Ask A Catholic II

[civ_king]

Well Atheism is not a religion and it's also the opposite of all the others…

I think he is referring to ideological atheists

 

[Takhisis]

Still not a religion.

 

[ParkCungHee]

So fine, Atheism is not a religion, and therefor it's not a really bad tack to right them off as wrong. You still will have a very difficult time claim the remainder are wholly true.

 

[Takhisis]

Which I haven't anyway. All people, even those from other religions, have a chance of Salvation, yes, even though they might not be Roman Catholics.

 

[timtofly]

Why is baptism so important? Can you confess without doing it?

 

[El_Machinae]

Why? Do you think that a war on drugs is winnable?

Moderator Action: The topic isn't the war on drugs. Please don't distract the thread

 

[Takhisis]

Hmmmmnope, baptism is supposed to be the first sacrament you ever receive.

 

[timtofly]

Hmmmmnope, baptism is supposed to be the first sacrament you ever receive.

If it does not have any meaning (other than first step) why is it so important? I would think confession would come first.

 

[civ_king]

If it does not have any meaning (other than first step) why is it so important? I would think confession would come first.

catholic.com is a very good resource

Baptism is really the beginning of the road so while it is not necessarily the most important by itself you can't really get anywhere without it

 

[shadowplay]

Baptism cleanses you of all prior sin, including original sin. Therefore, confessions are only for sins you've commited after baptism.

 

[timtofly]

Would a Baptist be more acceptable than any other religion?

 

[Takhisis]

Baptism cleanses you of all prior sin, including original sin. Therefore, confessions are only for sins you've commited after baptism.

This. If you are baptised as an adult you are stating that you want to join the Church and are repenting any sins you might have done.

 

[Jehoshua]

Don't you think that "all other religions and denominations are to some degree false" is a really bad tack to take in the modern age?

Why should I give in and kowtow to the ever-changing opinions of the world?

God doesn't change just because some 21st century ignoramus doesn't like what he has revealed. Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Your average joe reletavist can take that and shove it up whichever one of his bodily orifices he prefers as far as I'm concerned.

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Baptism is a rite of initiation into the christian faith and is valid when conducted by anyone with that correct intention and with the correct trinitarian formula. It in addition to removing all prior sin marks the soul as a christian and ontologically changes it to make it more resilient against sin. Thus as baptism makes someone spiritually a christian it is required before any other sacrament can be recieved legitimately as a member of the Church.

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Would a Baptist be more acceptable than any other religion?

A baptist would have the benefit of being baptised and being at the very least a christian in separation from the One Church of Christ. (better than an atheist). But those benefits of closeness to the catholic for basically any other christian group, I don't see anything which would make the baptist more acceptable. In fact I could list a slew of groups who are more acceptable such as the EO who have valid orders and minimal doctrinal differences and are actually considered churches in the proper sense, although they too remain in impaired communion with the Body of Christ.

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Which I haven't anyway. All people, even those from other religions, have a chance of Salvation, yes, even though they might not be Roman Catholics.

With all the preconditions for that I previously described. Not to mention they would technically be Catholic when they reached salvation.

 

[civ_king]

Would a Baptist be more acceptable than any other religion?

No, the Orthodox are preferable

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Don't you think that "all other religions and denominations are to some degree false" is a really bad tack to take in the modern age?

Why? Anyone who holds any opinion whatsoever is implicitly stating that any other opinions are to some degree false - given that people tend to consider their own views correct, and mutually contradictory views can't both be correct. So why not be honest about it?

 

[_random_]

Was the hymen of the Theotokos broken when she gave birth to Our Lord, or was it somehow miraculously sustained? The debates I've read on Orthodox forums about this topic are quite bizarre, and I was wondering if there was an "official" Catholic position on the matter.

 

[Arakhor]

Mainly because I like to get along with people and someone saying "I'm right, you're wrong and you will always be wrong" is not exactly conducive to good conversation.

 

[civ_king]

Mainly because I like to get along with people and someone saying "I'm right, you're wrong and you will always be wrong" is not exactly conducive to good conversation.

Do you have a problem saying that to YECs?

 

[Arakhor]

Well, I don't tend to use the phrase "I'm right and you're not", but matters of religious doctrine are slightly different to arguing against scientific theory.

 

[timtofly]

Well, I don't tend to use the phrase "I'm right and you're not", but matters of religious doctrine are slightly different to arguing against scientific theory.

Why? Shouldn't one always be a gentlman? Or just when wearing a suit?