Mad Dawg...your irritation with me is exactly why I don’t get tangled in debates with you....you seem to take how I see the catholic church as a personal assult on you when I am simply stating what my observations are for most with those I’ve encountered as catholics and their practices...outside of FR.
As for those here...well it’s needless to say a unique bunch...and I have oftentimes attempted to understand, but more times then not it defies understanding or opposes the truth of the scriptures. Othertimes some offer some interesting reads which if I have little familarity with will entice me to seek out the truth of the matter.
Your knowlege of catholics and their belief system no doubt goes much further then mine since this is your choice of churches....but that does not mean that it’s true or that I have misunderstood what I do know.
The rituals catholics perform are especially sensitve issues to catholics....and the defense strong against any who disagree...oftentimes beyond reasonable imo...there just seems to me so much “stuff” that gets in the way and people hold fast to for to do otherwise without there faith would shake, rattle and role....and when that happens all the defenses come up and the tongue lashing ensues.
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when I am simply stating what my observations are for most with those I?ve encountered as catholics and their practices...outside of FR.
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That’s not true. You are not simply stating your observations. You may possibly have observed a priest saying
He could bring Christ down from heaven, though I doubt it. But you deliver that observation after a bunch of texts which seem to contradict what you allege our priests said.
That’s not a simple observation, that’s an argument. It’s an argument against our teaching based NOT on the authoritative sources of that teaching but on what you say you observe our priests to have said.
Then, rather than deal with what I say, you say that sensitivity about our “rituals” leads to angry responses. That is not an observation but an interpretation.
Then you say that my possibly knowing more about Catholicism doesn’t mean you are wrong. I agree. But it doesn’t mean you are right either. We should compare sources. What are your sources for your allegation that our priests say such-and-such and what are the sources or the reasoning leading to the conclusion that what they say is what the teaching of the Church is?