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Locked on 02/19/2010 8:28:08 AM PST by Religion Moderator, reason:
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Posted on 02/19/2010 12:49:30 AM PST by bogusname
Even with the significant areas of doctrinal agreement between Catholics and Protestants (see Part One), a notable number of Protestant fundamentalists insist that Catholicism is an anti-Christian cult. Organizations and individuals (some of them quite popular) who classify Catholicism as a cult include: Chick Publications, Alberto Rivera's Anti-Christ Information Center, Tony Alamo's Christian Foundation, Bill Jackson's Christians Evangelizing Catholics, Albert James Dager's Media Spotlight, and Dave Hunt's The Berean Call. (This is not to say that all of these people belong in the same category — the latter three are more respectable than the former three.) Actually this is just a few of many individuals and organizations that classify Catholicism as an anti-Christian cult. Because their position receives a wide hearing in some evangelical circles, we must address their claim.
(Excerpt) Read more at equip.org ...
And of what did your investigation and affiliation inform you?
Oh ok, well thanks your great humility.
My wife was a Catholic, and I’m very familiar with Catholicism. In the purest sense, if you are going to take part in that ritual, in you heart, it’s supposed to be the literal body of Christ.
well my question is to catholics—can you be saved alone by a sincere faith in jesus christ as true God and the forgiveness of your sin by him? if you add any requirements to that for salvation and eternal security — you have strayed outside the bible.
i do think it is interesting that so many of the catholic doctrines are based on another ancient religion. i am sorely distressed by a number of them and how they feel like an insult to Christ.
as a former wife of lutheran minister, i am bored by liturgy, a rotating set of scriptures on which to preach (as if God communicates on a schedule), and i love exegetical preaching....
Exhibit A for the case for the New Atheism
sorry let me say though that i really dont like alot of the folks labelled as fundamentalists. i do listen adamantly to christian teachers on the radio but tend not to like the guys on tv (hinn et al).
“Time to pray and worship privately.”
Make sure you keep your religion in the closet.
“well my question is to catholics—can you be saved alone by a sincere faith in jesus christ as true God and the forgiveness of your sin by him? if you add any requirements to that for salvation and eternal security”
Sola Fidae is false.
Sola Gratia on the other hand is what scripture teaches. We are saved by the Grace of God through Faith in Christ.
For me, Mass was enshrouded with man-made pomp; outdated tradition having nothing to do with scripture which branded Christ in the church’s vision, effectively making Him only accessible through men of cloth.
My service with the Church of Christ, stripped away the denominational traditions and focused on scripture - creating and allowing a substantive relationship with Christ.
Mass was a good physical workout. Scriptural fundamentals are a good spiritual workout. The latter is far more rigorous to me.
Cult Shmult. A person might only ask “Is my faith word of God based or word of man based?”
(PS - Does anyone know why the book of Mormon is written in Old English style?)
It is not Faith that is complicated. It is our minds which are complicated.
I consider it to be a false version of Christianity, but not a “cult”, at least not in the popularly held conception of what a “cult” is.
Bad theology (worship and adoration and prayer to saints and Mary, salvation by works, transubstantiation, giving the pope the title of “Holy Father” which Christ addressed God the Father with, etc), alone does not make a religion a cult.
Cults use mind control and other forms of coercion to get their members to obey and behave in ways they normally would not. I do not believe this is the case with either the RCC or the LDS (though the LDS comes closer in this regard.)
I would consider groups like the JWs, Scientologists, Unification Church and ICC (if it still exists) to be true cults, in the sociological sense.
I’d also say that there are some groups with theology much closer to biblical teachings than the RCC that are far more cult-like than the RCC. If the RCC were a cult you would not see such a high percentage of “cafeteria Catholics” who choose the teaching they like and leave the rest, or pro-abortion Catholic politicians. A cult would not tolerate such dissent from its members.
Mr. Samples conclusions regarding Roman Catholicism are false as is much of the “criteria”that he uses for determining and defining a “christian” cult. Even where his criteria is correct, his conclusions are incorrect because he fails to apply his own criteria in reaching his conclusion. An example of this can be found in criteria number 2: “ Cults are usually formed, molded, and controlled by a single individual or small group.” A simple examination of Roman Catholic history and official RC doctrine demonstrates that the “popes” and “ongoing magisterium” fit this criteria.
You wrote:
“(PS - Does anyone know why the book of Mormon is written in Old English style?)”
Olde English. Not Old English. This is Old English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English
I agree tha the RCC does meet many of the criteria Mr. Samples claimed it does not meet, to be considered a “cult” in the theological sense of the word. If you define “cult” as a group with critical deviation from biblical theology, the RCC qualifies as does the LDS, all the liberal mainline denominations, the Word of Faith, Warrenism, and many other groups.
However, the word “cult” carries the idea of a group that robs its members of the ability to think independently and critically, and/or uses threats of force or financial or familial ruin to keep its members in line. The modern RCC does not do this.
Catechism of the Catholic Church Section 811
In the Creed we profess the Church to be one holy catholic and apostolic. These four characteristics, inseparably linked with each other, indicate essential features of the Church and her mission. The Church does not possess them of herself; it is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes His Church one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, and it is He who calls her to realize each of these qualities.
The Church Is One
John 17:11
Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.
John 17:21
... so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
Eph 4:4 - 5
There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all.
1 Cor 10:17
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
John 10:16
(Jesus said) “there shall be one flock, one shepherd.”
The Church is Holy
The Church of the apostles was holy. When we say that the Church is holy, we mean among other things that she had the all-holy God as her author.
Eph 5:25 - 27
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
1 Tim 1:15
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
The Church is Catholic
The third great historic mark, or note, of the one true Church is that this Church is Catholic. Catholic means “universal.” It refers as much to the fullness of the faith she possesses as to the undeniable extension in both time and space that has characterized her virtually from the beginning.
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
Col 1:5 - 6
The word of the truth ... in the whole world ... is bearing fruit and growing.
The Church is Apostolic
Finally, the Church that issued from the commission of Christ to the apostles was apostolic. Christ founded the Church upon the apostles.
John 6:70
“Did I not choose you, the twelve?” (Jesus) asked them.
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap021050.htm
My question to you is why do you care what Catholics think? I know your ill-informed don’t matter to most Catholics?
The Orthodox believe this too.
I’ll ask all my protestant brothers and sisters standing with this papist mackeral snapper at the pro-life prayer vigil this 40 days.
I think we all have better things to do than snipe at one another in the Name of Christ.
NO
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