Tell me about Catholicism

[Netzach]

Exactly, though my quibble was with the inherent contradiction between God being all knowing and at the same time the giver of free will. Yes, to all those who want to dispute me on this, I now know that Aquinas and others did a decent job of reconciling this contradiction but none of those arguments that I read later fully persuaded me. Besides, on a practical level the church never lived up to its ideals or its promise.

Oh.

Yeah, that is thorny. In my tradition this is where you shrug and go "and you should be able to understand the Mind of G-d anyway?"

I think if I'd gone to reform temple where people weren't so kooky with the sex roles BS, I'd be way more into it all. Probably be some kind of wacked out leftist female Rabbi by now.

I'm sorry this is a murderous hijack.

Something that really didn't get added much to the explanation for the OP is the notion of the Trinity, except by Chauderlos - as a passive observer this seems to be the major difference between Catholics, and the rest of the goyim. (hee hee) It's also one of the most notoriously hard to explain notions out there - it's one of those things that you kind of feel on a gut level or don't - either the idea that three things are one thing totally awe-inspiring makes total sense or makes you head back to Methodist services.

Also this Mary-as-intermediary thing is huge. Everyone else has her kind of off to the side, fainting by the cross or something. For Catholics, she's almost like having a lawyer go to God for you, God's much more likely to think it's worth listening to.

 

[midwestyankee]

Oh.

Yeah, that is thorny. In my tradition this is where you shrug and go "and you should be able to understand the Mind of G-d anyway?"

I think if I'd gone to reform temple where people weren't so kooky with the sex roles BS, I'd be way more into it all. Probably be some kind of wacked out leftist female Rabbi by now.

I'm sorry this is a murderous hijack.

Something that really didn't get added much to the explanation for the OP is the notion of the Trinity, except by Chauderlos - as a passive observer this seems to be the major difference between Catholics, and the rest of the goyim. (hee hee) It's also one of the most notoriously hard to explain notions out there - it's one of those things that you kind of feel on a gut level or don't - either the idea that three things are one thing totally awe-inspiring makes total sense or makes you head back to Methodist services.

Also this Mary-as-intermediary thing is huge. Everyone else has her kind of off to the side, fainting by the cross or something. For Catholics, she's almost like having a lawyer go to God for you, God's much more likely to think it's worth listening to.

You've definitely isolated a couple of the most distinguishing differences between Catholicism and mainstream Protestantism. The concept of the holy trinity is indeed a tough one. For many Catholic women, Mary is a sort of divine heroine and role model. Based on how she's described in the Gospels, she was a remarkable woman and perhaps deserves a high degree of admiration. I never quite got the whole thing, though so I'm not the best one to comment.

One other aspect of a Catholic mass that should be known by anyone who attends is this: Catholics do not believe in a come-one-come-all communion. Only Catholics in good standing are to be served at Holy Communion. This differs considerably from the open table practice of many mainstream Protestant churches so one who is just visiting at a Catholic mass ought not to assume that he or she will be welcome at the communion rail. It won't be the case.

 

[Primalex]

I have been asked to go to Mass with a friend. Other than studying the art in Cathedrals, and a bit of a round about stab at theology, I know nothing about the Catholic religion.

Well, I'm half Catholic. I've had the Communion, but not the Confirmation. I denied it. I believe in the church, not the religion. This sounds now totally wrong, but despite fucking little boys they do help people - while I'm still waiting for something useful from God him/her/itself. But I do despise the evangelic guys - you shouldn't cherry-pick religion.

 

[chauderlos]

Oh.

Also this Mary-as-intermediary thing is huge. Everyone else has her kind of off to the side, fainting by the cross or something. For Catholics, she's almost like having a lawyer go to God for you, God's much more likely to think it's worth listening to.

Mary, mother of Christ
Here lies an important difference indeed between Catholicism -and to a certain extent the orthodox religion - and other Christian churches.
Catholics believe that She was conceived without sin, too (Immaculate Conception, December 8th). It became an official dogma in 1854, although it was accepted widely long before.
She remained a virgin all through her life – this is common for both Catholics and Orthodox, not for Protestants who claim Jesus had brothers and sisters (depending if you take "brothers" literally or not, it's quite possible).
After Her death, She went straight to Heaven, both body and soul (Assumption, August 15th)), a belief shared – well, almost – by Orthodox.
I won't be lengthy on Her life, as information can be found for instance here.

She plays a great role in the catholic faith, as intercessor between God and man. She's also a gentle figure, quite uncommon in a male-dominated world, to whom our burdens can be unloaded.
To a certain extent, the same goes with saints.

Disclaimer: I'm in no ways a Th D, so errors can occur here. And, again, it's not to be meant as propaganda, but an expression of my faith.

 

[Rosie_Riveter]

I'm fairly certain that all Protestants believe in the trinity--father, son, and holy ghost, or, better yet, creator, redeemer, liberator.

 

[chauderlos]

True, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the Credo is common to both Protestants and Catholics.

 

[Rosie_Riveter]

True, as I mentioned in an earlier post, the Credo is common to both Protestants and Catholics.

I may have been misreading Netzach.

 

[Netzach]

Ah, it was my impression though that there is more of a mystical emphasis on Trinity in Catholicism though - at least I thought I remembered some people in a Joyce novel arguing about it at some point.

 

[Rosie_Riveter]

Ah, it was my impression though that there is more of a mystical emphasis on Trinity in Catholicism though - at least I thought I remembered some people in a Joyce novel arguing about it at some point.

I think some Protestant denominations may emphasize Christ more--the ones that focus on being saved, one's personal relationship with Christ, etc.

And Pentecostals, of course, emphasize the holy spirit.

But all believe in the trinity.

The role of saints and of Mary is a key difference between protestants and Catholics but I'm not sure even that is doctrinal.

 

[chauderlos]

I think some Protestant denominations may emphasize Christ more--the ones that focus on being saved, one's personal relationship with Christ, etc.

And Pentecostals, of course, emphasize the holy spirit.

But all believe in the trinity.

The role of saints and of Mary is a key difference between protestants and Catholics but I'm not sure even that is doctrinal.

It is, and the Immaculate Conception of Mary is a catholics-only dogma, as is the infallibility of the Pope*. Shared - almost, as I mentionned before, with Orthodox, is the Assuption.

An other typical point of catholic faith is that marriage is regarded as one of the 7 sacraments, that can only be recieved once. If you marry according to the catholic rite, the Church won't marry you a second time (except of course if your spouse dies), and if you divorce you're out.
Not sure about the Orthodox and Muslims, but Protestants can marry and divorce as often as they like. I recall Netz saying that Jews can divorce, too.

_______
* I must confess I have trouble accepting this. After all, the Pope, although highly respectable, in "only" a man.

 

[Missdemeanour]

Catholic Surmons!!

Our priest was celebrating 40 years in the priesthood and during his celebration mass he recalled meeting up with a woman who had been a member of the first parish he was in. She greeted him and said, ''Father I remember your very first sermon!''

Our priest replied ''Oh really, that was a very long time ago, what was it about?''

The woman replied ''It was about an hour too long Father''