Who says Catholics aren't Christian?

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February 27th, 2006, 02:13 AM
cebula_2005

Not me. But ValentineWiggin made a post that got me thinking. If you do say Catholics aren't Christian, why?

If you think Catholics are Christian, why?

I think they are because they believe that Jesus is Christ, Son of God and try their best to follow Christ (followers of Christ=Christian.)All denominations have differing beliefs. Some of them are right, some wrong, but all are Christian. I don't see why some treat Catholics or Orthodox as anything other than another denomination...

Anyway...post your thoughts!

Thanks ValentineWiggin for the idea! I will be interested in hearing your thoughts.

[ February 27, 2006 12:11 AM: Message edited by: Tra ]
February 27th, 2006, 02:19 AM
ValentineWiggin

Many people claim, in error, that Catholics worship any and all of the following: Mary, the saints, and the Pope. None of it is true, but I have come up against this kind of bigotry my whole life. All of these people are very important to us Catholics because they are incredibly useful examples of how God wants us to live our lives. Another common misconception about Catholics is that we believe that you can buy your way into heaven with good deeds. This is also false. We believe that anyone with genuine faith will commit themselves to a life of good deeds, and that therefore, you cannot get into heaven without a well-lived life. If your faith is not strong enough to prompt you to do good deeds, it is no real faith at all.
February 27th, 2006, 11:20 PM
mom4four

I have a great book that I purchased a few years ago when my husband was going through the RCIA program (to become Catholic and join our parish) it was a book dispelling the myths about the Catholic Church, I will go look for it later and post the title for those interested. He had lots of misconceptions ie that we prayed to saints and he thought we sounded "cultish" during Mass when we recited the Apostle's Creed. All of this wasc leared up for him when he attended mass and joined the church family and found things out first hand instead of just listening to hear say.
February 28th, 2006, 01:45 AM
sharlit

Quote:

Originally posted by mom4four:
He had lots of misconceptions ie that we prayed to saints and he thought we sounded "cultish" during Mass when we recited the Apostle's Creed.

The recitation of the Apostle's Creed does sound cultish! It's scary. My mom drags me to mass when we're together. Part of what scares me is I don't think most people are thinking about what they're saying when they say it. So really, it's not more cultish than, say, the Pledge of Allegience, but it sounds creepier when you're not used to it.
March 1st, 2006, 05:10 AM
sharlit

No no no, Rhapsody, I didn't say the Apostle's Creed sounds cultish, I said the recitation of it sounds cultish. I wasn't commenting on the content. It's the roomfull of people droning off the same long passage that's scary.
March 1st, 2006, 03:03 PM
mom4four

Well said Sarah, I don't believe my husband thought the content itself was cultish just they way everyone recited it at the same time .
March 1st, 2006, 04:32 PM
WritersRhapsody

The recitation of the Apostle's Creed does sound cultish! It's scary. My mom drags me to mass when we're together. Part of what scares me is I don't think most people are thinking about what they're saying when they say it. So really, it's not more cultish than, say, the Pledge of Allegience, but it sounds creepier when you're not used to it. Um...maybe I have my prayers mixed up...but the Apostles Creed I know goes:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, son of our Lord and savior to man. He was convinced of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Poncious Pilot, was crucified, died and was buried. He descened into **** . On the third day He rose again to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, Holy Catholic Church, communion of saints, forgiveness of sin, resurrection of the body and live ever lasting, amen.

What's cultish about that? To me, it's always been a beautiful statement of what we believe as Catholics.
March 1st, 2006, 04:33 PM
WritersRhapsody

The recitation of the Apostle's Creed does sound cultish! It's scary. My mom drags me to mass when we're together. Part of what scares me is I don't think most people are thinking about what they're saying when they say it. So really, it's not more cultish than, say, the Pledge of Allegience, but it sounds creepier when you're not used to it. Um...maybe I have my prayers mixed up...but the Apostles Creed I know goes:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, son of our Lord and savior to man. He was convinced of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Poncious Pilot, was crucified, died and was buried. He descened into **** . On the third day He rose again to sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, Holy Catholic Church, communion of saints, forgiveness of sin, resurrection of the body and live ever lasting, amen.

What's cultish about that? To me, it's always been a beautiful statement of what we believe as Catholics.
March 1st, 2006, 11:44 PM
StarTrekCaptain

My only problem with recitation is that I'm afraid people often don't think about what they're syaing. They say it because they're "supposed to", or because it "sounds good", or because "everyone is saying it". It may not always really come from the heart.

But I don't think the Apostle's Creed is cultish, or even the way it is recited.

Oh, and Catholics are too Christian. I am not Catholic but they are Christians. I think it's kind of ignorant to say they're not, because they believe in and follow Christ and know that you can only be saved through Jesus Christ...hence, Christian.
March 2nd, 2006, 10:47 PM
WritersRhapsody

Oh! Okay! I thought you meant the words sounded cultish. And yes, I think it's important every now and then for us to sit down and really meditate on the WORDS of the prayers we regularly say and what they mean.
March 3rd, 2006, 05:38 PM
ValentineWiggin

Having been raised in a Church where this recitation takes place (actually we say the Nicene creed which is a little different), the idea that I would ever say it without thinking about what it means is shocking. I actually get goose bumps every time my church recites the creed together. It makes me feel close both to God and my fellow worshippers. I love the idea that at that moment, we all speak with one voice, that we are all asking of God the same thing.