Why should I remain Catholic vs. become a Buddhist or a Hindu?

[meltzerboy2]

What, no attempt at Judaism? What is this religion: chopped liver?

 

[openmind77]

I think there is nothing wrong with remaining a Catholic, but it may be a good idea to learn something about Hinduism and Buddhism. Here is a website that compares Hinduism with Christianity that may help you in your search:http://hinduism-christianity-islam.info/

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Suggestions:

1. Find a good Catholic priest who will help you. If, as you posted, the books/lectures of Fr. Richard Rohr disturbed you, then talk to the priest about it.
2. Pray. This is my story:

When I was in college, I had a hard time understanding the Council of Chalcedon (I posted the full story on another CAF thread). I kept racking my brain but nothing made sense to me.

I had taken my father’s prayerbook to college with me and this is what I read:

"If faith is to be preserved, it is necessary to avoid sin as far as you can, and to lead a life well pleasing to God, for experience teaches that the decline of faith proceeds from sin.

You must keep away from irreligious and impious associations because impious men will succeed in rendering you unstable in your faith, or in causing you to lose it altogether. Be on your guard against doubts of faith. If such doubts present themselves to your mind, do not dwell upon them, but say to God: “O my Dear God, I believe this, although I cannot understand it. I accept it because Thou hast revealed it and the Catholic Church is teaching it.”

Source: Schudlo, Rev. M., compiler. My Divine Friend. 1959, Yorkton, SK, Canada: Redeemer’s Voice, pp. 90-91.

I thought: What did I have to lose? and prayed that short act of faith. Immediately God enlightened me, and I understood where I went wrong.

I’m not saying the same thing will happen to you, but you never know - miracles happen!

 

[openmind77]

Another thing I may suggest, between Hinduism and Buddhism, it is better to choose Buddhism for a convert (I am a Hindu). The two religions are quite similar, but Hinduism is very tightly coupled with Indian culture, very difficult for non-Indians to adopt. Buddhism also has far less superstition. BTW most traditions in Buddhism are not atheistic as some would have you believe.

 

[PennyinCanada]

God is my Father.
What an incredible statement to make.
I want to enter into that relationship that Christ opened the door for me and you.

I want to enter into that relationship of coming before the Burning Bush and I want my face to be glowing when I come out.

I want to grab God’s hand every morning and ask him what we will be doing today. When I do a task that is mine to do, I say Jesus out of love for you! Please save souls! I am impacting the world. I am that little boy who brings his few loaves and fish and Christ feeds the 5 thousand. That’s my story. That could be your story. I’m in the game, I’m taking the hits.

Buddist or Hindu ideas don’t even come close to the Living God.

 

[GiftofMercy]

Judaism doesn’t exist anymore. Or if it does, where do you go to sacrifice lambs?

What is your reasoning for saying no lambs = no Judaism? On a new thread, as this is way off topic and disrespectful to the OP to discuss and hijack her topic

 

[Adairio]

Personally, I’m not the type who looks for spiritual or religious alternatives. But if you are, then who am I to stop you.

 

[Trifleton]

You should remain Catholic because it is the truth, and it is a wonderful truth. While Hinduism and Buddhism might have some grains of truth, they are still false religions at the end of the day. Especially Buddhism which tends to be atheistic.
Catholicism tells us that there really is a God who created the universe, and explains why it is so orderly to the point where intelligent life (like us) can exist. And Catholicism also tells us that God loves us (including you, as a person! God loves YOU!) so much that He chose to become Incarnate to share in our sufferings and pain, so we would not suffer alone. He is close to you, and will always want to be close to you. Pray to him. It is okay to face some dark times and some doubts from time to time; just know God is with you and Jesus loves you. Pray and get closer to Him.
I can tell you that neither Buddhism nor Hinduism will ever get you what you can get in Catholicism. The perfect embrace of Christ’s unconditional love.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Christianity brings you into a formal covenant relationship with God. As a Catholic you are offered the Precious Blood of that covenant to remind you.

 

[TheLittleLady]

What proof will you accept?

 

[De_Maria]

De_Maria:

Judaism doesn’t exist anymore. Or if it does, where do you go to sacrifice lambs?

What is your reasoning for saying no lambs = no Judaism?

God established Judaism with a hierarchical and sacrificial system. Animal sacrifices occurred every day. Where is the hierarchy?

There are many versions of Judaism. Who is right?

Where are the animal sacrifices which were ordained by God being performed?

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away
sins.

Therefore, I conclude that the Judaism which God established does not exist anymore.

 

[GiftofMercy]

Again, off topic. Start a new thread @De_Maria

 

[De_Maria]

quite a few places in the Old Testament Hebrew Bible you will read how God requires love instead of sacrifice, and indeed this is reiterated in the New Testament.

Are you denying that the Judaism which God established included a sacrificial system?

I am not understanding your illusion to hierachy, perhaps you could expand on what you mean.

Did God allow any person who claimed to be His prophet to lead Israel? Or did He appoint Moses and Aaron as the rulers of Israel?

There are many versions of Judaism. Who is right?
There is one Judaism, it is found in the Hebrew Bible.

On the contrary, today there are many “denominations” of Judaism. There is not a person like Moses or Aaron who is over all the Jews and enforces one Jewish religion. Basically, the Rabbis teach whatever they want based upon their own interpretations of Scripture.

there is no Temple, there can be no animal sacrifice as there is no third Temple . A mosque sits on the Temple Mount.

God desires love not sacrifice

God prefers love over sacrifice. But God established a sacrificial system for the Jews to practice. That system is no longer practiced.

And God established a hierarchy. That no longer exists in modern Judaism. In fact, there is not one Judaic system, there are many competing systems, none of which have God’s authority.

You have concluded in error.

Nope. It is obvious that Judaism no longer exists. Jews practice as they see fit. They are back to the times before the judges.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judaism still exists and always will. The Israelites are God’s first chosen people. We are the adopted sons and daughters of Abraham.

You cannot argue that Judaism does not exist because blood sacrifices and the third temple are not in existence at this point in history.

I didn’t say that Jews didn’t exist. I said that Judaism doesn’t exist.

 

[GiftofMercy]

Are you denying that the Judaism …

De Maria, study Biblical Hebrew and the Old Testament and the growing relationship between God and His people,

This again, is not the topic of the thread. Start a new thread to expound your exegesis on the non existence of Judaism today

 

[De_Maria]

De Maria, study Biblical Hebrew and the Old Testament …

I have. But you are dodging my question. So, I’ll answer it. God did establish a sacrificial system. That system is no longer in place, thus, the Judaism that God established, no longer exists.

Could you be a little clearer here, Where are you beginning to refer to a prophet and a heirachy and why?

Because there is no central Jewish authority as there was when God established Judaism. There is no one who sits and represents God to the people of Israel.

Exodus 18:13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

Today, there are many contradicting voices claiming to represent God before the Jews. But none of them have God’s authority to do so.

There are many versions of Christianity,

There is only one True one. Catholicism.

there is only one New Testament.

Written by the Catholic Church with the Teachings of Jesus Christ as the foundation.

There are many versions of the interpretation of Judaism, there is only one Old Testament.

Nope. Judaism can’t decide which Old Testament books to include in their version of the Old Testament. In fact, they don’t call it the Old Testament. That is the Catholic name for it.

The day of the Rabbi did not emerge until after the destruction of the Temple.
Again, learn your history.

I know the history. You just confirmed what I have been saying. The Temple is gone. Nowhere to sacrifice animals.

cont’d

 

[De_Maria]

cont’d

Moses was given the law, there are over 600 commandments, not 10. And through the course of the Old Testament history, God created several covenants with His People.

God did not create many competing denominations of Judaism.

you don’t quite get it.

You don’t get it.

There was only one place that animal sacrifice was done, or meant to be done, the Temple in Jerusalem.

That is what God ordained.

And only by Priests.

That is also what God ordained.

It could not be done in a synagogue or by a lay person. these days there can be no animal sacrifice because there is no Temple.

Therefore, the Judaism which God ordained, no longer exists.

The big question remains, if ever a third Temple is built, will animal sacrifice be reinstated?

Judaism is gone. It is withered away. God has now established the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is the New Temple and only one sacrifice remains. The Sacrifice of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ offered upon the altar, daily.

God said repeatedly to the Jewish people and to Christians in the New Testament that he prefers LOVE. That is God’s final word.

That is besides the point. By your own words, you have proven that Judaism no longer exists.

Again with your hierarchy, you are going to actually have to break this down, start at the beginning, where is its start and end, who is in it.

There are competing Christian Systems, does that mean there is no Catholic Church? that argument is in error.

There is only one system which Jesus Christ established. And that is the Catholic Church.

Again learn your Biblical Hebrew, Old Testament history. That biblical quote in itself would be an entire new thread.

I know the history and it proves that Judaism no longer exists, as you have shown.

you are in error. this is off topic, start a new thread , we can discuss it there.

If you want to discuss it in a new thread, do so. I have already proven you wrong, here. I see no need to keep repeating the same things, over and over, just because you don’t want to believe the truth.

 

[GiftofMercy]

I have. But you are dodging my question. So, I’ll answer it

That is insulting. You cannot argue that because there is no longer a sacrificial system and again I reiterate, simply because there is NO TEMPLE in which to offer the sacrifices, that therefore Judaism does not exist.

This again, is off topic. The op has not asked for discussion on an opinion on whether Judaism exists. Start a new thread

 

[GiftofMercy]

God did not create many competing denominations of Judaism.

Your arguments are off topic. The Op is not asking for opinion on whether Judaism is a defunct religion.

start a new thread.

 

[De_Maria]

That is insulting.

If you weren’t dodging the question, why didn’t you answer it?

You cannot argue that because there is no longer a sacrificial system and again I reiterate, simply because there is NO TEMPLE in which to offer the sacrifices, that therefore Judaism does not exist.

I can and I did. I repeat. God established Judaism with a sacrificial system. Since there is no longer a sacrificial system because there is no longer a Temple in which to conduct the sacrifices, the Judaism that God established, no longer exists.

That is a huge error. Study …

All this has already responded to. Repeating your errors won’t make them true.

Have you heard of the Leningrad Codex?

What does that have to do with anything?

then speak and type from the view point of history not from any other viewpoint.

I have and history proves my point.

Now, let’s look at one of the Jewish Talmuds. Do you think they are telling the truth?

AUTHOR: RABBI MARK COOPER
AUGUST 7, 2019
Do We Deserve To Have the Keys?
A Talmudic story: When the Roman army attacked Israel and the Temple was nearly destroyed on the 9th of Av, a young priest climbed up to the top of the roof of the Temple and threw the keys to the main gate up in the air, saying, “Master of the Universe! Since we have not been true custodians, we return the keys to You!” At that moment, a heavenly hand came down and took the keys” (Babylonian Talmud Ta’anit 29a).

The story fits with the general rabbinic notion that the Temple was destroyed, and our people exiled because we had ceased to be “good custodians.”

I’ve heard this from several sources. Here it is from a Jewish source. See also Dr. Brant Pitre’s version.

If God took back the keys to the Temple, thus rescinding the Priesthood and putting an end to the sacrifices, what makes you think that Judaism still exists?

 

[GiftofMercy]

f you weren’t dodging the question, why didn’t you answer it?

This is a deflection. Please stick to the topic.

And make a new thread. Your argument is off topic.