Common Misconceptions

Spiritlight said:

If you did any did you find it successful? Magik not hexes

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Yes, I tend to think so.

That as a Christian I am required to deride all other faiths.

I've only recently become a Methodist, so I don't really know any Methodist stereotypes or misconceptions.

seashale76 said:

I had that misconception too! Then I read a thread here at CF and learned otherwise. It was very interesting.

Common misconceptions about my faith:
We're Jewish.
We're Roman Catholics in disguise.
We worship saints and icons.

Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you, by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”

Holy Archangel Michael, pray to God for me.

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What should people think when they see a Catholic praying toward a statue or the host of heaven?

MichaelTheeArchAngel said:

What should people think when they see a Catholic praying toward a statue or the host of heaven?

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So glad you asked. I pray thee good sir, to hearken unto my post.

There are around six different Greek words that are usually translated into English as 'prayer'. These words encompass supplications, interecessions, thanksgiving, etc. Prayer to the saints IS NOT WORSHIP! Perhaps this misconception came about from bad translation? At any rate, I Timothy 2:4 upholds the practice of intercession for others, and we are quite cognizant of the fact that Christ's mediation is what makes intercession possible.

Mary, the Theotokos (God bearer) does intercede for us through prayer, as do ALL the saints. When a person asks the Theotokos, or any other saint, to pray for them, it is just like when we ask for anyone else to pray for us. The God I worship is the God of the living. The saints of the Church are ALIVE in Christ. I will ask them to pray for me, as I ask my other brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for me, and I them.

I kiss my priest's hand, my bishop's hand, we make prostrations to each other (during Forgiveness Vespers at least) and we're not worshipping everyone- it is a sign of respect. It is no different with the saints to us.

Some relevant scriptures for you:
John 6:47-51
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”


John 5:25-29
“Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.


Matthew 27:51-53
“And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.”

John 11:23-27
“Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.’ ”

“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ ” She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, ...’ ”

Matthew 22:32
“ ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”


Luke 20:38
“and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”




Revelation 21:27
“ … but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”


John 8:51
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”


Revelation 5:8-10
“… and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,10 and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.’ ”

ChavaK said:

thanks for the response....I too have heard that certain Christian groups pray to saints and statues....thanks for clarifying.

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many people think that about Buddhists as well it is, in my view, one of the more interesting misconceptions....as if all us Buddhist sorts were somehow confused about what, precisely, our wooden representation of a Buddha is.

two main misconceptions of muslims about christianity in here bulgaria are:

1:Bible modified

2:Christianity spread with sword.when u ask them why ? they answer:because they have done ''Crusades''.and when i try to explain them that christianity is religion of peace,not christianity but islam was spread with sword and there are many verses on violence in quran,its not a religion of peace and tolerance,they are always get aggressive and try to hurt me

ChavaK said:

Yeah, I've heard some Muslims say the Hebrew bible has been corrupted too.

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they believe all religious books excep quran were modified.can they prove ? surely no but they have to believe because holy book(old/new tastament) does not match with qoran

Just like Christians have to believe (without proving, again) that the Quran is in error because it does not match the Bible, presumably.

PHenry42 said:

Just like Christians have to believe (without proving, again) that the Quran is in error because it does not match the Bible, presumably.

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there is nothing wrong with believing that ur religion is true and the books of other religions is not from god.but people must prove that if they claim the book of others was modified

So claiming that something is based in truth but has been distorted imposes burden of proof, but claiming that something is false to begin with doesn't?

Whatever.

i mean,if u believe ur book is from god and ur religion is true,its not a problem.but muslims always claim that bible was corrupted and modified.so they must prove that.if they cant prove,they must say ''i believe(!) that bible was corrupted'' not ''yeah bible was corrupted we all know that''

**sorry did not read the forum title**

ChavaK said:

Yeah, I've heard some Muslims say the Hebrew bible has been corrupted too.

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Well as per Most of the Muslims Jews anticipating arrival of Muhammad several centuries before corrupted their Torah to relegate Abraham's son to the status of a concubine offspring.

mighty2save said:

**sorry did not read the forum title**

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You're welcome to post here! A few Christians have answered already, and your answer was a nice addition to the topic.