Posted on 02/22/2010 10:21:17 AM PST by Between the Lines
Question: "Catholic vs. Protestant - why is there so much animosity?"
Answer: This is a simple question with a complicated answer, because there are varying degrees of, and reasons for, animosity between any two religious groups. This particular battle is rooted in history. Degrees of reaction have ranged from friendly disagreement (as reflected in the numerous ecumenical dialogues produced between the two groups), to outright persecution and murder of Protestants at the hands of Rome. Reformation teachings that identify the Pope as the Beast of Revelation and / or Roman Catholicism as Mystery Babylon are still common among Protestants. Clearly, anyone with this view is not going to “warm up” to Rome any time soon.
For the most part, today at least, most of the animosity comes from basic human nature when dealing with fundamental disagreement over eternal truths. Passions are sure to ignite in the more weighty matters of life, and one's faith is (or at least should be) at the top of the heap. Many Protestants think Roman Catholics teach a works-gospel that cannot save, while Roman Catholics think Protestants teach easy-believism that requires nothing more than an emotional outburst brought on by manipulative preaching. Protestants blame Catholics for worshipping Mary and Catholics think Protestants are apparently too dull to understand the distinctions Rome has made in this regard. These caricatures are often difficult to overcome.
Behind the particular disagreements over the role of faith and works, the sacraments, the canon of Scripture, the role of the priesthood, prayers to saints, and all the issues surrounding Mary and the Pope, etc., lies the biggest rift between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism: the issue of authority. How one answers the authority question will generally solve all the others. When it comes down to deciding a theological issue about defined Catholic dogma, there isn’t really much to discuss on the Catholic's side because once Rome speaks, it is settled. This is a problem when trying to debate a Roman Catholic - reason and Scripture are not the Catholic’s final authority, they can always retreat into the “safe zone” of Roman Catholic authority.
Thus, many of the arguments between a Protestant and a Catholic will revolve around one's “private interpretation” of Scripture as against the "official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church." Catholics claim to successfully avoid the legitimate problems of private interpretation by their reliance on their tradition. But this merely pushes the question back a step. The truth is that both Roman Catholics and Protestants must, in the end, rely upon their reasoning abilities (to choose their authority) and their interpretive skills (to understand what that authority teaches) in order to determine what they will believe. Protestants are simply more willing to admit that this is the case.
Both sides can also be fiercely loyal to their family's faith or the church they grew up in without much thought to doctrinal arguments. Obviously there are a lot of possible reasons, and while we should not divide over secondary issues, both sides agree that we must divide when it comes to primary issues. Beyond that, we can agree to disagree and worship where we find ourselves most in agreement. When it comes to Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, the differences are just too great to ignore. However, that does not give license for caricatures or ignorant judgments - both sides need to be honest in their assessments and try not go beyond what God has revealed.
It has nothing to do with being Christian, and everything to do with power and control.
One side lost control in the Great Schism (you decide which), then Rome lost control over the Protestants.
Then the Protestants lost control over the Anabaptists. Any wonder why there is, in the Geneva Bible, a prayer against both the Papists and the Anabaptists?
Absolutely. That's why I quit reading on the Religion Forum - too few people who bothered to act like Christians on either side.
Now that's an enemy worth fighting.
The single funniest thing I've read all week -- and I agree wholeheartedly!
Yes, those other protestant religions did come from the Catholic Church.
So why do people bash Catholics?
LOL!
Not that I am aware of
That is really lousy theology on the Catholic mom’s part. I HATE when the Gospel is used to control behavior and as a veil for anger and anxiety and all that.
Good for you, alpha!
We can agree to disagree about stuff, but we'd better learn to work together as allies if our grandchildren are going to have a country and a culture in which to raise our great-grandchildren.
Ben Franklin was a strange sort of Christian, but he said something that is apropos here: "We must all hang together, or we will surely all hang separately."
Amen to your Posts, my Brother, which are Excellent! Thank you for the Pings!
Lack of historical perspective and an overwhelming need to be right and a unplumbable depth of superiority.
Mostly, a lack of historical depth of the times forward from Christ.
Think of it like this; If the Methodists are working their way to heaven, what then would you to them or about them?
Waiting, waiting, waiting............
So the real answer to an oft told joke, about the Methodists, is they are not, in fact, working their way back to heaven.
They have a perspective of God’s word being written and that is his complete message but, they have an “outline” thinking in regards to how one ought to arrange their day in service to the Lord.
They absolutely do not believe one can work their way to heaaven anymore than a Baptist might think, as well.
Talk is cheap.
What do you think about the pope calling all Protestant churches "defective," and recently issuing his "global authority" encyclical which calls for a single controlling agency "with teeth" which would have the power of enforcement over the United States' economy, defense, immigration policies, taxation, and social programs?
Maybe it takes spending some time on the religion forum debating Roman Catholics concerning the "Co-redeemer" status of Mary; the priest's persona as "another Christ" in both their "personal life as well as professional life;" transubstantiation; praying to saints and statues for mediation; purgatory; justification through works; and a whole peck of other rituals and beliefs to help us to realize there are very grave differences between the two religions.
The article references James McCarthy's book, " The Gospel According to Rome: Comparing Catholic Tradition and The Word of God" which is excellent.
Another good one is Boettner's "Roman Catholicism" which is found free online in full HERE
An enjoyable thread until you arrived. Sigh...
THE TRUTH requires fitting appreciation of THE TRUTH of your excellent points.
Sweeping THE TRUTH under the rug is NOT any route to Godly reconciliation or understand . . . at all.
Thanks.
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ni•hil ob•stat (n h l b stät , -st t , n -)
n.
1. Roman Catholic Church An attestation by a church censor that a book contains nothing damaging to faith or morals.
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2. Official approval, especially of an artistic work.
WITH
RICHARD CARDINAL CUSHING’S IMPRIMATUR
EXCELLENT POINTS.
YUP.
GREAT POINTS.
EXCELLENT POINTS.
EXCELLENT POINTS.
LOL.
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