What brought you here??

[JamesCaruso]

I know you posted this because you disagree with my statement of what I personally believe but I fail to see the point. I came here to find out if Catholicism is right for me and I have learnt after reading various arguments and discussions on certain topics that some of my opinions are too strong to change to fit in with the catholic belief system.

I have no idea what your view of abortion is, only that it is not in keeping with the Catholic teaching, as you have stated. Even during those centuries when the Catholic Church entertained distinctions between formed and unformed fetuses, souled and unsouled fetuses, there was always the belief that abortion at any stage was a grave matter. Abortion has been forbidden from the earliest times in the Church.

The right approach to choosing the right “Christian” sect, I think you will agree, should be picking the one that is most in line with the teachings of Jesus. That approach should also include the teachings and writings of his disciples whom he personally taught and entrusted to carry on his work. That is why I quoted a particular account, which I think typifies the thinking of practicing Catholics about when human life begins. But there are other writings not in the Bible that are more explicit about the early Church’s prohibition of abortion. If your beliefs are other than that, I am suggesting that it might be better to choose a non-Christian religion than to choose a Christian sect that is so far off the mark from what Christians have believed down through the ages.

I find modern movements away from traditional teaching to be rather telling. How could it take so many centuries to discover the Church’s error, while at the same time, the Church’s painstaking attention to this issue down through the centuries has led it in exactly the opposite direction from that of these modern movements? I guess what I’m suggesting is that if your honest conviction is that abortion is acceptable under some circumstances, you might find a better choice in spirituality outside the Christian community, such as, transcendental meditation or Buddhism. But this may be my own bias showing, that I think if I were not a Catholic I would rather be outside Christianity altogether.

But you probably think I am not being fair to the larger Christian community. Maybe you’re right, but I cannot see how changing this and that belief from the original teachings make for anything that can be termed valid or true. Jesus cannot stand for all the contrary and conflicting views that have arisen over the past five centuries, and to believe that these Johnny-come-lately versions of Christ are more correct than the original just defies common sense. Christianity is not based on opinion, or modern culture, or consensus, but on Christ’s teachings. What has happened is that people have reasoned themselves into something other than what Christ and his disciples taught. I don’t pretend to know all the reasons why. I’m just telling it as I see it.

 

[Hipporadish]

But you probably think I am not being fair to the larger Christian community. Maybe you’re right, but I cannot see how changing this and that belief from the original teachings make for anything that can be termed valid or true. Jesus cannot stand for all the contrary and conflicting views that have arisen over the past five centuries, and to believe that these Johnny-come-lately versions of Christ are more correct than the original just defies common sense. Christianity is not based on opinion, or modern culture, or consensus, but on Christ’s teachings. What has happened is that people have reasoned themselves into something other than what Christ and his disciples taught. I don’t pretend to know all the reasons why. I’m just telling it as I see it.

The only thing I will say here is that historically speaking in the early centuries following Christs death there was no unity of faith until the Roman Emperor Constantine called a council who decided what to and what not to include in the bible and the churches teachings. This meant some books were left out and society at that time deemed what one should or shouldn’t believe.

How many Catholics eat Pork and shellfish which is also in direct contravention with the teachings of the bible?

Also many of those early churches existed alongside Catholicism for many years until they were persecuted out of existence.

I would also add at this point that Buddhist teaching is against abortion as it is deemed violence against another being. Just because some of my beliefs don’t tie in with Catholicism doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian and that I should pick another religion.

 

[1Tim215Mommy]

I am wondering what brings non Catholics to a website about Catholicism? This question is basically for non Catholics. Are you here to convert us Catholics? Are you here to find out more about the Catholic Church? Are you here to simply talk theology with other Christians?

What is your reasons for stopping by? I am very interested in knowing people’s reasons for coming here.

Everyone PLEASE be respectful of one another!

Thanks for asking. It’ll be nice to sum up my experience before leaving.

I wanted to learn the difference between Catholic Beatific Vision & Orthodox Theosis. My suspision was that the Salvation Hope Catholics have is to only see God either physically or with the nous, but want to find out for sure.

I posted a thread asking that right after joining which immediately was derailed with a change of the subject to the Catholic doctrines of Immaculate Conception & Original Sin vs. Orthodox understanding of Ancestral Sin. The derailed topic is an interesting topic to be sure, but not the one I came here for.

As a result, I am now very confused with the back & forth posts if Catholic Church even teaches Beatific Vision let alone what is meant by the term? I was completely unsuccessful in getting a straight answer.

Since joining I’ve spent a lot of time on this cite that would have been more wisely spent in prayer & spiritual reading. I think it’s best for my soul to bow out of this cite for now, but I may try back in the future, if I’m still interested and remember the password.

Ta ta for now Catholic Answers Forum

 

[JamesCaruso]

Thanks for asking. It’ll be nice to sum up my experience before leaving.

I wanted to learn the difference between Catholic Beatific Vision & Orthodox Theosis. My suspision was that the Salvation Hope Catholics have is to only see God either physically or with the nous, but want to find out for sure.

I posted a thread asking that right after joining which immediately was derailed with a change of the subject to the Catholic doctrines of Immaculate Conception & Original Sin vs. Orthodox understanding of Ancestral Sin. The derailed topic is an interesting topic to be sure, but not the one I came here for.

As a result, I am now very confused with the back & forth posts if Catholic Church even teaches Beatific Vision let alone what is meant by the term? I was completely unsuccessful in getting a straight answer.

Since joining I’ve spent a lot of time on this cite that would have been more wisely spent in prayer & spiritual reading. I think it’s best for my soul to bow out of this cite for now, but I may try back in the future, if I’m still interested and remember the password.

Ta ta for now Catholic Answers Forum

This site can become addictive and even, as you say, a distraction from prayer and spiritual reading. I commend you on your decision to put first things first. I hope you can find a way to both do your prayer and spiritual reading aw well as join us here from time to time to discuss our faith.

On the Beatific Vision, I think it is more of an analogy of what living in total bliss can mean. I mean, we all know that God cannot be seen, he is a spirit, but in some sense we can “see” with and through our own spirits. It must be seeing and knowing and loving God in a manner that is presently beyond our comprehension, but not being a theologian, I don’t know any other way of saying it. It must be the fulfillment of all our deepest yearning for love and an answer to everything in us that cries out for satisfaction. Hell must be the opposite, that is, the inability to ever get satisfaction from the things we’ve chosen to worship.

 

[JamesCaruso]

The only thing I will say here is that historically speaking in the early centuries following Christs death there was no unity of faith until the Roman Emperor Constantine called a council who decided what to and what not to include in the bible and the churches teachings. This meant some books were left out and society at that time deemed what one should or shouldn’t believe.

How many Catholics eat Pork and shellfish which is also in direct contravention with the teachings of the bible?

Also many of those early churches existed alongside Catholicism for many years until they were persecuted out of existence.

I would also add at this point that Buddhist teaching is against abortion as it is deemed violence against another being. Just because some of my beliefs don’t tie in with Catholicism doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian and that I should pick another religion.

You may believe that society at that time deemed what one should or shouldn’t believe, but Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit inspired those decisions, not by society, but by the leadership of the Church descendant from Christ and his first apostles.

But I’m sure you already know that the dietary restrictions on the Jewish people were lifted by Peter after receiving a vision from Christ.

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. Acts 10

But of course if you don’t believe the New Testament to be part of the Bible, then you will not believe this either. But if there was a Jesus Christ, then I am persuaded that the New Testament, comprised largely of eyewitness accounts of Our Lord and his early Church, are more importantly to be called the Bible than the Old Testament that went before and serves to prefigure and in a way, corroborate, everything that transpired in the life of Christ and is written in the New Testament.

Yes, heresies did arise in ancient times, and those who taught other than what had been taught and handed down from Christ and the apostles were expelled from the Christian community. When the time came that all of the empire became Christian, then Christianity became more or less the law of the land. Whereas the Church deemed heresy by Christians to be a spiritual crime against God, the society at large, deemed heresy to be a civil crime.

Also, many Christians acted barbarically toward Jews, in particular, committing atrocities against them, but these actions were never condoned by the Church. The same sort of thing happened in modern times in Nazi Germany. They were the independent actions of Christians who acted outside the teachings of their faith. As with Catholics today, there are large numbers who do not embrace all the teachings of the Church and the Church cannot take responsibility for their actions contrary to the faith.

 

[steido01]

To simplify my reason for joining: I pray that His people will be one again.

I was always taught that Lutherans are catholic - just not Roman Catholic. I’ve always appreciated learning about our common faith and history from more learned Christians. Conversely, “I Love to Tell the Story” and share my meager knowledge of Christianity with others who may be weaker in the faith - hopefully strengthening them in their own communion while educating them about mine. Differences between His people will not be overcome unless we engage in thoughtful, truthful discussion with each other - identifying where we can make changes, standing firm where we cannot and, most of all, acknowledging our common Savior.

I also married a Roman Catholic who had lapsed in her faith. I was taught that Lutherans should not actively seek to convert other catechized catholics, so I considered it my duty to return her to her church. Deepening my understanding of the RCC through the forums and meeting with local priests was necessary.

 

[ffg]

The only thing I will say here is that historically speaking in the early centuries following Christs death there was no unity of faith until the Roman Emperor Constantine called a council who decided what to and what not to include in the bible and the churches teachings. This meant some books were left out and society at that time deemed what one should or shouldn’t believe.

How many Catholics eat Pork and shellfish which is also in direct contravention with the teachings of the bible?

Also many of those early churches existed alongside Catholicism for many years until they were persecuted out of existence.

I would also add at this point that Buddhist teaching is against abortion as it is deemed violence against another being. Just because some of my beliefs don’t tie in with Catholicism doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian and that I should pick another religion.

Interesting.

I know the thread is about what brought you here, but discussion flowing from the topic, can only help us further on our jouney, no?

‘Peter you are rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’

This was not a unity of faith comment?

A very important point of Christ in history is setting up His Church on earth.

I would love to see a list of the “many of those early churches”. I find that the 500-600 year old modern movement of church creation is not exactly mirrored before writing and copying was so easy, or literacy so widespread.

 

[drac16]

Most of what I know about Christianity comes from protestant sources (James White, The ESV Study Bible, Tim Conway and Paul Washer being the main ones). I love learning about different religions and denominations and I want to learn more about the catholic faith from catholics, rather than from what protestants say about Catholicism.

It’s not to try and convert people-- that very idea is silly. I can’t convert someone any more than I can raise the dead. I want to get a better understanding of Catholicism and since I noticed that this site has a board in which you can have inter-faith dialogues, it was a no-brainer for me to sign up. I like it here.