quote:

THE DEFINITION OF A "CHRISTIAN" IS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST.

Don't want to nit pick, Meg, but not really. Even the former Morning Star believes in the divinity of Christ.

Then Meg, could you clear up for me why Catholics pray through Mary or the saints?

THE DEFINITION OF A "CHRISTIAN" IS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE ARE COUNTLESS DIFFERENT "DENOMINATIONS" WITHIN A RELIGION. WHILE, AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE WHAT ANOTHER DENOMINATION BELIEVES, THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOUR OR THEIR DENOMINATION ANY LESS "CHRISTIAN."

CATHOLICISM IS A DENOMINATION OF CHRISTIANITY. I CAN SAY THAT I AM A CATHOLIC AND I AM A CHRISTIAN.

I think this thread was probably more to ask the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

Sorry about all of the caps above...no one listens on this thread, and most people speaking here seem to know nothing about religion but keep preaching about it anyway. I had to get your attention somehow...

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Catholics actually believe there turning wine and a cracker into blood/body of Jesus Christ. you cant do that! Catholics also think they can re crucify Christ, but the bible says that Jesus said when he was on the cross he said...IT IS FINISHED.he didn't say ok lets do this over and over....he said its done thats it.

The whole turning bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is not a physical act...it's faith. I believe transcendentalism is the term we use.

I have no idea what you mean about recrucifiying Jesus...?

quote:

Originally posted by clpo13:
It never ceases to amaze me that people distinguish Catholics from other Christians. I mean, let's look at what makes one a Christian: following Jesus (otherwise known as Christ). Catholics do it. Protestants do it. Heck, even Mormons do it. They're all Christians. Sure they believe slightly different things, but they still fall under the broader category of Christianity.

Mormons aren't in a "broader category" of Christianity. If by broad you mean cult then yes.
Mormoms believe themselves to become Gods one day something Christianity does not teach.

Protestants believe that truth is public domain whereas the catholic church believes they are sole proprietors and can add to the canon through tradition.

yes theres a huge big difference there...catholics believe in purgatory...which is no where found...stated or anything like that in the bible.its kinda a rip off buying indulgences when all it goes to is the church building and such.not saying thats a terrible thing but thats why tithing is for.furthermore Christians believe that you aren't saved by works but by FAITH alone.

also ever heard off communion? in the bible Jesus stated do this in REMEMBRANCE of me.to think back on what he did for us.Catholics actually believe there turning wine and a cracker into blood/body of Jesus Christ. you cant do that! Catholics also think they can re crucify Christ, but the bible says that Jesus said when he was on the cross he said...IT IS FINISHED.he didn't say ok lets do this over and over....he said its done thats it.

Christians base all there info out of the bible.
Catholics add stuff and don't use the bible the proper way they should.

oh last thing...Jesus died on the cross so you could pray to em and ask him for forgiveness;you should not go to the "father" of the catholic church and ask his forgiveness. Jesus is the only father....and God.

thats the difference

My bad, Amp.

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To intercede is to go or come between two parties, to plead before one of them on behalf of the other

Jesus is the intercessor. *raises eyebrow* Explain.

(I'm still super confused)

OK. Now I went to Catholic school (though I am no longer practicing with catholicism because of the churches political views) I have also studied and practiced four forms of protestantism and currently looking deeply into Buddhism. What I've found is that, so far, practically every religion practices the same things, just with different names.

No catholics don't worship mary..... they look to her as a spiritualistic leader, the same with saints. They're prayers don't count more, but two voices are better than one. Also, the definition of Christian is "one who follows christ"therefore Catholicism is Christian. And lets not kid ourselves, protestants are branched off from Catholicism.

Overcoming ignorance?? There is more ignorance in this topic than anything I have seen in a long time. You just stated some of the stuff people assume about Catholics. So tell me how are we overcoming ignorance if it being stated all the by people who think they know, and not by people who do. We do not worship marry! That is one of the most annoying and IGNORANT assumptions ever made. Marry and the saints are intercessors (To intercede is to go or come between two parties, to plead before one of them on behalf of the other). Or in other words we are asking some one to pray for us, and I do believe almost every other Christian does the same.

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Too many people praying? God is...the Creator.

you misunderstood me, I said "you can't have too many people praying for you"

Too many people praying? God is...the Creator. If he couldn't handle all of us why would he create us? I understand I'm arguing against a whole segement of Christianity's belief system, but it simply doesn't make sense to me. According to Christians, the one thing God wants for us is for us to become closer to him, to have a deeper relationship. How can we do that if we feel there are too many of us? Is not spirituality and our love with God a very individual and personal thing?

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Why would her prayers mean more than yours?

supposedly because Mary is beloved of God/Holy and it's not exactly that her prayers mean more but it's more of the "can't have to many people praying for you theory" at least that's how I interpreted it. I'm a rather poor catholic so you'd be better off asking Megs.

Why would her prayers mean more than yours?

I'm still slightly confused..

quote:

Originally posted by ampmaster:
NWe ask that Mary pray for us on occasion... but we don't pray through her or to her.

So you don't pray to her, but you ask a dead person to pray for you? Sounds like praying to her to me.

quote:

Don't Catholics feel they have to go through Mary to speak to God, though

Nope. We ask that Mary pray for us on occasion (thus "Pray for us now and at the hour of our deaths") but we don't pray through her or to her.

Don't Catholics feel they have to go through Mary to speak to God, though? That's..not Christianity.

It never ceases to amaze me that people distinguish Catholics from other Christians. I mean, let's look at what makes one a Christian: following Jesus (otherwise known as Christ). Catholics do it. Protestants do it. Heck, even Mormons do it. They're all Christians. Sure they believe slightly different things, but they still fall under the broader category of Christianity.

theres a difference

the God of Christianity (the one true God) accepts everyone, atheists, buddhists, jews, infedels, everyone. He crys when someone turns away from HIm and rejoices when one seeks Him. He wants everyone to go to heaven.

the jews beleive the He is the one true God also but that The Messiah hasnt come. (which he has)

She was born pure and with the full grace of God upon her that she might concieve the son of God/God Himself (read up on the trinity to understand that difference). It explains the whole "free of sin" thing somewhere in the new testament, gotta dig my bible out[/QUOTE]

I don't think you'll find the idea of Mary being sinless in the Bible. Be my guest in searching for that, while you're at it look up Romans 3:23

It's cool, clpo.

Amp, I was under the impression everyone is born with iniquity; is that then just a common assumption? And if is, might you quote your source?

Wow. That was quite the brain fart. I do the same with Moses and Noah.

quote:

How is it that the catholic church believes Mary was not under the sin of Adam and that she never sinned herself though?

She was born pure and with the full grace of God upon her that she might concieve the son of God/God Himself (read up on the trinity to understand that difference). It explains the whole "free of sin" thing somewhere in the new testament, gotta dig my bible out