Why is it that some non-Catholics are more Catholic than many "Catholics"

[Peter_J]

Who believes that Ellen White is the Antichrist?

 

[roveau]

I would have to disagree with you there. If we’re talking about abortion as such, then it is forbidden by the commandment “Thou shalt not kill”.

It’s a slightly different matter if we’re talking about a fetus being removed from the womb, and then dying as a result of being unable to survive outside the womb. I wouldn’t call that abortion, strictly speaking.

That would just be intent to murder. Sort of like placing a human under water and discovering he can’t adapt to that type of support system even though fish can.

Rove

 

[tmac1238]

Who believes that Ellen White is the Antichrist?

Who is asking a divergent question after not noticing bold death threats against all non-Catholics and a poster who placed felonious child pornography photos on this thread because he still cannot cope with the truth?

Nice diversion! You guys have issues you always had for 2,000 years!

 

[Peter_J]

Who is asking a divergent question after not noticing bold death threats against all non-Catholics and a poster who placed felonious child pornography photos on this thread because he still cannot cope with the truth?

I guess you’re talking about me. As far as my not noticing something on this thread … well, I seldom read every single post in any one thread, so it’s certainly possible that I missed something. What post # was it?

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

We were united before, but at that time there was no freedom of religion, there was no openness: many things were done in secret. Just like many posts here, everyone had to believe what Catholic officials said. No debate was tolerated. That same intolerance is witnessed in most of the posts on this system.

Jesus tolerated debate because He always won the debates as just one reason. Others later in the person of the Catholic Church couldn’t tolerate debates because they always lost. This was shown especially when Martin Luther’s grievances actually forced open debate. He won the debates as shown by the effect that they had.

Now even government is working after the same way the Inquisitions worked. Everything must be secret now. They’re saying we must arrest people without charge, for to charge them would bring the issue of why they are accused out into the open. They say they must have complete control over people they apprehend. They say they must not have any ability to defend themselves. This is perfection doctrine showing that the people who can make such unconscionable laws cannot make a mistake. It was carried out by American leaders who were far from perfect. When these criminal edicts were pointed out, supporters of those edicts came and said, “How dare you damage the reputations of our government leaders!” Who can damage the reputations of our government leaders while languishing in detention camps and being tortured?

Is there any other reason why all the churches are not united today? They have better sense. I mean it was in about 1959 when Vatican II was called where the Catholic Church cosmetically converted and said she had CHANGED. We are now called separated brethren. After 2,000 years Rome finally realized that freedom was something good. As she now claims to have accepted this, demonstrating that her intelligence comes about with the most imperfect reflexes, her supporters speak as if no one can disagree–not even the ones who had much better reflexes long ago.

THE CHURCH IS ONE does not mean everyone has to give up their beliefs, convert and become Catholic and form a global church. That’s why there were the followers of Christ and the followers of John the Baptist in Christ’s day. They were all followers of Christ, and even though they agreed on every single doctrine, none of them had the unification disease and went to the other to demand that they link up or else their religion and property is invalid.

What sort of ‘debate’ are you talking about? Debating the truth of The Eternal Word?

And are you a Biblical scholar or an historian that you know so much about so-called ‘intolerance?’ Do you suggest that obedience to the Word of God is in itself, intolerant?

Remind me again who is it that said “I will not serve.”

 

[Craisin]

I think it’s also important to note that other religions also have these “nominal” members. For example, at my university, you might meet a few very orthodox Jews who are strictly conservation on social and moral issues. However, you’re more likely to meet reformed Jews who are more Jewish by name and culture, and often don’t God as an important aspect of their lives, nor do they tend to look at social and moral issues more conservatively…I think this is also the case with Muslims; many women may still wear the head covering but hold more liberal views…it’s very interesting. I think it is not just the case with Christians, but all religions.

During my conversation back to the Church, I was always encouraged to look at the Church itself and the sacraments, and the grace that these had to offern and NOT at the people in the individual churches. This was very helpful, because often when I looked at the people, I saw a lot of uncommitment, lots of lukewarmness…Then I began examining myself, and saw similiar tendencies in myself…so praise the Lord for confession and for His mercy upon us, too!

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I think Catholic education, CCD or catechism, that is, is one of the reasons Catholicism became so watered-down and bland for decades, especially after Vatican II. As a young boy, I LOATHED AND DREADED CCD every time my mom dropped me off. I would’ve preferred an ice pick in my ear to going and sitting for two hours to that. It was boring, bland, uninspired, and mechanical. I went to my first communion having no idea that it was the Body of Christ! I didn’t find this out until I was around 18 or so and it was a gestalt and a half!

There isn’t that fire in the belly often times in the catechism teachers and many of the pastors and bishops aren’t fired-up either. In our parish it takes two years for a first communion and then three years to complete the confirmation. Things seem more like hurdles than a genuine learning opportunity and chance to get on fire for God.

I also think that the Catholic Church doesn’t encourage evangelism. I hate to say this but all I’ve ever seen in my parish and surrounding ones is a “you come to us” approach. All my Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and other non-denominational friends in high school and college had all gone on missions by the time college came around. Many of them have gone overseas or here at home on missions trying to bring the Word of God to people. Catholics are finally evangelizing with EWTN and CAF and things like that but for years there was this lack of enthusiasm, lousy education, and I think Catholicism on Catholic Answers Forums is hugely different than what exists at the parish level.

As a teacher I try my darndest to make the day fun, funny, interesting, engaging, technology-based, and I try to be colorful. Education is the key, IMO, and the Church has done exceptionally lousy at it for decades. It creates an apathy and boredom and Mass becomes more cultural and ethnic to some folks than it does religious.

 

[JonNC]

=gurneyhalleck1;5431689]
I also think that the Catholic Church doesn’t encourage evangelism. I hate to say this but all I’ve ever seen in my parish and surrounding ones is a “you come to us” approach. All my Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and other non-denominational friends in high school and college had all gone on missions by the time college came around. Many of them have gone overseas or here at home on missions trying to bring the Word of God to people. Catholics are finally evangelizing with EWTN and CAF and things like that but for years there was this lack of enthusiasm, lousy education, and I think Catholicism on Catholic Answers Forums is hugely different than what exists at the parish level.

Remember, you’ve got over a billion members, Lutherans about 70 million. You could send out 10 times the missionaries as we do, and it would still be less noticable to someone in a Catholic parish.

As a teacher I try my darndest to make the day fun, funny, interesting, engaging, technology-based, and I try to be colorful.

We have to be a combination of video game, action hero and, roll-em-in-the-aisles comedian, don’t we?

Education is the key, IMO, and the Church has done exceptionally lousy at it for decades. It creates an apathy and boredom and Mass becomes more cultural and ethnic to some folks than it does religious.

Ain’t much better in the Lutheran Church.:nope:

Jon

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Remember, you’ve got over a billion members, Lutherans about 70 million. You could send out 10 times the missionaries as we do, and it would still be less noticable to someone in a Catholic parish.

We have to be a combination of video game, action hero and, roll-em-in-the-aisles comedian, don’t we?

Ain’t much better in the Lutheran Church.:nope:

Jon

I hear you, Jon. When I left the Catholic Church back around 1994 and went to the Anglican church, I expected fully to see a parish of people extremely knowledgable in scripture and their faith. Growing up I just always perceived Protestants to be biblical masterminds and so well-educated in verses and theology, etc. I was overwhelmed to see how practically nobody knew their Bible in any depth at the Anglican church and they really didn’t know their church history.

I think religious education in all denominations has fallen off the charts in a big way but I do know as a kid I was so turned-off and nauseated at catechism class that I would’ve gladly watched Lawrence Welk for two hours instead of be there! And now as I’m a teacher of 12 years, I look at how they’re doing catechism at my church and I think the system stinks. They’re so based on ‘memorization’ over susbstance. They make the kids memorize 75 prayers to get their first communion. What the heck? They must be making them memorize some medievel devotions to get to 75! lol

I hear that the LCMS is becoming more liberal these days, too. Issues like women’s ordination come creeping in to Anglicanism and Lutheranism because most parishoners look at the issue through social justice secular eyes and don’t know the Bible or history well.

It’s too bad that the Catholic Church can’t get better education going for the kids who are not enrolled in Catholic schools, the regular public ed. kids, who are going through catechism.

But I can say that my parish is more devout than it ever was. On any given confession day you’ll have to FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL to get into that confessional. There are about 15 to 20 people in each line and there are about four lines at any time. That place is packed for confession every Wed and Fri. And there are many people going to adoration and there is vacation bible school where there used to be done (why they’re charging $25 per child I’ll never understand when the protestants all over town are free?), and there are more Catholic groups meeting and bible studies.

The progress is coming along but it’s too bad it took this long…