Incorrect! A true Christian believes wholly what God has revealed in his word. You claim Catholics believe "directly" and "non-Catholics" believe "selectively" through a filter of our pastor. I sure would like to know how you are defining "directly" here because you have ALWAYS used the filter of your magesterium to know what you are to believe which sure sounds no different than the dreaded "pastor" you deem inferior to your priests. In fact, most Catholics were not even given a chance to read what the Bible actually said until 500 or so years ago. They were entirely dependent on their "pastors/priest" to know anything at all concerning the faith and that is exactly how they would have remained if Rome had her choice, I'm sure.
And regarding the fasting parameters prior to communion, we were taught, no it was pounded into our heads, that to disobey this mandate/commandment was a mortal sin worthy of hell that must be confessed and properly penanced. So don't tell me it was a simple, little, inconsequential church custom or personal discipline. The specific requirements of the fast have definitely changed over time. Prior to 1964, the Eucharistic fast began at midnight. Pope Paul VI, on Nov. 21, 1964, reduced the fast to a period of one hour. According to my Mom, a devout Roman Catholic, the fast is optional...ooops, I better let her know she's committing a mortal sin without even knowing it! There is even disagreement whether it is one hour before Mass starts or before you actually receive communion. Yeah...it sure sounds like that is a clear teaching all right. A lesson I remember from a nun at school was the adage, "Clean off your own doorstep before you try to clean off someone else's.". That was good advice then and still is.
Yeppers.
You got that one right.
Catholicism is the one that demands it’s adherents believe what is spoonfed to them by the magesterium.
They’re not allowed to think for themselves under the threat of eternal fire and brimstone. And then they brag how Catholic doctrine is unified and unchanging (when it really isn’t).
It’s not hard to figure out why when defying church teaching risks your eternal destiny.
Talk about beliefs being filtered through the clergy.....
Ask how long the "host" is Jesus" that is always good for a discussion.. when does He leave?
First, Protestants don't even believe that. When the Word says "you are not saved by faith alone" (James 2, I slightly paraphrase) or "This is my body" (Luke 22), you don't believe that.
Second, you don't believe that directly. You believe that because the Church went through the effort of putting the Canonical Scripture together for you. So you believe what the Church tells you, because the Church has told you that. But the distinction "I believe the scripture but I don't believe the rest of the teaching of the Church is foolishness. For one thing, it is nowhere to be found in scripture. Further, it makes no sense: you either believe the witness or you don't, regardless of the method of delivery of the testimony.
most Catholics were not even given a chance to read what the Bible actually said until 500 or so years ago
Anyone could read if he could and wanted to. Most simply could not read, Catholics and Protestants alike. The reason Lutehr was able to pull a fast one over the German peasants was that they were all illiterate.
disobey this mandate/commandment was a mortal sin
It was a sin. It still is a sin. You have to obey what the Church mandates. That part did not change. The mandate itself changed, because the Church saw it fit to change it. The Church has that authority, you know (Mt 18:18).