Catholics?

[dazner]

I decided to post something here too...

I was Catholic before I saw the real light..

What does everyone think of Catholics?

 

[c_squared]

what do you have against catholics i am catholic i have always been a catholic. i never say anything bad about other peoples choice of religion. what religion are you?

 

[dazner]

I'm not saying anything bad about catholics at all in no way.

What i'm saying is I was raised catholic by my mom but my dads always been lutheran.

I know it's all just Christianity but I was asking opinions on this particular religion because I was thinking which I should raise my son in.

And if so I wanted to Baptise him asap.

 

[c_squared]

i was not angry about what you said . i have no problems with you at all i was just asking a question. i hope you are not upset about it i am not here to fight with anyone.

 

[Breath]

I was Catholic before I saw the real light..

This sentence right here shows a bit of bad feelings toward Catholicism.
If you were raised with Catholic and Lutheran influence, then you know that both faiths are similar.
I am Catholic and I will remain Catholic. I don't experience any "light" though.

 

[BadBoy@TheWheel]

Lutheran is "Catholic light"

Less calories.

Essentially I have no issue with practicing Catholics, I have really epic issues with the foundation of Catholocism.

But again, nothing at all against the followers.

 

[Minor Axis]

Catholicism is a religion like many others. I don't feel the followers of the Catholic Religion are any more misguided than any other religion and the moral code is acceptable. It's just a shame the moral code is not followed by church leadership.

I have a substantial gripe with the leadership of the Catholic Church because 1) I believe any church who becomes wealthy by teaching the Lord's word is by definition corrupt and 2) the Priest scandal and how the church bureaucracy handled it, shuttling priests from victimized communities to waiting-to-be-victimized communities is worthy of burning in hell. It was a typical large bureaucratic response- protect the organization and to hell with the victims. Consequently I would avoid the American Catholic Church as long as it is allied with Rome, but that is just an opinion. I'd stick with Lutheran.

 

[Mystic]

this is one area that I'll leave for Valley to hopefully come along and say what she does about the catholic faith as I agree with her on this one.:nod::thumbup

 

[Breath]

I have a substantial gripe with the leadership of the Catholic Church...

I can certainly understand this sentiment. I would like to remind you that while you would expect leaders to follow the "rules" of faith and society, the leaders are, in-fact, human and are therefore subject to temptation and sin, just like any other member of any other group in the world.
Given that fact, my comment is that if I tossed aside every facet of society that had misguided, corrupt or less-than-perfect leaders or members, I'd have to live in a cave in a remote area to escape.
The bottom line is I am not Catholic because of who the leaders are. I am Catholic because I believe the principles are correct. Catholicism has its roots in the early years of Jesus, when the first pope was commissioned. I believe I can't go wrong with 2000+ years of history.

 

[Minor Axis]

I can certainly understand this sentiment. I would like to remind you that while you would expect leaders to follow the "rules" of faith and society, the leaders are, in-fact, human and are therefore subject to temptation and sin, just like any other member of any other group in the world.
Given that fact, my comment is that if I tossed aside every facet of society that had misguided, corrupt or less-than-perfect leaders or members, I'd have to live in a cave in a remote area to escape.
The bottom line is I am not Catholic because of who the leaders are. I am Catholic because I believe the principles are correct. Catholicism has its roots in the early years of Jesus, when the first pope was commissioned. I believe I can't go wrong with 2000+ years of history.

I understand the influence of being raised in a religion and the impact it has on you. You probably feel like you are surrounded by good people in your church and I'm sure you are. Ultimately the most important part of the church is in the community.

So I'm not trying to pick a fight but it might seem so when I say the Catholic Church has 2000+ years of dubious history when it comes to controlling people, maneuvering for financial gain, and maintaining political & economic power over the people they can influence. You are right, they are just people, like everyone else, but historically the Catholic Church is a particularly poor example of what church and religion should be all about. Are there other bad examples? I imagine so, but I'm no religious historical expert and my answer is framed based on what I've been exposed to in these United States.

However, despite this feeling I'd pick Catholic over fundamentalist Middle-Eastern Muslim in a heart beat. FYI, I was raised Presbyterian, but at some point started leaning Agnostic in my beliefs. My wife is a non-practicing Catholic.

 

[Breath]

@ Minor Axis
There's a saying that goes, "Don't do what I do, do what I say". (Or something like that.)
I'd like to re-emphasize that the beliefs and fundamentals and doctrine are the most important part of the Church (and not the community, as you have stated). Try to see past the 2000+ years of "dubious history" that you are aware of. Look for the 2000+ years of positive aspects which far outweigh the bad. As long as humanity is imperfect, any group can be made to look bad. A few bad apples, ya know.

 

[c_squared]

@ Minor Axis
There's a saying that goes, "Don't do what I do, do what I say". (Or something like that.)
I'd like to re-emphasize that the beliefs and fundamentals and doctrine are the most important part of the Church (and not the community, as you have stated). Try to see past the 2000+ years of "dubious history" that you are aware of. Look for the 2000+ years of positive aspects which far outweigh the bad. As long as humanity is imperfect, any group can be made to look bad. A few bad apples, ya know.

i agree with you breath

 

[Zorak]

"I'm not a facist, I'm a priest. Facists dress in black and go around telling people what to do. Where as priests..... Uhhh.... More drink!"

 

[Minor Axis]

@ Minor Axis
There's a saying that goes, "Don't do what I do, do what I say". (Or something like that.)
I'd like to re-emphasize that the beliefs and fundamentals and doctrine are the most important part of the Church (and not the community, as you have stated).

Ironically it's the church leadership, those who set the rules, that has let Catholics down, not the local community. The church faithful will have to decide how much was too much. I would not be surprised if the Catholic Church in the U.S. eventually does not break ties with Rome. A relationship with God is not dependent on having an organization, that can't follow it's own rules telling you it (the organization) is necessary to mediate with God.

I wish you the best.

 

[skyblue]

catholics are people so i have no probs......ok ,over here they support glasgow celtic but i wont hold that against them

 

[Minor Axis]

"I'm not a facist, I'm a priest. Facists dress in black and go around telling people what to do. Where as priests..... Uhhh.... More drink!"

Whose guitar is that in your sig, yours? What kind is it?

 

[Breath]

I I would not be surprised if the Catholic Church in the U.S. eventually does not break ties with Rome.

This will never happen. The traditions concerning the ties to Rome are unbreakable.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I decided to post something here too...

I was Catholic before I saw the real light..

What does everyone think of Catholics?

Catholics refer to people; people are people.

Now if you'd ask what I think of the Catholic religion, I'd say been there, done that, read my Bible and left the Catholic Church. Why? They taught things that were not in the Bible, there was too much emphasis on the hierarchy/the Pope, too much emphasis on work/deeds earning salvation vs. salvation being a gift from God that we can not earn lest we boast, having a priest as a mediator ... Christ is my mediator, not a man, etc. etc., too much to list that just doesn't fly with me ... The religion just starts setting up man rules and regs outside the parameters that God/Christ/Spirit gave us and looking exactly like what Jesus came to abolish ... it is just too much regulated religion for me.

Other people thrive in it and that is good. There are many parts of the body and all are useful.

 

[Breath]

Catholics refer to people; people are people.

Now if you'd ask what I think of the Catholic religion, I'd say been there, done that, read my Bible and left the Catholic Church. Why? They taught things that were not in the Bible, there was too much emphasis on the hierarchy/the Pope, too much emphasis on work/deeds earning salvation vs. salvation being a gift from God that we can not earn lest we boast, having a priest as a mediator ... Christ is my mediator, not a man, etc. etc., too much to list that just doesn't fly with me ... The religion just starts setting up man rules and regs outside the parameters that God/Christ/Spirit gave us and looking exactly like what Jesus came to abolish ... it is just too much regulated religion for me.

Other people thrive in it and that is good. There are many parts of the body and all are useful.

This comes from Jesus himself choosing Peter as a leader, a first Pope,
...from Jesus himself choosing Apostles, mere mortal men to help him teach,
...from Jesus himself telling men to forgive sins and they will be forgiven in Heaven,
...from Jesus himself telling men to "Do this in Memory of me".
Jesus Himself established the criteria of priests and the Pope to lead his Church. Catholicism doesn't teach that you can reach God through men. Catholics don't pray to priests to reach God. But we come together as a community because "when two or more are gathered in His name", and priests have been Jesus' chosen way to help guide spirituality.

 

[GraceAbounds]

As I see it, when Christ died, the curtain was torn. We need not man as a mediator. I agree with what you posted, but again like I said ... it was too ritualistic and legalistic for ME. It was also too guilt ridden for me as well. Guilt wasn't going to change me, it only served to condemn me. God's love changes me. That was my own personal experience as I stated. Again, there are many parts of the body and all are useful.

If you enjoy worshiping in a Catholic church that is great ... it just isn't for me. That is not attack on any of my brothers or sisters in Christ. I don't think you or I are any less saved because you go to a Catholic church and I do not ... which is what really matters, so there should be no divide of love.