Brainwashed

[BjBarnett]

How do people become so brainwashed about what Catholics believe?

I mean ive seen stuff about Catholics thinking the Pope is God, the Pope is perfect, we worship Mary, we worship saints, we worship statues, we worship idols, we are not christian, we are responsible for islam and all sorts of other things. how do people get so misinformed? and why do they insist on calling us non-christians and say such outlandish things even if you tell them its not true. why do some people think they know more about what another person believes. it just doesnt make sense

 

[Gwynne]

People are stubborn. And very often their source of information is someone they trust. Discrediting that information would make that person untrustworthy, and for some people that is unacceptable. So they hold on to their lies and spread them even further to keep their already shaky faith from collapsing altogether. Anyone who takes the word of man and makes it equal to the word of God will do anything to keep that word of man elevated to that level.

 

[Metanoia02]

688

Once again they have spoken, they have written: in favour, against; with good and with not so good will; faint praise and slander; panegyrics and plaudits; hits and misses...

Don't be a fool! As long as you are making straight for your goal, head and heart intoxicated with God, why worry about the voice of the wind, or the chirp of the cricket, or the mooing or the grunting or the braying?

Besides, it's inevitable; don't waste time answering back.



http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way/point/688

 

[PeterPaul]

Bj, with all honesty, I've started to compartmentalise those who hold such ideas with UFO believers, Elvis is still alive, and Vatican Vault secret followers. If you start to look at it that way, you begin to think of them as intoxicated conspiracy thinkers (not to confuse with those who have doubts about the Kennedy assassination).

Me, I ignore them unless they come to my door.

 

[princess_ballet]

Unfortunately is usually just starts more problems when you try to correct them too.

 

[stray bullet]

People will believe what they want to believe.

I've been on some boards, completely explain something to someone spreading false information. A few weeks later, they are posting the same nonsense again. They simply turn their brains off.

For some people, Catholicism represents a problem, a Church they know in their heart is true, but develop a hatred for it in their desire to not listen to her. I think many of the ex-Catholics spewing such nonsense know it is just that. It is a sad attempt to validate their own lies.

 

[princess_ballet]

They don't want to be proven wrong.

 

[Wild_Fan4Christ]

I have even heard people say the Pope is the anti-christ, that my infant baptism isn't valid, if I'm not saved on xx/xx/xx at xx:xx then I'm not going to heaven. Which means they are judging me which is wrong.

I don't get it either. And with my experience over the summer with some Baptists, sadly enough none of them talk to me anymore other than to invite me to their bible studies. I haven't gone because they inevitbly end up talking about saved this and saved that. I try to explain to them the truth about it but they don't believe me and will almost always get angry about it. It just proves that they are insecure in believing the OSAS. No thanks, that group is not for me as I have found out.

 

[featherjinxer]

And, unfortunalty, it would be hard to told there is more work involved with the our Catholic aspect of things being correct- why not just be baptised and say "I'm saved, and sorry for my sins!" It would be hard, i think, for some people to consider another perspective because of that alone...

 

[Gwynne]

And, unfortunalty, it would be hard to told there is more work involved with the our Catholic aspect of things being correct- why not just be baptised and say "I'm saved, and sorry for my sins!" It would be hard, i think, for some people to consider another perspective because of that alone...

I'll agree that some people like the comfort of feeling 100% sure they've been "saved." It makes life easy, the get dunked, repent, and then get to go about their lives as if nothing happened, all the while saying "I'm saved, it's ok." Arguments of "faith vs. works" degrade into pettiness, with people forgetting that if their are no works, then their is not faith. Faith without works is dead....


Ok, so I'm off on a tangent....

In general, Protestant faith isn't any easier than Catholic faith, although it can appear to be from the outside. And that's the problem. From the outside things always look different. There are people in Protestant churches who get baptised, repent and then go about their lives as if nothing happened, confident that their baptism and repentance means they are saved.

But the same can be said for many cradle Catholics who become so convinced that because they are a part of the True Church, they are guaranteed salvation as well. They attend weekly Mass, go to confession and then continue to live their lives in any way they want, without ever really letting Jesus in.

And until you let Jesus in, whether you are Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox or whatever.... all the words you say, all the confessions you make, all the hymns you sing... are useless. It's what is in the heart and when it comes down to it, a majority of the Christians I've met, both Protestant and Catholic and Christians in name only. They are so wrapped up in themselves that they refuse to allow Christ in.

And that, I believe, is where the hatred and division comes from. For someone who truly allows Christ into their heart, who truly submits to the will of God could never hate another person, no matter how their beliefs differed.

 

[savvy]

I agree Gwynne. I have met so many people who claim to be "saved" and completely deny Christianity in their actions. Sometimes I can be one of those people, but I try not to.
About the original post...in my area there are few Catholics. I've only met one Catholic. Ever. So there are lots of misconceptions because no one really knows much about their faith. I cannot discuss Catholicism with one of my friends because we disagree totally about it and get really passionate...she claims Catholicism is not part of Christianity, while I try to prove it is THE ORIGINAL Christianity...gah!

 

[stray bullet]

Savvy, me too- I had only known one Catholic in my life before becoming one myself.
Now, I am more than happy to inform others

 

[St. Amadeus II]

In general, Protestant faith isn't any easier than Catholic faith, although it can appear to be from the outside. And that's the problem. From the outside things always look different. There are people in Protestant churches who get baptised, repent and then go about their lives as if nothing happened, confident that their baptism and repentance means they are saved.

But the same can be said for many cradle Catholics who become so convinced that because they are a part of the True Church, they are guaranteed salvation as well. They attend weekly Mass, go to confession and then continue to live their lives in any way they want, without ever really letting Jesus in.

And until you let Jesus in, whether you are Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox or whatever.... all the words you say, all the confessions you make, all the hymns you sing... are useless. It's what is in the heart and when it comes down to it, a majority of the Christians I've met, both Protestant and Catholic and Christians in name only. They are so wrapped up in themselves that they refuse to allow Christ in.

And that, I believe, is where the hatred and division comes from. For someone who truly allows Christ into their heart, who truly submits to the will of God could never hate another person, no matter how their beliefs differed.

I dare ANYONE to disagree with this beautiful piece of theological perfection!

 

[Spotty]

How do people become so brainwashed about what Catholics believe?

I mean ive seen stuff about Catholics thinking the Pope is God, the Pope is perfect, we worship Mary, we worship saints, we worship statues, we worship idols, we are not christian, we are responsible for islam and all sorts of other things. how do people get so misinformed? and why do they insist on calling us non-christians and say such outlandish things even if you tell them its not true. why do some people think they know more about what another person believes. it just doesnt make sense

Hey man,

That's exactly what all of my experience has led me to ask. It's more insulting, more irritating to be told that I'm lying to them when I explain what I believe, than it is when they are simply misinformed about our Faith.

It's especially difficult when you're explaining this to parents and family (especially when it's 2 against 1 - don't try it; it gets ugly fast).

After explaining to them the nature of the Pope and Mary, they actually scoff (my Mom and my Uncle) and say "Oh come on! You very well know that you are taught to worship Mary!" You think they would get a hint after watching me study the Church for years, but evidently the fact I've developed a well-informed mind about the history, traditions and exegetical teachings of the Church and Scripture - well...they would just rather throw it out the window and go back to square one "Catholics worship Mary."

Love them and pray for them. It's their choice to believe or not, especially if they have heard.

-Spotty

 

[Ann M]

Personally I believe one words says it all - Protest-ants

If I wanted to start up my own church today, all i would need to do is collect a few friends of like minds with issues, find an angle to discredit the other churches available, and offer an alternative. Now this may be a bit simplistic and probably upset a few people, but essentially this seems to be how churches begin. And who better to discredit that the dreaded Catholic Church, with all their power, money and real estate!

But seriously folks, the rift of the Reformation continues today growing in ever widening circles. After the first successful 'protest' survived the split, may people seemed to realise that it was possible to do this and survive and have since tried to find their Utopia Chruch. However when they find that they continually disagree with the church that they are in, they pack their bags and leave to find 'a better fit'.

Maybe that's why we took to divorce so well. Don't like this Church, pack up, move on. Don't like this husband, pack up, move on.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

i had seen so many Catholic hating posts before and it angered me, but after i started to consider myself Catholic i cant even explain the degree of hurt that i feel. to have someone post about their mom not being saved bc she was still catholic at the time, being baptised as an infant but later being baptised the biblical way, it really hurts me, it also sets off my temper and i say things i shouldnt...i dont get it, if they dont like us, dont want to learn anything about us, why dont they just leave us alone?

 

[kayanne]

Unfortunately is usually just starts more problems when you try to correct them too.

Good morning everyone! I came to OBOB this morning with the intention of posting only a quick fellowship post. I just wanted to thank the many sweet and helpful people here who have helped me understand the catholic faith better. I have learned so much, and had many misconceptions cleared up.

So please, don't think that answering questions just creates more problems, or that it's futile or hopeless. Maybe with some people it is, but I have to think that in general, if you can consistently show love in your responses, and show that you love Christ, people will come around. I certainly have.

However....there are probably always going to be some disagreements. I truly have gained respect for your faith and your beliefs, and I don't think you are all destined for h*ll (sorry, I used to pretty much believe that ). But I'll admit, the "we don't worship Mary/oh yes you do!" debate is my last big stumbling block with catholicism. And maybe we need to start another thread, but I'll put my question here for now.

I know you absolutely hate it when non-caths say or think that you worship Mary. And maybe most of you do keep your view of her appropriate, honoring her because she is the mother of Jesus, and understanding that your attention to her is so that she can point you to her Son. That all makes sense and is fine with me. But I was reading on another website recently, various prayers to Mary. One of them included something about "I give my entire body and soul and mind and everything I am and everything I have to you Mary" (sorry if it's a poor paraphrase, but that is the general idea).

To me (and probably to most non-cath christians) such a statement is an expression of worship, and would rightly belong only to God. We are to love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to me that prayer to Mary is too much like the devotion of our entire self that we are to have only to God. Notice I stressed to me, but I'm hoping this will help you understand why many people continue to think you worship Mary. I guess it comes down to one's definition of "worship." And in the end, it's not your definition or mine that matters, but God's. I think of various verses that tell us our God is a jealous God, and that He alone is worthy of our praise, and I do have to wonder if according to God's own definition of worship, if He thinks Mary is elevated inappropriately.

In closing, "man sees the outside, but God sees the heart." In matters of disagreement like this, I can leave it to God to know what is in the heart of someone praying to Mary as I mentioned above. I just wanted to shed a little light on why your view of Mary is such a difficult thing for non-caths to accept.

And remember---I really do appreciate how much I've learned from you!!!!!
with love and respect, kayanne

 

[Carrye]

Hi Kayanne

It's always good to have you in OBOB with us! Someone asked a similar question in another one of the forums this morning, so let me just provide a link there, and hopefully that discussion will shed some light. You are of course welcome to start a new thread, or PM me.

Carrie

 

[Epiphanygirl]

I've had numerous problems with this as well. I was taken aback at first, having a non-catholic tell me what I believe was astounding.
Depending on how they talk to me about it, I usually wait to see what the best way is to correct them.

 

[Paul S]

But I was reading on another website recently, various prayers to Mary. One of them included something about "I give my entire body and soul and mind and everything I am and everything I have to you Mary" (sorry if it's a poor paraphrase, but that is the general idea).

To me (and probably to most non-cath christians) such a statement is an expression of worship, and would rightly belong only to God. We are to love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to me that prayer to Mary is too much like the devotion of our entire self that we are to have only to God.

Remember what Mary said at Cana: "Do whatever He tells you." Mary, and all those in heaven, want us to follow God's will, and would never ask a fellow Christian to do something against God's will.

Through that prayer, we're really devoting ourselves to her Son through His mother.