The Moral Superiority of Protestants. .

[Mystophilus]

It goes both ways.

It goes all ways, I would suggest, which indicates that it is a very human thing.

 

[Mystophilus]

True, that. I find myself correcting my fellow Catholics about “those Protestants” on a regular basis.

Thank you for that.

 

[Mystophilus]

. . . I keep running into Protestants who look down their nose at me for being Catholic, as if I’m simply a child and unable to think for myself.

Motivated Cognition in action: I believe X, and so X is clearly correct; you don’t believe X, and so you must be daft.

What amuses me is the constant recurrence of naïve, simplistic arguments against Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Christianity, Atheism, evolution, creationism, etc, as if no one else in the entire history of the world had sat down and thought about their beliefs for more than thirty seconds. All too often, these arguments are applauded by the people who already agreed with the apologist’s viewpoint, while utterly failing to persuade anyone undecided on the matter.

 

[Bonnie]

What amuses me is the constant recurrence of naïve, simplistic arguments against Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Christianity, Atheism, evolution, creationism, etc, as if no one else in the entire history of the world had sat down and thought about their beliefs for more than thirty seconds. All too often, these arguments are applauded by the people who already agreed with the apologist’s viewpoint, while utterly failing to persuade anyone undecided on the matter.

After many years of believing all sorts of things that turned out to be wrong (at least for me), I no longer try to convince anybody of anything. It’s rather pointless. And when I do give an opinion, I often add, “But I could be wrong.”

 

[MaryT777]

I remember a guy once that had an issue with a Catholic he met previous to me that said to him
“the Church has always taught…XYZ” that he decided made ALL of us slaves to be
just ‘yes men’ to the Church.

That said we had a great conversation and I agree with another poster that I hope he got a positive “whiff” of me. LOL. Love it.

Mary.

 

[Mystophilus]

And when I do give an opinion, I often add, “But I could be wrong.”

Something which I have noticed about academics is that the recognition of that last point is one of the hallmarks of the most expert ones: those who presume that they are correct seem to be the quickest to fall into error, in all sorts of fields.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

. . . I keep running into Protestants who look down their nose at me for being Catholic, as if I’m simply a child and unable to think for myself.

How many Catholics have run into this?

Of course, for some, they don’t even know the theology of their own denomination and can’t explain how it differs from whatever’s being offered at other Protestant churches!

So it goes.

I think this is perhaps caused by the Doctrine of Niceness, in which “real Christians” practice niceness upon each other, and being nice is the sum of the Gospels. This has intellectual problems with it, I believe.

But in the meantime, I’m treated like a fifth grader.

It’s not necessarily moral superiority of Protestants that I have encountered but an intellectual deceptive pride that puffs itself up at the expense of Christian morality, mixed with a new form of paganism and heretical relativism.

Relativism appears to be the NEW form of Moral Superiority which seeks to displace the apostolic morality handed down from Jesus and the Apostles. I see most protestants members falling victim to accepting a morality disguised under the title of Christianity. For one example among others; The Anglican Church has succumbed to ordaining women as priests and bishops, not to mention some protestants who are ordaining and accepting the gay life style among their clergy, which you labeled as “nicely”.

We are sent out as sheep among wolves in these times. Consider it all a blessing when they persecute you because of the Master’s name.

Intellectual pride among some protestants becomes the evil power and principality that prevents the Truth of Jesus Christ to be lived and replaces or supersedes the simple morality of the Christian life.

I am comforted to know in my Christian Catholic faith that Jesus chose 12 simple fisherman to teach and feed His flock. Paganism today has infected the faith of many non-Catholic Christian members to believe and accept one owns Truth for a lie.

Peace be with you

 

[oneofmany]

Did you ask them what denomination of the 40,000 they belonged to? I think too many people only want to think for themselves and think they have the truth.

 

[sennincatholic]

a good number of protestants i’ve met do not consider me a christian,because i am catholic.
However,I have met a good number too that respect the catholic faith,respect us and acknowledge us as fellow christians.My step -mum is one of them.

 

[Tommy999]

It goes all ways, I would suggest, which indicates that it is a very human thing.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I was born and raised a protestant and have been all of my life. I’ve run into arrogant Protestants and humble ones as well as everything in between. It runs the gamut.

I’ve also encountered arrogant Catholics and humble ones on CAF. Most have been nice and charitable, but some not so much. Such is life.

In the end we must all appeal to the Lord to help us grow in wisdom, love, and understanding that does not allow for condescension and arrogance, because in the end we are all sinners who are in need of the grace of God.

 

[Cat]

I run into that quite a bit, particularly among Evandgelicals and the “non-denominational” types. I call it their “excessive arrogance without merit”.
For a group that has very little to nothing to show for their efforts they sure do have a humongously inflated opinion of themselves.
Each and every one of them is absolutley convinced that they are the sole interpreters of truth (as found in their favorite version of the Bible) and that any outside of their denomination are completely deluded.
It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

Little to show for their efforts?!

Do you want me to make a list of all the good that Evangelical Protestants, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have accomplished in this world? The list would shut down this Board.

How about exponential annual growth in many of their churches for starters?

I was Evangelical Protestant for the first 47 years of my life, and my heart breaks for the many great Christians that I knew who you just insulted. Your statements sicken my heart.

Do you not see that your statement has just as much arrogance as you are accusing “them” of?

 

[Cat]

It’s not necessarily moral superiority of Protestants that I have encountered but an intellectual deceptive pride that puffs itself up at the expense of Christian morality, mixed with a new form of paganism and heretical relativism.

Relativism appears to be the NEW form of Moral Superiority which seeks to displace the apostolic morality handed down from Jesus and the Apostles. I see most protestants members falling victim to accepting a morality disguised under the title of Christianity. For one example among others; The Anglican Church has succumbed to ordaining women as priests and bishops, not to mention some protestants who are ordaining and accepting the gay life style among their clergy, which you labeled as “nicely”.

We are sent out as sheep among wolves in these times. Consider it all a blessing when they persecute you because of the Master’s name.

Intellectual pride among some protestants becomes the evil power and principality that prevents the Truth of Jesus Christ to be lived and replaces or supersedes the simple morality of the Christian life.

I am comforted to know in my Christian Catholic faith that Jesus chose 12 simple fisherman to teach and feed His flock. Paganism today has infected the faith of many non-Catholic Christian members to believe and accept one owns Truth for a lie.

Peace be with you

12 simple fishermen?

St. Matthew was not a fisherman.

One of the reasons why Evangelical Protestants tend to doubt the…training…of Catholics is that they don’t know their Bible. Sorry, fellow Catholics. During the January 1 Mass, our dear pastor challenged all of the parish to go back to the Bible and learn the Bible stories. He pointed out that many Catholics have no idea who various Old Testament people were and what they did, and he said that we need to get hopping. I agree.

 

[Cat]

. . . I keep running into Protestants who look down their nose at me for being Catholic, as if I’m simply a child and unable to think for myself.

How many Catholics have run into this?

Of course, for some, they don’t even know the theology of their own denomination and can’t explain how it differs from whatever’s being offered at other Protestant churches!

So it goes.

I think this is perhaps caused by the Doctrine of Niceness, in which “real Christians” practice niceness upon each other, and being nice is the sum of the Gospels. This has intellectual problems with it, I believe.

But in the meantime, I’m treated like a fifth grader.

And what on earth is wrong with niceness?!

I wish people were nicer.

Now if you’re talking hypocrisy, I agree with you.

Take care–I was Evangelical Protestant for 47 years, and in all my reading and studying (and I did a lot of it, as did most of my friends in my churches), I never saw any “Doctrine of Niceness” described as “the sum of the Gospels.”

Quite the contrary. The Gospel that I saw in the Evangelical Protestants churches was much tougher than anything I see in the Catholic Church.

Do you want to know the answer to your question?

Evangelical Protestants see Catholics as somewhat wishy washy because they know many people who claim to be Catholic but haven’t attended Mass or any church in years or even decades. They see many Catholics co-habiting. They see regular occurrences of Catholics getting drunk and excusing it with a chuckle and a wink.

And sadly, while Evangelical Protestants voted around 90% against the election and re-election of the most pro-abortion president ever (Barack Obama), 51% of Catholics voted for President Obama and his pro-abortion policies.

Evangelical Protestants would be the first to tell you, sincerely, that they are the greatest of sinners and have no right to judge anyone.

 

[ptisme]

I’m sorry that other Christians treat you in this manner. No one has the right to look down their noses at anyone…all of us are sinners and Christ commanded us to check the plank in our own eyes before we check out the splinter in another’s. Stand proud as a child of God - unfortunately we deal with “sibling rivalry” way too much within our Christian family.

It’s way past time for us to stop bickering among ourselves and get out together to make sure more people are brought to Christ before it’s too late.

God bless!

This is a great post:thumbsup:

 

[ptisme]

Protestants come in all different shapes and sizes!

I think most threads that comment on the personalities of certain groups aren’t usually accurate. I know tall Protestants, short ones, mean ones, nice ones, smart ones, dumb ones, etc. That’s just what happens with large groups of people.

I imagine that most of the people from my Church may ask a ton of questions if they found out you’re Catholic. And I think they would be more than willing to be educated on any misconceptions they may have.

I for one did think that Catholics ‘worshipped’ Mary when I was new to Christianity; but I never judged them and eventually learned that it was untrue.

So definitely be careful with threads like this that there isn’t a big log in your eye! Maybe the people you come across are just ignorant of your beliefs and need some kind, polite education; who knows? In general I think people as a whole are willing to learn about other’s faiths.

This. And to add to this… Read the short article below where it talks about the growing secularization of todays society. These inter-Christian squabbles are just what the Deceiver wants so our eyes are taken off the ball…
jsonline.com/news/religion/freedom-from-religion-foundation-gets-big-grant-b99452866z1-294393861.html

 

[Peter_J]

Without going into specifically, I too am really revolted by all the self-righteousness and what-not.

Granted, I guess I can’t really complain for one simple reason: if I were to (though I don’t know if I’ll ever have the will power to do this) make a firm commitment to avoid all religious discussion forums (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant alike) then I am quite certain I would avoid most of that stuff.

 

[Mystophilus]

In the end we must all appeal to the Lord to help us grow in wisdom, love, and understanding that does not allow for condescension and arrogance, because in the end we are all sinners who are in need of the grace of God.

 

[SteveVH]

And what on earth is wrong with niceness?!

I wish people were nicer.

Now if you’re talking hypocrisy, I agree with you.

Take care–I was Evangelical Protestant for 47 years, and in all my reading and studying (and I did a lot of it, as did most of my friends in my churches), I never saw any “Doctrine of Niceness” described as “the sum of the Gospels.”

Quite the contrary. The Gospel that I saw in the Evangelical Protestants churches was much tougher than anything I see in the Catholic Church.

Do you want to know the answer to your question?

Evangelical Protestants see Catholics as somewhat wishy washy because they know many people who claim to be Catholic but haven’t attended Mass or any church in years or even decades. They see many Catholics co-habiting. They see regular occurrences of Catholics getting drunk and excusing it with a chuckle and a wink.

And sadly, while Evangelical Protestants voted around 90% against the election and re-election of the most pro-abortion president ever (Barack Obama), 51% of Catholics voted for President Obama and his pro-abortion policies.

Evangelical Protestants would be the first to tell you, sincerely, that they are the greatest of sinners and have no right to judge anyone.

:clapping:

 

[Peter_J]

I think we’d get along!

As for the OP, I think I’m lucky. The Protestants we are friends with are well educated, decent people.

The only times I’ve run into people - both Protestant & Catholic - who are verbally abusive is on-line. Anonymity seems to bring out the worst in people.

I see that, too. That’s so unfortunate because **we all can learn so much from one another! **

I think this type of interaction probably saddens Jesus a lot.

Blessings!

Rita

Learn from Protestants??

JK. Actually, I agree with you. Learning from each other can be a great idea, so long as certain dangers are avoided like indifferentism.

 

[spedteacherita]

Learn from Protestants??

JK. Actually, I agree with you. Learning from each other can be a great idea, so long as certain dangers are avoided like indifferentism.

I know!!! What a concept!! LOL