I am sorry PugetSound, but the Church from the very first always believed the bread and wine were actually the body and blood of Christ during the Mass. It was never symbolic. The Councils were held later when erroneous beliefs began to develop and were initiated to correct them. They were not establishing new belief systems, they were held to correct people who had started to fall away from what had always been understood to be Church teaching.
I do know that Jews and Gentiles are accepted into Christ’s Church.
I understand your concerns and I think you would find them overcome if you would read a version of the Gospels in the earliest translations. Make sure your Bible translation is from the earliest known versions.
Also, read some Hahn, Staples or Madrid. I ask you to consider that, if you left the Church when you were 12, you may have a 12 year old’s perceptions of our Church. At least re-examine the Church with an adult perspective and an adult’s understanding. Starting with these three authors will at least guide you in your examination of what the Catholic Church really believes, why it believes, and what its history is. They will bring up every one of your objections and will clarify what is Church teaching and what is hearsay about Church teaching.
Some of what you say about the Church is erroneous. You may have been taught incorrect ideas about Catholicism, from Catholics or Protestants. All any Catholic asks is that you know who we really are and what we really believe before you castigate us. Too many people hate Catholics because of what they think we believe- not for what we actually do believe.
I hope you will continue to investigate these issues. I have great faith in what you will discover!
And what is most insane about people like you? You simply cannot believe that someone can follow Christ in a different church. Your doctrine is your religion. Please go try to save someone else, for me and my house, we will follow the Lord.
I mean, not even my uncle tries to convert me to Catholicism and he’s a Catholic priest! Get off your high horse and become a Christian - come back to the REAL meaning of your religion.
Read the original Greek and you'll find that Paul refers to taking the bread and wine as symbolic. Later teaching may have changed that, but 1 Cor 11:27-30 is clearly Pauline and clearly talks of a symbolic nature.
The fact you choose to pin your faith - and denounce the faith of others - on a questionable and small doctrinal point is sad.
So let me ask you - since I do not believe in transubstantiation, I cannot have communion with God, right? It is a meaningless exercise for Protestants, and we're just wayward, lost souls, right?
Read the original Greek and you'll find that Paul refers to taking the bread and wine as symbolic. Later teaching may have changed that, but 1 Cor 11:27-30 is clearly Pauline and clearly talks of a symbolic nature.
The fact you choose to pin your faith - and denounce the faith of others - on a questionable and small doctrinal point is sad.
So let me ask you - since I do not believe in transubstantiation, I cannot have communion with God, right? It is a meaningless exercise for Protestants, and we're just wayward, lost souls, right?