Why is Catholic Bashing soooo popular?

[Cinette]

Katrina5

I love your story so much that I have forwarded the link to others. It is really beautiful and exciting.

Something which helped me a lot was joining a Catholic Charismatic Group. I myself am not charismatic in my manifestations but I met and networked with some amazing people. Also their Life in the Spirit Seminar is transforming and I have done it several times - sometimes in as a leader or co-leader. They also conducted Healing Seminars. Simply wonderful. I have come to believe that every person preparing for Confirmation should do a Life in the Spirit Seminar.

It STICKS!

 

[Cinette]

Catholics believe and it is a teaching of the Church that no one has obtained salvation until their judgment has come and Jesus welcomes them saying well done, enter my Father’s house. As long as we are in this earthly life until it is done we have no guarantee against failure or of salvation. The Church also teaches that it is by the example we present in our daily living of humility and charity in Jesus that we express the way of our Savior. And yes, the way to the end goal, salvation is each individual person’s responsibility to seek and learn and live in Christ. These are the teachings of the Church and I agree with them 100%. I believe you just expressed the same belief by what you wrote.
Yes, there are some who have turned their life over and devoted themselves to God for His service which is a beautiful way to live, but this should not be construed as a proclamation that they believe they have reached salvation. In reading the lives of saints, Mother Teresa of Calcutta for instance, you will learn the life we are suppose to emulate and yet she had her times of doubt and weakness just as anyone else. Although she lived a saintly life she never believed herself to be a saint.
Of course there are some who are a bit zealous and can come off pushy, that’s not the way we are taught but it is mostly meant with good intentions. There are others who come along with the tough love approach. For some this is helpful but for others it can work in the reverse so one does need to know when they may become over baring or offensive. These things are in any Christian denomination and it is due to the devotions felt by different people. Just as there are many different personalities there is a place for individual expressiveness in Faith. A non-Catholic must understand when coming into a forum such as this they are coming into a place where it is expected to be offered the Catholic faith and views that is what this is. So you would receive a more stead fast response toward Catholicism because most come here with a desire to know what it’s all about, how is it perhaps different from the way they were taught or to air misconceptions about Catholicism they were taught or developed. In short, what you expressed in your example is actually what is taught in regard to seeking our path. From what I have seen, non-Catholics who have searched for the “right” path with true desire of devotion to God more often than not are led to the CC. But we also have those who just drift along claiming Catholicism as their faith but living a pagan life, unfortunately. In this forum, we all help each other to help others in many ways.
You do at times come off in a way that can be considered insulting which is why some here (just as I was) are defensive. Its not uncommon to be attached here.

I am sure I am not alone in this but I found that the more I learn and delve the smaller I feel. The goal post seems to go further and further away.

I know I am on the right path but I do not feel I have arrived - not by a long shot. I am aware there are Protestants who know a lot more than I do quantitatively but I know more qualitatively because of the sacraments and the teachings of the CC.

While many Protestants are learned I cannot understand how they can say such things as “I am saved. Are you saved?” How they can believe in Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide - this to me is clearly inconceivable!

So we come on these forums to learn and discuss. But we have to maintain a civil and respectful attitude which is not always easy. If someone bashes me I want to bash them back and that is not nice I know.

blessings
Cinette

 

[Salonika]

Cinette:

If someone bashes me I want to bash them back and that is not nice I know.

And when we are lured or fall into the trap of doing so we are actually endorsing their behaviour.

Sometimes the best thing to do is to state our postion clearly and walk away. By walking away the situation is less likely to escalate and we have been true to ourselves and to our beliefs.

A situation I find difficult is when the other person is “baiting” or when they are taking the opposite position for the hang of it. For me some some topics are too serious and personal to be made into a game or points scoring.

 

[po18guy]

I am sure I am not alone in this but I found that the more I learn and delve the smaller I feel. The goal post seems to go further and further away.It ensures humility - which you have noted can be lacking in certain locations.

While many Protestants are learned I cannot understand how they can say such things as “I am saved. Are you saved?” How they can believe in Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide - this to me is clearly inconceivable!

 

[KC91]

Anti-Catholicism is “popular” because of freemasonry. The Catholic Church is one of the few forces in the world which stands up to this satanic cult, and is thus regarded as a great threat by the masonic lodges which have a lot of influence in politics and media.

 

[Cinette]

Anti-Catholicism is “popular” because of freemasonry. The Catholic Church is one of the few forces in the world which stands up to this satanic cult, and is thus regarded as a great threat by the masonic lodges which have a lot of influence in politics and media.

I think you have made a very good point.

 

[twb1621]

I am sure I am not alone in this but I found that the more I learn and delve the smaller I feel. The goal post seems to go further and further away.

I know I am on the right path but I do not feel I have arrived - not by a long shot. I am aware there are Protestants who know a lot more than I do quantitatively but I know more qualitatively because of the sacraments and the teachings of the CC.

While many Protestants are learned I cannot understand how they can say such things as “I am saved. Are you saved?” How they can believe in Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide - this to me is clearly inconceivable!

So we come on these forums to learn and discuss. But we have to maintain a civil and respectful attitude which is not always easy. If someone bashes me I want to bash them back and that is not nice I know.

blessings
Cinette

Hi Cinette, I wasn’t directing this response to you, it was responding to Anon…

 

[Cinette]

Hi Cinette, I wasn’t directing this response to you, it was responding to Anon…

I Twb!

I have the habit of clicking on the quote button - An idea comes into my head and I decide to post and…click.

No, you are someone I learn from

blessings
Cinette

 

[twb1621]

I Twb!

I have the habit of clicking on the quote button - An idea comes into my head and I decide to post and…click.

No, you are someone I learn from

blessings
Cinette

Thank you Cinette

 

[Katrina5]

Hi Cinette,
Thanks for responding to my post. The thing I enjoy about this type of thing is that we do have to dig deeper into our hearts, minds, and spirits to find the Answers, which lead us to the Catholic Church.
I am always brought back to the Sacrament of Confirmation when we were taught that we would have to defend our Faith. In 1958, when I was confirmed, the Archbishop gave a little “slap” on the cheek to each of us. It was symbolic of what we would come up against in our lives.
So many times I have felt that sting-- like a slap-- from some Protestant who doesn’t understand anything, is mocking the Church on the same old subjects-- we worship Mary, we pray to dead people, we bow to statues, we are cannables, we call priests “Father”, we use Missals instead of the Bible, and we are not “saved”, our prayers are rote and meaningless, we have litergy instead of chaos at Mass, The Pope is the Antichrist, The Church has extreme wealth, priests and nuns have sex and then kill the babies, The Church is the Whore of Babylon,etc.
Sometimes I think if one more person mentions selling indulgences, the Inquisition, and poor Galileo, I will start screaming, “Yes! You’re right! The Church is evil and so am I!”
Imagine what they would do! Talk about an Inquisition! Torture me until I come to your way of thinking. Strip the church to the bare walls, ask Jesus to be my “personal lord and savior” (magic words) and begin every prayer with “We just…” and start speaking in tongues. Take pieces of Scripture out of context to win your self-righteous fight, then hit me over the head with your single page Bible that says “I’m going to heaven and you’re not!”

The prayer to St Michael the Archangel begins, "Defend us in battle..."  It is so right. 
The Holy Spirit does lead us, He gives us the right words to say at the right time.  We each have a Guardian angel who helps us in physical and spiritual ways!  
Proverbs 5:6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, and He will direct your path."   
So even when I want to scream, I try to be centered and pray that somehow the battle will be won, peacefully.  Jesus talked about planting the seeds in the Spring and then waiting five months to harvest.  
 This is so true. (Of course it is!) They want an instant conversion to Protestantism. (Say those magic words). But it doesn't work that way. You plant the seed, gently, and then you let God do His work in that person's soul. 
 I always wonder why they have an "altar call" when they have no altar.  They have no Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
 I live in Indianapolis, which, even though it isn't the Baptist South, Catholics are a minority.  When I visit places like Chicago, Cincinatti, or Boston, I am amazed at the number of Catholics.  It is consoling in some way.
Some of the most damaging anti-Catholic books are works of Fiction that the authors have gotten rich from. Like The DaVinci Code and the series of Left Behind books, which aren't even well written.  But many, many people take them as truth. 
When I supervised a woman (at work) who was a Seventh Day Adventist, I went to the Library and read up on her beliefs.  She was shocked that I knew so much about her church.  It leveled the playing field (battle field?) and I hope that I planted the seed for her that if you "gird yourself for battle" you have to know what you are fighting against.   I have done the same thing with Mormons and Jehoveh's Witnesses, and read up on Luther, Knox, Calvin, and Swengli, after visiting the Reformers Monument in Geneva, Switzerland.  
 That monument is so overwhelming. It made me sad, until I looked at photos that I had taken later and thought, "Hmmm....four statues...and they certainly aren't Saints!"  
 All of this enriches my faith!  
I can't leave out prayer.  It is our best nourishment.  God loves us so much.  We have to say, "Thank You and I love You" even when going through a dry spell.

 

[Katrina5]

Katrina5

I love your story so much that I have forwarded the link to others. It is really beautiful and exciting.

Something which helped me a lot was joining a Catholic Charismatic Group. I myself am not charismatic in my manifestations but I met and networked with some amazing people. Also their Life in the Spirit Seminar is transforming and I have done it several times - sometimes in as a leader or co-leader. They also conducted Healing Seminars. Simply wonderful. I have come to believe that every person preparing for Confirmation should do a Life in the Spirit Seminar.

It STICKS!

Hello, again!
Some other books that helped me have been:
Lead, Kindly Light by Thomas Howard,
Crossing the Tiber by Steven Kay,
Newman’s Journey by Meriol Trevor,
and No Price Too High by Deacon Jones.
If you have access to EWTN, I love The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi. We heard him speak at Northern Illinois University this past October at the Family Celebration, and he is wonderful.
Of course Scott Hahn is one of my favorites. I also read a book called The New Anti-Catholicism by Peter Jenkins, who is a professor of History at Pennsylvania State University. Any of Hilaire Belloc’s books are available online, and very good. (And we thought he just wrote limericks.)

 

[russell007]

Greetings Damooster

This is my first reply for some time as I just rejoined the group.

I grew up in the bible belt so most of my friends were protestant.

It seems I’ve heard it all from worshipping idols,we dont bring our bibles to church, Your pope is the anti-christ ( I would tell them Ive been hearing that all my life. How many anti-christ popes do you guys think we have anyway?) Why do you guys tell the priest your sins when you can just tell them straight to God and blah blah blah.

I have been to other church services. Some choose to model themselves after our Mass and in these cases its like going to a waterd down Mass.Others are like going to a bible study and you never go to your knees and actually worship. I know youve seen preachers on TBN that even dress like our bishops or wear priest like suites as if thats going to add some “realness”.

The point is there is something missing.

Weve got something that
they dont…the Eucharist!

We were given the real presence of our Savior Jesus Christ The same body and blood shed for our sins so we can be reconciled.

Eat this bread for this is my body Drink this blood.

If you do not eat my body and drink my blood you shall not have life with in you.

The Fathers of the Church were not stupid by any means you can witeness that by going to Mass you can feel the presence of God. If you have ever been to a Catholic Church when its empty a person can still feel Christs Presence We are the body of Christ and yet The Church Building itself Christs also dwells.

Personally the way I handle the attacks is knowledge and unfortunatly thats something your going to have to find through apologetics, Defending the faith. I say unfortunatly because it can get ugly.

Your going to have to study on your own because RCIA will not teach everthing you need to know about being Catholic.

Funny thing is even Catholics dont agree with Catholics (but thats for another thread LOL)

Pax et bonum
(Peace and all good things)

Welcome to the fold!

 

[Katrina5]

Amen!
Alleluia! (I know it’s Advent, but sometimes I have to express myself)
We have the Eucharist.
My mother converted to Catholicism in 1943. She told us, “I stepped into that Church and felt God was truly there.”
Because HE IS, literally PRESENT.
She felt His Presence before she knew anything about the Faith.
And I am so thankful that my Mom did that. My Dad finally converted just two years before he died. And I can’t even tell you what it was like to follow him up to Communion at Mass.
I had been off doing my own thing for about 11 years, and those things didn’t include going to Mass. I had left the convent because Vatican II was messing with my head.
But I followed my parents to Communion, and I thank God for that miracle every day.

 

[benedictus2]

Erin and Tom,
Thanks for your comments about me not proselytizing people away from the Catholic Church.
Just because my spiritual path is elsewhere, doesn’t mean I consider Catholicism an invalid path for others.

I did, however, think of an analogy (or “parable” if using that word is not blasphemy ) that may or may not prove useful to you and others:

I have not read all posts on this thread so this reply is specific to this post.

I’ll start with the “path” image.
From my perspective, I see many Catholics (and other Christians and non-Christians for that matter) as setting foot on their particular chosen spiritual “path”, taking a couple of steps, and then turning around to shout at the top of their lungs: “I found it. It’s the only real and valid ‘path’ and all of you out there need to join me.”

I imagine such a traffic jam at these entry points, that new people can’t properly find the entrance to the actual path, let alone walk along it to any significant extent - not to mention those shouting not getting anywhere themselves.

My exhortation to you Roman Catholics is to make it your business walking your path without halting or ever assuming you’ve reached the end goal. As long as you are physically in this world and interacting with other people in any way, your walking and your path will not be invisible. There is no need to stop and shout it out - that just clogs up the traffic.

The more of you walking your path with your focus on where you’re going instead of who’s behind you or who’s going in another direction, the more you establish a flow or current like in a river, and the more people will be drawn into this flow.

A few problems I have with this analogy.

First, it assumes that all roads lead to the same destination. Some may think they do, but this is not necessarily so. Some roads will lead to a dead end and some could actually be the road to a ravine which someone with malicious intent had marked otherwise, and those on those road may not find out till they are hurtling down at the speed of gravity.

Secondly,.You need to yell out “Hey, get on this road” because that one leads nowhere", if you know this to be the truth. To not do so is irresponsible. If you know someone is oblivous to oncoming traffic and is headed for a collision, you would yank them out of harms wayl

Third: Stopping and yelling will not clog up the traffic because the road is wide and adjusts to the number of people on it. This point of the analogy is for me the one that is the most ill-thought.

Fourth: You cannot compare faith journeys with the current of a river. We cannot keep going on our merry way oblivious to everyone else. That may be what buddhism, hindiuism and other isms may teach but that is not what Christianity is about. We are to look out for each other and we are told to “spread the good news”. This has been the way of Christianity from time immemorial: to spread the good news even if it were to cost you your own life.

When you see a really good movie or hear a really good song, you have the desire to share it with others. You recommend it. One’s faith should not be any different.

I will, however, give this same advice to anyone looking at any spiritual path - with the caveat that the choice of spiritual path is their own personal responsibility.

And those who have seen the light have the responsibility of leading others out of the darkness.

Hermann Cohen (a Jewish convert to Catholicism) wrote that converts must remember that their conversion is not for themselves alone. It is so that they may lead others to Christ.

 

[anon5216]

I have not read all posts on this thread so this reply is specific to this post.

A few problems I have with this analogy.

First, it assumes that all roads lead to the same destination. Some may think they do, but this is not necessarily so. Some roads will lead to a dead end and some could actually be the road to a ravine which someone with malicious intent had marked otherwise, and those on those road may not find out till they are hurtling down at the speed of gravity.
I know Catholics are required to believe they’ve got the only valid and complete path to God, but that is a belief others don’t share. And from that other perspective, it’s a belief that simply can not be proven. (Since the biblical writings the Church bases its claims on can not be objectively proven).

Secondly,.You need to yell out “Hey, get on this road” because that one leads nowhere", if you know this to be the truth. To not do so is irresponsible. If you know someone is oblivous to oncoming traffic and is headed for a collision, you would yank them out of harms wayl
Agreed - however I have to say that the Catholic position of every other road leads to nowhere is not defensible. You therefore have to have more understanding of the specific path (other than “it’s wrong because it’s not the one I’m on”), before making any “dead end” claim.

Third: Stopping and yelling will not clog up the traffic because the road is wide and adjusts to the number of people on it. This point of the analogy is for me the one that is the most ill-thought.
That’s your belief. OK. Think about it though: Hordes of people not living their faith and not showing the fruits of spiritual wisdom, but shouting out loud how their perspective is the only valid one is kind of counter productive PR, don’t you think? I stand by that point of the analogy - it just doesn’t happen to fit into your particular belief system. How acceptable an analogy is also has to do with cultural context and upbringing.

Fourth: You cannot compare faith journeys with the current of a river. We cannot keep going on our merry way oblivious to everyone else. That may be what buddhism, hindiuism and other isms may teach but that is not what Christianity is about. We are to look out for each other and we are told to “spread the good news”. This has been the way of Christianity from time immemorial: to spread the good news even if it were to cost you your own life.
One problem with analogies is that there are so many ways to interpret - again depending on cultural background. Nothing in Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. requires “going on one’s merry way oblivious to everyone else”. That wasn’t my point. I was emphasizing “walking the talk” while interacting in the world as opposed to talking without living it.

When you see a really good movie or hear a really good song, you have the desire to share it with others. You recommend it. One’s faith should not be any different.
Agreed. I’ve just seen several good movies and heard hundreds of really good songs and do share and recommend the different faiths.

And those who have seen the light have the responsibility of leading others out of the darkness.
Agreed. I just consider “my religion is the only valid one” when said by any religious person of any faith to be in “the darkness”.

Hermann Cohen (a Jewish convert to Catholicism) wrote that converts must remember that their conversion is not for themselves alone. It is so that they may lead others to Christ.
Agreed. However, my perspective is that a person should be in the spiritual path most beneficial to their soul’s development. We just disagree that there is more than one valid spiritual path. Therefore I would more try to help someone choose wisely on their own (and take personal responsibility for it), rather than define something for them just because it happened to suit me.

Padre Pio, for example, obviously was correctly in the Catholic Church.
Others were correctly in other faiths.

 

[ILUVGSUS2]

I am currently going through the RCIA and since I started, I have been getting grief from all sides about why I should not continue. A few months ago, when I was making my final decision to enroll, I dropped some hints to my father (he lives in Maryland, I live in Virginia) of my intentions (without telling him outright). He started going off on this tirade about the Catholic church and I haven’t told him that I am now in RCIA (side note: any advice on this one?).

The same goes for all of my friends and co-workers. Not one person, outside of the church, has shown the least bit of support. They all have reasons for their dissent, but when I investigate their claims, I find out that they are all untrue. Last night, a former Catholic told me that the church doesn’t allow interracial relationships, yet there is a couple in my RCIA class that is interracial. Another told me that Catholics don’t read the Bible, yet you can download the whole Bible on the Vatican website.

All of this makes me want to convert that much more. One of the previous posters was right; you tell anyone that you’re a pagan or Buddhist or whatever and no one says anything. Tell them you’re a Catholic (or converting) and their insults don’t stop.

I remembered as a child the reaction of my family when my aunt converted to catholicism. They were so upset! I never really understood why they were so upset.

About 11 years ago, I was in a miserable state spiritually and I was about to move from Kentucky to Alabama where my family lives. I remember the night before moving back, I promised God I would get back in church and straighten out my life. When I moved back, I went to a few Baptist churches, but I never felt quite right. So I kind of ditched the idea for awhile, then I was sitting at work and overheard someone saying they were renewing their faith and without knowing what her faith was, I picked up the phone book and started calling local Catholic churches to see about going to RCIA classes. I picked one and went to class and mass a few times and when my mom asked where I went, I would just say a Baptist church because I really didn’t want the drama. Then I decided it was wrong for me to lie about it. So I finally told her where I was going and told her that it didn’t mean I would convert, I was just checking it out. She didn’t give me much drama about it at all. In fact, after I converted, there were a few months that I didn’t go to mass and she started getting onto me telling me that I needed to get back in church! And you know, she was right! My spiritual life hasn’t been the same since my conversion! I now work spreading the Gospel, I’m a member of the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life and I teach RCIA classes to 3 and 4 year olds! My life hasn’t been the same since my conversion and my relationship with God is at an all time high!

My advice to you is ask the Holy Spirit to open the heart of your father. He will help you when you are ready to tell him! In the meantime, I will be praying for you!

God bless you!

 

[benedictus2]

Hello, again!
Some other books that helped me have been:
Lead, Kindly Light by Thomas Howard,
Crossing the Tiber by Steven Kay,
Newman’s Journey by Meriol Trevor,
and No Price Too High by Deacon Jones.
If you have access to EWTN, I love The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi. We heard him speak at Northern Illinois University this past October at the Family Celebration, and he is wonderful.
Of course Scott Hahn is one of my favorites. I also read a book called The New Anti-Catholicism by Peter Jenkins, who is a professor of History at Pennsylvania State University. Any of Hilaire Belloc’s books are available online, and very good. (And we thought he just wrote limericks.)

I am a sucker for conversion stories I love Lead Kindly Light, Rome Sweet Home, Honey from the Rock and Surprised by Triuth.

I love Fr Neuhaus’s preface to Lead Kindly Light.

I was actually thinking of starting a thread on one’s favourite conversion story.

Incidentally, has anyone heard of protestant reverts?

 

[benedictus2]

1. Cuz it’s EASY. As a former Catholic basher, I can say with all conviction that Catholics are EASY targets. I can say, really, whatever degrading awful things I want to say to you (and I HAVE said them) and you can’t say boo back to me because then you aren’t being ‘christ-like’. See how easy? It’s like kicking a puppy.
2. It’s fun. I’ll be having a conversation with some ill-informed catholic and I can run circles around them philosophically. It’s not that I’m smarter than them, that’s not it at all, they just don’t know their faith. it’s like kicking a dumb puppy.
3. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. If everyone is bashing catholics, surely I can, too.
4. (And this is one that Catholics need to take a good listen to) They’re weak. They shouldn’t be, mind you. They’ve got truth on their side, and in the end, what else matters besides that, right, but Catholics have NO IDEA what they’ve got, and they WASTE it, absolutely waste it. They lack conviction. They lack a SPINE. They lack unity. A house divided and all…

With all that said, there is something oddly peaceful about some Catholic woman quietly praying her rosary while angry people shout obscenities at her (saw this at an abortion clinic). This storm of people circling around her, and she was in the quiet eye of it all. It’s an image I like very much.

What an absolutely marvelous post!

I am not one to take anything sitting down so I think I am exempt from the 4 points.

I don’t think it is being charitable to be nicey-nicey. I think it is rather fake and all it is is political correctness which I truly abhor.

 

[benedictus2]

anon5216:

I know Catholics are required to believe they’ve got the only valid and complete path to God, but that is a belief others don’t share. And from that other perspective, it’s a belief that simply can not be proven. (Since the biblical writings the Church bases its claims on can not be objectively proven).

Okay, here is one glaring error already, “you know that we are required to believe.” How do you know we are “required”? I believe, but I was not required to believe as if this is something that is forced on us against our will.

Also, the proof for Christianity being the way to salvation DOES NOT REST SOLELY ON THE BIBLE. To reason thus, is to beg the question and this is not the way the Church approaches the subject. The only time the Bible becomes a point of reference is when the other party is also Christian and would presumably believe in the Bible as well.

Agreed - however I have to say that the Catholic position of every other road leads to nowhere is not defensible. You therefore have to have more understanding of the specific path (other than “it’s wrong because it’s not the one I’m on”), before making any “dead end” claim.

Did I say that every other road leads to nowhere? See, here again you are stating assumptions not facts. The Catholic Church states that every religion has some truth in them, some more than others. She does say however that she has the fullness of truth. Does that mean that she is saying all those who belong to other religions are damned? No.

This is probably the biggest problem I encounter when arguing with non-Catholics. They are always claiming “Catholics believe/claim/teach such and such” before even verifying if that is truly the case and before even trying to find out when we do believe such and such, why we do so.

Here is an example of the latter: If someone were to accuse me of lying and say to me : “And you have the temerity to say that your mother is a beauty queen”. Well, what if I can actually prove that my mother IS a beauty queen? The person has assumed even before checking his facts that it was quite impossible for this to be when it could actually be the truth.

Learn what Catholics teach from faithful Catholics and not from those who would dearly love to see her demise, and argue from there.

That’s your belief. OK. Think about it though: Hordes of people not living their faith and not showing the fruits of spiritual wisdom, but shouting out loud how their perspective is the only valid one is kind of counter productive PR, don’t you think? I stand by that point of the analogy - it just doesn’t happen to fit into your particular belief system. How acceptable an analogy is also has to do with cultural context and upbringing.

You are missing my point here.My point here is that you are equating a physical road which can get clogged to a spiritual path which has no way of ever getting clogged with traffic. That is my problem with this point in your analogy.
Let us just say for argument’s sake that everyone does decide to convert to Catholicism. Will that make the path to salvation congested?

This is why I say this is the most ill-thought point in your analogy for the simple reason that it just does not apply.

One problem with analogies is that there are so many ways to interpret - again depending on cultural background. Nothing in Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. requires “going on one’s merry way oblivious to everyone else”. That wasn’t my point. I was emphasizing “walking the talk” while interacting in the world as opposed to talking without living it.

But you did not phrase the analogy that way. You phrased it in the way I understood it.

Agreed. I just consider “my religion is the only valid one” when said by any religious person of any faith to be in “the darkness”.

If I am convinced that I have the Truth, then it becomes my responsibility to live by that truth and to try to convince others to live by that truth. The only time I cannot live by the so called truth is, if it can be established to be contrary to natural law. Natural law is a good reference point for claims on truth.

Let us just say for argument’s sake that I believe in religion ABC. If I am 100% convinced that ABC is the true way to salvation, then whether that is the truth or not, as long as its teachings does not go against natural law, then it is incumbent upon me to make sure that I try to convince others as well to see that truth.

If they refuse to be convinced that is up to them, but the responsibility of evangelizing still rests with me.

Case in point: If I convinced that there is deadly gas in the building (regardless of its truth or error) I am still expected to try to stop people from entering it. If I don’t, I am being negligent.

[continued]

 

[benedictus2]

anon5216:

Agreed. However, my perspective is that a person should be in the spiritual path most beneficial to their soul’s development. We just disagree that there is more than one valid spiritual path. Therefore I would more try to help someone choose wisely on their own (and take personal responsibility for it), rather than define something for them just because it happened to suit me.

Here you are putting words in my mouth again. When did I say that mine is the only valid spiritual path. It is true we believe that we have the fullness of truth, but we do not claim that everyone else is completely in darkness. There are varying degrees of shadow.

And why should the person be the best judge of what is beneficial to his soul. A narcissist or psychopath or those who subscribe to “Sola Ego” could hardly be the best judge of what is good for their personal development.

I do not believe one should force one’s faith on others (for one thing I don’t think you can) but to say that it is wrong to try to get them to see your point of view is quite ridiculous. That happens all the time whether we are discussing the weather or the state of the economy.

You cannot say to someone here is a basket of faiths go take your pick if you know that some are better than others. Not all belief systems are equal.