[boatbums]

Seeing that this thread started as talking about Catholics who leave the church and their reasons for doing so, it is no wonder that over one thousand posts later we again are hashing over the EXACT same arguments we do whenever a thread reverts to Catholics vs. Protestants battles. It seems that not many Catholics can tolerate the fact that some of us have legitimate and theological reasons to leave and so they take it upon themselves to browbeat, insult, patronize and generally castigate anyone who dares to give their cause. We get it! You guys take it as a personal affront that people do not agree with your church. This very church, which at one time had temporal power and did not hesitate to use it to murder and plunder all who dared to rebel, that no longer has such power and never legally DID in God's view.

Why not allow people to speak, let others consider their words and proofs and let the Holy Spirit do what HE does best - convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment? It only looks desperate to denigrate every scholarly work BUT your own guy's. Let people read it for themselves and make a knowledgeable choice. God gave us a brain, the ability to reason and He rewards those who diligently seek Him with the truth. God's word is truth.

[stfassisi]

It seems that not many Catholics can tolerate the fact that some of us have legitimate and theological reasons to leave

I don't see modernism as a legitimate theological reason to leave. Certain theological points of protestantism is exactly that,modernism, that does not resemble early Christians pre reformation.

That said, most of mainstream protestantism still adheres to Catholic Doctrine like Infant Baptism,Divinity of Christ etc..

This very church, which at one time had temporal power and did not hesitate to use it to murder and plunder all who dared to rebel

The church did not kill anyone,people kill, and there is no Catholic dogma that condones killing anyone for not agreeing with Catholic Theology. I could point the same finger at the reformers and protestants that killed because they interpret the Bible for allowing it as well as you well know

Why not allow people to speak, let others consider their words and proofs and let the Holy Spirit do what HE does best - convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment?

You are being allowed to speak,I too pray the Holy Spirit opens the hearts as well and also to see error in people like William Webster in his theological misrepresentations of the Church Fathers.