Devout Catholics, what is the deal with...?
372443
I'm not Catholic but I'd say it's a movie thing.\nTime has no meaning to God nor his son Jesus.\nThat IS biblical.
440034
a lot of good answers I see. a lot of the catholic religion is herisey. however, they do beleive in God and Jesus. Many are good people and many of them are saved by grace. but I would never pray or bow down to Mary or say 7 hail Marys. The Bible doesn't say to do that and no code will reveil something like that. their are other things too. the bottom line is, if you are going to worship this God and Jesus, do it as the bible says to do it. Try reading it for the facts. anything else is false and heretical.
782955
I agree totally with you. The Catholic Church does teach the Bible and we hear the Bible at every Mass. We have two readings and usually a psalm reading at every Mass. I really think it is a matter of jealousy with the other denominations. Just like Joseph's brothers were jealous of him they are jealous of us because we have the Mother that our Father loves the best The Virgin Mary. We love and honor her and they don't so I would say the proof is in the pudding.
480618
Catholics are Christians if they have accepted Jesus as there saviour, same as any other denomination. (I'm not Catholic.) I don't know where you live but in UK the mainstream church had lost it's way and started compromising on things such as sex before marriage and the like, but now things are going back to God's word. The church I'm in is very Bibe based, happily.
299504
Catholics don't read the true bible either.\n\nIt was written by men, has been translated to English, and has had thousands of years to be editted.\n\nI don't *really* believe in the details of the Bible. It may be an excellent tool when read broadly, because you can understand the motives and meanings. What is wrong is getting caught up in single phrases, which tend to become overinflated.
995917
No, they really don't,  and sadly, i doubt they ever will.  It's a fundamental part of their religion now, not to understand what they do.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say to worship saints, or to confess to another sinner about your sins--whether he's wearing a fancy robe or not.\n\nThat's why I'm non-denominational, I go to a Bible Church and I read exactly what the English translation says.  Nobody has a right to teach their own opinions on God and what he says and does.\n\nAnd Catholics worship Mary becausethey think that Jesus is God, and Mary was the mother of Jesus, so Mary is the mother of God.  Hate to break my tone of intelligent commentary, but that's just silly.  Mary was a sinner like everyone else, she was probably thinking when they kicked her out of the inn, "buncha l3@$T@ l^D$, i'm about to pregnant with your savior and you can't find room!?  Well then kick somebody out, I'm Mary dammit!"\nShe was just the mortal chosen to bring him into the world, that's all.\nIt was a holy game of chess, and Mary was a pawn used to put the king of the red team in check and send him running in fear behind his last pieces, but that doesn't mean the pawn deserves any worship--she's just a pawn.  She followed God's will, (she's so lucky).  No crying he makes!? WTF!, that's not fair at ALL!  she got to be the mother of the perfect child, not the well behaved one, not the nice one, not the smart one; she got to be the mother of the perfect child, that should be payment enough for her.
578978
To april_hwth: Catholics don't pray to popes and saints as an end. They pray to saints to intercede on their behalf to God since they are already in heaven and can effectively communicate with God. Catholics can also pray directly to God, if they so choose. \n\nThe Rosary is one type of prayer asking the Virgin Mary (who is a saint) to intercede to her son Jesus on behalf of the person. It is not the only prayer that Catholics employ, but it is one of the more popular ones.\n\nAnd Catholics believe that faith is not enough to get to heaven. You should do all you can to do good works and help others because you'll find Jesus while doing good works. Faith without good works is dead. What are you supposed to do, just keep believing in Jesus and not do anything good? Is that fair for the people who spend their entire life doing good? Will they get the same reward as someone who honestly believes in Christ but does nothing good? Even Jesus did good things...and all Christians should do their best to emulate that good example, which does include good works.
567572
Doesn't all this ruckus from the Church seem like overkill to you? I haven't seen the Catholic Church so worked up over a movie since The Last Temptation Of Christ. And I haven't seen the Catholic Church so scared since those pedophilia scandals. Maybe the ideas in the book are not so far fetched after all.
523110
Everything Catholics do, they do against Jesus Christ. The Bible says to worship and pray to Jesus Christ because He is the only one that can save you. Catholics pray to Mary the mother of Jesus. Don't you think that that's against Christ? Who came up with rosemary beads? There is nothing like that in the Bible. Their baptism is in the title words, Father, Son, and Holyghost. The Bible plainly states to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Also, they sprinkle the water on people's heads. The Bible also clearly states to be submerged underwater to be baptized. I do not mock the Catholic faith, but just clearly see Truth. Truth is that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us for our dirty rotten sins. Mary, the mother of Jesus, did not die on the cross. Mary cannot save us, so why pray to her? Why does the Pope never marry? The Bible said that if a man find a wife, he has favor with God. Also, where is the pope in the Bible? Hmm? Nowhere. Praying to Mary? Nope. It's just common sense to me. If you do not believe in the Bible, then there is no explaining any truth. But if you believe in the Bible, look for yourself and you will find the true way. Have more questions? Find a Pastor in the United Pentecostal Church. That's where I go. They believe in the Bible, everything in the Bible. If things are unclear to you, talk to someone who knows the truth.
755939
I was raised Catholic, although I do not practice this religion anymore.  I hope that doesn't disqualify me to answer.  The things I will talk about are among the most compelling reasons that I do not practice this religion anymore.\n\nI have major issues with the Church (capital C, I guess that means the Pope) opposing birth control in this time and age.  To me, that is criminal.\n\nGuilt and unworthiness as a basic premise for living.  I am not perfect, but I achieve my highest good when I stay focused on the good in myself, not on the evil, sinful parts.\n\nMale dominance model, God the father, God the son.  Hello, any women up there in the upper ranks?\n\nOh and how could I forget, the church's backward, hateful postion on homosexuality.  Give me a break.  How the heck can you claim to be a religion when you judge and exclude others?  The presumption of that makes my blood boil.\n\nWhat I miss: \n\n1.  The feeling of community with others (didn't have it at the time, but when I occasionally go to church now, I feel like others have it).\n\n2. The poetry of the services.  Those readings are literature, and I miss them.  I miss the beauty of churches, the sense of connection with the medieval past.  I miss chanting with others.  I miss the music and beauty of hymn.\n\n3.  I miss praying.  I don't do it really now, but then I would.\n\nUnfortunately, I feel that the Catholic Church is a political body that claims it is not political, and this is where my greatest opposition lies.  By telling people how to vote on issues, the massive Church deigns to act as if it has all the answers, all the CORRECT answers.  I have a real problem with that.\n\nNow I am much more a spiritual person who finds greatest and inspiration in nature, connection between people, acts of kindness, dance and music, etc.  I do think that Catholicsm gave me a foundation of love for good, which is something I do not regret.
197457
I was brought up Catholic from birth and was brainwashed into believing what I was taught as teachings from the Bible. I have always believed and honored my spirituality in God, but too many years of it was not based in His Word.  \n\nLuckily, I was led to the Bible & I have been trying to sort out the Truth from the lies. It's a hurtful issue that I am working hard to overcome and find acceptance with. I am very confused, and somewhat bitter as well, but, at the same time, am I VERY thankful for the wonderful people here who share their knowlegde with beginners like me and are helping me along.  That in itself defines truth Faith in God to me and the power of believing he always there for you if you seek him.   Thank You everyone.
332678
If the sex issue is the real reason you have an issue with "religion"...bear with me, because I have also beat myself up over this...I'm 51 now, but I was beautiful years ago, and passionate, etc.  I also had a real attitude about B.S. when it went against my instincts, etc.  I discovered, and I offer you the proof that I dug up, that NOWHERE does the word of Jesus have anything against passion, hot sex, at all, ever...His word is critical of cheap sex, lying to your mate,etc---sex with intense love is God's gift...but its sacred and is made into garbage if used just to get off, or for the ego to abuse its magic to feel like a big stud, and equally for a beautiful woman to abase her power to attain power or gems,etc, using sex in a debased way.  That is ALL that was said...loving passionate sex is our gift..it is sacred and is never bad unless misused.  The Catholic church came along and twisted things very badly.  The student of life need only take a quick look at this, and its clear that we are being lied to big time...Priests were NEVER forbidden to take a wife at first...Jesus honored our needs, only wanted us to be clean about it...Then the catholics came along and burned people because they read books, were midwives, whatever...Meanwhile they were burning Mayans and their books, lying and cheating and murdering the new world for their gold.  What a load of crap...God has always said that sex is good...so much so that it needs to be honored...that's all...And any person  alive realizes that sex is the maximum...The catholics forbid it and then hide their pedophile priests...and make the rest of us all screwed up and guilty about our drives.  I agree totally withyour letter...long ago I was so fed up with the taboo, I purposely checked it out to see what was the big deal...in a very short time I got the answer for myself..SEX is great...but can be a sin when there is no emotion involved...Somebody will be hurt...like it or not...its not meant to be used as a health treatment, ever.  It is really sacred, fuck the catholics, and fuck the cynics also.  Sex is not meant to be used for recreation, or its health benefits.  You may disagree, I challenge you to respond to my message.
696001
u tell them that they r getting hung-up on terminology we all have a biological father, then there is God the source of all goodness and creation, why stress yourself over something like that? or them for that matter? if you accept  Jesus Christ as the savior why are they upset with you? im Protestant and i never had a problem with Catholics because we are all on the same team
1146294
>>>When Christians become so committed to their religion as many do why do they not take the next step? \n...and become priests or nuns or their equivalent, are they chickening out ot the last moment or something. <<<\n\nThere are plenty of ways, besides being a priest or nun, for people to live their Christian faith.\n\nIn fact, it is the laity -- more than the priests or nuns, in many ways -- who bring Christ into the schools, the workplaces, the homes of society.\n\nI'm a layperson employed full time by the Catholic Church, and so trust me when I say that while the priests and nuns are the most visible ministers in the Church, it's really the laity who make the Church tick.  \n\nWe are the ones who plan, organize, raise funds, and so on.  We are also often the ones who run the Church's schools, hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, crisis pregnancy centers, and (on an administrative level) even parishes.
1056670
Is the Pope Catholic?! By golly Miss Molly, of course Bob can fix it!!!! LoL--Yeah, maybe there was a BIT of sarcasm there...! Haha =)
1052180
Those who chose to ignore it are not following the Christian faith.  And most of us do not ignore it.\n\nhttp://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
802939
Good question!\nThat's one reason I'm not catholic.\nThey will dance around the question with terms like 'prayer aids'.\nThey'll call it anything except idolatry.