Welcome to the threads Conlan. You're right. If you believe Jesus was God in the flesh and rose again for the remission of sins you are christian. But once you get to know the catholics in here you'll have step in line and look at us lowly non-catholics as being invincibly ignorant. One more thing, you'll find most non-catholics in here well aware of catholic teachings which, speaking for myself at least, is why I choose not to be.
I would rather my detractors think of me as hopelessly unteachable, rather than the present situation, where we Catholics are all assumed to be "semiprofesional" apologists, spin doctors, in lockstep with our masters, deliberate con artists and decivers.
But that's just me.
SD
Thanks, Steven. I only wish that more of our "debates" could begin (and end) with that kind of statement. I too often get the impression that some here consider RCs to be some kind of pagan cult.
Many Catholics (pre-Vatican II of course), felt similarly towards the Protestants, so I guess it should be no suprise when they return the favor acouple centuries later.
I don't think that most RCs think of you as ignorant, just "seperated brothers". I prefer to think of the whole mess as being more of a particularly messy divorce... where both sides make up ridiculous charges to make sure that the children hate the other parent (and to justify their own sinfullness causing the divorce).
I have yet to find one noncatholic that knows anything especially that of catholic teachings other than bullying. When you and others can refute the teachings other than resorting to continue personal attacks of catholics, I might begin to think you may know something.