Replies

"They accuse you of being Anti-Catholic when in fact it seems to me that these threads simply point to the reasons why the reformation came about."

Excuse me, P-Marlowe, are you saying that HarleyD is not anti-Catholic?

"but I have not seen any legitmate criticism of whether or not the Reformers had legitimate reasons to criticize and ultimately separate from the Roman Church."

Then you haven't been reading the posts. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize the Church, whether one is speaking of it in the first century, the 15th century, or today. The Apostle Judas, chosen by Christ Himself for a role in the leadership, embezzled money from the Church. 15 centuries later, we still see the same issues. Corruption was rampant, for example, John Calvin's father was convicted of embezzling money from the Church, and was subsequently excommunicated, prior to his erstwhile son's set off to found a religion of his own.

So tell me, P-Marlowe, what, exactly, would you consider a legitimate reason for leaving the Church and founding several 1000 new religions which contradict each other on fundamental doctrines? According to what Scripture, P-Marlowe, should you and I set out today to found a new religion?

"I see you are catching a lot of heat from your detractors, but I don't see much light from them."

Allow me to offer a little light then, P-Marlowe.

God desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God freely created man to share in His own Blessed Life. God loves all men, and draws close to man at all times. God takes no pleasure from the destruction of the wicked man, but rather He rejoices when man turns to Him and is saved.

Excuse me, P-Marlowe, are you saying that HarleyD is not anti-Catholic?

Yes indeed, I am saying that, as I have known Harley for several years and I have yet to see him utter one ill word against Catholics. He does not agree with Catholic Doctrine, nor does he bow to Rome, but that does not make him "Anti-Catholic" any more than I am or any other Protestant is. I would suggest that there are a lot more Anti-Protestants that occupy these threads than Anti-Catholics, although I have seen some comments which could fall into the category of Anti-Catholic, I have never seen one from HarleyD.

Allow me to offer a little light then, P-Marlowe. God desires all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God freely created man to share in His own Blessed Life. God loves all men, and draws close to man at all times. God takes no pleasure from the destruction of the wicked man, but rather He rejoices when man turns to Him and is saved.

I agree with much of that. Does that make me a Roman Catholic? Harley and I have our disagreements in regard to soteriology, but that does not make Harley an Anti-Marlowe nor am I Anti-Harley.

Unfortunately it is posts like yours on this thread that contribute to the rancor between Catholics and Protestants on these threads. You can't seem to simply disagree, you have to question the motives of those who disagree with you. Well in this case I can attest to the fact that Harley has no ill will towards Catholics and I am certain that it is his desire that Catholics come to the same knowledge of the Truth that results in saving faith that all members of the Body of Christ have or will come to.

Now if you can just begin to understand that criticism of Catholic History and doctrine is not "anti-Catholicism" then perhaps we can all have a cordial discussion here.