Why are Protestants lumped together?

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Thoughout this forum it seems that when someone says something that is considered wrong by the the Catholic respondents they will point to it and say something to the effect that Protestants are against one thing and for something else. Why are all Protestants linked together like they all believe the same thing? And why is it assumed that everyone who disagrees with the Catholics are Protestant? Is this Catholic doctrine? There are many groups that are not Protestant at all. The Mormons where never in the Catholic Church. The Jehovah's Witnesses where never in the Catholic Church. The Baptists have little trouble proving that they existed prior to the Reformation that started in 1530. I am not sure, but the Campbellites may not be Protestants. There are probably other groups as well. The Protestants do not all agree, but many of them believe quite a bit like the Catholics do. Since they came out of the Catholic Church, many of them see it as the mother church. Since the the Protestants broke off from the Catholic Church, wouldn't it make more sense to lump the Protestants with the Catholics?

-- Someone Special (someone@special.com), December 04, 2003

Answers

no it doesnt make sense to lump the protestant with Catholics, because The Catholic Church is the only true Church. Weather they agree with 'some' Catholic teachings or think it is the mother church has nothing to do with the fact that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. Weather they be baptist, luthern, mormens, they are prostentants to me.

"And why is it assumed that everyone who disagrees with the Catholics are Protestant? Is this Catholic doctrine?"

No it is not a doctrine, but it is a doctrine that there is no salvation out side the One True Church. You cant pick and chose what you want to beleive in.

KeV

-- Kevin Wisniewski (Kez38spl@charter.net), December 04, 2003.


Although the theology of Protestantism is in a state of absolute chaos, and there are hardly any doctrinal beliefs accepted and understood the same way by all Protestant sects, all Protestants do accept the flawed manmade traditions of sola scriptura, sole fide, and private interpretation of the Bible. Therefore when someone starts posting messages that are based on these principles, that person is a Protestant, and is frequently identified as such. You are correct that JW's and Mormons are not Protestants. Though they are both offshoots of Protestantism, their beliefs have become so bizarre that they cannot reasonably be considered Christian. When they post here, they are identified as what they are - not as Protestants. Baptists certainly are Protestants, and have a clear history dating back to their 17th century origins in the Netherlands. I don't know why certain Protestant denominations want so desperately to detach themselves friom that name; but there are only three categories of Christian churches - Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Yes, Protestants do hold many beliefs similar to those of the Catholic Church. If they didn't, they could not be considered Christian, since all Christian truth necessarily comes from the Catholic Church, which was the sole repository of that truth for the first 1,000 years after Christ. Nothing can be "lumped" with the One True Church. Jesus founded one Church for all men. That was true in Apostolic times, it is true today, and it will be true until the end of time. Anything else is a counterfeit.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 04, 2003.

It's to bad people find there identity in a religion rather than Jesus Christ. All the division among God's people. I wonder what God thinks of the many religions claiming his name, and not fully following him. I wonder what he thinks about people following man made traditions instead of him?

-- dave (Notmy address@something.com), December 04, 2003.

Well you hit the nail right on the head! That is axactly why Christ founded ONE CHURCH. Thereis devision because some people think they know better then God and make there own church.

KeV

-- Kevin Wisniewski (Kez38spl@charter.net), December 04, 2003.


"We dont belong to this brunsh of lost cheep of God !" (Bilal Shakess)

-- Jeanie (mary_kissmiss@hotmail.com), December 05, 2003.


KeV said "Well you hit the nail right on the head! That is axactly why Christ founded ONE CHURCH. Thereis devision because some people think they know better then God and make there own church."

Don't you know the Scriptures? Jesus said, "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." (Luke 12:51)

-- Jeanie (mary_kissmiss@hotmail.com), December 05, 2003.


The one thing I realize about Protestants and Catholics, is Protestants are normally more Bible based,faith based, and teach that Jesus is the way to salvation. Catholics are based more on traditions, works, and a church is the only salvation. But now as we go further along in time, Lutherans, and catholics are coming closer together and have same teachings. Depending on how conservative and liberal it is.

-- dave (Notmy Address@something.com), December 05, 2003.

Oh Brother. So the divisions of Protestantism, all the conflicting and false doctrine, are the plan of God for His Church, huh? I guess when Jesus said that He forgot that He had said "Father, that they all may be ONE, even as you father and I are ONE". Jesus prophecied about Protestantism when He said "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires". (2 Timothy 4:3)

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), December 05, 2003.

Essentially Protestants are all equal in that they have no clergy - no apostolic succession, and hence, no priesthood, confirmation, reconcilliation, annointing of the sick, and no Eucharist.

thus, they are lay people, period. They can baptize and get married. Insofar as they believe in these sacraments according to the Catholic understanding, they are indeed "Christians". But insofar as they adhere to traditions of men (such as Luther and others) who taught new doctrines, they are misled and easily torn asunder into factions (Galatians chapter 5 anyone?).

In the Catholic Church there are geographically distict churches - dioceses for example, as well as hundreds of unique SPIRITUALITIES or "charisms" such as monks, nuns, friars, mendicants, etc and movements...but this diversity of how to live the faith does not affect what they believe. Diversity in form, not in content.

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), December 05, 2003.


"Don't you know the Scriptures?"

Yes as a matter of fact i do, i have the Catholic Church to help me understand it as millions of other Catholics do. That is why we all beleave the same thing unlike the hundred maybe even thousands of other "churchs".

KeV

-- Kevin WIsniewski (kez38spl@charter.net), December 05, 2003.



The simple fact is this. The Catholic Church is the one true church founded by Jesus himself. Why you ask? Jesus told Peter the he was the rock, and on that rock he would build his church. If you notice "church" does not refer to more than one. Peter was mortal, so it is only understood that he would die. Peter's successors, and himself are considered popes in the Catholic Church. If Catholicism as you say is the mother church, and the first church, it is understood that it must all trace back to the time of Peter in which Jesus entrusted his "church" to him. Therefore, Catholics belong to the universal church founded by God himself. Now, when Martin Luther strayed away from that, I feel that he poisoned the minds of many others. People weren't satisfied with just one thing, and wanted their own. Therefore, families began practicing new teachings, thus passing it on to generations after them, leading them to believe that that is right. One can change from the religion they were born into, but why would they if they're told that it is the true church? That is when controversy will erupt between Catholics and other believers. I am a high school student, and all I've seen on flyers, or heard from Protestants is what fun they have at church. Church can be fun, but there is also a very spiritual basis to it that must be recognized. I believe that many youth are being reeled into Protestant churches because of what they advertise. A lot of their advertising consists of fun, parties, games, and several other things. Ofcourse one must have their share of that. People I talk to are also very on the offense of their religion. Any remark about different bibles or the Virgin Mary starts them on a rampage. I think it is sad that they are taught at church what it is that is supposedly "wrong" with the Catholic church. Catholicism does not appeal very much to youth though, because it is a very strict and disciplined religion. We have sacraments we follow and everything along with that. I am very proud to be a Catholic and will defend it to the bitter end. I am not judgemental nor fixated on what religion people are. We are all children of God, and all unique in our own way. One mustn't label a person's character by their religion. That is not the teaching of God, therefore we mustn't do it. It is my belief that Protestants have sadly strayed from the one true church, nonetheless we should all come together as children of God.

-- Julissa Barrera (starlight143@cs.com), January 14, 2004.

Protestants are lumped all together because they ALL PROTEST against the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. The spirit of Protestantism has not changed ever since Luther -- that of DISOBEDIENCE, ERROR, and DELUSIONS. In other words, Protestants are ANTI-Catholic.

-- catholic1850327913065297 (catholic1850327913065297@Catholic.Truth), January 17, 2004.

Look up the word "Protestant" in Websters, it is any church not in union with the RC. The root word Protestant is PROTEST! And that's what they are good at!

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), January 17, 2004.

The Catholic Church is the only true Church

Who says ??

What was the (meaning of the) inquisition ??

Cheers & salut from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 19, 2004.


laurent...

The Catholic Church is the only true Church Who says ??

Christ himself says it more than once, but most noteably when he tells simon that he is the rock (peter) and that on him the church of Christ will be built. That church was the catholic church, laurent, there can be no doubt about it. you can even still see peter's original church in rome today, near the vatican. in fact, peter is buried under the vatican.

What was the (meaning of the) inquisition ??

the inquisitions were an attempt to root out those who were contrary to the faith, particularly early in the middle ages. there were several inquisitions, with different meanings. Contrary to popular beleif, the vast majority of the inquisitions were NOT directed at anyone deemed to be a witch. this rumor arrises from the fact that in the 17th century the witch trials were held in america (this was a protestant inquisition).

most inquisitions revolved around a group called the Cathars. these were a militant group of anti catholics who threatened the church and actively resisted several of the governments. their idea was simple: procreation was a sinful act, so take over the church and force EVERYONE into celebacy.

the spanish inquisition revolved around other types of heretics... however, the spanish inquisition was not started by the church, but by the spanish government. it lasted for a time before being condemned by the vatican and squashed.

ask a protestant how many people died in the inquisition and you get answers like "hundreds of thousands" at the least and generally more like "millions" or "billions" (although billions would have been more than the population of europe at the time). ACTUAL estimates by historians range a little, generally from 2,500 up to 5,000 including all the inquisitions over 750 years.(except the salem witch trials, but that only adds thirty or so more).

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), January 19, 2004.



Books on the Inquisition:

The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision by Henry Kamen
Why Apologize for the Spanish Inquisition? by Very. Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Maria Duran.



-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 19, 2004.


The Salem witch trials were not conducted by the Catholic Church, but by superstitious Protestants.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), January 19, 2004.

big Paul,

i thought i incorporated that when i said: the fact that in the 17th century the witch trials were held in america (this was a protestant inquisition).

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), January 19, 2004.


So , a kind of holy war ??

Cheers & salut from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 19, 2004.


No, an inquisition is a holy trial, not a holy war. If they wanted to say that, they would have said Jihad, or Crusade.

What happened in Salem, really wasn't that holy though.

-bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), January 19, 2004.


an inquisition is a holy trial

In other words , forced to be catholic or forced to believe ??

btw , Burn the witches was pure murder !!

Cheers & salut from a NON BELIEVER:

-- Laurent LUG (.@...), January 19, 2004.


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