Christians and Catholics

[percival]

You know what I hate about this phrase? I find it offends the Catholic in me. Mortally. I know we've been over this before, but for crying out loud, if you talk in public, please be aware that the Roman Catholic Church considers itself to be built on the foundation of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Just like the Orthodox and the thousands of Protestant, Evangelical, and non-denominational churches out there.

We may not share the same theology, but we share the same roots.

Thank you.

(I wouldn't necessarily object to Christians and Quakers, though, because I know that some Quakers don't call themselves Christians, even though Quaker faith is also deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. What it boils down to is to respect the way in which other denominations see themselves.)

Comments

[acusa-dora.livejournal.com]

We just had this discussion in my boss's office yesterday. He was raised Catholic, but now attends a Methodist church because his wife is not Catholic. Anyway, another friend and I were recalling that a former colleague had given us a hard time about being Catholic--about intercession, about saints, on and on. (He's studying to be a minister now.) Anyway, my friend said that this former colleague had all but told her that she was a devil worshipper. That's got to be an exaggeration, but he was always trying to discuss my beliefs with me. My boss was shocked that anyone had ever drawn a distinction between Catholics and Christians. (Where has he been?) He said, as you did, that we share the same roots.

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

I don't think that's an exaggeration, actually. There are some denominations that do not believe Catholics are Christians at all.

For instance, Jack Chick tracts. This is only one. And a mild one, at that.

No exaggerations here. If this former colleague is a member of a church that subscribes to this thought, their thoughts about them can be pretty ugly.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Sadly, yes. And what's even sadder is that Catholics were just as intolerant about Protestants. The shame of it all ...

[guttaperk.livejournal.com]

I don't agree with aspects of Catholic dogma, but neither do I think that that fact excuses rude behavior and hate-mongering.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Neither by the Catholic nor by the Protestant church(es). Those things are always stupidly grey ...

[swampfaye.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the club - our church is named: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - ya think that means we're Christian? LOTS of people don't think so.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Well, I do, sister in Christ :) I'm always interested in hearing more from you about Mormonology.

[wang1961.livejournal.com]

I think Protestants are way, way, WAY too much in their left-brains.

I like how Catholics hold fast to the mystery of how the spiritual world works.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Some Protestants are veyr good at touching feelings and speaking to the heart, though - like the Pentecostal movement that's sweepign Latin America.

[lilac-bearry.livejournal.com]

Amen!

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Out here it's "Christians and Mormons" coming from the mouths of dweebs - just as stupid as what you have encountered. I think it was last year that some sect of the Baptist church went to Utah with the expressed mission to 'convert' all the Latter Day Saints to their flavor of protestantism. I nearly laughed my head off. I know historically christians have been fighting each other for centuries, but it's all too stupid to countenance, especially from a faith that supposedly preaches love. <_<

[wahlee-98.livejournal.com]

It was a few years back, actually-- 1998. The Southern Baptists held their annual convention here with the intention to convince all of us of our wicked ways. Two of them knocked on my Seminary teacher's door. He gave them Kool-Aid and brownies and sent them on their way. ;)

But-- yeah. Sick of hearing that I'm not a Christian.

[katiedarling.livejournal.com]

Southern Baptists don't believe that anybody is Christian unless they are Southern Baptist. Seriously. My mother thinks I am going straight to hell for going to the Antiochan Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Churches (Antiochan when I can, Greek is all that's local now). You should hear the wonderdful things they said about the Charismatic Pentacostal I dated a while back. Did you know he worshipped the devil? *sigh*

[prettyannamoon.livejournal.com]

Technically, individual Southern Baptist churches can choose whether or not to follow the decisions of the SBC, so beliefs on who's a Christian and who's going to heaven and hell vary from congregation to congregation. But yeah, the SBC certainly spawns some of the most intolerant and un-Christian doctrine out there.

[prettyannamoon.livejournal.com]

Actually, I guess that should be un-Christlike. "Christian" covers a whole matter of sins.

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, Christ covers all the sins, if we believe the core teaching of our faiths. Thank goodness, coz us humans sure do need the coverage. ^_^

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, having your mom giving you a bad time over your faith practices would be hard. My sympathies. I don't understand how faiths that grew out of the teachings of a man who kept company with prostitutes, lepers, and tax collectors suddenly feel as if they have a lock on heaven and know for certain the mind of God. Hang in there. God must love variety - look at all the different opinions out there. ^_^

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

Yay to your teacher for being so good to the folks pounding on his door. Not sure I would have been so gracious had it been me. Was it 98? Seemed not that long ago. My sister lives in SLC and was indignant at the idea of one church declaring another 'non-christian'. I don't recall my own church ever declaring one branch of the faith or another as 'not', but then we're ELCA and everyone knows we're all a buncha liberals. ^_^

In behavior and deeds, my Mormon neighbors are among the most christian people I know, and that's all that counts in my book (and probably in God's book as well.)

I really can't see God/Goddess/Creative Force as playing a game of 'cosmic gotcha' with us - you live, follow your faith, die, and God says, "Ha! Wrong choice! Gotcha!" What sort of God would *that* be? What I can see is God being infinitely compassionate with the created world and all the beings who live in it.

[katiedarling.livejournal.com]

In my family it's the Christians and "that so-called-orthodox Christianity that is anything but Christian." Which is funny...... but I won't get into why I think it's funny. *sigh* Southern Baptists.....

[prettyannamoon.livejournal.com]

It seems like people in the predominately Protestant area where I live have a hard time accepting that. I received a letter from my old piano teacher (who I loved dearly, but who really was a reflection of her time and place) warning me about the evils of Harry Potter. In it she wrote about a time in her youth when she was "swayed" by the books of a lady who she thought was a "Christian. Well, not so but she was a good Catholic". Pardon me, but WTF? o.0

Honestly, I think a big part of it is ignorance, and most offenders probably wouldn't even realize what they'd said was hurtful. I'm glad you added the bit about "Christian" and Quakers, as that's something I wouldn't have known. :)