Protestants vs Catholics

[Wren]

Nuramael brought up some interesting ideas in the Seven Deadly Sins thread, and I didn't want to interrupt what was already going on so....

I'm Protestant and that's all I claim to be simply because I'm not Catholic. I don't specify as Baptist, Methodist, Pentocostal or anything like that.

When I was a freshman in highschool, I went to a Catholic highschool. We had to take a religion class, and attend Wednesday mass. Needless to say the mass seemed a little odd to me since it was nothing like I was used to. I felt a little like a fish out of water. But the students were all very nice, and didn't seem to mind that I didn't know what I doing.

In the religion class I felt like I got a taste of what Catholics believe. I think now that it wasn't a very good taste. It seems to me that the teacher was fairly liberal in his teachings. We had some great discussions on abortion. But as far as his views on the Bible, he felt that they were just stories and not meant to be taken literally.

Feel free to jump in any time.

[Cenerue]

Well, my view on Catholics, Protestants, Jews or anything else is if you believe that Christ died for you on the cross and you accepted what He did for you, you are saved. Now whatever you choose to call yourself is fine, but if you're saved, then you are going to Heaven and all the rest of the different beliefs are what we just choose

[Dragoneyes]

Jews don't believe that, otherwise they would be Christian.

[Nurumaiel]

I confess I am not certain what we're supposed to be discussing here, and the word 'versus' disturbs me considerably, because it seems as though there is some competition between the two religions, which has never had satisfying results in the past. For the most part, I think, I will stay away, for I don't want any 'battles' to result of a competition. I WILL, however, step in and defend Catholics against any false charges made.

Wren, there are two things I can say to your proclaimation of what your Catholic teacher thought: Either the teacher himself was in error, or you misunderstood him. I discussed this in great anger with my mother, for it's not the first time I've heard a Protestant saying that a Catholic taught that the Bible was 'just a story.' This is nothing against you, for again, it was either the teacher's fault for being so blatantly foolish and ignorant, or you merely misunderstood him, which is not fault of malice on your part.

That being said, let me state most emphathetically that the Catholic Faith is founded on what the Bible says and teaches. Christianity evolved from the teachings of Christ, which are in the Bible. Let me hasten to point out that the Catholic Faith was the only Christian faith for many years, and then the Church was broken away from and new forms of Christianity came forth. If the teacher was saying that the Bible is just a beautiful story, but not true, then he was foolishly in the wrong, for the Catholic Faith is founded on what is in the Bible.

However, there is a possibility that you merely misunderstood what the teacher was saying, for it is true that not all things in the Bible must be taken literally. That is to say, it doesn't mean they aren't true, but we don't need to believe what it says to that last detail. The example my mother used was this:

It is stated in Genesis that God created the world in seven days. However, we don't have to take this literally and say the world was created in seven 24-hour days. No, indeed not! Just because it says 'seven days' doesn't mean the days are by our standard of time. Perhaps the days to God were thousands of years, perhaps they were longer or shorter.

So, yes, everything in the Bible is true, and Catholics do, or at least should, believe this, but it doesn't mean everything is to be taken for a literal word-for-word fact, or that is to say, that a 'day' means our own standards of a day, and so on.

Jews don't believe that, otherwise they would be Christian.

Dragoneyes, how can I answer this except by saying merely, 'Absolutely correct.'

[Wren]

I certainly didn’t misunderstand my religion teacher. I believe the word he used was fairy tale. He gave a few examples such as Adam and Eve, the Flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He said those sort of things couldn’t possibly have happened they were too fantastic and merely stories.

I guess the point that I was trying to make was that its easy to think that was the position of the Catholic church in general based on their representative: my religion teacher. You’ll have to forgive me for thinking this way, because I expected a teacher of the Catholic religion to know what he was talking about. Keep in my that at the time I was only fourteen. Now it does seem understandable, that his own views would come out in his teachings.

As for the title of my topic I was merely trying to keep it simple, and I was hoping for a solid discussion on either flavor. I could just as easily asked for a discussion on Baptists vs Methodists. What lead me to this topic in the first place were some of your comments in the other thread. I thought this could be an interesting learning opportunity. But I understand that for some people religion is a private thing.

Oh, and I should clarify: he didn’t say the whole Bible was just a story and not meant to be taken literally, just certain parts of it.

As for the definition of a day in Genesis I believe something a little different. It is true that God said one day is like a thousand years. I don’t believe this was referring to the days of creation. The thing that convinced me was that he wasn’t just talking about 1 day, but instead it was a week. And he set aside one day to rest which became an example for us.

[Nurumaiel]

... its easy to think that was the position of the Catholic church in general based on their representative: my religion teacher.

It's the same thing with a lot of Protestants. You don't know how many wierd things I've heard, but I'm fortunate enough to have a mother who was formerly a Protestant, and she can assure me that most Protestants don't think that way. I think it's a shame, though, that some Catholics are so blatantly ignorant as to say the word 'fairy-tale' when they're talking about the Bible. No wonder we have such a bad name in so many places.

I'm not going to go into a long debate about the days, because I was just using it as an example and it's really not the subject of the debate.

And as far as the debate itself goes, I understand your intentions in creating it, but I should feel less nervous about it if the thread had been entitled, say, 'Protestants and Catholics.' The word 'versus' gives hint to some sort of competition.

[Elentari]

I absolutely hate the fact that the Christian faith is so divided into different denominations. I go to a Baptist church, but I believe I am a Christian, not a Baptist, and will refuse to put myself into a christian sub-catagory.

But when it comes to Catholosism... I disagree with most things they teach or believe, or the rules they follow. Like the whole praying to the saints thing. Christians should pray to God, and God only, because He is our Lord, not the saints. What good can come of praying to the saints, when they can't help you... I must apologise in advance if I have misunderstood anything about the Catholic faith, and please feel free to correct me. Another thing I completely disagree with is that (this is what I've heard anyway) Catholics hold the Virgin Mary in as high regard as Jesus. Now can anyone else see what's wrong with that?

| tari

P.s. I really can't spell.

[Wren]

I have to admit I have been wondering about that. Why do Catholics have such teachings regarding Mary, the saints, and confession? Are there specific passages in the scripture for reference that I’m not aware of? I did learn a little in school about the beginnings of religion from creation to Martin Luther, to even more separations, and cults starting up, though cults are nothing new. But as far as my catholic friends believing something different about Mary than I do, does this really matter? If we both believe in Jesus, then we are in agreement, and we will see each other in heaven. So, in view of the big picture, aren’t these minor details unimportant?

But it was an overview, and a lot of information was crammed into a textbook. So you only got brief studies of each time period. There was no time for in depth discussion.

I agree with what you said, Elentari, about Christians being so separated by their denominations. But in way this can be effective. It gives a chance to worship with others who are like minded. For example some people like really wild services with shouting, hands raised, and even dancing in the pews. As for me, I prefer a more calm, and laid back style. (but with modern music. )

[Tinaraviel]

I'm a Catholic and I'm from Northern Ireland I'm not going to say I'm never predjudice on the matter, because without a doubt I am, I just not aware of it all time. I was brought up in the type of environment were Protestants and Catholic are separate, that's just always the way it's been. I've gone to Catholic schools all my life and I've had to go to Religion classes and in my experience they all tend to be annoying, and the way my current RE teacher talks you'd think we are the only religion, that we are right, without question. I don't veiw things like that. My RE teachers have all been rather staunch. I don't really like my RE classes, the teacher contridicts herself all the time, it's very annoying.

[Caunedhiel]

Hey Cenerue, Christians belive that Jesus was the Messiah and the Jewish people don't. They believe that the Messiah has yet to come. But what do I know, I'm a Catholic ;D