One thing i want to ask Catholics

[Tigran of Sasoun]

I read some the thing about Protestants, i for my self am a Christian and do not catagorize myself a chatolic etc.. but if you catagorized me id be an Orthadox. But there are the questions i watn to ask catholics

1. Pergitory (dont know if spelling is right) wtf is it y is it not in th bible and why is it made up and why are so many other things made up in catholicism??.

2. why is the virgin marry so loved almost as much as jesus??.

3. Why is the pope almost like a semi god to catholics???, they call him "the holly father" in the Bible only god is the Holly father how than can the catholic church call the Pope the "holy father"??

I am not trying to put down catholics, i just want to know the ideas and history behind these thing.

[Bovril]

I was bought up a Catholic, but am not any longer. Even so, I'll try to answer your questions as a Catholic would.

1. Pergitory (dont know if spelling is right) wtf is it y is it not in th bible and why is it made up and why are so many other things made up in catholicism??.

Purgatory is an answer to the same philisophical dilema as the protestant construct of grace. The problem is that many people who are not condemned to hell are still not spiritually pure enough to enter heaven. Protestants say that these people are purified by the grace of God. Catholics say that they spend time in purgatory spiritually cleansing themselves before entering heaven. Neither concept is in the Bible, but since the problem itself is raised by the doctrines of the Bible, both groups must come up with an answer to it.
The reason Catholics believe things that are not in the Bible is that they have a doctrine of continued inspiration. Thast means that they belive the holy spirit is still guiding individuals and the church and revealing god's will for both. Protestants have the same idea, but do not make the Holy Spirit's guidance into doctrine.If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you will find that nearly all Catholic doctrine is based on the Bible, and that little which isn't tends to have a sound philisophical base to it.

2. why is the virgin marry so loved almost as much as jesus??.

The attitude of the Catholic church towards Mary is very different to their attitude towards Jesus. It really doesn't make sense to think of it in terms of who is being revered more or who is loved more. The role of Mary in the Catholic church is twofold. Fisrt she is a human paradigm, the completely pure human chosen by God. She also stands for the unconditional love assosiated with motherhood, christianity and the Catholic church, this links her into her second role. Second, she acts as an intercessor for those who wish to pray, but cannot bring themselves to face the awful countenance of God. In this respect Mary plays the same role in Catholic prayer that Jesus does in protestant prayer, as a more approachable side of the metaphysical. You are less likely to find Catholics talking about Jesus in terms of a 'friend' than Protestants, since this would not be true to his godhood for them. Instead, Mary (and to a lesser extent the saints) plays this role.

3. Why is the pope almost like a semi god to catholics???, they call him "the holly father" in the Bible only god is the Holly father how than can the catholic church call the Pope the "holy father"??

The Pope is caled the 'holy father' by Catholics because he is a holy person (meaning he devotes himself to God, and is especially pious, or should be at any rate), and father refers to his status as a clergyman (all Catholic priests are refered to as father to reflect their role as spiritual mentors for the community, and a sign of respect). I don't think it would be true to call the Pope a 'semi-god'. This impression is probably sparked by the popular love for John Paul II that saw many people thinking of him in terms of sainthood. The relation the Pope has with god is that of being a mouthpiece, the recipient of the divine will. Even so, no Papal declaration has become one of the central items of faith of the Catholic church (i.e something you must believe to be a Catholic) all of these are based on the Biblical interpretation.

[basics]

" Protestants say that these people are purified by the grace of God. Catholics say that they spend time in purgatory spiritually cleansing themselves before entering heaven. Neither concept is in the Bible.

Bovril,

Grace is very much in the Bible. Purgatory is not in the Bible. Just one reason that Roman Catholics protested. Note Roman Catholics being the protesters. It took Roman Catholics to see the nonsense coming out of that system that they had to protest. Let's get that right first before we go blaming Protestants for upsetting the applecart.

[Bruticus the Steadfast]

Bovril

I think you did a first class job of answering his questions.

Yes, I am always attacked by Protestants saying that the Catholic Church does not always follow the bible, or "makes up stuff". The Catholic chuch has been home to an infinate amount of the worlds greatest theological thinkers...as well as just being a long standing chuch. Dont you think after nearly 2000 years of existance, we would realize what is following the bible and what is not? (In our own minds anyway) lol.

On the 3rd question-. We also call him father because priest represent Jesus in the mass. Thus they are "Father" (correct me if I am wrong someone)

[RusskiSoldat]

Another question: most catholics I know claim that church doctrine is always right and never changes, well do you still believe the Earth is the center of the solar system?
I mean action was taken against Galileo when he proclaimed otherwise.

[HellDawg]

Another question: most catholics I know claim that church doctrine is always right and never changes, well do you still believe the Earth is the center of the solar system?
I mean action was taken against Galileo when he proclaimed otherwise.

That was never "Church Doctrine." The term Church Doctrine refers to the central beliefs of the Church (i.e., Jesus is God's Son, Mary is the Virgin Mother, ect.) In other words, those particular Catholics speak the truth (or at least what we consider to be the truth). I can't remember the exact term for something the Church says but is considered less important than doctrine, but that's the basic jist of it.

[Dromikaites]

Another question: most catholics I know claim that church doctrine is always right and never changes, well do you still believe the Earth is the center of the solar system?
I mean action was taken against Galileo when he proclaimed otherwise.

He, he, it's not only the Catholics. And it's not about the church but about the Pope. The Pope is the only one who is always right. But contrast it with our Orthodox church (I assume you're Russian - I am Romanian) who says the Saint Synode is always right because its decisions are inspired by the Holy Ghost. Explanation for the non-Orthodox: each national church has its own "pope" called the patriarch. When making decissions regarding religion or church's internal affairs, the patriarch is assisted by an assembly called the Saint Synode, made of high officials of the church (an assembly made of the equivalents of the catholic bishops).

And, Russki, don't forget that the word Ortodoxy means "the true dogma". Even though they're not very vocal about this, the Orthodox churches consider the others either "mislead" or downright heretics :-D Catholics fall into the "mislead" group because they do admit the sanctity of Mary but are not Orthodox (brilliant logic, isn't it?) while some protestant churches are heretics because they don't. At least in the Middle Ages the Armenians were considered heretics too so the paintings on the churches of that time show the Armenians and Muslims (and in one instance, even the Poles :-D) going straight to hell. Another explanation for non-Orthodox: our churches normaly don't have statues (since Jews, Muslims and Christians alike should not worship a carved effigy) but they have the walls painted with images of the saints, biblical scenes, Jesus, Mary, etc.

[Gubbins]

1. Pergitory (dont know if spelling is right) wtf is it y is it not in th bible and why is it made up and why are so many other things made up in catholicism??.

Most of modern Christianity has nothing to do with the bible. Our concept of hell, for example, is almost entirely based on the church and works of authority such as Dante.

[Tigran of Sasoun]

"Mary is the Virgin Mother"

In that some christians do not belive that jesus had a brother, when they say "virgin mother do they mean she never you know, and didnt have anyother kids??? because in the bible it says he had "Brethren" (james) and Jesus responded that "who ever follows the teaching of god is my brethren and mother",

[Bovril]

In that some christians do not belive that jesus had a brother, when they say "virgin mother do they mean she never you know, and didnt have anyother kids??? because in the bible it says he had "Brethren" (james) and Jesus responded that "who ever follows the teaching of god is my brethren and mother",

The central theme here is the immaculate conception. That means that Mary concieved Jesus without having sex, by divine intervention. The importance of this is to do with the ritual purity of Jesus, not Mary, so if she did have other children (but no one really knows) its not an issue.

[Cobra]

Was purgatory around before Dante Aleghiri, or was the comedy the beginning of that?

[GreyMouse]

Purgatory was first created as a way for the church to increase its finances. You use to have to pay to get people out of purgatory, look it up. My neighbor is a Catholic and their dog ran away so they were praying to some saint. This whole praying to other people freaks me out because if God does exist I do not think he or she will be happy with that. The other thing to think about is how activate God use to be in the world, flooding, assisting believers in killing the non-believers, sending part of him down to perform miracles to bring more people to him, and now nothing nada for thousands of years. When do you think people will stop believing maybe in the year 3500 and still nothing?

[Bruticus the Steadfast]

I would think that it would have been in the church's mind before the divine comedy. (If I am right in my thinking of what you are talking about)

[Dromikaites]

1. Pergitory (dont know if spelling is right) wtf is it y is it not in th bible and why is it made up and why are so many other things made up in catholicism??.

I would suggest to leave the "wtf" out of a question about somebodyelse's religion, especialy if you don't want to put that religion down ;-)

[Virgo Vestalis]

My neighbor is a Catholic and their dog ran away so they were praying to some saint. This whole praying to other people freaks me out because if God does exist I do not think he or she will be happy with that

According to the Bible (Jesus himself), we shouldn't even be praying to Jesus, nevermind ordinary people.

[Søren]

According to the Bible (Jesus himself), we shouldn't even be praying to Jesus, nevermind ordinary people.

From where do you quote that ?

nevermind ordinary people

Agreed.

[Virgo Vestalis]

From where do you quote that ?

Without searching through my bible, I couldn't tell you I'm sure one of our more learned forum members could find it easily enough.
If memory serves (it usually does) Jesus is asked by one of his disciples who he should pray to. Jesus replies that it is God, not him to whom he should pray.

We ask (pray to) the Saints to pray for and help us

Why you would prefer to ask a dead person to help you rather than your omnipotent God is quite beyond me.

anything else would come under the false idol commandment.

That is my understanding.

[Bruticus the Steadfast]

Well, praying is not the same thign as worshiping. To pray is to ask. We ask (pray to) the Saints to pray for and help us. It is not worshiping at all.

[Søren]

Praying to the saints replaces God, somewhat. In the bible it says that God cares, even if a sparrow falls to the ground; therefore any form of mediator takes away from his role as an omni-potent and omni-present deity.

[MaximiIian]

Well, praying is not the same thign as worshiping. To pray is to ask. We ask (pray to) the Saints to pray for and help us. It is not worshiping at all.

You've no idea how many times I have to explain that very simple concept to people. On a regular basis.
Not just on this forum, but on a couple others.
It's so tiresome. D: