Neither one of you took the time to actually read the thread. Why? Too long? Too intricate?
For those Catholics, like myself, who have been in this forum for many years, it is very frustrating to post a thread, ping a Catholic list for discussion, and have non-Catholics post comments or statements that challenge our beliefs. Worse still are those who don't take the time to read through the thread but feel compelled to make a statement or comment, "for what it's worth".
I posted this thread in a sincere attempt to quantify those differences that separate our mutual understandings. I welcome input from Evangelicals, Fundamentalists and other non-Catholic christians, as a means of discussion, not critique. If this topic is of interest to you, then please post a comment, accordingly. We Catholics are all tired of Catholic bashing threads. These are un-christian and serve no purpose whatsoever.
Well, I’ll tell ya, if you’re going to start off by insinuating first that I didn’t read the thread, then talk down to me by asking if it was too long or too intricate you get nowhere with me. Perhaps a little less condescension might help you.
How about an apology for the mystery fish every Friday for school lunch ?
I think the bottom line for any discussion is how one views the Bible. All I know is that when I was drowning in sin and misery, God made His presence real to me, and for the first time in my life, as I read a chapter in my Bible, God spoke to me through His Word. For the first time in my life, I knew God had changed something inside of me. That was nearly 40 years ago. Through all those years, the truth that God speaks through His Word, has proved itself over and over through the darkest days of life, and the best.
So, when the author of this article refers to God’s Word as a “paper pope,” what is there to discuss?
Just as Jesus called Lazarus, who had been in the tomb three days, out of the grave, He can change the hearts of sinful people, and speak to them from His Word. Miracle of Miracles!
I scanned the article and hit all the highlights. They are basically points that I have seen made many times. I generally agree with the points made in the article, except for the overall idea that theologically we will be able to maintain common ground with fundamentalists.
Fundamentalists will never see eye-to-eye with Catholics. It is unfortunate, but that is the way I see it. Many if not most fundamentalists don't consider Catholics to be Christians. Catholics don't understand the level of suspicion and even hatred that many protestants have for the church. It is something that they are taught in Sunday school/bible study. Everyone knows about the Catholic church. We have a long history with billions of adherents. Catholics on-the-other-hand are too busy with their own religion to spend time discussing the multitude of protestant religions. There are over 20,000 various protestant denominations in the US. Whenever a protestant doesn't like his/her denomination, it is very easy to move on to another. We Catholics love the church and could walk away even if we get stuck with a crummy pastor.
I never knew there was so much anger and hatred towards the Catholic church until I went away to school and then suddenly I was on the receiving end of it. I was expected to defend the church at any given moment. We could be out drinking, having a good time and as soon as religion was the topic, suddenly guys started throwing Jack Chick quotes at me left and right. I was surprised by it all. I think I handled it OK, but I wasn't prepared and the only people I had any affect on were those in my immediate social circle.
The best that we can hope for is to provide support for each other on the many social issues where we share common ground.
(Yes, I read Peter Kreeft’s critique of the superiority of Catholicism vs 'Fundamentalists' - twice.)
Hence, your 'sincere attempt to quantify those differences' dooms any desire for 'discussion' without 'critique.'
It appears you want a 'Catholic only' discussion on differences - versus a more constructive discussion of Biblical truths that bind and unify Christians.
This forum is primarily political in its endeavor – a conservative forum that seeks to route Godless top-down authoritarianism in government. That same authoritarianism is anathema to many where religion is concerned – particularly to Christians, many of whom are in fact Catholic – particularly to many FReepers that see these kinds of threads as doing damage to the goals of our host – and the goal of unified opposition to the secular socialist elimination of our freedom and national security.
Have a nice day... but suck it up... don't come on this forum bashing Fundamentalists, then complain about Catholic bashing while piously saying you welcome 'discussion.'
As a Protestant, a member of a fundamentalist evangelical church for many years, now studying to become a Catholic, I really appreciate this thread. It will be a tremendous help to me in explaining matters to some of my Protestant friends and relatives.
The reason being that I had already found enough error to make reading the rest of it a waste of time.
You site fundamentalists beliefs, state that Catholics of course agree with them, then comes the big BUT. You then go on to say the almost opposite of what fundamentalists believe. Which is it? I say it is just a tactic of yours, done on purpose.
Either the bible is the Word of God or it isn't. The book itself says it is. Either you believe that or you are not a Christian. It is not debatable. The bible can't be just GENERALLY the Word of God. If you can pick and choose what in it you want to believe, then it is WORTHLESS.
To suggest that the Holy Spirit can't interpret the bible is blasphemy. Maybe you should rethink that one.