Why with 35,000 other options would someone wish to be a Catholic?

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PJM said:
Reply:

I was more curious about “R & R’s” always being a “good thing.”
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Because human life is complex and people are always trying to find the easy way out. If human beings were perfect they’d only have to have two rules: love God and love others as Christ loved us. But, we’re far from perfect. Why do parents have rules and regs? To protect their children. The Church is our spiritual Mother who has to have them, too.
I know lots of Catholics who left the church because of “R & R’s.”
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Is that good?
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PJM
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I’ve never met a former Catholic who left over “all the rules and regs”. Rather there are thousands who left because over one or two rules or regs they simply didn’t want to keep. They left out of disobedience, not because they needed to be free of doing what they knew they ought to be doing (or not doing). Frankly I see denominations that let people do any old thing as pandering to our weaknesses instead of guiding us into the truth that leads us to perfect union with God.

Also, not all the rules and regs apply to everyone in every circumstance, but those that apply to us we are obliged to keep. Just as we are obliged to obey God in all things, so we are obliged to obey the Church Christ founded. These self-same former Catholics often go to other denominations that also expect their people to keep their rules and regs. There is nothing odd or wrong with that–it’s only right and necessary that there be boundaries on behavior in any group of people, religious or otherwise.
 
JonNC said:
Wouldn’t you also say that it is specious (and I thank you for your honesty in that remark ,btw) to list churches by country?
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I guess that would depend on whether or not the person meant globally or just nationally.

Whatever you do…and I’m not sure of your position…don’t fall into the trap of arguing “Hey, there’s NOT 35,000 denominations…there’s only 5,000!!!” Neither is good.
 
cathopologist said:
Anyone can claim to believe in Jesus. What makes a Christian is one who holds the Nicene Creed true and believes in the Holy Eucharist. The two are just the basic Christian beliefs. If a church serves you crackers and Ribena once a year for Communion, would you consider them Christians? If they say they do not believe in the Trinity, would you still consider them Christians?

Most of all, is Christ divided?
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Reply: Thanks for posting sooooo many questions.

I suspect most of the 35,000 denominations believe in holy communion. It’s a sign or a symbol of Jesus right?

Sorry, but I don’t know what “Ribena” is. Is it Jewish?

Can you only have communion once per year?

You ask is “Christ divided?” Well, “Tri” means three, so I suppose that means that he is?

Doesn’t one who believes in “Jesus” qualify to be a Chrsitian?

Thanks, PJM
 
MarcoPolo said:
I guess that would depend on whether or not the person meant globally or just nationally.

Whatever you do…and I’m not sure of your position…don’t fall into the trap of arguing “Hey, there’s NOT 35,000 denominations…there’s only 5,000!!!” Neither is good.
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Agreed. So, the question is, as always, how do we, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, reduce it to one?

Jon
 
Della said:
Because human life is complex and people are always trying to find the easy way out. If human beings were perfect they’d only have to have two rules: love God and love others as Christ loved us. But, we’re far from perfect. Why do parents have rules and regs? To protect their children. The Church is our spiritual Mother who has to have them, too.

I’ve never met a former Catholic who left over “all the rules and regs”. Rather there are thousands who left because over one or two rules or regs they simply didn’t want to keep. They left out of disobedience, not because they needed to be free of doing what they knew they ought to be doing (or not doing). Frankly I see denominations that let people do any old thing as pandering to our weaknesses instead of guiding us into the truth that leads us to perfect union with God.

Reply: Great post! But!

I’m not so sure one can put God and any church on the same level?

Also. a friend gave me a “Catholic magazine”, on the 1st. page it said that “10% of ALL American’s are now fallen away catholics.” So what is the problem, if it not the “R n’R’s?”

Thanks, PJM
Also, not all the rules and regs apply to everyone in every circumstance, but those that apply to us we are obliged to keep. Just as we are obliged to obey God in all things, so we are obliged to obey the Church Christ founded. These self-same former Catholics often go to other denominations that also expect their people to keep their rules and regs. There is nothing odd or wrong with that–it’s only right and necessary that there be boundaries on behavior in any group of people, religious or otherwise.
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MarcoPolo said:
Here’s a list of non-duplicate Protestant denominations (thanks to forum member PhilVaz) of which there are 5000+.

The 33,000 number is slightly specious, and comes from including independents, and even breaks the Catholic Church into rites (which is incorrect to do so because they have the same hierarchy and teaching).

Either way you want to slice it, there are thousands of Protestant denominations.
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Keep in mind that in the same work there are 242 denominations Roman Catholics.
 
justasking4 said:
Keep in mind that in the same work there are 242 denominations Roman Catholics.
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There are a number of RITES of the Catholic Church and there are any number of churches which self reference as Catholic but most certainly are not.There certainly are not" 242 denominations Roman Catholics",whatever that means.The Roman Catholic Church is the latin rite of Catholicism.Yes the Church that Christ founded was and is the Catholic Church.😉
 
Soutane said:
There are a number of RITES of the Catholic Church and there are any number of churches which self reference as Catholic but most certainly are not.There certainly are not" 242 denominations Roman Catholics",whatever that means.The Roman Catholic Church is the latin rite of Catholicism.Yes the Church that Christ founded was and is the Catholic Church.😉
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This quote is from the same author as the quote for the 30,000 and must be accepted as true. Do you know how the author of that article is defining his terms?

Secondly, was the church founded Roman Catholic? I know many Roman Catholics who make the claim it was Roman Catholic. Do you agree?
 
justasking4 said:
Was the church that Christ founded Roman Catholic?
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Really GOOD question: Answer: Almost AND soon.

FYI… Google search shows: “DIVISIONS WITHIN PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY:Today, there are many ways of classifying the over 1000 Christian faith … and religions - AD 30 to 2200,” there are 34000 separate Christian"

PJM
 
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PJM:
I’m not so sure one can put God and any church on the same level
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There is scriptural support for the idea that the Church is Christ on earth. Firstly, Jesus told his Apostles that “he who hears you hears me.” He appointed Peter as the leader of his Church to be, as Jesus was: “The servant of the servants of God.” Jesus told Saul (St. Paul) on the road to Damascus “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me” when Saul was persecuting the Church. Paul wrote that the Church is the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.” Why? Because in matters of faith and morals it is God’s voice on earth to all mankind.
Also. a friend gave me a “Catholic magazine”, on the 1st. page it said that “10% of ALL American’s are now fallen away catholics.” So what is the problem, if it not the “R n’R’s?”
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Thanks, PJM
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The problem is that most do not want to be obedient to the Laws of God regarding reproductive issues. It is interesting to note that all the major denominations held that contraception is an intrinsic evil until 1930 when the Anglican held their Lambeth Council and okayed it for married couples. That’s 1,930 years of agreement on this vital issue alone. What made it wrong for 1,930 years and suddenly all right in 1930? It wasn’t because God had changed his mind–it was because the other communities did not have the promise of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. They had been riding on the coattails of the Catholic Church, but decided to jump off.

It can be hard going against the strong currents of a society that has decided to throw off the moral strictures of centuries, but just as the early Church had to stand against the debauchery and idolatry of the Roman Empire, so we have to stand against the debauchery and idolatry of Western Civilization that has fallen away from what founded it and made it great–the Catholic Church. Jesus wants people who will follow all he has commanded of us, not just what we want to pick and choose for ourselves.
 
Della said:
There is scriptural support for the idea that the Church is Christ on earth. Firstly, Jesus told his Apostles that “he who hears you hears me.” He appointed Peter as the leader of his Church to be, as Jesus was: “The servant of the servants of God.” Jesus told Saul (St. Paul) on the road to Damascus “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me” when Saul was persecuting the Church. Paul wrote that the Church is the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.” Why? Because in matters of faith and morals it is God’s voice on earth to all mankind.

The problem is that most do not want to be obedient to the Laws of God regarding reproductive issues. It is interesting to note that all the major denominations held that contraception is an intrinsic evil until 1930 when the Anglican held their Lambeth Council and okayed it for married couples. That’s 1,930 years of agreement on this vital issue alone. What made it wrong for 1,930 years and suddenly all right in 1930? It wasn’t because God had changed his mind–it was because the other communities did not have the promise of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. They had been riding on the coattails of the Catholic Church, but decided to jump off.

It can be hard going against the strong currents of a society that has decided to throw off the moral strictures of centuries, but just as the early Church had to stand against the debauchery and idolatry of the Roman Empire, so we have to stand against the debauchery and idolatry of Western Civilization that has fallen away from what founded it and made it great–the Catholic Church. Jesus wants people who will follow all he has commanded of us, not just what we want to pick and choose for ourselves.
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Reply: Awesome Post!😃 Thanks!

as an FYI, the 2002 catholic Alamanac claims 33,000. I’ve seen reports published this year (please don’t ask me to prove it, as I throw much more away than I keep) that calims 40,000. But “Nuff said on that topic.”

Some really good reply’s but no one has answered my orginal question. "With ??? choices why would someone choose to be a Catholic? With 10% of Americans fallen away, it must be a tough task?

PJM
 
People would choose to become Catholic for a variety of reasons. The “easiest” is they realize if you use sola scriptura and have thousands of interpretations of the scriptura 🙂 you eventually would like to know which one is right. The only one who was passed down from Jesus, to the apostles, to their disciples etc. is the Catholic church with a historical succession to prove it.

The other one is for some blessed reason you “get” that the Eucharist is the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ that was given to us a gift beyond measure. Once you witness that for yourself, there’s no turning back.
 
Soutane said:
Come home.Please.
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I sincerely appreciate the kind invitation, but how would my “coming home” reduce things to one? In fact, if those like me
who have a strong desire for unity were to “come home”, that would probably greatly reduce the chances of unity.

Jon
 
PJM said:
Really GOOD question: Answer: Almost AND soon.
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Since justasking4 asked a question of my post that was answered in that same post…I’ll just respond to you instead. 😃 As to how to identify the one Church, a person must look at the nature of the Church in Scripture and reflected in the early Church. Right there you know there has to be a structure of bishops, the Eucharist, infant baptism, Tradition, etc… So you’re already down to Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, and maybe a couple others. From there, I recommend a deeper study into patristics and the nature of the Roman bishop which today is the Pope. 👍
 
justasking4 said:
This quote is from the same author as the quote for the 30,000 and must be accepted as true. Do you know how the author of that article is defining his terms?
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I don’t accept your convoluted logic. I don’t have to accept anything as “true” without sufficient “proof”.
Secondly, was the church founded Roman Catholic? I know many Roman Catholics who make the claim it was Roman Catholic. Do you agree?
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Considering actual history, and rejecting the protestant drill… yes.
 
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