The differences between Catholic, Reformed, and Orthodox theology is a very long study, and each detail rooted in a long chain of events in history. That was why I boiled it down to the reason given by the Roman church as to why they excommunicated Luther.

Indeed even St.Pual would not judge himself and left it to the Lord. Our goal should not be to check various boxes on our "how to get to heaven checklist" but to be as loving and kind as we can be.

I often think about how raising children has a theology hidden inside it. Children can be very difficult, needy, and selfish and yet we are commanded by God and even by our corrupt society to love them. '

If we treat others with a fraction of the love we treat our children with we would be much closer to heaven.

The church is a hospital for sinners run by sinners. The teachings of the church are true. This does not mean that the people running it are going to be good people.

Furthermore, while Pope Francis is undeniably liberal and naive, the media always misquotes him to reframe his words and push their agenda.

If the media says the Pope said something there is a 100% chance they have taken it completely out of context and likely changed the meaning of what he was saying.

(I still do not like him though btw, but he is not the antichrist everyone is trying to make him out to be.)

Also, the church is no different than other organizations that have contact with children. The Media desperately tries to go after the church whenever possible. They hate all Christians and especially Catholics.

Evil people will always infiltrate any organization with children to get to them. This does not mean that the organization as a whole is corrupt. Look and compare other organizations and their sexual abuse problems with the problems in the church.

It is not honest at all to condemn the church as an organization that exclusively abuses children while pretending that other organizations are pure. For example, look at the boy scouts of America. recently they got hit with 90,000 abuse claims.

I am not saying that "it's ok because other people do it." (It is not and everyone who is involved in the abuse and cover up at the very least needs to go to prison, and will without a doubt face a harsh condemnation from The Lord when they meet Him.)

I am saying that blaming the Catholic church as an organization for the sexual abuse rather than blaming the individuals directly involved with the abuse is dishonest.

Remember how much Jesus got after the religious leaders in His day. Yet he condemned the leaders and did not write off Judaism as a whole. Rather He fulfilled the promises of Judaism.

Jesus created One church: The Catholic Church. Despite all of the sinners in it who do not follow its teachings themselves, it still teaches the truth. I would recommend looking into the early church and what they taught and why and then deciding if you want to look further into it.

There is a huge wealth of knowledge and philosophy that goes ignored and many difficult questions about God have been pondered by great minds for over 2000 years. Even if you do not like "todays" church you may still find great value in the wisdom of the minds long past.

Agreed

preach god yes

<:Praise:311197162916544512>

Along my path to learn and seek God, a few works from the patriarchs did force me to rethink and change multiple presumptuously held beliefs. The biggest being 'Against Heresies', the Didache, and the 9 ecumenical councils.

To give a scriptural basis for this axiom, consider Matthew 23 and Jesus's opening statement.

@Danos Dawn Dachshund you're right. There are plenty of churches of other denomination's that I am uneasy with too and plenty of other public nonreligious organizations that I don't support. I was just stating a couple reasons why I am uneasy with the catholic church personally. My dad's side of the family is catholic and I have nothing against Catholics. Also haven't had a good experience with the catholic church in my town.

But I'm going on a walk outside so I'll come back later to discuss and read your points in depth better! (: thanks for sharing your thoughts

Same. My first parish is a dumpster fire of a parish. Thankfully I have 3 in my area and the other 2 are amazing. Just what I would imagine a Christian/Catholic church to be. I understand being uneasy with the Catholic church. I have a love/hate relationship with it as well. I love the teachings but the (non-Jesus) people running it drive me nuts. (putting it mildly. ) I love the founder Jesus but his followers (me included) never live up to His standards.

I think that we do what we can to become like Christ and He’ll take care of the rest

And I would argue that the Catholic church's offical teachings on faith and morals help us to do that most effectively.

Didn’t Peter start the Catholic Church?

I think people believe him to be the first pope. But I can't be for sure.

He's believed to be the first, yes.

The Catholic Church believes him to be the first Pope

Makes you think, Catholics believe that the rock upon which the true church was built, Peter, was the same man who ,at one moment, was willing to kill Roman soldiers to protect Jesus. And within a day, denied knowing him three times before the rooster crowed. Kind of shows that nobody, not even the most noble, walk the path without stumbling once or twice.

Yeah they claim him as their first pope just so they can make catholicism look legit

Whether he was or not doesn't matter much to me.

I understand certain misgivings about different churches to different denominations. it would have been far better had the pope answered Martin Luther's concerns. but if that would have happened, the world would not be the way it is now and we could have been enduring a far worse fate today.

A concern if mine, is that a great deal of people that I've talked with, both Protestants *and* Athiests, seek to either misconstrue events as a means to bludgeon Catholics over the head to demean their doctrine, or to weaken Christianity's validity. (Chronologically speaking, Catholicism is the oldest. If it can't be trusted,what others can?) A common thing I see when insufferable Athiests (not to be confused with regular people who happen to be non-believers, but ones who have that as their core personality foundation) talk of demeaning Christianity, is to take certain events out of context then frame it as the Bible, and by extension God, being okay with it. An example would be comments about slaves needing to be obedient to their masters, even cruel one. They remove the second part stating that masters should be kind and understanding to their servants, as they themselves have a master in heaven. I see similar attempts by some malicious Christians against other denominations. The misconstruing of the statues of Saints and the Virgin Mary. Calling it idol worshipping, when it's far closer to being reverence or remembrance. We have statues of some of the greatest heroes in our history. We also have pictures of our loved ones it does not mean we worship them. This is also why I'm guarded around individuals who demean Islam. I personally find many acts and policy's in Muslim majority countries to be repugnant to my moral sensibilities. it does not mean that I will blindly listen to things that genuinely appear to be taken out of context.

If the events *are not* taken out of context, then I shall judge it as it ought to be.

What do you think of salvation is by faith and not works?

Some people are less able to bring about great works. I'm far less likely in my current financial situation, to be able to help as many people as say an amoral billionaire.

Judging by motivation or end result, has always left me in a conundrum.

Being an Evangelist Christian, the only way to Heaven in through faith.

That's why Jesus came, is to give us the opportunity to join him if we simply believe.

The issue of it being on "works" is that it could very well involved in individuals to do otherwise morally horrible acts for the quote "greater good". I could very easily justify the forced sterilization and elimination of certain demographics in America to lower the tax burden on others. This of course will only ever lead to moral damnation

If I had to buy my way into heaven by good acts, why did the hell did Christ have some type of need to be nailed to a cross? It kills the whole purpose of the crucifixion.

Works was never the way to join God. Even the Jews had to have faith to go to Heaven.

Yes

Raging Smurf, what are you?

Non denominational. I've attended both Lutheran and Catholic schools.

I have family members who are lutherans

Ah, so a mix of the two.

Interesting.

Yes, which is why I can see both perspectives far better than most.

It's less academic and more personal if you know what I mean