One Hundred Fifty Reasons I'm Catholic

1. Best One-Sentence Summary: I am convinced that the Catholic Church conforms much more closely to all of the biblical data, offers the only coherent view of the history of Christianity (i.e., Christian, apostolic Tradition), and possesses the most profound and sublime Christian morality, spirituality, social ethic, and philosophy.

2. Alternate: I am a Catholic because I sincerely believe, by virtue of much cumulative evidence, that Catholicism is true, and that the Catholic Church is the visible Church divinely-established by our Lord Jesus, against which the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail (Mt 16:18), thereby possessing an authority to which I feel bound in Christian duty to submit.

3. 2nd Alternate: I left Protestantism because it was seriously deficient in its interpretation of the Bible (e.g., "faith alone" and many other "Catholic" doctrines - see evidences below), inconsistently selective in its espousal of various Catholic Traditions (e.g., the Canon of the Bible), inadequate in its ecclesiology, lacking a sensible view of Christian history (e.g., "Scripture alone"), compromised morally (e.g., contraception, divorce), and unbiblically schismatic, anarchical, and relativistic. I don't therefore believe that Protestantism is all bad (not by a long shot), but these are some of the major deficiencies I eventually saw as fatal to the "theory" of Protestantism, over against Catholicism. All Catholics must regard baptized, Nicene, Chalcedonian Protestants as Christians.

4. Catholicism isn't formally divided and sectarian (Jn 17:20-23; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 1:10-13).

5. Catholic unity makes Christianity and Jesus more believable to the world (Jn 17:23).

6. Catholicism, because of its unified, complete, fully supernatural Christian vision, mitigates against secularization and humanism.

7. Catholicism avoids an unbiblical individualism which undermines Christian community (e.g., 1 Cor 12:25-26).

8. Catholicism avoids theological relativism, by means of dogmatic certainty and the centrality of the papacy.

>>>IF you say you know what Christianity is all about, you MUST know and know they are NOT my opinions. This is where the truth meets the road, if you claim you know what Christianity is ALL about there would no reason to ask the obvious, in fact the very basis of Christianity.<<<

Maybe I should not be trying to confuse you with the facts?

>>>Furthermore this is not in the bible as such - you might think about Babylon being an economic/an earthly system. as it was for you to think along other lines because you are WAY off saying Israel/Jerusalem is Babylon. Pray for Jerusalem, don't condemn her with your words. That's Christianity too.<<<

Jerusalem was Babylon the Great. Otherwise, Christ has to send a whole new batch of prophets and apostles for the "modern" Babylon the Great to kill. Is that what you want?

Please read the following very, very carefully before you throw any more of your nasty, unchristian-like judgements at me:

This is the blood on Babylon the Great’s hands.

"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration." (Rev 17:6, Babylon)

"And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Rev 18:24, Babylon)

“Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” (Rev 18:20, Babylon)

This was the blood on Jerusalem’s hands:

"Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" (Luk 13:33-34, Jerusalem)

". . . I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation." (Luke 11:49-51, Jerusalem)

Notice any similarities? There is only one explanation for the striking similarities: Jerusalem was Babylon the Great.

>>>"I take it as you are not Christian but just 'studying' whatever you may. There's a saying...speak the truth and shame the devil....it cleans the air.<<<

Your limited ability to prove from the Bible, what you claim is in the Bible, leads me to believe you are Christian in name only. You certainly are quick to judge someone who doesn't possess your brand of indoctrination.

Philip

Arthur McGowan - does the man in the vatican tell his subjects how long they will stay in purgatory? At one point will catholics give up looking for Jesus to come - will you be giving a bell so you can check what is the holdup? How do they count the days, do you now if there is a calendar there? Do you have to burn off all your sins...or just the ones 'your infallible leader deems bad'? Where will he be when catholics are in the fiery pit? He may be dead and then what? Do these 'popes' go to purgatory or are 'these men' special? Where did anyone go who proclaimed 'I'm all yours, Mary'? Because born again Christians belong to Jesus alone for He is their Savior. Sure hope you catholics were given your purgatory kits - with how long you will burn and and for what sins ...does your 'infallibly' leader sin? sure hope you can remember all your sins.. don't forget gossip and even thoughts of the mind..and while you are at it don't forget those nasty words spoken earlier. Find out how will you know when you are 'all done' - after all, one hour in the flames will feel like an eternity. Will you hear some bell or something to alert you when 'someone' is getting out because 'they are done'? What if you hear of no one getting out but only constant screams? Will you give up the 'catholic' purgatory faith? Then what? Did they say they will be giving out 'holy water' to quench your thirst? Who is monitoring the place? Will holy water make you clean up quicker?

Those aren't serious questions. They're just snarky, smartass jibes. You have ably demonstrated the sort of "love" your stunted version of the gospel produces.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.