funny
I was confirmed in the RC at 16, so my knowledge is from that church. I don't know thing one about the EO.
The Vatican changed the 10 commandments. They erased the 2nd (idolatry) and split up the 10th to make up the difference. They changed the 4th (Sabbath) to "Lord's Day". This is in the catechism.
The RC church governance is no where near what Paul dictates. Jesus was really critical of the Pharisee system of having a special class of priests, alas that is how the RC is run. Pastors, Deacons, and Elders are supposed to be normal people whose occupation/hobby is running a church. I can't find justification for such a top - down centralized management of the Church in scripture.
The RC breaks the 1st commandment by praying to dead people and even "deifying" them.
The RC breaks the 2nd by erecting more idols than any religion in history.
The RC breaks the 4th and the 1st by worshiping on Sunday.
The RC breaks the 7th because Jesus analogizes the Church as His Bride. By incorporating so many pagan customs (like Sunday keeping) the Church is cheating on the Lord.
The RC teaches that Peter founded the Church at Rome, but it was indeed started by Paul. The RC teaches that Peter was the first Pope, but Peter gets corrected by Paul and Jesus several times in the scriptures.
The RC interprets Jam 5:16 Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. to mean confess your sins to me while I pay people off to keep my sins hidden.
The RC teaches that the soul is immortal, hell already exists, and people can go straight to heaven, hell, or limbo when they die. You can pray for people to help them out in the after life. Scriptures show only 3 people who have maded it to Heaven (Enoch, Elija, and Moses) and Jesus referred to death as Joh 11:11 He said these things; and after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps. But I go so that I may awaken him out of sleep. Joh 11:12 Then His disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well. Joh 11:13 But Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Joh 11:14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
The RC prays to Mary and asks her to intercede for sinners when the scriptures say that our intercessor is Christ and Christ alone.
The RC teaches that the Bible is fallible and that the final word is the Pope, but Jesus said Mat 15:9 But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
I will try to address your concerns one by one....
1. RC & EO DO NOT "WORSHIP" DEAD PEOPLE....
Do you ask your Christian Brothers & Sisters to pray for you? In our belief, You have two groups: The Church Militant, (those who are on this earth) and the Church Triumphant, (Those who are in heaven) They are not disconnected from us, even in Heaven. They worship with us in heaven, whenever the Divine Liturgy (or Mass, RC)is celebrated. We ask them to pray for us at the throne...That is all. No Difference.
2.The accusation of "idolatry" is a most foul heresy that was done away with in the 800's called iconoclasts!
The Holy Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon declared that one could depict the saints, Christ, his Holy Mother, etc. ans that they could be reverenced, BUT NOT WORSHIPPED.
Another example of Protestant overkill.
3. What makes you think the 7th day is SATURDAY? God doesn't go by our calendar. ( I can back that up scripturally if you like.) It doesn't say saturday anywhere!
4. Peter was the first bishop of Rome, but he was Bishop of Antioch first. I agree with you on that one to a point.
5. As for the Theotokos, or Holy Mother of God, I would be careful of what you say on that one. There is a basic premise here older than scripture. What son would deny anything that his mother asks? Mary sits at his side in Heaven. She is worthy of honor and praise due to the fact she gave human form to the Godhead.
Your other points about Limbo, etc. are correct. Except for those who are exceptional to be in Heaven, all go to a "place of repose" until the judgement. Not purgatory, not hell. Many of the other points are sticklers between RC's and Orthodox to this day. The all stem from Papal abuses, and schism. We weren't involved in that.
I highly suspect you are a 7th Day Adventist, and I am highly familar with YOUR church history, and it is more dubious than RC's will ever be!
Good points. I'm always amazed that the Roman Church used this Apostle as their standard bearer. But..... with their mis-interpretation of Matthew 16:18 I guess I see the logic.
Luke 22:24, [Also a dispute arose among them as to which was considered to be the greatest.] This happens some time after Matthew 16:18.....I guess the others had not received the word yet about Peter's primacy.
John 21:15-19, Jesus tells Peter three times to feed his sheep. Who are these sheep? Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus tells his disciples "do not go among the Gentiles but go rather to the Lost Sheep of Israel". Does not sound like he is telling them to go to Rome, does it? In fact there is no passage in scripture that tells of Peter being in or about Rome. In the book of Acts he is primarily hanging Jerusalem and vicinity. In 1 Peter 5:13 he alludes to the fact that he is in Babylon. The Romans try to tell you this is actually Rome but I try to take scripture at face value. If Peter wanted to have us believe he was in Rome he would have said Rome.
The Apostle Paul clarifies in Galatians 2:7 by stipulating that Peter's assignment was the circumcised and his, Pauls.....was the uncircumcised (Rome). In the same chapter Peter shows his lack of primacy by being afraid of those of the circumcision group, verse 12. If he had indeed been given the management of the early church do you think he would display this kind of fear?
Acts 15 is my favorite (Peter has no Primacy) chapter. At the council Peter does speak about the gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit but notice who is in charge. James, the brother of Jesus (The Apostle James was killed earlier in chapter 12). James says in verse 19...."It is my judgment, therefore".... This is the guy in charge....not Peter, and James is not even an Apostle. Remember, the lot fell to Matthias, Acts 1:26......not James.
In Romans 1:13 Paul says he wants to have a harvest among you as he had with other Gentiles (read uncircumcised). In Romans 15:20 Paul proves that Peter was no where around Rome because he says he would not preach upon another's foundation. Peter was never in Rome....it is false tradition.