the meaning of so many protestant denomenations

[TheAnglican]

MrS:

Are you confused?

No. But you are if you think this even answers my post. You highlight three of my phrases in red, but leave out the oh so important precedent: “judge”

You are so accustomed to not thinking for yourself that I cannot blame you for it. But do consider my words and their actual implications, rather than being so sure you know what it is I am implying. I speak clearly, and nothing I said was in regards to your church or its company.

 

[Curious]

Hi, Curious, I think you’re just unaccustomed to this forum. Give it a little more time. But keep on posting. I’m very glad to know you. You are most welcome in this place. Your questions and comments are very interesting. So carry on!

Thank you K. I probably got too defensive or something. While this atmosphere is great and very interesting, I must admit I’m pretty intimidated by the number of well-read and articulate people here. I am neither well read on church things nor am I articulate. So when the original poster of this thread asked for thoughts/feelings, I thought I could at least do THAT okay!! Don’t worry…I can’t be driven off that easily. I’ll still be around…but probably I’ll just go back to lurking. I’ll shut up now for fear of being insanely off topic.

 

[Katholikos]

Curious:

Thank you K. I probably got too defensive or something. While this atmosphere is great and very interesting, I must admit I’m pretty intimidated by the number of well-read and articulate people here. I am neither well read on church things nor am I articulate. So when the original poster of this thread asked for thoughts/feelings, I thought I could at least do THAT okay!! Don’t worry…I can’t be driven off that easily. I’ll still be around…but probably I’ll just go back to lurking. I’ll shut up now for fear of being insanely off topic.

No, no, please don’t lurk. You DO express yourself very well. And practice makes perfect. So keep on posting. My comments weren’t directed only to you. I was just piggybacking on what you had said – and said very well, BTW. Don’t be shy or hang back. You’ll deprive the rest of us of your special gifts. Some of us are old and experieced at this posting business. I’ve been at this (on other forums) since 1997. So I’ve had a lot of practice. The only way to get experience is by doing it. So hang in there. And let us hear from you – often . And feel free to write to me privately, any time at all. Katholikos1@aol.com

 

[Katholikos]

TheAnglican:

Not precisely true. We do have absolutes. It is absolutely true that Christ is the son of God and was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, etc… This is absolutley true. Be careful in making canned Catholic responses to what, to a free thinking mind, might be more of an exercise of your own faith than a statement of a governing body’s.

I don’t know any “canned Catholic responses.” Is there a supply of them available somewhere? I’d like to stock up for emergencies.

I used to have a free-thinking mind, but common sense overcame me. Actually, it was grace that overcame me. I stopped being an atheist and became a Catholic.

I’m always glad to know when any Protestant subscribes to the Creed(s) of the Catholic Church. It seems you are a moral relativist.

Anglicans do not in one fell swoop assert any of the things you have listed. As in the Catholic church, there are those who do, and those who don’t, personally assert such things.

Sorry, I was imprecise in my statement. I was referring to the official teaching of the Anglican/Episcopal Church. What individual Anglicans or Catholics believe is immaterial.

A Catholic, by definition, believes what the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches. Otherwise, he ceases to be Catholic, regardless of what he may call himself. Dissenters are impersonating Catholics – they are imposters in Catholic clothing.

Unlike the Catholic faith, when a leading member of our communion speaks, he does not speak for us all.

Oh, he speaks only for himself? Then, why does he bother speaking?

I fully expect, when I die, to be judged by God on my own merits and failures. I expect no iron shield of doctrinal assent to come between me and justice. I will not be judged on my neighbor’s life, but on my own alone. Neither will you be.

The Catholic Church speaks for Christ (Luke 10:16 et al.). Her teachings are absolute. God is the absolute lawgiver. But laws are not for God’s benefit, but for ours.

Where did you get the idea that Catholics think they will be judged on other people’s lives, as your statement implies?

You don’t seem to know much about Catholicism, yet you seem very angry about it. I wonder if you’re angry about what the Church teaches or what you wrongly presume to be the teaching of the Church? Why are you angry at all? Why not be a happy Anglican instead of an angry, anti-Catholic Anglican?

JMJ Jay

 

[Katholikos]

LutheranStudent:

For what are people to think when Catholic offical teaching and doctrine contradict themselves at every turn? The Catholic church is judged by Protestants according to it’s unfaithfulness to Scripture and it’s own dividedness. Whether you Catholics would like to admit it or not, you are united under name only.

Lutheran Student

(1) Name the official teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church that you believe are conflicting.

(2) The canon of Scripture was established by the Catholic Church at the end of the fourth century. One of the criterions for judging the admissibility of a writing into the canon was whether or not it conformed to the teaching of the Church. Therefore, any interpretation of the Scriptures that does not comport with the teachings of the Catholic Church is a misinterpretation.

(3) What is your basis for judging the Catholic Church to be divided? There are over a billion members in one undivided Church – it is the People of God, united in one Faith under the leadership of Peter the Apostle and his successors. The Church is, by definition, One Holy Catholic and Apostolic. Divisions fall into the Protestant camp along with the many kinds of Lutherans and other splinters.

Where do you go to school? Is this what they’re teaching you? If so, demand a tuition refund.

BTW, the Catholic Church did not come out of the Bible, as all Protestant churches do. Rather, the Bible came out of the Catholic Church.

JMJ Jay

 

[RobedWithLight]

LutheranStudent:

For what are people to think when Catholic offical teaching and doctrine contradict themselves at every turn? The Catholic church is judged by Protestants according to it’s unfaithfulness to Scripture and it’s own dividedness. Whether you Catholics would like to admit it or not, you are united under name only.

Lutheran Student

Just like all the comments posted above, I would be very much interested in hearing these alleged “contradictory” Catholic teachings you speak of, and discuss them one by one, perhaps in another thread. Until you do that, what you say here would be meaningless.

Gerry

 

[Booklover]

LutheranStudent:

Dear Lisa N,
Well said comment! I for one wish that Anglican church would sit down and think about what you just said. I also wish that Catholics would do the same… For what are people to think when Catholic offical teaching and doctrine contradict themselves at every turn? The Catholic church is judged by Protestants according to it’s unfaithfulness to Scripture and it’s own dividedness. Whether you Catholics would like to admit it or not, you are united under name only.

Lutheran Student

You dare to say that when you Lutherans don’t agree on anything?

 

[Booklover]

TheAnglican:

The strength of the many denominations lies in their lack of established doctrines and definitions.

You’ve got to be kidding! Strength comes when no one can agree on anything???

A house divided against itself cannot stand!:banghead:

 

[Malachi4U]

TheAnglican:

…You are so accustomed to not thinking for yourself that I cannot blame you for it…

So, when did following the Word of God become so bad?

I will follow anything Jesus says without second thought. Perhaps to you that is bad, to me that is Faith!

Go in Gods peace,