Notice: The daily sport of posting Catholic bashing threads on FR stops today. Thanks.

July 19, 2014 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

That's not the purpose of FR and not the purpose of our Religion forum. Trashing religion is not debate.

Those who cannot live with this are welcome to post elsewhere.

[DJ MacWoW]

I try to remember it but the flesh sometimes gets me! :-)

[MamaB]

I have already donated! Lol.

[MHGinTN]

Placemarker ... in memory of Cynical Bear who was called an idiot and reported to the RM.

[Iscool]

You know what is really kind of funny is that the only ones that are kvetching about this are the most virulent anti-Catholics. If you look it is a veritable who’s who of bigotry. The only one missing is your liberal friend, but it is still early.

Now that's funny right there, I don't care who ya are...

[xzins]

Dinner called...get back to this in hour or so.

[Crim]

"Are you someone who is more important than the rest of us???"

You didnt get the memo?

[MamaB]

I really, really enjoyed those threads. God bless you.

[lastchance]

I don’t see refutation as bashing as long as it doesn’t become so. For example, Yes there are Catholics who still hold with the belief that those outside the faith are damned. That belief is not the current understanding of the Church on the teaching of “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus”. So to challenge that and defend yourself against being told you will go to Hell by appealing to the Church’s own teaching and what you believe about Hell is a valid answer. Even bringing up that there are religions that believe Catholics are going to Hell would certainly make a point about legitimate differences. If the refutation consists of claiming Catholics are the ones going to Hell because they don’t believe in the Bible or because they worship the Pope then I think that would be bashing.

Our agreements as well as disagreements should be based on facts. When some things are misunderstood a correction should not be seen as an attack. When some things are corrected again and again yet still people remain obstinate in believing lies that is when you get bashing.

[BlueDragon]

Is touak toe the line in some other language?

I would be tempted to say, if the shoe fits, wear it.

But it doesn't fit, and that old saying could be misleading in context --- like I was intending to be rude, instead of it just the first stupid thing that came to my mind.

So instead, and another reason the shoe doesn't fit it, will have to be;

tou many toes...

[Resettozero]

Dinner called...get back to this in hour or so.

No need. Don't care to wait for you any longer. You are now on your own and in a distant country.

Eat heartily, former chaplain.

[DJ MacWoW]

Thank you!

I thought the pic was apropos to this thread.

[Iscool]

IMHO a lot of the knee jerk Pope bashing is simply Catholic bashing with a political bent.

But it's not Catholic bashing when Catholics do it??? Kinda like the black people using the 'N' word on each other???

[EnquiringMind]

Thanks, Jim....you’re a good guy. Some of those threads were hateful and truly hurt.

[Iscool]

But posting threads like "Why Catholics Worship Mary" on a daily basis is inflammatory, serves little purpose, and is less than charitable.

But posting The Catholic Church Is The Only, oOne, True religion (and yours is not) is acceptable...

Would it be acceptable if the title to the post was changed to Why Protestants Don't Worship Mary???

[NewCenturions]

Thank you! I don’t want to fight with other Christians.

[NoCmpromiz]

Steps on soapbox..

I find it interesting that what JRob was talking about would be obvious to anyone who has spent time perusing threads on the religion forum. As I mentioned upthread, there's a reason I rarely post on the religion forum. I also find it interesting that some of the more egregious posters to whom this could apply are wandering about on this thread trying to convince us that they are not the guilty parties. And pretending that they don't understand English. You begin to recognize the names after a while...

I am amused by those here who keep poking the lion to see if he is sleeping. The lion must have more patience than I for I would have toasted several by now because stupidity should hurt, but as I write this it hasn't happened. Yet. Status could have changed by the time I get off the soapbox..

Some years ago I authored a 'devotional' - for want of a better word - titled 'Foundations' (no it's not on my profile page. If you're really interested in what kind of heretic I am, FReepmail me for a copy. Typos and all.) that among other things discussed what foundation we as Christians build our faith on. (I know some will hop in here with a bunch of different answers, but refrain yourselves and follow the line of thought..) When you go back in Church history you find that there was not a church structure with all sorts of rules, traditions, and all that. Why, they didn't even have a King Jimmy Bible, contrary to the thoughts of those that think 1611 KJV is the only true inspired Word of God. They did have a source of reference though. When you look into the Book of Acts and get to around chapter 17 you find some guys named Paul and Silas (if you have read the Bible you know who they are, if not - look it up) stopping in a town called Berea (not the one near Cleveland) where they shared the gospel with those there. The Bereans did not blindly accept what they were being told. They had a foundational source and referred to it. In verse 11 we are given the example that we all should fall back on - it says they "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

So here's the point. Paul and Si didn't blow into town and call everyone heathen. Or talk about their sacrifices. Or call them slaves of the great whore. Or anything like that. They presented the gospel. Paul could have appealed to his authority as an Apostle. He didn't. The Berean's checked their foundational source. Some believed, some didn't.

So today, it's ok to disagree with another Christian's viewpoint. When you do you'd best have a good foundation. It's not ok to to make a blanket pronouncement (you've heard them - sounds something like 'all Catholics go to hell' - and yes that is taught in some circles) which is no more true than saying 'all Baptists go to Heaven'.

I have been involved with a ministry for over ten years now and my partner is (gasp) a Roman Catholic. Over the years we have had many theological discussions. We are in total agreement on almost everything, and on some of those items that cause Catholic bashers to gnash their teeth, her reply almost invariably is 'Well, it's not in the Bible'..

It's only marginally germain to the discussion but my official church membership is in a Presbyterian church. For a long time that congregation was affiliated with the PC-USA (again, if that doesn't ring a bell, look it up) in one of the most liberal Presbyteries within the PC-USA (it has since left PC-USA for a more conservative and Biblical body). You need to know that without a shadow of a doubt, I have more in common with my RC partner who knows Jesus than with almost the entire Hudson River Presbytery of the PC-USA. Period.

Maybe those with a need to bash and contend for the faith and beat someone with their 97 pound Scofield should also take a look at the PC-USA. Or the ELCA. Or the United Church of Christ. Or the Episcopals. You should be catching on.. ;-)

Steps down from soapbox..

[MHGinTN]

I was preparing an essay with accompanying video from a Catholic Priest which exposes the worldliness which has overwhelmed the episcopal Church. But that is a thing of the past now. FR is not a place to discuss religions.

[NoCmpromiz]

;-)

[kinsman redeemer]

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
(Rom 1:14-17)

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
(1 Peter 3:13-17)

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
(Joshua 24:15)

[rabidralph]

OTOH, one should not reward spiritual ignorance with their hard-earned dollars.