I think it would be easier, at least for myself, to be religious if the Catholic Church wasn’t worth well over $1 billion and they weren’t so damn hypocritical (the Crusades DID happen. Nothing like having the worst massacre of people for religious beliefs in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD on your shoulders).
I am a bible believing Protestant, and attend a Baptist church but have no specific connection to any certain denomination as long as they teach sound doctrine from the bible. I have dated a Catholic girl before so I know a bit about what they believe too. So I could offer some info about the similarites and differences between protestant (methodist, baptist, presbyterian, etc.) and Catholic.
For all the people that draw a negative conclusion about Christianity from anything they see in the media whether it is accusations of Catholic priests or Benny Hinn driving a 'Benz. I invite anyone who is seriously curious and wants to know more about Christianity to message me on either AOl or in a pm here.
If anybody wants to talk about what the bible says or about what it takes for a person to get to Heaven or why I believe what I believe feel free to get ahold of me.
and where teh fuck do you get this shit? Just because several catholic priests and big-wigs made the headlines a little while ago, everyone thinks taht all catholic priest are shit… now, i’m catholic, and i’m by no means defending what tehy did… hell, i make as many catholic priest jokes anyone… but that 95% shit is just plain BS
i do agree with you tho, that you should check around and go to some different churches… maybe even two different ones of the same sect… every place does it different, and you need to find a place that fits you the best…
Catholics have some pretty crazy beliefs - no doubt about that - and i dont hold full heart to them all… but dont’ believe the BS anyone gives you about how shitty the catholic religion is… i hear ppl knockin it all the time… and of all the ppl ive heard say shit and say how bad the faith is, i’ve not met one that truly knew what we believe in and what we’re about… they just take thier parents word or their friends word and no one really knows a damn thing about it…
good luck… like i said above… try em all out… when it really comes down to it, they all say the same thing… i’ve seen a quote seeral different places of some guys : “religions are all the same… treat everyone else the way you want to be treated… all the rest is commentary”
catholicism is a religion, baptist/methodist/etc… are not religions christianity is a religion
Religion, isn’t that where the retired military people go for discounted alcohol?
I got that percent from a gay man who went to become a preist. anymore questions?
Find a non dinominational church? there’s one in monroeville I used to go to when I lived in Pittsburgh. It’s probally a better idea, get the fundamentals first, and then figure out all the particulars yourself that seperate the catholics from the protestants etc.
I vote :lockd: before this gets out of hand.
See…now this is y we can,t have a decent and meaningfull topic around here, WTF? This is supposed to be ON TOPIC guys!
just wondering, why is catholicism so “whack”. and a note on the crusades, it was christianity that drove it, not catholicism. gotta rememebr what started it-- isslamic belifs wouldnt allow christians into the holy land after the rule of hakim. prior to the rule of hakim, the christian./jew/isslamic sects had a mutual agreement. once that failed, it has been downhill since.
so same shit that fuel war in 1092 ad is doing ti today. old-christian beliefs about praying in holy land. today- g.w. bush christiian america belieffs about getting rich on usurping money via oil. old- isslam controlling holy land not letting christians in. today- isslamic beiefs controlling “gods” oil making chrisitians pay more for gas… shit comes full circle 1000 years later…
dont just pick a church or religion. read the bible 4 yourself and make your own opinion. cuz most churches,pastors,ect… loose the meanings and teachings of the bible. religon and church are just words to classify diffrent thought processes of people who are prob. totaly diffrent from yourself. i agree with boosted, u dont need to attend a church cuz picking just one opinionated view without knowing much about religon,god,salvation,ect… might leave you in the same place u are now.
Ya.i have bee ntalking to a few close friends about this whole subject and i am going to check a few things out b4 i do this.
Catholics consider themselves to be Christians. I’m not sure where you were going with that.
About the non-denominational churches, I would not recommend that to someone who is searching and unsure. I think it would be much better to go to a church with someone you trust, preferably one with distinct doctrine that you can examine on your own time.
There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with a non-denominational chuch, they can be great, and very faithful to the bible. The problem is that there is no standard. It’s like buying someone’s “custom turboback exhaust.” It could be awesome, pefect mandrel bends etc, or it could be press-bent with terrible welds. You can’t research it, you have to figure it out for yourself. That’s why most of us stick with a name brand, or denomination. You can compare them without seeing them in person, because there is a standard.
I am a Christian. I attend a Presbyterian church in Harrison City, New Life. You are welcome to come any Sunday, and so is anyone else for that matter. It is a PCA church, you can read about the PCA and decide for yourself. It is very important to us, to stay with the meaning and intent of the bible, and not to stray from it. You will not hear a sermon in our church based on anything other than the Bible.
I have seen more people convert from Catholocism, than I have seen convert to it. My mother grew up Catholic, but is now Presbyterian.
I invite you or anyone else to ask any questions, pm, aim, whichever.
One last thing, I would warn against making up what you think God is to you, because that is dangerous. And I don’t mean just you, but everyone. If you believe that God is real, as I do, and he is in control, you’d best take his word, rather than your own understanding. I only mention this because I see a lot of people do it lately, that’s why the bible is so important, make sure you are staying in it throughout this process.
my point was that the catholic church at the time was the only form of organized Christianity. so in 1000ad, catholic = christian and vice versa. there was no other sects–Lutheran, presby, protestant etc. so to say you were a christian in 1000ad meant u were a catholic.
technically I’m protestant, whatever, I don’t really care about that shit right now
keep in mind that catholic means “universal”, I call myself a christian (but don’t act like it most of the time), but i like to think i am a follower of the way of christianity itself, i believe the bible, that is why its here, for us to use. and remember agnostics were the ones who read the bible and made there own beliefs from it, to truly understand it you must keep in mind that it was taught to and written by jews, so you kinda have to think like a jew when reading it, i know that sounds funny but there are alot of words that when we read them we think of one thing, but the jews or deciples ment something a little different, like when the sanhedren tore there cloths it ment that they were utterly discusted about something, and jesus talked in parables for those who were prompted to understand, to understand. but if you have any questions i am very open to this subject, so pm me …
WOW guys…didn,t think the topic would go this far but u guys have givin me alot to think baout and alot i learned already
honestly the best place to learn is the bible. also look at some of the stories in the bible and you will understand what happens in the world today much better. it really is a great read
I go to church for the music
…and i also can’t believe this thread has gone this far with the past religion debates
x2, it has been the best selling book ever, and still is