All I know is that I was shocked when I found out the Truth, and that I had been lied to for all those years. I think the most deceptive thing I found was Protestants taking a Catholic doctrine and saying, "Oh, we don't believe that because it isn't in the Bible," only to learn later that the part of Scripture referencing that belief had been quite conveniently taken out of the Bible. As an example is the doctrine of praying for the dead which is referenced in Maccabees, conveniently discarded from the Protestant Bible.
Another example is the fact that James, in his letter, says several times that faith without works is dead. ("So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." James 2:17; "You see that man is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24; "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." James 2:26) No wonder Luther tried to get the book of James taken out of the Bible. It directly contradicts the Protestant belief of justification by faith alone (which is not Scriptural)!
These are just two of the many examples I could give. Many Protestants insist beliefs must be Biblically-based to be true, but when confronted with Scripture verses which directly contradict their beliefs, refuse to conform their thinking to what Scripture actually says. I just find Protestant theology to be totally disingenuous.
I agree completely, very well said!
In defense of Protestants who may act in this manner, I think that Catholics tend towards a more contextual and holistic approach, whereas Protestants tend to focus on phrases that have been taught to them first.
What I find most frustrating is that some saying that they aren't interpreting Scripture, but just reading what is said. Interpretation is inherent in reading. We learned that in what, 2nd grade?
** As an example is the doctrine of praying for the dead which is referenced in Maccabees, conveniently discarded from the Protestant Bible. **
Yes, by Luther!
Faith without works in James -- again Luther.
Faith ONLY -- the word, only added by, you guessed it, Martin Luther!
**Many Protestants insist beliefs must be Biblically-based to be true, but when confronted with Scripture verses which directly contradict their beliefs, refuse to conform their thinking to what Scripture actually says. I just find Protestant theology to be totally disingenuous.**
The Protestant Bible has been corrupted, alas!
And, Yes, we need to worry about the same thing happening to our Constitution!