Why I don't identify (never have done, never will) as an Evangelical

[catmint_1984]

I will answer your question briefly (because I must do some work) and you can ask me questions or tell me what you would like to know and I will get back to you later.    Let me first of all say that from what the Bible teaches we believe Catholics have been wrongly taught.  They need to know how much God loves them and to be saved as we all do and

Comments

[lyssiae]

In my current state of mind, I'd be sorely tempted to, during my next visit home, stand up and declare "I'm becoming a Catholic, and s*d the lot of you."

But that's neither charitable, nor wise, nor particularly charming. So I don't recommend it. I really don't! I've burned enough bridges in my time to be quite emphatic about this.

But the itch! It itches!!

[el_staplador]

OK, so I have reservations about the Immaculate Conception myself (I mean, really, why bother?), but yes, that does miss almost all the points in the most spectacular manner. Someone needs to do their research perhaps? Still, 'In my Father's house there are many mansions' - and that cuts both ways.

[snarkysneak]

The Immaculate Conception has always bugged me too. I get your point on the many mansions thing though!

[the_woman_who]

ARGH! This made my theological topknot twitch, and not in a fun way. I've seen a lot of non-Catholics completely miss the point on the question of 'faith vs works', as they seem to love to put it, without realising you can have the both, or that they actually feed off each other...

DOH! I'm glad you're standing firm on this, anyway.

[catmint_1984]

It just really frustrates me that so many people are determined to teach others about the "evils" of Catholicism without bothering to find out whether what they're saying is actually correct.

[tanechigai]

Oh dear. lol. That website is something else. To his credit the guy has done a lot of research, but the only rebuttals he posts aren't very good and thus easily dismissed.

Well, Scott Hahn says something to the effect of, there's probably only a small handful of people in the world who hate Catholicism for what it really is, but lots of people who hate it because of what they think it is, and it if really is what they think it is, they'd be right to oppose it so strongly.

But it is frustrating when people only go to biased sources instead of getting it straight from the horses mouth so to speak. I think there's a fear of being influenced by false teachings if they do so. Their commitment to holding on to the truth is commendable, but I've only ever found that questioning and investigating has strengthened my Christian faith. Of course, I did become Catholic, so maybe they're right ;)

[catmint_1984]

Absolutely!!! I didn't convey *my* opinion of Catholicism at all - I thought in my e-mail that I'd merely acted as a useful intermediary between a Catholic friend (OK, several friends, but if I'd said "several", that would have opened me up to even more of a lecture) who wanted to know why so many so-called Christians despise their faith, and someone whom I knew held strong anti-Catholic views. I will formulate an e-mail in response at some point, and say that my friend told me that what my housegroup leader had said was not factually correct and that Catholics don't actually do/believe what a lot of Evangelicals claim they do. I doubt I'll get a positive response, but if said housegroup leader starts lecturing, I'll just say, hang on a minute, all I was doing was asking on behalf of a Catholic friend. But then, I probably would just get lectured again about the evils of Catholicism and the same sort of stuff that I've already posted. There isn't any point trying to reason with her - I know her fairly well and she's got a strong

[vote_incitatus]

Yeah, I think you should email back a response. And you're probably right, she probably won't admit she's wrong. But the marvellous thing about email lectures is you can put them straight in the recycle bin.

Like the person above you was saying. Explain to her why you think she's wrong. If she won't accept/believe she's wrong, oh well, you tried, but in the end a person's got to decide what they believe for themselves. Whether it's atheism, catholicism, evagelicalism, or judgemental close-minded stubborness (which could go along with any of the above three, to be fair).

Dang though, that woman's your housegroup leader?? What a bundle of fun housegroup must be! How can you respect a leader that patronising? Ouch...I can totally see you going to her for advice in a tough spot, and if I look out the window, I can totally see pigs with wings too.

[catmint_1984]

You can see pigs with wings? But I thought Naomi had the Pigasus ceilidh band mascot under her bed!!! ;P

I used to have a lot of respect for her. That went out the window a while ago when I found out her views on Catholicism, along with one or two other things. I was lucky in that I was able to avoid housegroup during the Xmas holidays (we have 2 housegroups and 2 church prayer meetings a month, and I missed the start-of-the-month housegroup, then it was Boxing Day so no end-of-month housegroup, and then I was back in Exeter the following Wednesday). Now, how can I get out of it over the Easter holidays???

I may have to discuss with one of my Catholic friends (to whom I forwarded the e-mail - he was not impressed by the things she said) what to say and for his input. And Fr Paul (as and when he gets round to replying to my e-mail).

Ah, the delights of the "delete" button!