I hope you understand what I mean, I really don't think they are trying to be hateful, but just let you know what they are supposed to. I tried to explain it the best I could.
I do honestly hope every Christian, and really every person, makes it to heaven, but unfotunately that's not what the Bible says, (at least about every person making it) I still really do hope for it though.
And I appreciate your response, I have no problem with you either.
I really do like discussing different denominations of Christianity, it's very interesting.
Though Catholics (as well as Anglicans) are far more inclusive regarding who God will admit into Heaven than most Protestants are.
How is that? Baptists stress that anyone who believes Jesus was crucified and rose again for the sins of the world, no matter who they are, go to heaven. As far as I know, no one is excluded from knowing Jesus Christ.
Actually, it was the Catholic Church who preserved civilization through the Dark Ages, including the Scriptures. The Catholic Canon was decided upon prior to the "Dark Ages" and had not been changed through that era. It was changed by a man named Martin Luther when he began the Protestant Reformation - though if he had seen what became of it, he might have changed his mind.
Do you honestly believe King James and his men could have done a better job with the scriptures than the early Church fathers? I certainly do not. Remember, the King James version came from a Church whose sole reason for its foundation was so that a king could get an annulment.
Hmmm, I'm not sure what to think about that. I don't know... We both learned different sides of the event, I can't tell which side is true...
I have heard of him. A real nutcase. I have also had bad experiences in Greenville, SC. I was dating a Taiwanese girl (not the one I eventually married) when I visited some friends there once and they verbally accosted me as a sinner because I am white (I appear white, but I am in reality biracial) and she is Asian.
I don't know what marrying an Asian has to do with sinning. Actually bi-racial marriage isn't a sin in the Bible as far as I know.
As do I. However, I think it is sad that the Family of God is so divided into many different denominations. I hope the Protestants and Eastern Orthodox can rejoin us so we can proclaim the word and kingdom of God together.
Me too. I do believe we did get split, and everybody is doing the best to be God's Children they know how.
I don't know if you are familiar with the Narnia series, but it is one big analogy of the Christian story written by one of the great modern Christian writers, C.S. Lewis. He wrote from an Anglican perspective, but it is very similar to the Catholic line of thinking.
In the seventh book, Lewis has Aslan presenting a viewpoint that is very much a summation of what many Catholics and Anglicans feel about salvation. In the series, there are two competing "deities" - Aslan (representing the Holy Trinity) and Tash (representing other spirits believed by humanity). One character, from Calormen faithfully served Tash, but as he was doing good works in what he believed was in a faithful manner, Aslan accepted it as service to him. In a similar way, I believe that even you you say you are providing service to the spirits commonly believed in in Asia or other parts of the world, if you are doing it faithfully in a manner consistent with the love of God, then God and Jesus accept that service.
Ahh that's nice.
Not dumb - just bigoted.
Nah, believe me they were dumb.
If we were perfect, then we wouldn't need Christ, would we?
No we wouldn't. I mean sometimes non-Christians believe that Christians really are perfect and call them hippocrits when they still sin or lie or whatever. I dunno, it's weird.
You are revealing a lot of ignorance many Protestants have for Catholicism. One, the Pope just doesn't make and detract rules. Rules regarding the faith are carefully deliberated over, typically by great councils, not the Pontiff. In the rare instances where the Pope speaks from the doctrine of "Papal Infallibility", it is on matters of faith and morals and the assumption is that the call comes from the Holy Spirit - which Jesus promised Peter would remain with us as a guide.
As for the saints, we don't worship them or expect them to provide miracles for us. If you listen to the Litany of the Saints, we ask them to "pray for us", much as we would ask our friends, family, and fellow parishoners to do th same.
Still, though, it's relying on humans to make rules. We just do it more simply, by just trying to live like Christ did and praying to him. We think the Holy Spirit is kind of like a stronger conscience you get when you're saved. When you're saved you really don't/shouldn't want to sin (of course you still do sin though)
And if you or I make it to heaven, we'd be saints like everyone else who makes it to heaven. You don't think that giving certain people a title of Saint is close to making them gods or almost gods and then praying to them? They aren't even angels.
When I was 13 my best friend was a Penacostal boy who wanted to be a preacher and we'd always have religious discussions in the school library.