Why Are Protestants Here?

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I found Catholic Answers because I am Catholic abd was looking for a Catholic Forum. I have been here 4 to 5 months.

I have noticed a number of Protestants and yes, even atheists are frequent posters. A few of them pose as Catholics for a while, that is until their emotions cause them to reveal themselves.

Is CA the best Catholic/Christian forum? What is the motive of a Protestant to come here and belittle Catholocism? I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦
 
There are some who come out of general interest.

Then there are those that come because they feel they are spreading the truth to us “idol worshiping” Catholics. They plan to save us from ourselves.
 
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Exporter:
I found Catholic Answers because I am Catholic abd was looking for a Catholic Forum. I have been here 4 to 5 months.

I have noticed a number of Protestants and yes, even atheists are frequent posters. A few of them pose as Catholics for a while, that is until their emotions cause them to reveal themselves.

Is CA the best Catholic/Christian forum? What is the motive of a Protestant to come here and belittle Catholocism? I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦
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Hello friend.

It depends on the individual. My personal experience briefly:

I began to question my faith and saw some merit in the Catholic Church (still do). I read lots of Catholic material (without consulting any protestant material). Then I went to the nearest parish, spoke (late at night) to the pastor/priest. He gave me more material. I read it - I understood it.

I saw the RCIA instructor - toured the facilities. I made plans to attend the fall one. Then I came here. I found that I was in for an awakening. All started fine. I met some folks, started posting, started looking at different threads and was really shocked.

Why? you might ask. Because the things spoken of in the Catholic material weren’t nearly as in-depth and got nowhere near the beliefs as those espoused here at this forum. I read the CA tracts. They were all well and good - no problem. But to go to the apologist section and read/listen to some of the problems was eye-opening.

So, by this point my “faith” in the Catholic Church went down the tubes. I then started looking long and hard at the boundaries of my religion of Christianity. And today, I am where I am - outside of the Catholic Church and riding the fence of Christianity and Buddhism.

The forums here are good. The people (by and large) have been excellent. I believe the presence of non-Catholics is beneficial. I don’t advocate attacking Catholics at all. However, if you are not prepared to defend your beliefs and “duke it out” - then I would question why one is here.

CA forums has been beneficial to me as a non-Catholic and the majority of the time I hang out in the non-Catholic section (go figure - there’s a non-Catholic section 😉 ). I remain here because dialogue is possible and knowledge abounds. Why not?

Peace…
 
I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦
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That’s a very unfair thing to say, an unfair generalization. :mad:
I know that you all are probably sick of noncatholics coming here and belittling and screaming and ‘proving’ and ‘converting’ and ‘correcting’ and ‘saving’ you all. I, for one, came here to do none of that, but to go straight to the horse’s mouth, so to spea,k and find out about Catholicsm for myself from real Catholics rather than have people that have no idea what they’re talking about try to tell me what Catholics believe. I came here because of what I knew from Protestant demonations that Catholics supposedly believed, and have had quite a few misconceptions cleared up quite nicely by coming here and asking simple, sincere questions. I’m very much interested in the Catholic Church right now for some reason. Maybe the interest will fade, maybe not. But I’m here to feed this interest and learn. Never once have I belittled anyone or their beliefs. Yes, I know there are Protestants who have,but not every one of them/us.
 
Im here to confirm what I believed before. 😃 Its either this or I was going to join the masons. 😃 God Bless
 
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Exporter:
I found Catholic Answers because I am Catholic abd was looking for a Catholic Forum. I have been here 4 to 5 months.

I have noticed a number of Protestants and yes, even atheists are frequent posters. A few of them pose as Catholics for a while, that is until their emotions cause them to reveal themselves.

Is CA the best Catholic/Christian forum? What is the motive of a Protestant to come here and belittle Catholocism? I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦
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Where as I have enjoyed posting with Exporter in the past; I, and I suspect many others, do not share his attitude on this posting.

As the Catholic song goes: ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE.
 
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wabrams:
I came here because my fiance is Catholic.
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Welcome and we hope your are learning about the faith. We are here if you have any questions.
 
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Exporter:
I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦
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I think that if one has faith then one can handle some tough questions and some debate. I come here to learn.

-D
 
I do not believe that a nonCatholic comes here to gain knowledge, but rather it is the reverse. 😦

How sad that you think like that. You must have run into some pretty hardcore Protestants to make you feel that way. I for one came here to learn from the forum. It’s been very helpful in my search for knowledge about the Church. I am for the time being a Protestant, but feel drawn to the Catholic Church. I want to learn more and feel more certain I am doing the right thing before I find an RCIA class to join in the fall. .
 
I participated in a discussion group begun by a Protestant, inviting Catholics to share their faith. Another discussion group I was in was Catholic, but it was open to Protestants. Plenty of Catholic bashing went on at both boards. Some Protestants took great delight in attacking and insulting Catholics. But – God granted me the privilege of sharing in the following conversions:
  • A woman in Oregon – who initially was bitterly anti-catholic – entered the Church three years ago next Easter, joined by her husband and two sons. She is a catechist now for children.
  • A university professor in England – who had been both Anglican, Baptist, and a member of a home-based Christian group – entered the Church last Easter. Her best friend, who had fallen away from the faith, returned to the Church and was her Confirmation sponsor. She is now a lector and is teaching the Confirmation class at her parish.
  • A man and his wife from Michigan – her screen name was “foreverbaptist” 😃 – came into the Church last December and are now students at the Franciscan University in Ohio.
These conversions were not instantaneous. They happened over a long, long time and were the direct result of discussion groups like this one.

So pray that God may use us and this forum to change hearts and spread the Truth about His Church.

JMJ Jay

Blessed Father Damien, pray for us!
 
Exporter, why don’t you email Karl Keating and complain about these horrible, evil, Protestants and atheists who are invading your cybar space. Maybe you can make this into a “Catholic Only” web site.
As for why I am here, I am here because I am.
 
ahimsaman72, I lifted a few words from one of yours posts.

". Because the things spoken of in the Catholic material weren’t nearly as in-depth and got nowhere near the beliefs as those espoused here at this forum. I read the CA tracts. They were all well and good - no problem. But to go to the apologist section and read/listen to some of the problems was eye-opening.

So, by this point my “faith” in the Catholic Church went down the tubes. I then started looking long and hard at the boundaries of my religion of Christianity. And today, I am where I am - outside of the Catholic Church and riding the fence of Christianity and Buddhism."
Essentially you have said that by reading the topics under “Apologetics” you lost your Christian Faith, is that correct?

And by reading Apologetics you have been lead to BUDDHISM, is that correct?

That makes about as much sence to me as a man saying that reading a little bit about Buddhism has turned him toward Christianity.

I will be truthful with you. Six to eight weeks ago I thought your posts were, for the most part blantly anti-Catholic. Reciently you have been making more sence, until have written that CA “Apologetics” leads you to Buddhism! Wow, you must read that topic in a different way than I do. It is true that about half of those who do post are very well schooled in Catholocism. You have to pick and chose Not all posters are capable of teaching but many try,
Can you point to something in Apologetics that turned yo to Buddhism? Thanks. 👋
 
Let’s remember, this is the Non-Catholic religions forum. It is here for discussions with non-Catholics and they should feel free to ask whatever they have a question about. No matter what the reason they come here, and I believe that only a few have less then good intentions, we need to share our Faith and Christ commanded us
So pray that God may use us and this forum to change hearts and spread the Truth about His Church.
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This is why we should all be coming here.

God Bless
 
Exporter said:
ahimsaman72, I lifted a few words from one of yours posts.

". Because the things spoken of in the Catholic material weren’t nearly as in-depth and got nowhere near the beliefs as those espoused here at this forum. I read the CA tracts. They were all well and good - no problem. But to go to the apologist section and read/listen to some of the problems was eye-opening.

So, by this point my “faith” in the Catholic Church went down the tubes. I then started looking long and hard at the boundaries of my religion of Christianity. And today, I am where I am - outside of the Catholic Church and riding the fence of Christianity and Buddhism."
Essentially you have said that by reading the topics under “Apologetics” you lost your Christian Faith, is that correct?

And by reading Apologetics you have been lead to BUDDHISM, is that correct?

That makes about as much sence to me as a man saying that reading a little bit about Buddhism has turned him toward Christianity.

I will be truthful with you. Six to eight weeks ago I thought your posts were, for the most part blantly anti-Catholic. Reciently you have been making more sence, until have written that CA “Apologetics” leads you to Buddhism! Wow, you must read that topic in a different way than I do. It is true that about half of those who do post are very well schooled in Catholocism. You have to pick and chose Not all posters are capable of teaching but many try,
Can you point to something in Apologetics that turned yo to Buddhism? Thanks. 👋
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No, no. Here’s exactly what I said…
So, by this point my “faith” in the** Catholic Church** went down the tubes. I then started looking long and hard at the boundaries of my religion of Christianity. And today, I am where I am - outside of the Catholic Church and riding the fence of Christianity and Buddhism."
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Actually, I tried to keep it brief. Anyway, I couldn’t tell you the threads that have led away from the Catholic Church. I can boil it down to a few major things: mortal/venial sins, views of “sexual sins”, Marian dogmas.

What I saw was that everywhere I went - whatever denomination/sect/branch of Christianity I looked at - it was flawed. There was either too much strictness or too much “looseness”. I have over time studied world religions (for the heck of it). I had already studied Buddhism in the past and decided to look back at it again recently.

If one looks at the writings of the Buddha, one sees what he termed as the “middle path” - neither too strict nor too loose. Basically, he grew up in wealth but realized that the wealth would not save him from death. Then, he became an ascetic and wandered from place to place, practiced self-mortification but again found this practice was not beneficial and would not keep him from death.

So, having said all that - Siddhartha Gotama (the Buddha) meditated for six years - became enlightened and the rest is history. I have found the same in my life - neither a strict life nor a loose life is beneficial.

I now read Buddhist sutras (teachings) and meditate regularly. I find it satisfying and peaceful. I also go to my Baptist church on Sundays. It may seem nuts, but for me it works.

Peace…
 
Why do I come here? Mostly to dodge work. I can only play Tetris for so long.

Incidentally, I’m not exactly sure why it would surprise anybody that non-Catholics would post on board labeled “Non-Catholic Religions”. Often, people ask questions about other religions/denoms. Seems like having dialog with those folks would be much more productive than simply talking about them. Not the we’re any less prone to bias, but hopefully if well informed about our own religions this at least avoids the kind of hearsay and ignorance that so lamentably occurs with some groups when discussing Catholicism.

At least, that’s why I come here. That, and to see what the attitudes are amongst the Catholics (and others) in the internet trenches.
 
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ahimsaman72:
No, no. Here’s exactly what I said…
Actually, I tried to keep it brief. Anyway, I couldn’t tell you the threads that have led away from the Catholic Church. I can boil it down to a few major things: mortal/venial sins, views of “sexual sins”, Marian dogmas.
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I, too, was curious about what we might’ve said that derailed your journey into the Catholic Church.
If the above few items are keeping you a away, I gurss there are a few thousand others who met and overcame these and other problems.
I’m a cradle Catholic. Buddhism may seem like a gentle, “middle way,” but whenever I encounter someone who has difficulties with Catholic doctrine (and yes, it can be demanding) I always think to myself, If he only truly understood the Eucharist, all other objections would melt away.
You are still with us on the CA Forum, which is good. Maybe, if you would pay special attention to the Eucharistic threads and some of the other CA Forums, you would at least have a better grasp of what I mean.
Once you truly believe and understand the Eucharist, you’ll know there’s no other place to be.
Maybe the next poster will get the thread back on track. Sorry - couldn’t help it.
 
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