How do you view Catholicism? And how do you think Catholics view you?

[Fenris]

I know that this is a Protestant crowd, and I'm wondering what your view of your somewhat different coreligionists are, and how you think they view you.

[Athanasius]

If it weren't for Catholics I wouldn't be around.

[Fenris]

If it weren't for Catholics I wouldn't be around.

what a cryptic response.

[Athanasius]

If it weren't for Catholics I wouldn't be around.

what a cryptic response.

It's a polite way of saying I was ideating and Catholic philosophers were the first to walk me back.

As for how Catholics view me? Probably negatively, but I don't care.

[RabbiKnife]

Most Roman Catholics don’t like Protestants very much and think they are all going to hell or at least to pay for there sins in purgatory for millennia before finally getting into heaven like good Catholics


Most Protestants don’t like Catholics very much and think they are all going to hell


Except for isolated incidents of wackos and the Irish, we’ve pretty much just decided not to kill each other any longer.


Personally, I know that any human that ever gets to heaven is saved in spite of their personal theology and doctrine and not because of it

[Sojourner]

Where to start? Protestants are not viewed as true Christians if they don't revere the pope as God's earthly representative. I think It's preposterous to portray the humble Peter as the prototype for a succession of royal princes addressed as "the holy father." Equally unscriptural is worshiping Mary as the queen of heaven, seeking absolution from pretentious priests who are themselves in need of forgiveness, and praying to revered dead Christians. Not to mention the bloody Crusades and Inquisitions.

[teddyv]

With a wife that has been running a Catholic elementary school for several years, it has added additional context to my (our) view of Catholicism in general.

In the specific case about educational philosophy, it is almost identical to that of the Protestant (Reformed origin) schools that she has spent most of her career in.

She interacts with the priest weekly and they have and excellent relationship. They've freely talked about differences between traditions. She was surprised (as was I) to find that he was unaware that there are Protestant denominations that practice paedobaptism (like out denom).

In the years of her working with some Catholic teachers, she has found that many are very poorly read in the Bible and that the Catholic rituals and traditions become the outworking of religion. In her talking with the priest, he is aware of this problem - it is certainly a discipleship issue that the Catholic church has. Apparently there has been a trend toward not baptizing anyone so easily, which is part of the problem. I think I mentioned some time ago that during our Thanksgiving, we had our pastor's family over, the priest, and our good friends (the husband who is very well read and occasionally lay-preaches. The priest told my wife that he had an excellent evening because of the type of conversation that was had between all of us - not just theological. Again, I think this may speak the Catholic laity (broadly) being poorly discipled.

For those Catholics that are very serious about their faith, she has found them to be amazing people who do exhibit and exeplify the characteristics of the Christian faith.

I deeply respect the level of scholarship of the Catholic thinkers over history, even if conclusions may be in error, or quesionable. I don't think one can really say that the Catholic church has come to their conclusions or decisions in a casual manner (my impression, there may be exceptions).

[Fenris]

Where to start? Protestants are not viewed as true Christians if they don't revere the pope as God's earthly representative. I think It's preposterous to portray the humble Peter as the prototype for a succession of royal princes addressed as "the holy father." Equally unscriptural is worshiping Mary as the queen of heaven, seeking absolution from pretentious priests who are themselves in need of forgiveness, and praying to revered dead Christians. Not to mention the bloody Crusades and Inquisitions.

Yeah this is all some weird stuff.

You think that Catholics think that you're going to hell?

[Athanasius]

Where to start? Protestants are not viewed as true Christians if they don't revere the pope as God's earthly representative. I think It's preposterous to portray the humble Peter as the prototype for a succession of royal princes addressed as "the holy father." Equally unscriptural is worshiping Mary as the queen of heaven, seeking absolution from pretentious priests who are themselves in need of forgiveness, and praying to revered dead Christians. Not to mention the bloody Crusades and Inquisitions.

Yeah this is all some weird stuff.

You think that Catholics think that you're going to hell?

Catholics think Protestants are going to hell.
Protestants think Catholics are going to hell.
Eastern Orthodox doesn't even know what hell is.

[ProDeo]

I think there many of God's children in the Roman Catholic Church, as after all we are not saved by doctrine but faith in Christ.

So now and then I have visited the RCC because of a marriage or funeral. And I have experienced awesome sermons, but also depressing moments as the whole congregation starts to pray to Mary. 

[Sojourner]

I think there many of God's children in the Roman Catholic Church, as after all we are not saved by doctrine but faith in Christ.

So now and then I have visited the RCC because of a marriage or funeral. And I have experienced awesome sermons, but also depressing moments as the whole congregation starts to pray to Mary. 

I often wonder how the humble, reverent Mary would feel being elevated to the status of "the queen of heaven." Catholics believe she remained a virgin after childbirth, suffered equally with Jesus because of the crucifixion, ascended to heaven without dying, and sits enthroned next to God, where she hears and answers the prayers of her faithful. She's essentially been exalted as a goddess and co-savior. Some of the most outrageous claims you can imagine have been made by prominent Catholics across the centuries. Mary was blessed to be chosen as the vessel to bear the Son of God, and should be highly regarded for her faithfulness and godliness, and for her unrelenting devotion to God. However, we're told she was blessed "among" women, not "above." In the end, she is a virtuous sinner saved by grace, like every other believers in Christ.

[Fenris]

I often wonder how the humble, reverent Mary would feel being elevated to the status of "the queen of heaven."

I found out about this only recently, probably because of hanging out with all you Protestants for decades. (Yes! It's been that long!) It strikes me as being one of the weirder things that Catholics believe, especially given that 1) There's no biblical support for the concept, and 2) It's completely unnecessary under Christian doctrine.   

[Sojourner]

Beyond the presumptuousness of elevating Mary to her lofty persona, her "queen of heaven" title was appropriated from the pagan goddess whose worship God condemns and vows punishment for in Jeremiah 7 and 44. God's people worshiped and trusted in that false deity just as Catholics do Mary today, and similarly bowed before images of her as they directed prayers and petitions, as with Mary. In fact, many statues of the ancient queen of heaven holding her son strongly resemble statues representing Mary holding Jesus as an infant.

The truth is, despite lip service to the contrary, Mary's veneration arises to the level of worship, and she figures just as prominently in the matter of salvation as Jesus in the minds of most Catholics. (In fact, in most depictions of Jesus, He's either dead on the cross, or an infant in Mary's arms). According to Catholic belief, Mary has appeared on numerous occasions to her faithful, including at Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, and dozens of other apparitions. Let's face it, simultaneously hearing and answering millions of prayers and petitions--as attributed to Mary, is something she would have to be divine to do.

The reality is, Mary is uppermost in the minds of most Catholics when praying, and the title, "mother of God" effectively transcends the incarnation, imbuing Mary with divine attributes. Regardless how you slice it, a perpetual virgin exalted to a glorified state enthroned in heaven, and given charge over the angels, is far removed from the unassuming, humble servant of God the NT portrays Mary to be. But then, a great deal of Catholic dogma is founded on the authority of "the holy see" rather than scripture.

[Walter]

I think there many of God's children in the Roman Catholic Church, as after all we are not saved by doctrine but faith in Christ.

So now and then I have visited the RCC because of a marriage or funeral. And I have experienced awesome sermons, but also depressing moments as the whole congregation starts to pray to Mary.

I understand what you mean. But I don't think it's possible for a born again Christian to remain a Catholic. And for that matter attend most churches.in or day. It's very sad but Biblical.