That’s okay...my background is Baptist too although I do not currently attend anywhere.
You are correct RCC is Roman Catholicism. It is not the true gospel but a man-made false religion. You’d have to to a bit more in-depth look into it to see it is not biblical.
Of course, the Catholics do not like it when I say that and post articles to that effect. So I have been taking some heat and giving some back.
This statement right here: “My boss of 20 years is Catholic, and he believes in Jesus, and as far as I can tell is going to the same place as I am....?” goes back to my argument for being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. My post on George Muller is a wonderful example of a born again, Spirit-filled believer relying solely on God to provide for all his needs and those of the orphans in his care. Very powerful!
I think most people have “religion” but not “relationship” and that can occur in any denomination, but the RCC is an especially corrupted version of the true gospel. Considered a cult like Mormanism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.
Read the story of George and see what you think. This is what God wants with us....a very personal relationship with Him...intimate fellowship with Him...whereby we rely on Him for everything. I have had many similar times of provision in my life exactly like Mr. Muller had.
God bless,
jodyel
LOL!!! I read that thinking you were getting flack for *being* RCC. No idea you were *not* RCC.
I've never been RCC. My father was, but he never liked the bit about kissing the statues of Mary and the apostles. I don't know whether that is a common practice in other Catholic churches, but I was once in that church he went to, and they did indeed have statues of saints lined in the windows on both sides of the church, and my dad always said he was freaked out by having to kiss their feet.
Hence, I was raised other-than-Catholic. But, like I said, my boss believes in Jesus, and expects to enter heaven based on that alone, so at least the statue-kissing thing isn't taught as a prerequisite to salvation.
But for me, the big thing is the confessional. I could never be RCC since the whole idea of confessing to a priest is superfluous -- Jesus made it so that we could enter the very throne room of God Himself, through Jesus. So why bother confessing to a priest, or praying to Mary or a saint? Just seems more logical and economical to go straight to the source.