Top 10 questions from nonCatholics

[clifgy]

I submitted this to AAA also:

To the apologists, then to all:

I work with inquiry as part of the RCIA program at our parish. I know the basic questions that normally arise when people come in and begin inquiry, but I wanted to probe your vast experience in helping us to compile a sort of top 10 list of the most frequently asked questions you run into when people are beginning the inquiry process.
I am a convert and remember the questions I had but we are wanting to hand something to beginners to open up more discussion. It might even take care of some of the simpler questions from the beginning.
I am very interested in reading the public opinion also. Thank you to all for your help ahead of time.
Luke 12:32.

 

[Newbie2]

Why do we worship Mary and the saints?

Why do we follow the Pope and what is this infallible thing?

 

[cassini]

I submitted this to AAA also:

To the apologists, then to all:

I work with inquiry as part of the RCIA program at our parish. I know the basic questions that normally arise when people come in and begin inquiry, but I wanted to probe your vast experience in helping us to compile a sort of top 10 list of the most frequently asked questions you run into when people are beginning the inquiry process.
I am a convert and remember the questions I had but we are wanting to hand something to beginners to open up more discussion. It might even take care of some of the simpler questions from the beginning.
I am very interested in reading the public opinion also. Thank you to all for your help ahead of time.
Luke 12:32.

I don’t know the questions they ask clifgy, but I do know where you can get all the answers on the faith at least, the PENNY CATECHISM. This is a simple Q&A booklet that millions as children learned all the answers in a quick simple form. The one now incirculation in Ireland now was first published in 1952. Mail me if you want to know more.

 

[Trishie]

Saved by faith (some Protestants), or by faith and good works (Catholic)
Do you just want the questions, or the responses as well? The appropriate scriptures?

Best wishes…

 

[clifgy]

Trishie,
Questions are fine but replies are good also. We all have our different personalities or approaches in our service to God. I know my approach when answering, it is nice to read other peoples ideas as well.
The petitioners perspective is important if the scripture references are needed. The premise might be more important if they have no Biblical background, the scripture reference more so if they do.

We have an abundance of people at our disposal that are scholarly in there approach and following the OT tie-ins and the early Church fathers is awesome but sometimes you just need a simple parable.
Holy Spirit guide us all.

 

[Trishie]

Some answers for the saved by faith (some Protestants), or by faith and good works (Catholic)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter” [Matthew 7, 21]. Faith increases as a result of our obedience to the will of God, and obedience is achieved by doing good works and trying hard not to neglect them. [2 Corinthians 10,15]. “It is not those who call me ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21]

“Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” [Galatians 6:7-9] "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13] "It is not those who call me ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my father in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21]

Take the case, my brothers of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of llife, then what good is that?: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
This is the way to talk to people of that kind:'You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds–now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.

You believe in one God–that is creditable enough, but the demons have the same belief, and they tremble with fear. Do realise, you senseless man, that faith without works is useless. You surely know that Abraham our Father was justified by his deed, because he offered Isaac on the altar? There you see it; faith and good deeds were working together; his faith became perfect by what he did. This is what scripture really means when it says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this was counted as makinh him justified; and that is why he was called the friend of God. You see now that it is by doing something good, and not only by believing, that a man is justified." [James 2: 14-24]

God bless you, Trishie

 

[Trishie]

A few other texts showing faith and good works are necessary for salvation
"A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.” [Luke 6:45]
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. [Galatians 6:7-9]

“When the Son of Man comes in all His glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men from one another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. then the King shall say to those on his right hand,” Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was a stranger and you made me welcome. I was thristy and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?
And the King will answer, " I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”[Matthew 25:31-40]
Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life. [Matthew 25 :46]

 

[LilyM]

What does transubstantiation mean and why do we believe in it?

What’s the deal with the extra books in Catholic bibles?

 

[Squishy]

I have lots of questions, im not a cathlic and im striving always to question people i meet about their faith, as i am genuinly intrested. However most people never know the answer. Or get defencive about me attacking their faith.

I will note down a couple here, and ill add more once i can get them down in writting.

The pope has supreme authority over the church, but isn’t the pope affected by original sin? So isn’t he just as flawed as everyone else ? How can a man have authority over the church.

Why confession. why bother confessing to a priest when you can just confess via prayer to god.

The catholic church is a monotheistic beleave. But you worship the trinity/mary and the saints. This seems to me a bit of a contradiction, and more like polytheism with a different stamp on it.

The jewish god yawee(sp?) How does he fit in with the catholic god?

If all humans have origional sin. Would this not have passed to jesus via Mary ?

Why do all the catholic holidays fall on exactly the same days as old pagen holidays? Ok mabey not all but a lot of them

 

[bdeville]

This is what I hear over and over. At least these are the topics, you can form your own questions.

Pope-Infallability-Authority
Mary-every Virgin - they think we worship her
Eucharist - believe it’s only a symbol
Saints - praying to dead people is a sin - soothsaying…
Confession - confessing directly to God, not man
Infant Baptism - Original Sin …
Idol worshiping/statues & pictures of Saints
Priesthood - Call no man Father…No nead for
Rosary - repeating prayer
Bible plus Tradition

if they are divorced Annulment is a biggie

 

[Kotton]

The pope has supreme authority over the church, but isn’t the pope affected by original sin? So isn’t he just as flawed as everyone else ? How can a man have authority over the church.

God has always had men in authority, but did they not teach what God wanted them to? The pope can sin, but is guided by the Holy Spirit in faith and morals, so his flawed humanity does not affect God given authority.

Why confession. why bother confessing to a priest when you can just confess via prayer to god.

We do both. First we recognize our sin and ask God to forgive us, but then recite to the priest as God’s representative that he may give guidance and speak the words, “You are forgiven of your sins in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave the Apostles the command to forgive or retain sins, so it must be based on the knowledge of that sin and the sincerity of the one confessing.

The catholic church is a monotheistic beleave. But you worship the trinity/mary and the saints. This seems to me a bit of a contradiction, and more like polytheism with a different stamp on it.

No contradiction; we worship GOD (the Trinity), but venerate Mary and the Saints as examples of how we should obey God. They are human beings who did His will and are now with Him in Heaven.

The jewish god yawee(sp?) How does he fit in with the catholic god?

YHWH (yahweh), is the Jews word for the ONE GOD, so to Catholics it is the same God.

If all humans have origional sin. Would this not have passed to jesus via Mary ?

No, since Jesus is God there can be no sin in Him. Furthermore, the Catholic Church teaches that God saved Mary from original sin at the moment of her conception, for she was to give birth to the Savior.

Why do all the catholic holidays fall on exactly the same days as old pagen holidays? Ok mabey not all but a lot of them

Many do because the Early Church saw a need to give the pagan converts a Christian purpose to celebrate.

Kotton

 

[Fidelis]

A couple that I have heard from my Adult Confirmation candidates:

What is the Catholic Church’s answer to why there is evil and suffering in the world?

What is wrong with homosexuals marrying if they are in love?

How do we know God exists?

How do you know god’s will for your life?

If you can be saved as a non-Catholic Christian (or even, theoretically, as a non-Christian) if you have never heard the fullness of the Gospel as contained in the Catholic Church, what is the advantage of being a Catholic?

Why did Jesus have to die on the Cross? What is the deal with God and blood and sacrifice anyway?

That’s all for now. I’ll add more as I recall them.

 

[jmcrae]

What the majority of my Inquirers had in common when I was working with this period, was that they really loved having a tour of the Church and being told what all the “stuff” was for.

They were also very interested in knowing about the Sacrament of Reconciliation - they wanted to know how the ritual goes, and what happens, and what kind of penances to expect.

Apart from those two things, don’t try to “anticipate” anything, but just keep both ears open to listen and hear what they want to know. Every group is different, and every individual is different. Some are interested in learning the prayers of the Mass; others want to know how the parish serves the poor, and what they can do to help out - very few of them, I found, were really all that interested in deep theology. Some were - but the majority just wanted to know how to fit in with the parish community, and what to expect from the RCIA process, and stuff like that.

 

[clifgy]

I am reading the post and am appreciative of all the effort you have given. I am slowly trying to compile the information. Much cut and paste going on.
Just wanted to say thanks.

 

[jean8]

Saved by faith (some Protestants), or by faith and good works (Catholic)
Do you just want the questions, or the responses as well? The appropriate scriptures?

Best wishes…

No one is saved by works. We are saved by grace. He chose us in love before the creation of the world. The works follow.
The question remains, did He choose us?

God bless,
jean8

 

[jean8]

A couple that I have heard from my Adult Confirmation candidates:

That’s all for now. I’ll add more as I recall them.

A couple of what?
Same sex marriage? When did God ordain same sex marriage?

jean8

 

[Fidelis]

A couple of what?
Same sex marriage? When did God ordain same sex marriage?

jean8

Jean8 - I think you are misunderstanding this thread. The OP asked others to provide questions that they have heard asked by people coming into the Church. Please go back up to the first post and read it.

No one in this thread is advocating (or even asking) these things. We are just helping the OP compile a list of questions.

 

[wilbur006]

I’m not a beginner in teaching religion since I started in 1964 and eventually became a director of a parish RCIA program—as well as teaching in it since I just enjoy the teaching part. I’ve had a chance over the years to review many parish RCIA programs, and I have found in about 95% of the cases the teachers are either too inexperienced, the overall program does not use a good structured program with proper books and materials, and in many cases the the teachers , at best, only know limited theology and church dogma, and at worst, believe completely false things.

I am absolutely convinced that the best source document is the book entitled This Is The Faith, by Canon Francis Ripley published by Tax Books and easily found on the web. This book sets forth every aspect of the Catholic faith with a great deal of discussion in many important areas. It is far superior to using the Catechism of the Catholic Church, since that books is much more suited for a person who is already a Catholic and wants a fuller understanding of the beliefs. That book is only suited for use for discussions on certain dogmas; but I think you would find the Ripley book I recommended much more suited for a classroom setting.

The Chapters of Ripley’s book could be used as a classroom study guide, and an absolute must for every person to own one and read the chapter before it is discussed in class.

Some bishops, and myself, believe that the R CIA process should be over a two year period rat her than one year, since they, and I, have found that it is impossible to teach properly everything needed to form a persons intellect into the beauty and foundation of our faith. In fact, I am under the opinion that the average catholic today has only an elementary understanding of our faith, and many times a false understanding of a significant portion of the dogma.

The proof of what I say here will be revealed to anyone who reads the book This Is The Faith, since many of you who teach in religious programs have very limited knowledge of our faith.

It would be quite simple to make up a set of 20 questions from this book to ask those who are in the program for the answers, and thereby telling them that this is just a small sample of what they will learn through this class. The only problem is that one could never teach everything in the number of classes set aside for the RCIA programs unless the members were also required to read chapters in the book prior to each class.

God Bless all who desire to teach as Jesus commanded.

Wilbur

 

[Realcatholicgk]

…

Some bishops, and myself, believe that the RCIA process should be over a two year period rat her than one year, since they, and I, have found that it is impossible to teach properly everything needed to form a persons intellect into the beauty and foundation of our faith. In fact, I am under the opinion that the average catholic today has only an elementary understanding of our faith, and many times a false understanding of a significant portion of the dogma.

**Hi Wilbur, :wave;

I disagree with you! I think learning about our faith takes a “Life Time” Many Bishops, themselves do not know our Faith, or just plain refuse to comply with it. Some of the stories I have about the things allowed in parishes, etc. I think a circus is a great place for clowns. I love clowns. If one walked in my church I would cold cock the sucker! and I wouldn’t even be angry! Church is no place for anything but worship!**

As Fr Corapi says: “There’s something I have found. Now I have some education. I have earned five university degrees, most of them with highest honors. I’m not bragging, I’m just saying that to let you know that I respect education. I have a high regard for education. But in my many years around the education establishment, I was given a great revelation by God, and the revelation is: [SIGN]a lot of people done been educated into imbecility.” [/SIGN]

**
I miss Dan

God Bless**

 

[Realcatholicgk]

I submitted this to AAA also:

To the apologists, then to all:

I work with inquiry as part of the RCIA program at our parish. I know the basic questions that normally arise when people come in and begin inquiry, but I wanted to probe your vast experience in helping us to compile a sort of top 10 list of the most frequently asked questions you run into when people are beginning the inquiry process.
I am a convert and remember the questions I had but we are wanting to hand something to beginners to open up more discussion. It might even take care of some of the simpler questions from the beginning.
I am very interested in reading the public opinion also. Thank you to all for your help ahead of time.
Luke 12:32.

**Hi clifgy,

Interesting concept. Others are wandering off the OP. I can say as a cradle catholic, that I have heard the same questions over and over again.

The Number one Question: “Why does Catholics worship Mary”!

Why do you worship idols. (Some include the Eucharist : We worship BREAD they say! )

Why do you pray to anyone other than God himself?

Why do Catholics think they are better that other Christians? All churches lead to God.”

Why do you call the priest Father? Jesus said not to call anyone father but God!

Why do you confess your sins to a priest? You can go straight to God.

If your Church truly followed Jesus, You would sell their lavish art, property, and architecture, and give the money to the poor wouldn’t you?

Why do you follow the Pope? He makes mistakes how can you call him infalliable.?

…And the list goes on!

God Bless**