Yeah and that came from Catholic Doctrine 1200 years + ago. We Catholics are Christians. We spread the word of God and the bible throught the Ancient Roman Empire, Feudal Europe and around the globe, a group as large as the Catholic church with as long a history does not exist on Earth. You can't have that many human beings involved in a group so power for so long without bad things happening and bad decisions made. But in it's heart and soul the Catholic church believes itself to be the Church Jesus told Peter to build, Peter became the "rock" upon which the church is built and made the world safe for christian thought, and worship.

 

I respect others belief and I know where the worry comes from in the language of the new pope. But the interrpretation of much of what he says is misinformed or misevalutated by thoses that don't understand the history and meaning of certain Catholic principles. It would be hard for someone who doesn't believe in transubstansiation to understand our mass, much less the policies and canon developed over 2000 years. Basically Catholic means Universal, and it should come as no big shock that the leader of a church that calls itself and is called by others the Catholic (or Universal church) should claim that his church is the only true church. Heck the vast majority of religous leaders believe that their church is the true church or they would have picked another one.

 

I tend to agree with Getslow,and rockmom and other Catholics on here, surprise surprise, I am catholic. But just because the Church holds these beliefs doesn't mean they they are the driving force behind what the church does. The driving force is the faith in God and Jesus, and that should be the driving force behind any church that calls itself Christian in nature, for it is through Christ we are called and saved. Everything else is just details and matters of the soul for you to find for yourself.

And like Forrest says.. Thats all I have to say about that.

 

I want to say one quick thing. I agree that there is only one church and Peter was the rock that the one chruch was built on and that church is made up of every christian who was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Church (which there is only one) was created by God!!!!!!!!!!! Religions (which there are many) have been created by man. Forget religion and just be a christian in Gods Church!

RockMom, you are doing a nice job. Hang in there. We are suppose to "Defend our Faith". 1st Peter 3:15 "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have".

 

As a teen I lived on a street with several Catholics. When I tried to call up one of the several young ladies to maybe date I was told in a round about way that I wasn't welcomed by their Parents. I thought it was becaused I talked different. I later found out why. My church and the Baptist connection.

 

Here is a honest question for everyone. How would you feel about your teen dating a person (not counting a Bama person) of a different Religion? Or would you date someone? I have my thoughts but I'll hold them for a while.

RockMom, you are doing a nice job. Hang in there. We are suppose to "Defend our Faith". 1st Peter 3:15 "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have".

 

As a teen I lived on a street with several Catholics. When I tried to call up one of the several young ladies to maybe date I was told in a round about way that I wasn't welcomed by their Parents. I thought it was becaused I talked different. I later found out why. My church and the Baptist connection.

 

Here is a honest question for everyone. How would you feel about your teen dating a person (not counting a Bama person) of a different Religion? Or would you date someone? I have my thoughts but I'll hold them for a while.

 

That sounds like a very good topic for a new thread. I want to try and keep this one on topic if we can.

I don't believe that belief is enough. Jesus said that even the demons believed he was the Son of God. If belief was enough, than the demons would be going to heaven.

 

Well when I mean believe you worship him, live by his name and teachings, and do good. I guess I am wrong then, religion confuses me:irked:

RockMom, you are doing a nice job. Hang in there. We are suppose to "Defend our Faith". 1st Peter 3:15 "Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have".

 

As a teen I lived on a street with several Catholics. When I tried to call up one of the several young ladies to maybe date I was told in a round about way that I wasn't welcomed by their Parents. I thought it was becaused I talked different. I later found out why. My church and the Baptist connection.

 

Here is a honest question for everyone. How would you feel about your teen dating a person (not counting a Bama person) of a different Religion? Or would you date someone? I have my thoughts but I'll hold them for a while.

Like Swamprat said that is good topic for another thread. And for what it is worth I had a similar situation but on the other side of the coin, I was Catholic and her family was baptist and reffered to my faith as a bunch of fish eating papist, so it goes both ways and both ways are stupid. Love wins out. Again religion is a preference some people like coke, some people like pepsi, niether will ever fully agree with the other and both sides think that they are right. It doesn't mean that pepsi and coke drinkers can't agree to love one another and live in harmony... Or does it... The Cola wars could they be metaphor for apocalypse? I don't know, but thinking about keeps me up at nights.

Jesus died on the cross for anyone who believed in him and repented of thier sins. I do not judge anyone but when I recognize sin I stay away from it. Jesus said no man comes to the father but by me. The bible was given to man as a guide. Every thing people call religion is not.

Peter was not a go-between. That's like saying my high school civics teacher is a go-between from myself to my congressman. Peter was a teacher, not some type of God antenna. The Bible makes it quite clear that we need no intermediary. Yet the Holy Spirit will intercede for us in those times that we can only cry out in anguish and not know for what to pray. Christ came to earth to end the role of the priest to serve as a go-between.

 

Either way, as a God antenna or a teacher, wouldn't you listen to a biochemistry professor's thoughts and ideas before taking your own uneducated guesses at the subject (assuming you are no biochemist )?

 

What I am saying is that getting to Heaven isn't easy. Some make it seem like all that you have to do is just I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and you go directly to Heaven.

 

It takes work and following the right path, and "experts", i.e. the Pope, Cardinals, and other great theological minds *not just Catholics, to help out along the way. That is the Pope's role.

Either way, as a God antenna or a teacher, wouldn't you listen to a biochemistry professor's thoughts and ideas before taking your own uneducated guesses at the subject (assuming you are no biochemist )?

 

What I am saying is that getting to Heaven isn't easy. Some make it seem like all that you have to do is just I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and you go directly to Heaven.

 

It takes work and following the right path, and "experts", i.e. the Pope, Cardinals, and other great theological minds *not just Catholics, to help out along the way. That is the Pope's role.

Salvation in itself requires nothing from the sinner except that he/she admits they are a sinner, repents and places their trust in the one who gave His life to pay for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ. You DO NOT have to work for salvation it is by Grace and grace alone. However, true Christians will strive to serve and obey out of love for what the Lord did for them. If a person is trusting in anything he/she has done they simply have not experienced true saving grace. We could never work our way to Heaven . . . our debt is too great. Jesus paid it ALL.

Salvation in itself requires nothing from the sinner except that he/she admits they are a sinner, repents and places their trust in the one who gave His life to pay for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ. You DO NOT have to work for salvation it is by Grace and grace alone. However, true Christians will strive to serve and obey out of love for what the Lord did for them. If a person is trusting in anything he/she has done they simply have not experienced true saving grace. We could never work our way to Heaven . . . our debt is too great. Jesus paid it ALL.

Great post.

 

I would add that to be in God's presence we need to be blameless. How many of us could work to the point that we would be blameless and be able to be in God's presence? I couldn't do it. And no without Jesus Christ, I am not going to be able to be in heaven.

Great post.

 

I would add that to be in God's presence we need to be blameless. How many of us could work to the point that we would be blameless and be able to be in God's presence? I couldn't do it. And no without Jesus Christ, I am not going to be able to be in heaven.

AMEN!:thumb:

Either way, as a God antenna or a teacher, wouldn't you listen to a biochemistry professor's thoughts and ideas before taking your own uneducated guesses at the subject (assuming you are no biochemist )?

 

What I am saying is that getting to Heaven isn't easy. Some make it seem like all that you have to do is just I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and you go directly to Heaven.

 

It takes work and following the right path, and "experts", i.e. the Pope, Cardinals, and other great theological minds *not just Catholics, to help out along the way. That is the Pope's role.

 

Jesus said the only way to the father is through him. Also, Read John 3:16! All you have to do is accept Jesus Christ as your savior and the blood he shed will wash away your sins and your name will be put in the Lambs Book of Life. if you are truely saved, your whole life will change and doing God's will won't be hard work. Living for God will be something you strive for every day.

Three men were visiting the United States from the inner regions of Africa. While here they really wanted to visit different churches to see how religion was practiced here. The first stop was at a Baptist church, the men went in and sat in the back. After the service was over the Pastor came back and talked to the gentlemen for a while. He asked how they like the service and they said they enjoyed it but that they did have a question. They were wondering what the people that went to the front of the church and got down on there knees were doing? The Pastor explained that they were speaking to God, giving thanks and asking for forgiveness. One of the men asked again, "They were speaking to God?" Yes as a Baptist we can speak directly to God.

 

Later the three men went to a Catholic church to attend a service. Afterwards they had a question for the Priest. "Why did the church members not go down front to speak to God?" "In the Catholic church the members talk to their Priest" was the reply. "Whom do you speak to?", they asked. "I speak to the Bishop." "Who does he speak to?" "He speaks to the Cardinal", was the reply. "And the Cardinal, he speaks to God?", they asked. "No he talks directly with the Pope and the Pope speaks directly to God". The men looked at each other and nodded their heads in a knowing way. "Do you understand now?" asked the Priest.

 

"Yes....your Pope is a Baptist"

 

 

Haha lol that's great.

Not to threadjack but part of this acceptance process is baptism.

rockmom, excellent work. I feel that after some reading, discussions, and thought on the topic, I feel that I can help aid in response to the question.

 

First of all, nearly everyone (especially Yahoo! and other news broadcasts) has missed what the Pope really meant.

 

When Benedict said that other denominations do not have the means to salvation, he did not mean that non-Catholics can not go to Heaven. What he is saying is that without the Catholic Church, there would be no salvation for anyone.

 

Jesus gave his life to open the gates of Heaven, and he founded a Church to continue His sacrifice- in the Holy Eucharist- to keep those gates of Heaven open.

 

A Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Protestant, or anyone else can attain Heaven by following their set of moral codes and rules. But without the Catholic church, there wouldn't be a Heaven at all.

 

Finally, Benedict did not make this up, and it is not his view. This is the view of the Church, and it has been forever; Pope Benedict has simply reaffirmed it.

As for those who say that Benedict is not aiding to the unity of Christians, I say this. Why would he sacrifice the Truth just to be unified? The Pope has said that everyone religion has its elements of truth, but the One Church has the Truth, and it would not make sense for him to sacrifice that for anything.