If the whole world was catholic

Oh yeah, that guy who told everyone that he met "Christ" in America and wrote a whole other "bible" even though Revelations says he who adds or detracts from the One Holy Word shall be cursed?

The church that doesn't believe in drinking or smoking, but owns tobacco companies? The church that believed in polygamy up until several years back (oh, a change in church policy, by the way)? PUH-LEASE do not get me started on the mormons.

Well, I'm not trying to be mean, but if you wish to waste your precious time praying to dead people who have no power to do anything for you when you could be communing with the Living G-d, that's up to you. But remember your relationship with our L-rd is what is important, not your relationship with Peter, Paul, and Mary (a little joke there, sorry )

I said earlier, I was raised in a Catholic household, and went to Catholic school ALL MY LIFE. But actually, the very earliest of church fathers in history were of JEWISH heritage. The very first church that functioned in secrecy were mostly converted Jews who spead the word, having to live in fear of being exposed, and still kept most of the doctrines of Judeic tradition (like the sacred Holidays, Sukkoth, Passover, etc.). Only when the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great got saved did Christianity become acceptable (it became the religion of the Roman Empire). Thus, the Church came under the control of the pagan Romans, and to broaden the appeal to pagan households, they adopted some of the pagan traditions. Therefore, Catholicism is NOT the oldest or truest form of Christianity, although it is the most resiliant. Before you ask me for a link on Constantine's life, I will beat you to the punch...

http://www.roman-emperors.org/conniei.htm

And, my friend, if you have faith in Him, if you love Christ, then you would choose to follow His commandments. Having faith is active, not passive. If you have faith, you will align your life with His and Live according to His will, to the best of your ability. I never said you didn't have to demonstrate your faith through your actions... Again, actions speak louder than words.

Who's asking you to change? I just wanted a little respect and not so much attitude. After all, this is a discussion, not an attack.

 

The world would be a lot more like some parts of Europe and Latin America where there aren't many Protestants and Orthodox Christians. I don't think the whole world will ever be Catholic or any one church or religious belief.

 

The Mormon Church is the fastest growing church in the United States, I can assure you The Catholic Church and other Protestant denominations are growing a TON faster in Africa. Most Catholics on the planet now are IN Africa and South America.

 

Look at the economic conditions of countries where the Catholic Church is(or was) dominant and look at countries where Protestantism is ( or was) dominant. Need I say more? BTW: The Catholic Church of Spain was one of Franco's biggest backers in the Spanish Civil War.


BTW: The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (aka Coptic Church) is the oldest denomination in the world. Christianity has been practiced in Africa since shortly after the time of Christ.

 

Yes....France, Italy, Spain, Canada, The Netharlands, Luxeumburg, and Austria are so poor right? Germany is about a 50/50 split between Catholic and Protestant, so I am not sure what nations you are referring to about Protestant nations being so much richer than Catholic ones. South America is poor, but so are a lot of other places. Look at the United States, Appalachia is probably the poorest area in the country and those people are overwhelmingly Protestant. Just becasue someone is a religion

Go back and read your history books. The Catholic Church supported him at first but then stopped backing him, and even critisized him and the regime in Spain.

No, that's not accurate. It was practiced in DOZENS of places, but for the first 250 years it was a martyr's church. When it become tolearted as a result of the edict of Milan, The Bishop of Rome and it's city were recognized as the central unifiying seat for the Church in the West, while Constantinople was recognized as the seat in the East. The first pope (If you beleive Peter WAS NOT the first one) was elected in the 3rd century, however, since I am Catholic, I beleive St. Peter was the first pope.

 

Actually, no, sweetie, the disciples had to bring the Good News to the Africans... You know, those Jewish guys who hung out with Christ? The Converts were not organized as they are now, they communicated mostly through letters (letters from Paul to the Corinthians, etc. etc.). Christianity has been practiced since the disciples went into hiding after the crucifixion, until Pentacost, when the Tongues of Fire decended upon their heads and they were instructed to spread the gospel. This happened a mere fifty days after the Crucifixion (and some argue the beginning of the actual church is when Peter was ordained to be Christ's "rock", one of the reasons I do appreciate the Catholic Church, b/c their first pope was a jew!). The church you speak of may be the oldest recorded ORGANIZED denomination, perhaps you have a link for me? But the Messanic Jewish beginnings and history are clearly recorded in the book itself. I do not need to provide a link, just open the book, it's right there, Acts of the Apostles and thereafter

 

Masturbation would be murder. Enjoy!!