Why Is Catholicism So Unattractive to Evangelicals?

[Tomyris]

What do you feel those things are?

Hey, I was just pointing out the presupposition in the thread title that may be unfair to Catholics.

I read an article a while back about Why Evangelicals Go To Rome, or some such, that listed a bunch of reasons that I can’t remember. It was basically debunking those reasons. Here are a few of what I can remember:

1. Sure authority
2. Size
3. Intellectual depth
4. social works
5. spiritual depth
6. lack of some of the crass things and excesses Evangelicals can wander into
7. Catholic culture
8. absolution from sin

 

[outremer]

I don’t know why it would be. From my personal experience of modern Roman Catholic worship, the celebration is usually accompanied by contemporary praise and worship hymns that seem in tune with modern evangelicalism. Many modern Catholic churches are not Gothic, Romanesque, or overly Catholic that they would be threatening to evangelical senses.

I think the RCC has gone out of its way to make church more than comfortable for evangelicals.

 

[JustaServant]

Hey, I was just pointing out the presupposition in the thread title that may be unfair to Catholics.

I read an article a while back about Why Evangelicals Go To Rome, or some such, that listed a bunch of reasons that I can’t remember. It was basically debunking those reasons. Here are a few of what I can remember:

1. Sure authority
2. Size
3. Intellectual depth
4. social works
5. spiritual depth
6. lack of some of the crass things and excesses Evangelicals can wander into
7. Catholic culture
8. absolution from sin

Well actually this is closer to where I had hoped this thread would go. Not the “people ignored me in church”, “it had better music”, and “there was no fresh coffee”.

Now, why do you feel these are not valid reasons?

 

[TC3033]

Well actually this is closer to where I had hoped this thread would go. Not the “people ignored me in church”, “it had better music”, and “there was no fresh coffee”.

Now, why do you feel these are not valid reasons?

You understand these would be reasons the poster gave of how the Catholic church would be attractive, right?

Oh…and nice passive aggressive shots.

 

[TC3033]

Be patient, we’re working on those things.

How so, SQ.

(I do understand that the poster did say there ARE reasons the Catholic church is attractive).

 

[TC3033]

DP

 

[EIF5A]

Forget one moment about the rituals, symbols, prayers, buildings, denominations.

Which Church(es) teach(es) doctrinal and moral truths, and by what authority?

As rational beings, we are oriented towards and attracted by truth or what we believe to be truth.

 

[FollowChrist34]

Hey, I was just pointing out the presupposition in the thread title that may be unfair to Catholics.

I read an article a while back about Why Evangelicals Go To Rome, or some such, that listed a bunch of reasons that I can’t remember. It was basically debunking those reasons. Here are a few of what I can remember:

1. Sure authority
2. Size
3. Intellectual depth
4. social works
5. spiritual depth
6. lack of some of the crass things and excesses Evangelicals can wander into
7. Catholic culture
8. absolution from sin

Excellent. I totally agree. The original Church - with many bumps in the road of course but still the same one. I look at Orthodox and Protestants as groups we lost and need to reclaim somehow, official or unofficially I don’t really care. It would be like a mother hen with chicks wandering around down by the freeway. Of course many of our own chicks are actually down there out on the freeway…

I have NEVER understood the animosity. I think the Catholic Church (collectively and individually) should have the humility and grace to be very apologetic for her past errors and forgiving of the errors of others, in many (most?) cases completely understandable. When I don’t see that flowing naturally from Catholics I cringe. I also dislike animosity coming the other way of course too.

 

[TC3033]

Excellent. I totally agree. The original Church - with many bumps in the road of course but still the same one. I look at Orthodox and Protestants as groups we lost and need to reclaim somehow, official or unofficially I don’t really care. It would be like a mother hen with chicks wandering around down by the freeway. Of course many of our own chicks are actually down there out on the freeway…

I have NEVER understood the animosity. I think the Catholic Church (collectively and individually) should have the humility and grace to be very apologetic for her past errors and forgiving of the errors of others, in many (most?) cases completely understandable. When I don’t see that flowing naturally from Catholics I cringe. I also dislike animosity coming the other way of course too.

I agree. Antagonizing and animosity going both ways drives me crazy. Especially as one who thinks we’re all probably on the same side.

 

[EIF5A]

Excellent. I totally agree. The original Church - with many bumps in the road of course but still the same one. I look at Orthodox and Protestants as groups we lost and need to reclaim somehow, official or unofficially I don’t really care. It would be like a mother hen with chicks wandering around down by the freeway. Of course many of our own chicks are actually down there out on the freeway…

I have NEVER understood the animosity. I think the Catholic Church (collectively and individually) should have the humility and grace to be very apologetic for her past errors and forgiving of the errors of others, in many (most?) cases completely understandable. When I don’t see that flowing naturally from Catholics I cringe. I also dislike animosity coming the other way of course too.

I think some people are understandably confused as to why the Catholic Church can claim (moral and doctrinal) truth but still commit things that seem contrary to that.

(And that extends to Christianity in general: if truth is immutable, then how was slavery allowed in the past but now it’s not? what about women, are they subject to their husbands?)

 

[FollowChrist34]

I think some people are understandably confused as to why the Catholic Church can claim (moral and doctrinal) truth but still commit things that seem contrary to that.

(And that extends to Christianity in general: if truth is immutable, then how was slavery allowed in the past but now it’s not? what about women, are they subject to their husbands?)

Agreed - saints and sinners. People don’t seem to understand that the world is the devil’s - man will always be subject to temptation to sin in one form or another - slavery is socially acceptable in one era; homosexuality in another. The Church is run by humans is it not? There is a lot that is contradictory in the Church and in Christianity, no doubt about it. People want consistency, purity, everything explained - but that will never happen in this life, anywhere. That is in the next one. I do think Catholics get into trouble with this - trying to map everything out too much in human terms. A playbook for existence.

One thing I love about the Orthodox - they are very smart to leave a lot as “mystery.” How “knowable” is truth in this life? I think you work all of your life to find truth and the good - in yourself and your Church - you get further with prayer and faith than reason. Or better yet, a combination. And, yes, determining what is “right,” existentially anyway, is very hard. (Can a poor man steal bread, etc., etc. etc.)

My point here is we will never nail down truth perfectly in the visible Church on earth. It’s a journey, a transformation - we are given guidelines (doctrine) and the presence of Christ.

 

[Michael68]

Excellent. I totally agree. The original Church - with many bumps in the road of course but still the same one. I look at Orthodox and Protestants as groups we lost and need to reclaim somehow, official or unofficially I don’t really care. It would be like a mother hen with chicks wandering around down by the freeway. Of course many of our own chicks are actually down there out on the freeway…

I have NEVER understood the animosity. I think the Catholic Church (collectively and individually) should have the humility and grace to be very apologetic for her past errors and forgiving of the errors of others, in many (most?) cases completely understandable. When I don’t see that flowing naturally from Catholics I cringe. I also dislike animosity coming the other way of course too.

Could you please explain what you think should be flowing naturally from Catholics? Im kina confused on that.

 

[clem456]

I think some people are understandably confused as to why the Catholic Church can claim (moral and doctrinal) truth but still commit things that seem contrary to that.

(And that extends to Christianity in general: if truth is immutable, then how was slavery allowed in the past but now it’s not? what about women, are they subject to their husbands?)

The sinfulness of human beings is frequently an excuse. I understand sin can cause scandal and people leave because of it, but everyone is a sinner and every church has it’s problems. And we should have the humility to admit our sins and apologize for them. But sin is not justification to leave the Church.

I have a good friend who is a protestant pastor, and he has been through 3 different congregations now. He left the last church because two elders had a heated argument in the back room and my friend was shocked and scandalized.

Now he is a pastor and he has to take the heat from those who expect perfection of him. He has a little different take on all this now.

Human perfection exists NOWHERE.

 

[FollowChrist34]

Could you please explain what you think should be flowing naturally from Catholics? Im kina confused on that.

Humility - especially about how our Church has clashed with groups and broken with them - Orthodox, Protestants. Both sides are to blame - don’t just assume the “outsiders” are heretics. (not saying you do this - speaking generally to my point) It wasn’t that simple.

 

[Michael68]

Humility - especially about how our Church has clashed with groups and broken with them - Orthodox, Protestants. Both sides are to blame - don’t just assume the “outsiders” are heretics. (not saying you do this - speaking generally to my point) It wasn’t that simple.

Gotcha!!! I agree

 

[Peter_J]

I also dislike animosity coming the other way of course too.

There’s animosity in both directions? :hypno:

 

[Peter_J]

How so, SQ.

(I do understand that the poster did say there ARE reasons the Catholic church is attractive).

I assume the end of that sentence was meant to be “attractive to Evangelicals”?

But anyhow, sorry I was just making a little joke (probably not a good one): namely that things that make Catholicism attractive to Evangelicals must be bad. (Edit: Although I said that as a joke, I’m sure we could very easily – the internet being what it is – find some who really believe it. )

 

[JonNC]

I assume the end of that sentence was meant to be “attractive to Evangelicals”?

But anyhow, sorry I was just making a little joke (probably not a good one): namely that things that make Catholicism attractive to Evangelicals must be bad. (Edit: Although I said that as a joke, I’m sure we could very easily – the internet being what it is – find some who really believe it. )

Okay. Now I’m confused. :whacky:

Jon

 

[theropod]

I assume the end of that sentence was meant to be “attractive to Evangelicals”?

But anyhow, sorry I was just making a little joke (probably not a good one): namely that things that make Catholicism attractive to Evangelicals must be bad. (Edit: Although I said that as a joke, I’m sure we could very easily – the internet being what it is – find some who really believe it. )

I got the joke.

 

[FollowChrist34]

There’s animosity in both directions? :hypno:

Is this a serious inquiry?

You don’t believe that there are Catholics who display animosity toward Protestants and Protestants who display animosity towards Catholics?

Or, on the other hand, are you implying here that I have a merely stated something that is exceedingly obvious? (this is my preferred reading)