What are the reasons I should (or shouldn't) become Catholic?

[qui_est_ce]

I wonder what gave you that idea.

Read your posts

I never made fun of anybody here, much less insult someone’s intelligence.

Where did I say you are insulting anyone’s intelligence? I said intelligence is not the only means of discerning faith, and gave you examples of saints who exhibited this.

Telling Catholics they are putting money out for empty rituals and pedophiles is not mocking? Look at the tone of your replies

Ritual is very near and dear to us. It is part of who we are.

Much good has come of the money we donate to our Church: education, helping the poor, hospitals.

I don’t dispute that CC has scandals, we are peopled by humans, but we don’t donate with the intention of supporting wrong. And for you to insinuate this is insulting. And that is what you did.

 

[qui_est_ce]

and of course the freedom & time/money saved from going to religious gatherings.

Wow, what do you do with all that free time and money? Think up more ways to insult people who don’t think like you?

 

[Olivermax]

I have searched the ECF and have never found the words 'real presence" used by the ECF. Also how many Catholic Preists have left the Catholic Church in the last ten years. I personally know two, both now Baptist ministers, one of which has spoken in our church

I don’t know what the ECF is, but I invite you to read an apology, by Justin the Martyr. This was written in the year 150 AD,"…so we have been taught that the food which has been made the Eucharist by the prayer of his word, and which nourishes our flesh and blood by assimilation, is both the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh." This was a letter written by Justin Martyr to the emporor in an attempt to explain Christianity to him.

Who do you think taught the early Christians that the Eucharist is the flesh and blood of Jesus? The apostles of course. There are alot more examples in the historic literature. You could probably google “Church Fathers” and come up with it. But then, you may not be ready for the truth.

 

[estesbob]

thank you if you think i’m smart. i am just like everybody, smart in some things, completely stupid in other things. we all have our gifts and weaknesses.

i am not an atheist and changing philosophies does not guarantee an increase in intelligence. for me when I left Christianity what I gained most was respect for other people. i can now genuinely love a catholic, protestant, mormon, hindu, muslim & atheist UNCONDITIONALLY. i also gained a better appreciation of humanity. and of course the freedom & time/money saved from going to religious gatherings.

So telling people they’re wasting their money on religious gatherings show respect for other people? To be honest you come across kind of smug. You have turned your back on Christ and could not be happier.Now you want to come back and tell us poor fools who still believe in him how much better off you are. I guess my question is since you are so much happier since you found the truth why are you here? Are you here to convince us that Christianity is false or are you here to convince yourself

 

[qui_est_ce]

thank you if you think i’m smart.

Being smart does not make somebody a better person. We are called to love all, the rejects of society, the pompous, murderers, mentally ill.

freedom & time/money saved from going to religious gatherings.

Good thing Catholics donate to their local Annual Archdiocesan Appeals, so they can support forums like this religious gathering so you can spend all the time you saved from attending religious gatherings to express your opinions with freedom and free of charge.

 

[Olivermax]

If you don’t enter the Church you must burn in hell forever. There is only one Church. Outside of her there is no salvation.

That’s ridiculous! What about all the Chinese who have never had the opportunity to learn of Jesus? What of all the people who were taught by their parents a different theology? Thank goodness Jesus is more merciful than you. What a cruel and capricious God you have envisioned, setting people up for damnation! For it is God himself who forms you in the womb. If He places you in a womb that is in China or Vietnam, has he predestined you for Hell? God in his Mercy will judge us according to our knowledge and station in life. He will apply the Merits of His beautiful Church to all who will accept it upon their deaths.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Telling Catholics they are putting money out for empty rituals and pedophiles is not mocking? Look at the tone of your replies

the great majority of my posts were done without the intention to mock. Sorry if you got offended, its just the nature of this thread to discuss stuff which can be painful to the faithful. Peace.

Much good has come of the money we donate to our Church: education, helping the poor, hospitals.

of course. much good also comes from christians, regardless of sect. christianity had evolved to become something truly admirable from the perspective of a non-christian.

Being smart does not make somebody a better person. We are called to love all, the rejects of society, the pompous, murderers, mentally ill.

that is true. i never claimed otherwise.

christians are called to love, but the nature of the religion itself sows a some contempt for people of other beliefs. especially if the person directly rejects what you believe.

Good thing Catholics donate to their local Annual Archdiocesan Appeals, so they can support forums like this religious gathering so you can spend all the time you saved from attending religious gatherings to express your opinions with freedom and free of charge.

Yes thank God for that.

 

[AgnosTheist]

So telling people they’re wasting their money on religious gatherings show respect for other people?

i dont initiate these kinds of discussions in real life. it rarely happens.

To be honest you come across kind of smug.

i like to be smug sometimes. there is a time for smugness, a time for cunning, and a time for humility. thats what spices things up. but i’m careful not to insult anyone.

You have turned your back on Christ and could not be happier.

If Jesus is really God I am sure he would understand. I did my research and did what I have to in order to be sincere with myself. And for that I am a better person in a different way.

Now you want to come back and tell us poor fools who still believe in him how much better off you are. I guess my question is since you are so much happier since you found the truth why are you here? Are you here to convince us that Christianity is false or are you here to convince yourself

Maybe I am just like the religious…happy to share what I know. But on top of that I just enjoy religious discussions and challenging the opinions of those who think they know the absolute ‘truth’.

 

[qui_est_ce]

i dont initiate these kinds of discussions in real life. it rarely happens.

Seriously??? This is not real life???

If Jesus is really God I am sure he would understand. I did my research and did what I have to in order to be sincere with myself. And for that I am a better person in a different way.

You don’t believe in Jesus, you reject Him, yet you are sure He would understand?

Maybe I am just like the religious…happy to share what I know. But on top of that I just enjoy religious discussions and challenging the opinions of those who think they know the absolute ‘truth’.

You sound like YOU think you know the absolute truth. I suspect you think it all lies in the intellect.

 

[qui_est_ce]

the great majority of my posts were done without the intention to mock. Sorry if you got offended, its just the nature of this thread to discuss stuff which can be painful to the faithful. Peace.

Are you seriously sorry? Your history shows you enjoy using your God-given brains to make fun of what Catholics put their faith in (sorry, grammer, ending in prep).

of course. much good also comes from christians, regardless of sect. christianity had evolved to become something truly admirable from the perspective of a non-christian.

And Catholic Charities is the biggest one of all.

Yes thank God for that.

Thank Who? God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirt, or the God of me?

 

[AgnosTheist]

Seriously??? This is not real life???

nope, this is virtual life. people here behave a little differently than when they are on the real physical world. dont you agree?

You don’t believe in Jesus, you reject Him, yet you are sure He would understand?

I said ‘If’. However unlikely that is.

You sound like YOU think you know the absolute truth. I suspect you think it all lies in the intellect.

I leave such observations to everyone but myslelf.

Are you seriously sorry? Your history shows you enjoy using your God-given brains to make fun of what Catholics put their faith in (sorry, grammer, ending in prep).

its the sorry-but-i-cant-help-myself-here type of sorry.

Thank Who? God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirt, or the God of me?

Oh whoever is out there who manipulates the forces of the universe.

 

[estesbob]

i

Maybe I am just like the religious…happy to share what I know. But on top of that I just enjoy religious discussions and challenging the opinions of those who** think** they know the absolute ‘truth’.

As opposed to you who KNOWS the absolute truth.? Thus far it appears you no very little about Christianity. Hopefully you will learn your new faith a little better-unless it is your own personal religion.

Quite frankly you are about the least impressive “questioner” I have come across in a long time. It appears the only thing you believe is that everyone elses beliefs are wrong. Then again you could be one of those characters from the Hobbit-you know the ones who turn to stone when the sun hits them.

 

[qui_est_ce]

its the sorry-but-i-cant-help-myself-here type of sorry.

no prob, just watch the venom

Oh however is out there who manipulates the forces of the universe.

We, and the CAF believe it is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We offer you the freedom to espouse a different point of view, but let’s try to be kind.

 

[AgnosTheist]

^ edited the above. merged in the reply to your other post.

 

[qui_est_ce]

nope, this is virtual life. people here behave a little differently than when they are on the real physical world. dont you agree?

Talking and writing to real people is “virtual life, like a video game?” Maybe you do, because if you treated people in real life like you do on this forum, you’d be a pretty lonely person.

I said ‘If’. However unlikely that is.

I find it odd that you don’t believe in person, yet you know enough about the person to conjecture that “if He existed” you would know His thoughts.

 

[AgnosTheist]

if you treated people in real life like you do on this forum, you’d be a pretty lonely person.

indeed.

I find it odd that you don’t believe in person, yet you know enough about the person to conjecture that “if He existed” you would know His thoughts.

Because in the bible he preached the golden rule. If he took that seriously he wouldnt punish anyone who sincerely believed in something false.

(this could get deeper…)

who knows, there could be a higher supreme being right above him that he was never aware of. Jesus could be under a test himself. He should be a little careful even if he thinks he is at the top of the food chain.

 

[estesbob]

Talking and writing to real people is “virtual life, like a video game?” Maybe you do, because if you treated people in real life like you do on this forum, you’d be a pretty lonely person.

I find it odd that you don’t believe in person, yet you know enough about the person to conjecture that “if He existed” you would know His thoughts.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Quite frankly you are about the least impressive “questioner” I have come across in a long time.

hey no problem.

 

[aristotle]

Quite frankly you are about the least impressive “questioner” I have come across in a long time. It appears the only thing you believe is that everyone elses beliefs are wrong. Then again you could be one of those characters from the Hobbit-you know the ones who turn to stone when the sun hits them.

A ring wraith?

 

[jmcrae]

Because in the bible he preached the golden rule. If he took that seriously he wouldnt punish anyone just for the sake of sincerely believing in a false belief.

If a person is sincerely wrong, rather than merely rebelling, he wouldn’t rely on this as a “fail-safe” because the possibility wouldn’t even occur to him. “Invincible ignorance” only applies to those who are genuinely unteachable - not to those who decline the opportunity to learn.

I am reminded of the atheist philosopher who repented on his death bed. When they couldn’t find a priest to come and absolve him of his sins, he said, “Oh, well. It’s God’s job to forgive - isn’t it?”

Better hope so.

who knows, there could be a more supreme being right above him that he was never aware of. and he could get punished for his behavior.

He is the Creator of the Universe - he made both Time and Eternity, and both the physical and the spiritual realms. He would certainly be aware of everything in them.