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To: Iscool
It's simpler than you think.

Our popes do not "embrace Islam". But neither to we misrepresent it. Islam understands itself to be one of the Abrahamic faiths, like Judeism and Christianity. As such, it encompasses a degree of Divine Revelation. It's probably best understood, as Hillaire Beloc wrote, as a Christian heresy. While Muslims are not Trinitarian (Jews aren't either), and do not accept the divinity of Christ, they nevertheless honor Him as a prophet and revere His mother. We recognize the partial truths which exist within Islam, and pray for the Muslims' conversion.

Neither do we totally reject Protestantism. We have a common core of beliefs, and those we honor. We understand Protestantism to be incomplete, and in some ways in error. The Council of Trent explained why we cannot accept Protestant distinctives. We invited Protestant representatives to make their case at that Council, but they didn't show. Some did attend the Second Vatican Council, however. Unfortunately, as Protestantism has played itself out in practice, sola scriptura has led to schism after schism, weakening the Church as a whole, and setting the stage first for the destruction of Christendom as a political entity, then the general decline of Christianity as a social phenomenon. As a result, we currently face governments that are incapable of moral reasoning, and are increasing rejecting any concept of normative morality. This will lead to tyranny.

We do not teach that "you can not get to God except thru Mary". The concept of the role of Mary in salvation history is complicated, and one we share with the Holy Orthodox, but it too has been explained many times on this forum. If you wish to discuss that topic in a spirit of charity, its possible to take that up again, but your past posting history suggests that it would be a futile discussion.

I'm not asking you or anyone to become Catholic. I'm certanly not going to become Protestant, as I find the various strains bewildering, and the arguments for them unconvincing. But unless we put the swords down, and stop refighting the Thirty Years War, all we'll accomplish on this forum is a neverending bashfest.

298 posted on 07/18/2010 5:28:23 PM PDT by cantabile
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To: cantabile
But unless we put the swords down, and stop refighting the Thirty Years War, all we'll accomplish on this forum is a neverending bashfest.

We'll accomplish more than that...There are lurkers out there sitting on the fence...I am here to counter your false religion in public with God's Holy Scripture so those lurkers can make an informed decision to turn to Biblical Christianity as opposed to the Catholic religion...

480 posted on 07/19/2010 4:54:02 AM PDT by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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