[tjd1454]

I’m a proud protestant and have no use for Catholic bashing or Protestant bashing.

As a Protestant I would agree with the above sentiment (sans the "proud"). I was raised in a conservative denomination which, while not militantly "anti-Catholic", considered Catholics to be misled regarding some fundamental doctrines, notably "sola fida," "sola gratia," and "sola scriptura." I had the opportunity to do graduate study in Theology at a Jesuit-affiliated University. It was an eye-opening experience, and I gained a real appreciation for the Catholic Church. I no longer consider Catholics to be "misled" Christians.

My view is that so long as a person accepts the basic tenets of Christianity, i.e., accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and worshipping him as the Divine Son of God, and trusting Him for salvation, then I will consider him/her to be a Christian brother or sister.

I do not wish to downplay the importance of having "right doctrine," but I believe that as long as the "fundamentals" are sound, that Christians should act with charity and a spirit of unity towards those with whom they disagree.

As hostility towards Christianity grows, it is increasingly vital that Christians not engage in "circular firing squads" towards each other, but rather support each other in common cause.

[MrPiper]

I believe in Jesus, what religion am I?

[rzman21]

As hostility towards Christianity grows, it is increasingly vital that Christians not engage in “circular firing squads” towards each other, but rather support each other in common cause.

>>I agree as long as we are intellectually honest and agree to disagree agreeably.

My late friend, Paul Weyrich, lived this.

We can’t engage in a 1960s-vintage kumbayah routine. It has abjectly failed to the Catholic Church’s detriment.

Evangelicals have played nice with Catholics over the past 40 years over the culture wars, while stealing sheep from the Catholic Church at the same time.

They can’t say “peace, peace” on one side while waging war on Catholicism in the other.

The daily anti-Mormon diatribes on FR are another good example. Mormonism has some really kooky doctrines, but the Mormon Church has been a fighter for family values for all Americans against gay rights, abortion, etc.

[cripplecreek]

As hostility towards Christianity grows, it is increasingly vital that Christians not engage in "circular firing squads" towards each other, but rather support each other in common cause.

Exactly and all threads like this should be viewed with suspicion.

[Cronos]

tjd: It was an eye-opening experience, and I gained a real appreciation for the Catholic Church. I no longer consider Catholics to be "misled" Christians -- thank you. One other problem is that constant bickering hardens the divisions on both sides. For a long time the voice of reason such as yours among the non-Catholics was lost and many Catholics on FR got the wrong impression of our non-Catholic friends. And then the reverse took place and i'm sure many of our non-Catholic friends got the same idea of Catholics.

While we can argue, debate, we MUST remember our commonalities.