Ah; the good doctor speaks.
Posted on 02/20/2015 3:22:59 PM PST by NKP_Vet
1.“Catholics worship statues.” This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.
2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.” This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.
3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.” I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays: -Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” -Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”
4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.” If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.
5. “Catholics made up all their rules.” Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.
6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.” This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please. -James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.
7. “Catholicism is a cult.” Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.
8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.” The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.
9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.” This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.
10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.” We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.
Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.
A mind is a terrible thing to read.
Ah; the good doctor speaks.
People who are in Heaven live in ETERNITY.
Ever here of “ETERNITY”?
What that means is that your objection based on arithmetic is so jejune that a five-year-old of moderate intelligence would be embarrassed to make it.
Provided he had not been stuffed with propaganda and bile.
YES!
Thanks for putting up that photograph, showing some of the 70,000 people who witnessed the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima.
Art...
Please!
Go back to bed and get up on the OTHER side!
If this were in the Bible; I could find it.
If it's RCC teaching; then YOU could find it.
Who'll win the race to post it for the world to see?
2 Thessalonians 2:11
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights
Wow. The word “sleep” is used in Scripture.
I think the reason for that is that when people are dead, they lie down, and LOOK as though they are asleep.
So? Man is composed of body and soul. The soul does not go into the tomb, and the soul never sleeps. Sleep is a BODILY, BIOLOGICAL function.
You HAVE heard the word “soul” before, haven’t you?
I have never met a four-year-old who was stupid enough to think that the souls of those in Heaven are “asleep.”
The reason some things are not said in Scripture is that no one disputed about them, because no one was stupid enough, in this case, to think that souls “sleep.”
God lives in eternity. The souls of the just are with God (Wisdom). Wisdom also says that they APPEAR to US to be dead, but are not.
Why did Jesus tell the story of Dives and Lazarus. Lazarus, in Heaven, is not dead, but is being comforted in the arms of Abraham. Dives, who is in Hell, is also not dead, but asks Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers. Dives also begs for a little water, even just a finger dipped in water. Doesn’t sound like a “dead” man to me.
Now, if the “dead” are really, really, really dead, and have no concern for us here on earth, do not pray for us, cannot do anything to help us, AND IF IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THIS, why did Jesus tell a story that clearly suggests the opposite?
YOU ARE ACCUSING JESUS OF SIN. The sin is telling stories that lead people to believe the HERESY that the “dead” are concerned about, and want to help, those still on earth.
Stupid?
How about misinformed?
Why all the vitrol this morning?
Too bad there is NOTHING, fact wise, to base it on: just FEELINGS and HOPE so.
You can dish it out, but...
You are accusing ME of ACCUSING JESUS OF SIN.
But that's ok; for when you have no data; no facts; no precedent; lashing out appears to be what you are good at.
Why all the vitrol this morning?
Even a stupid four year old knows better than to dispute the wisest man ever!!
Ecclesiastes 9:5
The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing.
How did Christ get into Marys womb? How did God create the world by merely speaking? I don’t have to know how something happens to believe it. Christ emphatically said THIS IS, not this represents. In the Greek it is even more clear. Believe what you want about the Lords Supper, but don’t tell me it is too difficult for Christ to be really present in His sacrament.
Remember the scandal Christ caused when He told His followers if one did not eat of His flesh or drink His blood they had not life within them? They did not think he was speaking metaphorically....
I hope your disposition sweetens a bit this morning before you head to work for the national enquirer. I am happy to discourse all day long but your tone is way over the top if you are really asking questions rather than trying to score points
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