You actually know a lot of Catholics? Somehow I doubt it, lol.
ROFLMAO!
You can doubt whatever you wish, but I have led Bible Studies with mixed groups, including numerous Roman Catholics. I have OBSERVED them and INTERACTED with them, and came to that conclusion. It is more than an "educated guess" or "opinion".
I was raised 'Catholic Light" in an Episcopal household. Fortunately, by God's Grace, I came to have a personal relationship with Him through giving myself to Jesus Christ. Subsequently, I received the Blessing of having His Holy Spirit indwelling, and helping me along the way. I left that group and followed a different path.
Along the way, I attended a Bible College and was given an in-depth understanding of the Greek and Hebrew languages. I don;t have a full knowledge of either, but was taught how to find the answers I needed. Along with His Holy Spirit, I have grown to know a lot of Scripture.
Paul wrote prolifically. We have the benefit of much of his mind and his ability to frame the answer without the questions being asked. He was able to teach and lead many to know the Truth of the Gospel. He was appointed to be an Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter's working framework was with the Jews.
The Roman Catholic cult does a good job of indoctrination. They teach enough of Scripture to aid their deceit of the reality of God's simple plan. They are taught the importance of groupthink and following it blindly into the abyss. They are threatened with being excomminicated from the "church" which they are taught holds the only answers. In order for the Roman Catholic cult to succeed. they add lots of "traditions" and supernatural things, like we see in all the mythic appearances of another mary and they focus attention on their saints as supernatural sources to sell homes or find lost keys.
But, Satan has done a good job and I am sure most of the Roman Catholics would disagree with my assessment. No problem. BUT, thank God, many eyes are being opened and Truth is being revealed when the Scriptures are taught.
That is where God has led me. I am a teacher... and I teach Christ crucified, and raised from the dead. I teach that simple faith in the Gopel story is all that is needed to know the Truth, and to be assured of everlasting life with the Father in His house.
It doesn't require education, nor allegiance to a group. The only allegiance to be given is to God. The only faith necessary is in the completed work of Jesus Christ. With that faith, we are promised eternal life. That's forever, my FRiend, and no matter how many light candles or pray to dead people thinking that they do it for you, you will still go to Hell without faith in that COMPLETED work of Jesus Christ. When you die, it is finished. You either died with that faith, or faith in an institution. There are no second chances.
Jesus is not on the Cross. He is not a baby in the arms of some mythical sinless woman. Those are the images supported by the Roman Catholic cult. But, the cross is empty, and Mary is dead! No matter what incantation some fancily gowned poseur gives, Jesus isn't leaving His seat at the right hand of God and being eaten in the form of a stale piece of bread.
Ephesians 2: 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.