Completely out of nowhere, absolutely minor rant. Don't ask.
I don't know why this annoys me, but it does. Don't ask what set me off because I'm not telling. My rant is this: it annoys me (obviously to a great degree) when people refer to Catholicism and Christianity as two separate entities. Just so you know: THEY'RE NOT. No, really! You know why that is? That would be because Catholics believe in Christ. It's hard to believe, I know. Those kooky Catholics do some crazy things some times, but I assure you, it's true.
Now, I'm going to go out of my way and give these people the benefit of the doubt and assume they're talking about the differences between Non-Denominational Protestant Christians and Catholics of either belief (yes, there are two!) but the point is that they refer to it incorrectly. This is Wrong. Stop it. It starts people down the path to ignorance. I've had Christian, non-Catholic friends tell me that Catholicism is not a real religion because they worship Mary and saints. Without getting into a huge theological debate, no, they don't. And yes, they do. If you don't know how Catholicism (or any religion) works, what right do you have to criticize their beliefs?
Catholics are NO different to non-denominational Protestants than Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Christian Zionists or any other -ists that believe in Christ. And! If I was going to be a complete bitch, I'd point out that Catholicism was around first. But I'm not, so I won't.
I find it amusing that I, the one who is called a heathen by my own grandmother, the one who is told that I can't celebrate Christmas because I don't believe in Christ (do not even get me STARTED on that rant,) I consistently am more learned and knowledgable in their own religions than people in my life who choose to criticize me. Why? Because I read. Because I learn. I don't take word as law from people who, when questioned, can't offer any constructive response. And you know what? I think I'm ok. So they can all shut up, as far as I'm concerned.
Anyway, tangent aside: Catholicism = Christianity, no really!
Now, I'm going to go out of my way and give these people the benefit of the doubt and assume they're talking about the differences between Non-Denominational Protestant Christians and Catholics of either belief (yes, there are two!) but the point is that they refer to it incorrectly. This is Wrong. Stop it. It starts people down the path to ignorance. I've had Christian, non-Catholic friends tell me that Catholicism is not a real religion because they worship Mary and saints. Without getting into a huge theological debate, no, they don't. And yes, they do. If you don't know how Catholicism (or any religion) works, what right do you have to criticize their beliefs?
Catholics are NO different to non-denominational Protestants than Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Christian Zionists or any other -ists that believe in Christ. And! If I was going to be a complete bitch, I'd point out that Catholicism was around first. But I'm not, so I won't.
I find it amusing that I, the one who is called a heathen by my own grandmother, the one who is told that I can't celebrate Christmas because I don't believe in Christ (do not even get me STARTED on that rant,) I consistently am more learned and knowledgable in their own religions than people in my life who choose to criticize me. Why? Because I read. Because I learn. I don't take word as law from people who, when questioned, can't offer any constructive response. And you know what? I think I'm ok. So they can all shut up, as far as I'm concerned.
Anyway, tangent aside: Catholicism = Christianity, no really!