[joeoconnell2008]

Well go to this website and watch the documentary. Then see if you believe in jesus.
Zeitgeist - The Movie

[ineedhelpfast]

Seen it, and don't really take much for conspiracy, tell me, did you believe everything in the da vinci code by dan brown... you can be honest

[Fr_Chuck]

It was a great fictional book, I would say if you love a good fiction story it was written to be beleivable, so much some people did.

The Movie, not enough action for my taste, Give me one of the Raiders of the Lost Ark type any day.

[Lixue-Sebille 3]

Wow, thanks, everyone! ^_^ I think I understand just a little bit. But I do believe that whoever believes and does good will go to Heaven.

[Fr_Chuck]

It is who ever believes ( in Jesus) , actually they "should" do good work, but it is not the doing the good work that saves you

[addaddadd]

Marvin
Quote
marvin_082500 disagrees: If they are all Christian why they have diffirent in faith. Christian are the followers of CHrist doktrines thats why there is only one Faith (Efesian4:5) End Quote

That was not the question here. By definition, those that follow the teachings of Christ... in whatever way... are Christians. Therfore Catholics are Christians, just as are Baptists, Lutheran, Jehovah's Witness etc.

You mentioned dominant religious groups that believing in the bible. I believe in Gods word in the bible. Christian bowdown and pray to God. Gods not allowing to kneel down before images. Thou shalt not made ingrave images but isaw some groups kneel down and pray in images. Why babtist call them slef babtist and not all them doing babtism. Gods church call in His name, and lutherans named their church after martin luthers name. I believe there is only one church. That is the church of God in the bible. The people in that church are Christian.

[Handyman2007]

Donna Mae, I hate to correct you but Jesus Christ is not the HEAD of any church. Churches are organized affiliations with certain denominations. Jesus is the deity on which the beliefs of Christians are based. The Pope is the Man in Charge of the Catholic Denomination.

[Mom of 2]

Okay, okay, I am getting a headache over reading all of this. Let me just say that I am a Catholic women who has taught CCD, so I feel that I have knowledge in this area. I am not perfect and I don't have all of the answers, but I believe that I have at least some knowledge.

First, a lot of people on this thread are correct. Catholics are Christians. The definition of a Christian is ANYONE who believes that Jesus Christ is our savior. People who believe that Jesus existed are not necessarily Christians, as Jewish people believe that Jesus existed as a man, but not their Messiah, as they are still waiting for that. Therefore, Jewish people are NOT Christians, as they do not follow Jesus' teachings.

Protestants came as a result of reformation in Europe. Protestant denominations came about as a result of not agreeing with (otherwise known as protesting - hence the word Protestant) all of the beliefs, practices and traditions that the Catholic Church were having people follow at the time. Protestants are also Christians, as they still believe in Jesus Christ, but they do not follow all of the beliefs, traditions and practices of the Catholic faith.

Without going into specifics of each of the religions, as it could go on forever, that is in a nutshell the difference between Catholic and Protestant. The most important think to note is that in all religions, whether they be Christian (which includes both Catholic and Protestant denominations), Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and all others that I cannot recall at this moment is that we all essentially believe in the same thing. Treat others well and love one another. If we could all truly follow this - NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION WE FOLLOW - this world would be a MUCH better place.

[addaddadd]

Donna Mae, I hate to correct you but Jesus Christ is not the HEAD of any church. Churches are organized affiliations with certain denominations. Jesus is the deity on which the beliefs of Christians are based. The Pope is the Man in Charge of the Catholic Denomination.

According to the bible colossians 1:18 Jesus Christ is the head of the body which is the church. Now what verse in the bible the He is not the head of the church?

[sassyT]

Catholics are Technically Christians because they believe Jesus is the Son of God. The only problem I have with Catholism is why do they pray through Saints and Mary when Jesus specifically said "I am the Way..no one come to the father but by ME"

Why do catholics ask Mary to make intercesion for them and yet the Bible says the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us and it also says Jesus is seated at the right Hand of the Father making intercesory prayers for us. So if there are any catholics out there who can answer theses questions I would like to know how you justify prayers to of through Mary and the Saints.

[rhadsen]

Dear Lixue-Sebille 3,

Catholics are a subgroup of true Christians. Some Catholics are genuine, believing, disciples of Christ. Some Baptists are genuine, believing disciples of Christ. Same is true for Methodists, Lutherans, Church of Christ...

As Peter said in his first recorded "sermon":

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." We find that passage in Acts 2:36. Anyway, if Jesus is your Lord and your Saviour, you are a true Christian.

Rob

[Fr_Chuck]

Catholics are Technically Christians because they believe Jesus is the Son of God. The only problem i have with Catholism is why do they pray through Saints and Mary when Jesus specifically said "I am the Way..no one come to the father but by ME"

Why do catholics ask Mary to make intercesion for them and yet the Bible says the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us and it also says Jesus is seated at the right Hand of the Father making intercesory prayers for us. So if there are any catholics out there who can answer theses questions i would like to know how you justify prayers to of through Mary and the Saints.

While this has been answered dozens of times in various threads, I have to ask why your group or denomination does not, since most do ?

Do you not believe in the fact that those who die in Christ are alive in heaven with Christ ? Do you not send out a prayer list to other members f your church to pray for others ( if you do, are they not interceding for you) So asking others to pray for you is bibical?

So if it is bibical to ask others on earth to pray for you, why is it all of a sudden wrong to ask those people who have died in Christ and are in heaven already to pray for us also?

Also please understand that the idea of saints while down played in some protestant churche are very much still done there also.

The Catholics, all of the Orthodox, the Anglican, Episcoal, some of the Lutherans ( orgainally all, they even had lists of saints, special saint days) and it is included in the general prayers of some of the Methodist order of services.

So actually MOST Christians include asking intercession to saints.

[Mom of 2]

Religion is like politics. People are either going to disagree or agree. I choose to agree to disagree, turn the other cheek so to speak. Again, to be a Christian means that you are a follower of Christ and his teachings. Plain and simple.

[Mom of 2]

I agree to disagree. You believe what you believe, I will believe what I believe.

[Moparbyfar]

The True God is not made of wood or metal or stone so why worship him in this way? We are urged to worship Him with spirit and truth (John 4:23,24) NOT by sight such as images.

Idolatry includes the worship or veneration of literal idols, images, statues and phsical representations of a deity. Is the cross not basically a carved image?

Surely christians would never insult God by showing such high regard for something he clearly warned us against?

[Fr_Chuck]

I do have to laught, who made the "Christian doctrine" the Catholic and Orthodox Churches established all of the churches creeds and teachings during the first few 100 years of the churches start.

And there is no Catholic that worships a image, this is mere lies some hate group pushes. The worship God but often use things to help them feel the closness of God, no different that Protestatn churches with large picture of Jesus and large crosses hung in the front, still an image or material thing. They are mere reminders.

Also Catholics do not pray to anyone other than the Father, though Jesus but do ask intercession of Saints both alive and dead.

It is obvous that poster has only gotten their info from anti catholic groups who I will say are very non christian as not accepting other christians as beleivers.
And has never actually studied what the church reallly does today.

[Mom of 2]

As stated above, a Christian follows the teachings of Jesus. We love one another and we treat others in a kind and loving way.

Yes, I agree that there is a passage in the Old Testament that speaks of worshipping idols, etc. That is where my statement of worshipping a "Golden Calf" came in and this is what is being misconstrued. In Moses's absence, the worshippers began worshipping the likeness of the "Golden Calf". THIS was the idol that God had warned us against. If the posters who are so opposed to the Catholic faith would take a brief moment to calm down and hear what we are trying to say, you would realize that Catholics are not worshipping statues. We are worshipping God and Jesus. Father Chuck very nicely states states that these statues and images are a reminder, mere symbols of our faith, and are NOT idols. Just because we ask for Mary and the saints to pray FOR us does not mean that we are praying TO them. If you listen to the Hail Mary, it clearly states that we are asking Mary to PRAY FOR US SINNERS, we are not praying TO her. We ask the other saints to pray for us as well. This is the same thing as when we ask our friends and family to pray for us. This is also the same thing when people make requests on prayer chains to pray for us. We are not praying to the people on the prayer chain, we are ASKING them to PRAY FOR US, as when two people are in agreement for something that is being prayed for, God will hear our prayers.

[Donna Mae]

Donna Mae, I hate to correct you but Jesus Christ is not the HEAD of any church. Churches are organized affiliations with certain denominations. Jesus is the deity on which the beliefs of Christians are based. The Pope is the Man in Charge of the Catholic Denomination.

I think I understand what you are saying, you are right, Jesus is not the head of any organized religion, but He is the head of His church. Christ' church is a Bible based church, Christians who study God's word, the Bible. Who follow what God teaches us. No man made scriptures, we do not take away from or add to God's word.

Colossians 1:13-20
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

And He is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.

[Moparbyfar]

Colossians 1:13-20
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

And He is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.

It appears that you are taking certain scriptures to suit your own beliefs and are not comparing them to other scriptures which tell us what you don't want to believe. (Not taking away from God's Word - really?) I can't see from these scriptures where you have an excuse to worship idols.:confused:

So because the command was given way, way back in the OT, you don't think it applies to christians now?
NT - (1 Cor 10:14)
"Flee from idolatry" - council to First Century christians.

BTW Chuck, is it really so hard for us to feel so close to God that we need to use an object to help us?
(Rom 1:22,23) - "Although asserting they were wise they became foolish and turned the glory of the incorruptable God into something like the image of corruptable man..."
Therefore an image can never match the glory of God so it can never be a truthful way of worship.

[Mom of 2]

Again, we are not WORSHIPPING the images, we are worshipping God and Jesus, the spirits. The statues and images and the cross are symbols, but we don't pray to these.

So if you anyone is saying that Catholics are not true Christians for the mere fact that we have statues, crosses and images in our church, that is a bunch of baloney. Protestants have crosses in their churches that are a symbol of their faith. Therefore based on what has been posted here, they would not be true Christians because they have this symbol in their church. I don't believe that. Christians (and Catholics are included in this) pray to a higher power, NOT symbols. These symbols are used to HONOR God and Jesus, not to pray TO them.