What do you admire in other faiths that are lacking in your own???

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WhiteDove

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This will be only a POSITIVE THREAD.(with probably a early death… 😉 ) What can we learn from one another???

What do you admire about another religion that seems to be lacking in your own, to one degree or another?

I’ll start.
I think Evangelicals have better outreaches to youth. They more often will have vacation Bible schools, youth groups and the like. They also have more Bible studies and support groups generally.

Mormons are totally family centered. They have a family night as part of their religion which is very cool. They have a social welfare system within the church itself. They are very organized.

I’ll try and think of more. Hopefully, this thread won’t totally die because it’s too positive.
 
Well, I like the fact that JW"s are sort of drilled and prepared and sent out to witness. At least most of them are pretty prepared to fuss and discuss. I, too, like the Mormon devotion to family.
I also like the Islamic call to prayer and the fact they just drop whatever they’re doing and pray for a few minutes.

Let’s see - I like ecstatic Pentecostal-ish praise and worship (no not shrieking over-emotionalism - real praise and worship)

And of course, Catholic liturgy, history, and ritual.
 
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WhiteDove:
This will be only a POSITIVE THREAD.(with probably a early death… 😉 ) What can we learn from one another???

What do you admire about another religion that seems to be lacking in your own, to one degree or another?

I’ll start.
I think Evangelicals have better outreaches to youth. They more often will have vacation Bible schools, youth groups and the like. They also have more Bible studies and support groups generally.

Mormons are totally family centered. They have a family night as part of their religion which is very cool. They have a social welfare system within the church itself. They are very organized.

I’ll try and think of more. Hopefully, this thread won’t totally die because it’s too positive.
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I agree with both of those, I also like the fact thatEvangelicals are not afraid to EVANGELIZE, I think modern day Catholics are taking some ques from this.

When Catholics go to Mass, we are there to worship God, not socialize, true, but why don’t we socialize OUTSIDE of Mass More? Protestants generally seem to be more social with their other church members. Catholics can learn alot from this… or is it that alot of more outgoing Christians in need of social interaction get fed up with the lack of social interaction in Catholic parishes and are more attracted to the more open social environment, so an imbalance of outgoing social characters end up in a more socially outgoing Church?

Our parish has an adult Bible study but never any babysitting, and I have 3 small children! Our parish does have Children’s church at one Mass, that’s nice for the little ones.

Catholic families could take a good look at the dynamic of conservative Mormon families, they are an inspiration to me. I would love to have 10 children on a family farm all in homeschool, all functioning well, doing chores, united in our Cathoic faith, preparing them to go out and be saints in the world. That is wonderful! I have three children, doing Catholic homeschool on a military base. We don’t make our own clothes or grow our own food 🙂

I am glad Pope John II emphasized parenthood as a vocation. Good strong, conservative Mormon families see their family as a mission, no matter how I may disagree with their theology, The ideal families are wonderful! Kudos to the Mormons on their family dynamic, there *are *Catholic families like that in my community, but I woudl like to see more!

I like the vestments worn by those with Catholic Religious Orders, but I also have a profound respect for those laypeople of various religious backgrounds who CHOOSE to wear a specific dress to show their religious background, especially Orthodox Jews. I don’t think anyone should be* forced* to wear a particular clothing or hair style, but I have a profound respect for those who choose to wear a particular style to show the world that they are associated with a particular religion. Some of us Catholics could stand to dress more modestly!
 
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Curious:
Well, I like the fact that JW"s are sort of drilled and prepared and sent out to witness. At least most of them are pretty prepared to fuss and discuss. I, too, like the Mormon devotion to family.
I also like the Islamic call to prayer and the fact they just drop whatever they’re doing and pray for a few minutes.

Let’s see - I like ecstatic Pentecostal-ish praise and worship (no not shrieking over-emotionalism - real praise and worship)

And of course, Catholic liturgy, history, and ritual.
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ME TOO!!! all the above! I especially admire the Islamic call to prayer, if I could just drop everything at 3:00 to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy!!! I try so hard to get in the habit of that, and I tell myself “If Muslims can do it so can I.” It isn’t easy!!!

I am inspired by the Pentacostal focus on the Holy Spirit, It has inspired me to focus on the Holy Spirit in my life more, Of course, I love the Mass teh way it is, but I also like the elation of worshiping God with praise music,( no substitution for the Mass, but a great supplement outside of Mass.) I think that is why the Charismatic renewal is so interesting to me.

JW’s yes we need to drill and prepare more too.
 
I hope I don’t kill this, but I don’t find anything whatsoever lacking in my FAITH. . .if I perceive anything lacking, it is in my individual self. If there is anything lacking in “Catholic evangelization” it isn’t with “programs” but with individuals making a choice NOT to listen based on petty and non-essential individual reasons, like “Catholic music is too boring”, or “They don’t have Vacation Bible School”. Yes, evangelization is important, but it doesn’t have to be done with bells, whistles, gimmicks and entertainment. In fact, too often such evangelization doesn’t lead to real faith and actually can detract from it. Are people going to church to worship God or are they going because they have fun times together, hear cool music, etc?

After all, the Evangelical faith, while it might be better packaged to a certain demographic in a certain place, is not a profound fullness of truth like the Catholic faith. Is it really better, for example, that a person gets “more” of an incomplete faith or “less” of a complete one? It would be like comparing somebody getting a big bag of generic “milk flavored chocolate” bars vs. somebody getting a small but dense Godiva chocolate truffle. At first glance, the one getting the “big bag” looks like he is getting the better deal, but speaking from all sorts of perspectives, from esthetic to even financial, isn’t the second person getting the better deal?
 
I like the way Children in alot of “Bible” churches are taught to memorize Scripture.

I also like the Jewish tradition of giving children a taste of honey when they read/hear the Word of God, to taste the sweetness of the Lord. That is precious!
 
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Peace-bwu:
I like the vestments worn by those with Catholic Religious Orders, but I also have a profound respect for those laypeople of various religious backgrounds who CHOOSE to wear a specific dress to show their religious background, especially Orthodox Jews. I don’t think anyone should be* forced* to wear a particular clothing or hair style, but I have a profound respect for those who choose to wear a particular style to show the world that they are associated with a particular religion. Some of us Catholics could stand to dress more modestly!
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That reminds me of the Amish, Mennonites and German Baptists. Around here, there are a lot of German Baptists. The women wear nice little net like bonnets and a certain style dress. Most of the men have beard with no musaches. I think they look cool and they are very nice people.

I met an Amish couple on the train in Calif. They were from Michagan. They were very nice and fun to talk to. I really admire the Amish lifesyle. They are more detached from the ways of the world. Orthodox Jews are similar I believe.
 
Tantum ergo:
I hope I don’t kill this, but I don’t find anything whatsoever lacking in my FAITH. . .if I perceive anything lacking, it is in my individual self. If there is anything lacking in “Catholic evangelization” it isn’t with “programs” but with individuals making a choice NOT to listen based on petty and non-essential individual reasons, like “Catholic music is too boring”, or “They don’t have Vacation Bible School”. Yes, evangelization is important, but it doesn’t have to be done with bells, whistles, gimmicks and entertainment. In fact, too often such evangelization doesn’t lead to real faith and actually can detract from it. Are people going to church to worship God or are they going because they have fun times together, hear cool music, etc?

After all, the Evangelical faith, while it might be better packaged to a certain demographic in a certain place, is not a profound fullness of truth like the Catholic faith. Is it really better, for example, that a person gets “more” of an incomplete faith or “less” of a complete one? It would be like comparing somebody getting a big bag of generic “milk flavored chocolate” bars vs. somebody getting a small but dense Godiva chocolate truffle. At first glance, the one getting the “big bag” looks like he is getting the better deal, but speaking from all sorts of perspectives, from esthetic to even financial, isn’t the second person getting the better deal?
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I wouldn’t want to replace anything, and I am a hard core stick to the rubricks of the Mass person, but I think we can learn some things from our separated brethren. I am having a barbecue this month for some people at my Air Force Base Catholic Church, I see some of the Protestant Churches and I think "Wow, how nice, I would love to fellowship with fellow Catholics. So I am doing something about it. Sometimes we can find inspiration elsewhere, and it’s nice to be positive for a change:)
 
About the JW, I love the way they are dress up nicely to go witness. The men will wear suits and ties and the women dress.

I love black church ladies who wear really nice hats to church and everyone will dress really nicely in their churches. Some Protestant churches make going to church a real celebration and everyone wears their nicest clothes, even if the people in the church don’t have too much money.
 
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WhiteDove:
That reminds me of the Amish, Mennonites and German Baptists. Around here, there are a lot of German Baptists. The women wear nice little net like bonnets and a certain style dress. Most of the men have beard with no musaches. I think they look cool and they are very nice people.

I met an Amish couple on the train in Calif. They were from Michagan. They were very nice and fun to talk to. I really admire the Amish lifesyle. They are more detached from the ways of the world. Orthodox Jews are similar I believe.
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I always enjoy seeing the Amish horse and buggies parked at Walmart, and I also think it is very inspiring. 🙂 Sometimes I find myself caught up in the materialism of the world and am inspired by Nuns, of course, but to see whole families living this way is inspiring to me since I am a family woman!
 
Lets make this a thread without argueing and declaring our own superiority, okay? 🙂
 
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WhiteDove:
I love black church ladies who wear really nice hats to church and everyone will dress really nicely in their churches. Some Protestant churches make going to church a real celebration and everyone wears their nicest clothes, even if the people in the church don’t have too much money.
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Me too, I always love to see the African American ladies after Church, they always look so joyfully dressed! Wonderful! And so many of the men they are with look so nice in their suits.

It isnt’ all about the clothes, but it is a way human beings can give the Lord our Best! I guess some do it with extreme modesty and some do it with a celebration of fancy clothes.
 
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WhiteDove:
Lets make this a thread without argueing and declaring our own superiority, okay? 🙂
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Sorry if you thought I was doing this but I was trying to avoid attacks from fellow Catholics by being very clear.
 
And nothing beats the choir in a Black church! They really sing with joy!
 
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Peace-bwu:
Sorry if you thought I was doing this but I was trying to avoid attacks from fellow Catholics by being very clear.
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No it wasn’t you!I tried to PM you BTW, your box is full
 
WhiteDove, got your message, decided to redo this post. . .
My bad, understood, and agree with all the posts.

Will add: Really admire Jews keeping kosher. . .was just reading about how to kosher and it takes a tremendous amount of work and discipline!

Everybody: Ignore (since I can’t edit it) my first post on this thead, but feel free to applaud wildly for this one, LOL.
 
I like the high percentages of people in some Protestant churches that take their faith seriously.

I like that many serve the Lord without a sense of “obligation” but out of pure love. The go to church because they want to go.

I like that many Protestant churches offer nursery care automatically at their functions and that it’s often paid for through the Church budget.

I agree with what many of you have already said about Bible Studies, VBS, evangelization and fellowship. I agree about liking Mormons emphasis on family. And I like it when others like the Amish wear clothes that mark them as people of faith.

These things aren’t really lacking within the Catholic Church, because we can find them here if we look for them. But some of our separated brethren do a better job in specific areas than we generally find at the average Catholic parish.
 
Well, I have to say, this thread is still alive!

Dear Tantum,
I see what you mean now. Yes on true matters of faith, I’m firmly Catholic. I was talking of these expressions of faith, not doctrine itsself. 🙂
 
In my Catholic Church, people mainly go to celebrate the Mass, receive Communion and then we leave. We’re not overly friendly and inviting to each other or newcomers.

The fellowship is better in the Protestant Churches and they approach newcomers and greet them. I also admire the fact that some of the Protestant Churches in our area have better programs for their youth.

I’ve heard some extremely moving sermons from Billy Graham and other Protestant ministers. The 2 priests in my parish do not give particularily good homilies.
 
I’ve been torn between the RC and the local Free Methodist church, so will reply with what I like about each.

I love the ritualism of the RC mass and the sameness of it. I always found it very comforting. I also took comfort from lighting candles for loved ones, asking Mary and the saints for prayers, the Rosary, etc. Catholicism is a historically rich and beautiful religion, both in doctrine and practice. I also find myself more in agreement with much of Catholic doctrine and appreciate the endurance of that doctrine against trends of popular opinion.

On the other hand, as a previous poster said, there did seem to be an attitude of “get through the mass, get the eucharist and get out the door”. Keep in mind I haven’t attended mass in some time, but in the several years that I did, I never really felt much sense of community there. The Free Methodist church is much more informal in terms of the service, but the people are very warm and welcoming. If a new person attends or someone who comes infrequently shows up, they notice and make a point to say hi and to try to make the person feel welcome.

They also take prayer requests during the service, which I think is nice, particularly since it is a very small community and most everyone knows everyone else. I attended during the final week of JPII’s illness, and the organist asked for prayers for him and for the Catholic people, which I thought was kind.

Bottom line for me, I guess, is that I enjoy the ritualism of the RC service and appreciate the enduring nature of church doctrine - that it’s not swayed by the opinion of the week - but I find myself more at home with the people at my local (Free Methodist) church.
 
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