what are some good resources to understand the non-catholic side?

[JonNC]

=PJM;10672533]Karl Keating; the Founder of this FORUM wrote a book entiled:
“Catholism and Fundalmentalism” by Ignatius Pess. That I have found to be a facanating Read. Google it.

I am quite grateful to Karl Keating for establishing this forum.

And I challange your assumption that they all have reasons for what they do.

Competing faiths are more or less successful based on their ability to:

1. Be easier to get to heaven than what the CC teaches and has taught with consistancy for 2,000 years. The inventions of “faith alone”; “faith through grace alone” and OSAS come to mind.

With all respect, Pat, Luther speaks rather harshly of those who view “faith alone” as easy, or a short cut.
"To think, ‘If faith justifies without works, let us work nothing,’ is to despise the grace of God." - Luther.

1. And [sadly] how effective they are in discrediting the CC teachings; in favor of man-made and devised religions.

I think you give too much credit. Most non-Catholics couldn’t care less about CC teachings. They are what they are because their parents were, or they married into it, its convenient to get there, or some such other notion. They may recognize a division between Catholic and, generally, protestant, but it probably goes no further for most.
Even the Catholic Catechism recognizes this.

I certianly DO agree with the need for us catholics to understand their positions; and how they arrive at them.

And we yours.

Jon

 

[hn160]

Another book on the subject is The Lutheran Difference, An Explaination & Comparison of Christian Beliefs. This can be found at amazon.com or at Concordia Publishing House, cph.org.

 

[josephback]

I’m wondering if you want to understand modern-day Protestantism or historical Protestantism?

Many Protestants have no idea about deeper teachings of their faith. They know that they love Jesus and have invited Him into their heart. They understand the Bible and can probably find chapters and verses quicker than most Catholics. They know basic salvation doctrines (e.g., “Believe on Jesus and you will be saved”) and can tell others "how to be saved"using their Bible and pointing out a series of verses.

But IMO, if you understand the historical Protestant creeds, confessions, and catechisms, you will NOT understand modern Protestantism.

Think about it this way. A hundred years ago, Methodists would never have allowed a practicing homosexual to be part of their fellowship. Now, the United Methodist Church is “inclusive,” and not only welcomes practicing and vocal homosexuals into their fellowship, but ordains them (males or females) to be their pastors.

You’re right, I want to mostly understand the creeds and such, for apologetics in the future. My non-Catholic brother goes to a Christian and was telling me about all the changes that have occurred. According to him Lutherans originally practiced private( but not necessarily sacramental) Confession. If you or anyone could point me to sources on “modern” Protestantism I’ll take those too. I’m not sure Evangelicals have anything super official and all encompassing, though most have statements of belief.

 

[josephback]

This would be good for me I never understood protestantism when I was in the protestant church.

Many of the original leaders of the Reformation denied free will in salvation and men’s ability to cooperate with God, leading to their cry ‘sola fide’. That’s the first lesson and a source of major disagreement with Rome. Nowadays people like Billy Graham insist on a free will, putting them at odds with their forefathers.

 

[ajcstr]

I like listening to debates because you don’t get both sides from one person.

There are some good ones as well as some good conversion stories here.

philvaz.com/apologetics/audio.htm

Fr. Mitch Pacwa on the bible answer man is very good (so is the Scott Hahn one)

Mark Bonocore/Matt Slick is very good two

The first ones are very charitable between both sides, In the other, Slick is basically of the opinion that Bonocore is going to hell because he is Catholic.

 

[Cat]

You’re right, I want to mostly understand the creeds and such, for apologetics in the future. My non-Catholic brother goes to a Christian and was telling me about all the changes that have occurred. According to him Lutherans originally practiced private( but not necessarily sacramental) Confession. If you or anyone could point me to sources on “modern” Protestantism I’ll take those too. I’m not sure Evangelicals have anything super official and all encompassing, though most have statements of belief.

Try checking out the website of the National Association of Evangelicals. This is about as close as you’ll get to something “official” or “all encompassing.” nae.net/

But there are plenty of Evangelical churches that don’t and won’t join NAE. They won’t join ANY GROUP because they subscribe to a doctrine in which they avoid all possibility of “contamination” by non-Biblical theology (= theology that they don’t agree with, including theology of other Evangelical churches).

This used to be common teaching in many Evangelical churches, but since Dr. James Dobson and a few other Evangelical leaders called for a concerted Christian effort to rid the U.S. of legalized abortion, many of these Evangelical denominations and churches have abandoned the doctrine so that they can work with Catholics and other Christian groups who are working to end abortion. Legalized abortion has really knocked down the walls between Catholics and Evangelicals and paved the way for a unification.

 

[Indifferently]

Try checking out the website of the National Association of Evangelicals. This is about as close as you’ll get to something “official” or “all encompassing.” nae.net/

But there are plenty of Evangelical churches that don’t and won’t join NAE. They won’t join ANY GROUP because they subscribe to a doctrine in which they avoid all possibility of “contamination” by non-Biblical theology (= theology that they don’t agree with, including theology of other Evangelical churches).

This used to be common teaching in many Evangelical churches, but since Dr. James Dobson and a few other Evangelical leaders called for a concerted Christian effort to rid the U.S. of legalized abortion, many of these Evangelical denominations and churches have abandoned the doctrine so that they can work with Catholics and other Christian groups who are working to end abortion. Legalized abortion has really knocked down the walls between Catholics and Evangelicals and paved the way for a unification.

This really positive. If Christians can unite to battle this evil we will all be better off.

 

[Peter_J]

hi all. I’ve been building a religous library including many apologetics details, but so far I lack any real authoritative resources for the non-Catholic viewpoint. How for instance, do I understand Baptist thought? For Lutherans I know I should get the Book of Concord and the Augsburg Confessions, but otherwise I’m stumped. I realized talking with a Pentecostal that everyone has reasons for believing what they do, and although my purpose is to challenge the non-Catholic side I want to understand it so that I don’t set up strawmen. Heaven knows we all do plenty of that. For each of you, what is your faith and what are some good resources I can purchase to understand it? Thank you.

Have you tried The Non-Catholic Side Periodical? I believe it’s a monthly publication, but I could be mistaken.

 

[Jt1]

I’m wondering if you want to understand modern-day Protestantism or historical Protestantism?

Many Protestants have no idea about deeper teachings of their faith. They know that they love Jesus and have invited Him into their heart. They understand the Bible and can probably find chapters and verses quicker than most Catholics. They know basic salvation doctrines (e.g., “Believe on Jesus and you will be saved”) and can tell others "how to be saved"using their Bible and pointing out a series of verses.

But IMO, if you understand the historical Protestant creeds, confessions, and catechisms, you will NOT understand modern Protestantism.

Think about it this way. A hundred years ago, Methodists would never have allowed a practicing homosexual to be part of their fellowship. Now, the United Methodist Church is “inclusive,” and not only welcomes practicing and vocal homosexuals into their fellowship, but ordains them (males or females) to be their pastors.

I haven’t heard of any homosexuals being ordained, nor even admitted into congregations in the Methodist church. Our pastor even gives sermons in which he denounces homosexuality (they’re not just about homosexuality, but he does use it as an example of sin). However, the Methodist church is pretty open to almost anyone, i.e. anyone can take Communion, regardless of their background. So I could see that happening in more liberal areas than where I live.

As for your general idea of what Protestants know of their faith, you’re pretty close. Many Protestants don’t think about the deeper aspects of their faith, though they could show you where they base their beliefs in the Bible. It helps greatly to understand the historical background of the different denominations (at least the larger ones) though because their teachings do generally still come from what their founders believed. So, while some Protestants may not know exactly what their denomination believes, they do know what they are taught, and that originates from their historical roots.

 

[josephback]

Have you tried The Non-Catholic Side Periodical? I believe it’s a monthly publication, but I could be mistaken.

I have not. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Peter_J]

Have you tried The Non-Catholic Side Periodical? I believe it’s a monthly publication, but I could be mistaken.

Not a real periodical, but it should be.