Bruce S Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 (edited) On MSNBC the other morning and Laura Ingraham (political analyst) was relating about her coming back to Jesus Christ. She was asked if she was a Christian. [Clarification from dUSt: She was actually asked if she was "born again", not if she was Christian] She said, "No, I am Catholic." Grin. Now for a little juicy tidbid about me. I am on the church evangelism team, yeah, THOSE KINDA GUYS [ I am ordering a T-shirt saying "NO, I'm NOT a Jehova's Witness] anyway.... One of the questions we ask as an ice breaker is that question. AND you would NOT believe how many [about 1/3rd] of the Catholics answer that EXACTLY the way Laura did. Why? How come Catholics actually answer this question in the negative when asked? <_< Edited January 24, 2004 by dUSt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrndveritatis Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 There are two possibilities for why they answer this way. Either they are trying to emphasize that they are Catholic, and belong to the Roman Catholic Church, or they are so poorly educated that they really think Catholics are not Christians. Obviously neither of these is really a good reason to answer that way, although the first is better than the second. Even to emphasize that you are Catholic, you shouldn't say you're not Christian because it misleads people and gives them a bad image of Catholicism. I think J.R.R. Tolkien had a better idea when he said he was "a Christian, and, in fact, a Catholic." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dUSt Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 I would probably answer, "Yes, I'm Catholic". It's hard to believe that a Catholic would say "no" to being Christian. If they did, they probably assumed that the questioner was asking if they were a Protestant Christian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilroy the Ninja Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 (edited) I would say you've hit the nail on the head dUSt. It seems to me that in this country there has been an underlying, unspoken social rule that the word "Christian" refers to any and all protestant denominations and Catholics usually just identify themselves as Catholic. Which is, of course, Chrisitan. It's kinda like when Texans go to Europe... nine out of ten times when asked by a European where they are from the Texan tourist will answer "Texas" as opposed to other American tourists who usually answer "America" or "The US". Typically, it is reported that the Texans are treated better (we still have the Do-You-Own-An-Oilwell-Mystique about us I guess). Too bad the same cannot be said for people answering that they are Catholic. Edited January 24, 2004 by Kilroy the Ninja Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 I would've said "Yes, I'm Catholic" as well. But the reason why many Catholics (the ones who know Catholicism is Christian), is to help distinguish themselves specifically. Because from a lot of non-Christians I dialogued with, they tend to think (when I mentioned anything Christian-related) as a crazy fundamentalist bible thumper (true insult, not making it up). One of the guys was mixing popular Protestant beliefs with Catholic beliefs (he was an athiest). So I had to correct him more than once, and explain to him that the Catholic Church is Christian, but differs in some ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Actually, she was asked if she was "born again" not if she was a Christian. There is a long thread about this on the Baptist Board. You have to remember "born again" has a different definition between protestants and Catholics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce S Posted January 24, 2004 Author Share Posted January 24, 2004 they tend to think (when I mentioned anything Christian-related) as a crazy fundamentalist bible thumper (true insult, not making it up). Funny aside. The other day, I actually was going to purchase the CCC, had it in my grubby Heretical hand .... [didn't, since it is online, and easier to search and access that way ] anyway... It dawned on me, given my prediliction for *noting* the verbosity that permeates this forum, that the CCC is about three times LONGER than the entire New Testament. Now one really has to stop, think, wonder at that. I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Funny aside. The other day, I actually was going to purchase the CCC, had it in my grubby Heretical hand .... [didn't, since it is online, and easier to search and access that way ] anyway... It dawned on me, given my prediliction for *noting* the verbosity that permeates this forum, that the CCC is about three times LONGER than the entire New Testament. Now one really has to stop, think, wonder at that. I did. Matthew Henry's complete commentary is probably about 20 times longer at least. The Apostles Creed on the other hand is a short 12 petitions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Athiests (or non-Christians in general) attack both Protestants and Catholics (oh and Orthodox). You just gotta fight back with love, I suppose. :mellow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willguy Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Actually, she was asked if she was "born again" not if she was a Christian. There is a long thread about this on the Baptist Board. You have to remember "born again" has a different definition between protestants and Catholics. In that case, I probably would have answered the same way she did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dUSt Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Actually, she was asked if she was "born again" not if she was a Christian. There is a long thread about this on the Baptist Board. You have to remember "born again" has a different definition between protestants and Catholics. So Bruce lied to us? Bruce, I hope this was an honest mistake on your part. God bless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Actually, she was asked if she was "born again" not if she was a Christian. There is a long thread about this on the Baptist Board. You have to remember "born again" has a different definition between protestants and Catholics. Hmm... Thanks for the heads up Bro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 I don't fault Bruce at all. Born again and Christian are pretty much the same thing to protestants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 (edited) Bruce, Think of it this way: If Christianity was a car, the Catholic Church would be 2004 BMW, a Porsche, or maybe a fully-loaded stretch limousine. It's equipped with all the features to bring a soul to paradise smoothly and in a manner befitting one who isabout to meet the King of Kings. Protestant denominations might be likened to a fleet of volkswagen vans and beetles. They're built for the people, around the people's most basic need to get from one place to another, but not the most reliable things on the road. (Volks=folks, wagen=wagon) Not saying you won't get there, eventually, but you may be in the repair shop (Purgatory) for awhile!!! Now, if someone comes up to me and points to the Porsche, and says, "Is that your car?" I might respond, "No, it's my Porsche!" Catholicism isn't the generic, no-name brand of Christianity: It the cream of the crop, baby!!! Pax Christi. <>< Edited January 24, 2004 by Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted January 24, 2004 Share Posted January 24, 2004 Catholic: Like a Rock. (But is a Ford fan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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