Aleria: United Year Of Faith

Why don't Protestants do this to God?

Catholics are always being told that by lighting candles, kneeling in prayer and saying the Rosary we are worshiping Mary or the saints, but if this is worship, then why do we never see Protestants doing these things to God?

If these actions are what equals worship of something, then why do Protestants not worship God by candles, incense, kneeling and prayer?

98% of the Protestant churches out there do not do these things and I have been to more Protestant churches than I can count where I don't see any worship going on. The hour and a half service is filled with someone lecturing for an hour and fifteen minutes. So where is the worship?

While Catholics do agree that one can kneel in worship and that one can offer prayers of worship, we do not agree that kneeling and prayers in themselves equal worship. But Protestants claim it is, so if it is, then why do they not worship God this way?

When did a person's perception become Absolute Truth?

I do not understand this.

Catholics are *perceived* as worshiping Mary

Catholics are *perceived* as never reading the Bible

Catholics are *perceived* as mindless followers

Catholics are *perceived* as not believing the Bible is the Word of God!

And no matter how much a Catholic will say these are not true, we keep being told that it IS true by non-Catholics!

So, when did perception trump truth?

That there has been a sudden influx of new Anti-Catholic on R&S that have been created within the last 15 days?

I mean, half of them I have never seen on here before and when they ask a question, I'm already blocked! I mean, I know it's the right of the person to block whomever they want to, but I just find it very odd considering I have never answered a question by these people before and am already blocked from the question!

Has anyone else noticed this happening?

I'm curious to know this. Us Catholics are constantly being assaulted over the fact that we believe that the Church is the only authority that can correctly interpret Scripture when Scripture needs to be interpreted.

I have heard many Protestants say that this is unbiblical and that we should all be able to read the Bible and interpret it ourselves. But if that is the case, then why are there over 33,000+ Protestant denominations with varying interpretations of the Bible?

If Scripture can be read and easily understood without any authority to guide one's interpretation of it, then why does St. Peter in his 2nd Epistle say:

"There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do to other scriptures"

St. Peter also says:

"First of all, you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."

If it is not a matter of personal interpretation, then it must be of public interpretation lead by the Holy Spirit, but many of the Protestant churches I have attended go by their own personal interpretation of Scripture and if a person disagrees with the interpretation, they either move to a church they do agree with or start their own using their interpretation of Scripture...this is very confusing to me.

Even more so, even when it is the Christ Himself leading the Bible Study, it is hard to understand according to the Bible!

In John 20:9, even though Christ had spoken much regarding His death and resurrection, John admits when they came to the empty tomb that "for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead" even though Christ had stated before that He must.

On the road to Emmaus, Christ had to explain every Scripture pertaining to Himself (which isn't listed by the way) and still the disciples did not recognize Him until the Eucharist was given!

Obviously, Scripture is not easy to understand and as the eunuch says in Acts 8:30-31:

"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"

Also, Philip wasn't just some man walking by, he was an ordained man through the laying of hands (please refer back to Acts 6 where it states the Apostles laid their hands upon Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch). He was chosen for being filled with the Spirit and wisdom.

The Eunuch turned to an authority to help him understand the Scriptures because they are not easy to understand, because *he* could not understand them himself even though he obviously knew the Scriptures.

I am just curious to know how is it you know that your interpretation is correct and from God? And why is your interpretation correct and not your friend's interpretation? I have seen in Protestant churches where three or four regular congregants disagree upon the interpretation of Scripture.

Is this not worrisome to you? Considering that St. Peter warns us that the incorrect interpretation of Scripture can lead to eternal destruction (the word used by St. Peter connotes spiritual destruction or damnation)?

I personally am quite relieved that the Church is the "pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15) and therefore can trust in her interpretations of Scripture because even though I know the Bible and the Scriptures and I have studied quite a lot...I can admit that without instruction and guidance, I would not be able to understand the Scriptures to their fullest potential--especially those that are quite hard to understand.

I'm curious to know why a certain man who claims he is a "pastor" keeps asking questions to us Catholics, but blocking us from answering?

It is because this way he can say "Look, Catholics don't know the answers to my questions!" and feel smart?

Is it because he is just using it as a way to find all the Catholics and block them?

It is because he's just an intolerant, bigoted, immature person who can't handle his beliefs being shot down with Scripture and reason?

Seriously, if one asks a question about a certain religion, then it should be open to people of that religion to answer, right?

I don't really understand this:

Most Protestants state they only have 2 Sacraments unlike Catholics who have 7. They state that the 2 they have are Baptism and Communion (Lord's Supper), which are 2 of the 7 that Catholics have, but here's my confusion:

According to Catholicism, a Sacrament is "A sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul."

http://www.catholicreference.net/index.c%E2%80%A6

Thus, they have power within them and are not symbolic in the Catholic faith, but in the Protestant faith, the Sacrament of Baptism is not symbolic while Communion is.

So how can Communion be a Sacrament if it is a symbol? If it is nothing more than bread and wine and has no grace behind it, why is it then called a Sacrament?

I did ask what a Sacrament is to Protestants and here is the answer I received:

"A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace, which actually achieves what it signifies.

Each sacrament carries with it the promise of God's Word. Since everything God says is true, His Word makes a sacrament more than what we see with human eyes: A miracle occurs with the administration of a sacrament, because God's Word always accomplishes what it promises."

This makes sense to me and agrees with the Catholic belief of a Sacrament, but it does not explain how Communion--which is a symbol only--can be considered a Sacrament.

Baptism is said to be a Sacrament and taken to literally have infused grace within the act, but Communion is not seen this way and yet is called a Sacrament. How can they both be Sacraments if one is symbolic and one is not?

I am curious to understand this.

As a Catholic, we have 7 Sacraments and understand a Sacrament to be "A sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul."

http://www.catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=3617...

Thus, they have power within them and are not symbolic. But I get confused because most Protestants believe in only 2 Sacraments (Baptism and Communion), but they only believe one has true power. From what I can gather, Communion is just symbolic and has no real power.

Why does baptism have true power, but communion is just symbolic? Why isn't baptism just symbolic as well? How can they both be Sacraments if one is just a symbol and one isn't?

So...what is a sacrament to you?

Thank you for your answers and God Bless.

Okay,

I can't remember my English the greatest and my job entails sorting information by street address.

Obviously I know how to count and therefore sort them from lowest to highest, but I get confused on the street aspect of it.

Which one comes first:

Oak Bush Ter

or

Oakland Rd?

I have a three year old Raiken Bearded Dragon.

The person I got him/her from didn't really know much about them and though I know more, this is my first Dragon.

Anyway, this has happened twice now and I'm not sure if these are eggs or not.

First of all, my Dragon isn't tunneling or anything, doesn't seem to be making a nest of any sort either.

Secondly, these "eggs" are oval shaped, kind of oblonged, and are yellow. I mean banana yellow.

I searched on Google Beaded Dragon eggs, but none came up yellow. There's about 12 or 15 of them. Anyone have any ideas??

Thanks

Then which one is?

Saying Christianity doesn't work because there are over 33,000 denominations who all believe something different and that the Holy Spirit is guiding their specific church.

So, how do we know which church is found in the Bible if it isn't the Catholic Church?

I know they're called Christians in the Bible, but that's because you were either pagan, Jewish or Christian. And again, with over 33,000 denominations calling themselves Christians but saying the others are wrong, not all of them can be right.

So which one?

Pretty much just what the questions asks, I want to convert my boyfriend to Catholicism, but I know I can't force him. He's in one of those weird religions that thinks Catholics are the most evil thing on earth even though he doesn't. But I want to get him away from it because I'm afraid of the man who runs it, he's telling him all these weird things about Catholicism when he doesn't know anything.

Sorry, rambled.

But does anyone know of a saint for conversion?

I am currently getting a Bearded Dragon from a woman who can no longer care for it, and though I know my dragons, I'm not really certain which one this is.

She had gotten him from a pet store and so she really has no clue, so I thought I'd ask.

He's about 8 months old, 10-12 inches and definitely has ridges down his back, sides of his face and legs. His tail is about the only place smooth. His markings are red, gold and tan with slightly darker patches of brown swirled throughout his body. He's quite sweet and pretty gentle, though fast.

I thought maybe an Inland Bearded Dragon, but I wondered if someone could help me?

Thank you!