knows that the Catholic Church IS the one true church and still decides to leave, then he would have full culpability for the sin; however, if the same said person is not sure or not convinced that the Catholic Church is the one true church and decides to leave, then his culpability would be lessened.

 

[mikew262]

vz71:

So one would be held accountable for their behavior regardless of religious affiliation.

Wouldn’t it then stand to reason that God’s standard would not change for sin from one christian denomination to the other?

The question is what is God’s standard? The Catholic’s have Mortal and Venal Sins. The Protestants feel a sin is a sin and nowhere in the Bible does it say one is more serious than the other. Yes, in John, depending upon the Bible translation you use, the term “mortal” is used, but I think that is it. If I’m wrong, pls show me.

BTW, we are wandering off thread here.