>>5391908

Amen to that! And Martin Luther may have been much closer to Catholic beliefs than some modern day Protestant beliefs. ("prosperity gospel" and "rapture", for example)

Most people who bash Catholics fail to differentiate between the Catholic hierarchy (which is definitely a fair target) and Catholic beliefs, which are WIDELY misunderstood and misrepresented by many Protestants. If most Protestants took the time to actually thumb through the Baltimore Catechism, they'd probably be hard pressed to find anything significant that they really disagree with.

The Catholic faith and Catholic believers are NOT the same as the Catholic hierarchy, and Catholic beliefs should not be trashed based on third-hand misrepresentations. Go to the source. The Catechism, not the Pope or one of his pervert Cardinals.

>>5392031

That is essentially the Catholic belief system in a nutshell, as well. If you don't believe it, check out the Catechism–it's all right there. Almost zero difference from Protestants in the basic concept, unless you include the small portion of Protestants who really believe they can just say "I'm saved" and pretend that's a golden ticket to heaven that allows them to commit unspeakable evil with impunity. (just like Catholics who give insincere confessions with the same intent)

>>5392026

Some great examples of exactly what I'm talking about. YOU say Catholics pray TO Mary and the Saints. Some may mistakenly do so, but the Catechism is clear. The intent is to ask Mary (who was able to persuade Jesus to perform miracles before he really wanted to) to pray TO Jesus FOR us. The bible does NOT prohibit this!. As for communion, nowhere in the Catholic Catechism does it even imply that communion in itself is a means to salvation. By the same token, nowhere in the bible does it say that simply saying "Jesus is my personal savior" allows you to commit evil AFTER that and still avoid judgement.

And "the Rapture"? pure fiction.

>>5392141

Whether it's a Catholic confession or a Protestant acceptance of Jesus as "personal savior" (which devout Catholics actually do as well–it's part of the Catechism), it's all the same. Neither means anything without repentance and a firm and SINCERE resolve to sin no more. Catholics and Protestants are EQUALLY guilty of kidding themselves about their own sincerity.

>>5392166

Have you ever asked anybody to pray for you?

Who better, the Mother of our Savior, who said "yes" to God at peril of her own life, a person recognized as a Saint, in many cases for giving their own life to proclaim the glory of God or, say, your friend Jed?

>>5392187

Did you know that Martin Luther venerated the Holy Mother of God the same way modern Catholics do?

Did you know that the Rosary is an entirely Christ-centric prayer, which compels those who meditate on the mysteries to focus their thoughts on Jesus and Jesus alone?

Even the "Hail Mary" simply asks Jesus' own mother to "Pray for us sinners".

>>5392230

Who ever said you can't do both? What's the difference between praying to Jesus and taking a few minutes to ask Mary to pray for you or your intentions as well versus Praying to Jesus and taking a few minutes to ask somebody in your congregation to pray for you?

Answer? No meaningful difference. Unfortunately, if you are completely honest, you will probably admit that many Protestants believe that Catholics pray TO Mary for salvation FROM HER, which is entirely wrong. Not only is it wrong, but the Catholic Catechism says it's wrong–salvation comes from Jesus alone. We all pretty much believe the same thing. I just wish those Protestants who misrepresent our beliefs would take the time to research what we are actually taught. Some Catholics DO fall for this trap–praying TO Mary or praying TO saints, but they are wrong, and they are a minority. Can you honestly say that there are no Protestants out there who, through ignorance or deliberate intent, distort the gospel? Enough division. We are all Christians, and we all basically believe the same thing.

>>5392305

That's it. Nothing nefarious or un-biblical about that. Just like asking a special mentor or coach for help, recognizing that some people who have gone before have fought very tough personal battles for salvation and won. Why not ask them for help?