This should be an interesting thread.
Posted on 03/19/2014 1:32:10 PM PDT by rwa265
If a Protestant looking into the claims of Catholicism were to ask me, “What one book should I read, where I can find a quick answer to any question I have?” I would tell him to read Devin Rose’s new book The Protestant’s Dilemma. I would also recommend this book to Protestant apologists, even those of many years, well-skilled in polemics. It will remind them of the heavy burden of proof they face, and the weakness of their position on point after point. The truth may set them free and bring them home too. (It has happened.)
All this may seem like overstatement — the obligatory praise from one Catholic blogger to another. But it is not.
Consider first the range of issues this book takes up. There are thirty-six chapters, each one on a different topic, from the papacy to sola scriptura, from the canon of the Bible to Purgatory, from confession to Eucharist to infant baptism. If something about the Catholic Church troubles you, this book has the answer. If you think you have found the point on which Catholicism fails, this book will show you why it is one more point upon which Protestantism fails.
Consider also the brevity. The book is just over 200 pages long, which means that Mr. Rose’s answers get to the root of the question without a knot of academic detail. It is harder to do than it might seem. This is the book of a man who has spent a long time studying the questions that divide Protestants and Catholics, and who knows how to present his case in a way that is easy for anyone to understand. At the same time, the book is useful for the professional apologist, for it recalls his mind to the basics.
(Excerpt) Read more at scottericalt.com ...
Are either of you familiar with this book or its author?
I don’t have any statues of the following in my house as many Catholics do:
1) Mary
2) Any Saint
I don’t pray to Mary or expect her to help, as she can’t. I only pray to Christ. Nor do I pray to any patron saint as we are all saints who are in Christ.
Also, I eat meat on Friday which is banned by the Catholic Church based on tradition.
I don’t rely on an “infallible” pope to interpret Scripture for me when they’ve blown it so many times in the past.
I know works won’t save me because I don’t know how much I should do and if I’ve done the right ones. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells me salvation is a gift from God and not works so that none can boast.
Salvation is based upon your belief that Jesus died on the Cross for your sins...past, present and future. Clear as day in the Bible.
I’d echo this for the most part. I think the divine status given to Mary and Saints is extremely questionable.
But I’d say my main issue is the infallibility. It’s a problem the various Orthodox churches avoid by having only a titular head who is still revered and looked upon, but widely acknowledged to be as fallible as anyone else.
And this idea that Catholicism keeps people more united and in tune with God’s message does not hold water. How can it be explained the fact that the Amish have been far more devout in pretty much every area of adherence to God’s moral code than the majority of Catholics. Baptists for example have not seen such a horrific amount of heresy. I mean, Pelosi? Biden?! Why are these people still granted communion? Both are infanticide-proponents. It’s not so say there aren’t a great many good Catholics, but a lot of these people just go to the church on a Sunday and then donate to Planned Parenthood the next.
In the so-called ‘Culture wars’ it seems to me that while many churches have fought tooth and nail and risked a lot doing so, the Catholic church has at times squandered its rather large influence. You have John Roberts, a Catholic, about to vote to PERSECUTE the church by forcing it to provide contraception, and no threat of excommunication is brought?
This should be an interesting thread.
“If something about the Catholic Church troubles you, this book has the answer.”
What irony! Earlier today I was reading another Book that answers all my questions about the Roman religion.
My Book says:
“4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.”
My Book also says:
“4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
I appreciate the opportunity to sound the alarm and warn unsuspecting sinners.
A Catholic Priest is Biblically Saved
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VKiv3ZGAWo&feature=youtu.be
The Antichrist in Our Midst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1OCYXUhUoU
The Gospel Defined and Discerned
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81901181950
**don’t pray to Mary or expect her to help, as she can’t.**
Catholics don’t pray to Mary either. Instead, we ask her to pray for us, and to pass our needs on to her Son.
On infallibility, please check into how many dogmas have been pronounced infallible. I think you will be surprised. And did you know that much doctrine was written in the Didache by the apostles? Imagine that?
Catholics also believe that Christ died on the Cross for our sins.
Where we differ here is that Catholics know they are sinners and need to be forgiven for the sins they commit today. Thus Christ breathed the Holy Spirit onto the Apostles telling them, “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, whose sins you shall hold bound, they are held bound.” That’s in your Bible right?
You receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation and a Catholic is expected to use these gifts. In fact, we all receive a call at our Baptism. What are you doing with your call? OSAS is a false belief.
Sounds like a terrible book that you are readings, At least the first statement is not true.
Another day. Same old B.S.
Oh No. The Bible is the very Word of God in print form. It makes the way of salvation plain for those with spiritual eyes and ears. It also has clear warnings about false religion and those who proclaim another gospel.
Catholics don’t pray to Mary either. Instead, we ask her to pray for us, and to pass our needs on to her Son.
What’s the difference? You’re still praying to Mary. Why not just ask Christ Himself? He’ll answer based on His Word.
On infallibility, please check into how many dogmas have been pronounced infallible. I think you will be surprised.
I recall Pope Urban II saying that those who fought in the Crusades would have remission of their sins. I don’t recall that ever being in the Bible anywhere, yet we are to take it that the pope is infallible??
I believe Christ died on the Cross for my sins....past, present and future.
I too, like Paul, know that I am a sinner on a daily basis. In fact, even my good works on my “best” days, are as Paul said, nothing but filthy rags to be discarded. 1 John 1:8 through 1 John 2:6 provides direction on how we are to handle seeking forgiveness of sins.
According to Ephesians 1:1-14 we have the following in Christ:
1) Been blessed with every spiritual blessing
2) Adopted as His sons (see Romans on this also)
3) We have redemption through Him, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His GRACE. (again, see Eph 2:8-9)
4) we have obtained an inheritance
5) after hearing the Word and believing the Word we have
6) been SEALED in Him with the Holy Spirit of Promise
7) this is given as a pledge of our inheritance
The Greek tenses of the verbs indicates the sealing is an ongoing process....it doesn’t stop. In other words, once we place our faith and trust in Christ, we are eternally secure based on this and many other passages in the Bible.
On infallibility, please check into how many dogmas have been pronounced infallible. I think you will be surprised.
If you think works will save you I ask the following:
1) how many do you have to do?
2) how do you or your priest know you’ve done the right ones?
3) what if you don’t do enough?
4) what if you’ve done the wrong ones?
5) what about the thief on the cross....no chance for good works....is he saved?
6) do you lose your salvation? what do you have to do to get it back?? if you can?
So what happens if you’ve had a really bad day sin wise and you’re killed in a car wreck. No chance to confess to a priest and your works aren’t good that day.
Have you lost your salvation?
Do you go to Heaven or Hell?
My main problem with Catholicism (and I don’t mean to bash Catholics because I believe they are just as Christian as I am), is most of that stuff you can’t find anywhere in the Bible, which makes it a non-starter for me.
This should be an interesting thread.
I suspect it won't be any more or different than the "answering protestants" posts.
Catholics do not give a divine status to Mary and the saints. I suggest you need to study more about what Catholics actually believe from their own sources than rely on half-truths handed down in anti-Catholic polemics.
What an utterly stupid thing to do. Jesus Himself commands you to come to Him with your burdens. Did he lie? Is he too busy to listen to you? Do you have to go through His social secretary (Mary) to get an appointment?
He has made open to us His very throne room. He has given us direct access to the Father. You insult His sacrifice by trying to go through someone else.
tradition has nothing to do with eating meat on Friday, it was a church rule and did not apply in every country.....it was an act of penance to bring us closer to God....minor inconvenience at worst.
The Pope is, and always has been, infallible in matters of faith and morals.....he has NEVER blown it, even once, in over 2,000 years. Christ promised that he couldn't.
I hope and pray that I'm never filled with that much hatred over anything!
Catholics know what the Bible says.....they wrote it.
possibly, so behave yourself
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.