Replies

Hi, I’m new here and I’m just wondering where a Catholic gets their information on things like the immaculate conception, icons and relics, indulgences, veneration of Mary, her remaining a virgin, not and not sinning, succession of the popes from Peter, no assurance of salvation, etc. I realize that these might not all be dogmas but how many of these do you have to believe to truly be Catholic, after reading my Bible I don’t find these doctrines there...which version do you guys use? I’m not being sarcastic, just really curious. I’m a born again believer and have spoken to Catholics who say that the term born again is not relevant to their faith...that is interesting to me as Jesus says this to Nicodemus. The baby baptism thing is also a practice we don’t find in the Bible so where do these ideas come from if you believe Sola Scriptura? Or don’t you?

The Catholic teaching on salvation is that it is a process that begins with baptism and continues because life is not static and growth in holiness is a process. The born-again view is that if one says the right words one is "saved". To a Catholic, being born-again is a requirement for the new life just as breathing is a requirement for natural life. But one doesn't walk around asking people if they've breathed today, does one? It is basic, rudimentary. To dwell on an event as The End of the process is to ignore the process.

All the of the topics you mentioned are covered in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Encyclopedia is probably one of the best all-around resources there is.

Welcome to FR.

Some source links:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/

http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/

http://fisheaters.com/

That should keep you busy for starters.