Posted on 02/20/2015 3:22:59 PM PST by NKP_Vet
1.“Catholics worship statues.” This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.
2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.” This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.
3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.” I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays: -Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” -Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.” If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.
5. “Catholics made up all their rules.” Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.
6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.” This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please. -James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.
7. “Catholicism is a cult.” Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.
8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.” The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.
9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.” This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.
10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.” We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.
Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.
I know what you mean. The Protestants who know me like me mainly because I let them know that I respect the fact that they love Jesus.
My enemies are the people who hate God .
Muzzies?
If they hate God.
But then I am commanded to pray for them so I do.
The know Christ because of the Bible. The Bible is a Catholic document.
Amen bro’
....” Inside the mausoleum part, where bodies are stacked indoors, people leave cards and letters to the dead as if during the night, they all crawl out of their crypts and read the stuff, probably to each other”...
Well I haven’t heard that one before..but I’m no longer surprised by any behavior they do now. Most of it is to make them feel better or somehow more religious in one form or another. It must work for them or they wouldn’t keep doing it, but then most is habitual from years of indoctrination.
;)
She keeps her son from striking us???!!!
I know...astonishing isn’t it...what bunk!
You ever driven around the Country and noticed how many Catholic churches are named after Mary??? You ever noticed how many bathtubs are planted in people's front yards with an idol of Mary standing in them??? She's a goddess to far more than the few on FR...
Most every Catholic home (according to them) has an idol of Mary inside that they bow and pray these prayers to...Some have special rooms or areas dedicated to the worship of Mary right in their homes...
The Jews are God's chosen people...The Catholics??? Nope...
God is not done with his chosen people...They are in a holding pattern while God attends to the Gentiles...You want to mimic and compare yourself to the Jews with their traditions and O.T. rituals when God specifically tells you otherwise??? There's more to the story...I'd recommend you finish reading the 'book'...
I think you are the one who specifically needs to finish reading the 'book', my friend. You seem to have missed the entire section labeled "New Testament". One wonders why you're a Christian since you seem to think God prefers the group that rejected his son and yelled "crucify him!"
That's like saying Catholic don't own cars...They own 'conveyances'...
We know what worship is...We know what it looks like and we know what it sounds like...
Catholics invented the word 'venerate' to get around saying worship...
Why do you have to be so demeaning and insulting? Does it make you feel better to say things like that?
It is no less insulting for you to worship a wafer and tell us and God you are worshiping (a) Christ and claim that is how Christians must worship God...
So Smug...
So Arrogant...
So Typical...
Do you pray TO your relatives in heaven??? Do you kneel, bow to and pray to a picture of your great, great Grandmother and ask her to give you grace or provide for your salvation??? Are you another Catholic who claims that Catholics do not pray TO Mary give you or provide you with anything???
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