Questions We Are Asked

» david_g - becoming critical of faith

Mario, I am not offended in any way of your comments. I often enjoy a good debate. In an email to my grandfather I explained my basis for questioning of the pope and the Vatican in general. I quote at length:
------

Remember my basic argument, the pope claims X to be true, he uses
scripture to back his claim of legitimacy.
The Catholic upon hearing this has three options, he can accept X, he can
reject X, or he can research X himself.

Acceptance of X, is common and may be problematic since the Catholic
has no knowledge of why X is true. One day Jehovah Whiteness knock on
the door and present a skewed version of X and claim the Catholic believing
in X is not a Christian. This is a common problem amongst the Catholic community.

Rejecting X, is problematic as well but is more obvious. X is most likely true,
popes become popes because they were good cardinals, cardinals become
cardinal because they were good arch bishops and on down the line.
If the masses reject X, then there isn't unity, and we have dissent. Of course
if X really is wrong, the Catholic has little knowledge to go upon to support his/her
claim, and without education we are nowhere.

The third option is optimal almost by default. The Catholic must research the
possible truth of X by reading the Bible him/herself. This eliminates the problems
of the above. The Catholic researching the issue will most likely reach the same
or similar conclusion of the pope. Catholic study groups can also be efficient
in helping understand supporting scripture of the claim. This way when confronted
by outsiders the Catholic knows how and why the church believes what it does.
Obviously there is the possibility that the pope is wrong, or maybe just a slight
difference of opinion. The Catholic church has room for diversity, and to some
extent dissent from within. However this needs to be an educated and well
thought out decision.

"The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart,
a revolution that has to start with each one of us?"-Dorothy Day
-------------
David

-- posted by david_g

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» mariomartin - I agree with option 3

It certainly is important to know why we believe what we believe.

I thought of starting a new thread on this topic if we discuss it more so we could save this thread for questions about our Faith but I didn't since I don't have much to say about dissent.

Do what you think best.

Mario

-- posted by mariomartin

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» grumpa - Help me convert?

I am a Methodist wanting to convert.
I have traced my roots to Italy, Tucsany, Lucca, Roggio in the north of itsly.
ZI* have searched for God these last 15 years and haven't found him. I believe he is represented by Il Papa and I have always felt comfortable with the sign of the cross. God help me find my way home and I need special help to find your.
Anyone tat can help, I don;'t know how to get back here, please mail me grumpa@love-canal-braintrust.com my sit http://www.love-canal-braintrust.com is a CLEAN cartoon site, I believe in God and need help

-- posted by grumpa

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» david_g - to grumpa

Your post caught my attention. The Catholic church is a good church and represents some very good and loving people, and helps guide them to God. My posts about dissenting from the Catholic church come from my love for the church and desire to see it change from within rather than being chipped away from outside.

Your comments make me wonder. You traced your family's roots back to Italy, yet I do not see the connection with a specific religion except for being geographically located near Rome.

I do not want to discourage you, I think you will find the shift from Methodism to Catholicism an easy transition. I have found the Methodist approach to Biblical interpretation similar to Catholicism. Remember the Methodist descend from The Church of England not from Calvin or Luther. I would suggest, for a while to continue attending your current church and come and worship at a Catholic church at your convenience. Church attendance shouldn't be an exclusive club, or registering to vote where you only have one choice. In death Jesus has brought us all together, sin attempts to tear us apart. If you choose to become a member of your Catholic parish there will be classes that you will attend and you will become confirmed in the Catholic faith.

Hope this helps.
David

-- posted by david_g

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» Lori_J - Catechism vs. Bible

I'm not Catholic, and I have many questions as I try to figure out if I should be. I'll only ask a few here: Why did the author of this article quote the "catechism" instead of the Bible to answer the three questions? What is the origin of the "catechism"? Why rely on it when the Bible is available? How do you know that the rules or doctrines of the Catholic church are really what God wanted? I ask this because other Christians believe that the Bible is the ultimate resource, not some set of rules and traditions created by the Romans long after they killed Jesus. Last question: Any good books I can read to learn some of the basics about Catholicism?
Thanks,
Lori

-- posted by Lori_J

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» ccoqui - Inquiry classes

I am not a Catholic but I have been attending Mass with my fiance. I am divorced and He is a divorced Catholic. Is there any point in going to instruction class. I was married to a baptized man so I guess an annullment is out of the question. I am very curious about Catholism and feel I have found what was lacking in my other church. Since we are both divorced and plan on marrying is there any point in me taking the classes? and can I ever hope to join the church?

-- posted by ccoqui

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» jimbos - Re: Help me convert?

Have you found peace in a church yet? What city are you in?
Jim

I am the way the truth and the light. No one comes to the savior but by me.

Ephesians 2
:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
:9
not by works, so that no one can boast.

1 Timothy 2
:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

-- posted by jimbos

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» DRavis800 - Re: Inquiry classes

In response to message posted by ccoqui:

You are not Catholic, so you actually have it easier, because you do not need to go through an annullment. Your fiancee would need to apply for an annullment if he was previously married in the Catholic Church.

By all means, find a Spiritual Director and let him/her help you with more details.

-- posted by DRavis800

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» juancho69 - worshipping images

I've been a catholic all my life and I guess the more I read the Bible the more questions I have on Catholicism. Why do people kneel in front of the cross or any saint or image of any saint and pray to them. Isn't one of the commandments that we shouldn't worship any carved or graven image? I'll post some more as I read on the Bible.

-- posted by juancho69

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» EvCo - Re: worshipping images

In response to message posted by juancho69:

Check out this link:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Do_Catho...

It's lengthy, but will thoroughly answer your question. I am a convert to Catholocism and found in its teachings is truly contained the fullness of the Christian faith missing from protestant denominations to which I belonged. Congratulations on seeking to reconnect with your faith. Continue your search and you will reap big spiritual rewards. Hint: Continue to study the bible, but don't stop there. Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church, check out the writings of the early fathers AFTER the apostles, plus all the known Saintly luminaries. One more thing: when you study the bible, study with a written catholic guide to the scriptures, and get a catholic bible if you aren't studying one already. Catholic theology is the most thorough and scholarly brand of Christian theology there is, and the key to scripture study is to see everything "in context" and not to use bits and pieces of scriptures to support sometimes nefarious arguments ("bits and pieces" arguments are the primary reason that there are 26,000+ protestant denominations in the world now.) Attend mass frequently, more than once a week, and hyper-notice everything thats going on. And above all, talk to your parish priest! Tell him about the journey you're on and, if he's good, he'll be more than happy to help you with your rekoning. Pax and Godspeed on your way.

-- posted by EvCo

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