I've noticed that a lot of Catholics are clueless about Protestantism... why is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get into theological discussions with my Protestant friends. If you were my friend you'd have no idea how much I know about your religion. If conversation veers into religion, ie. "How about that crazy pope Francis?" I'd laugh and steer conversation away. I am very conscious of prejudice from Protestants- "Mariology". If you open a conversation like that I will shut it down. Let's talk about the weather.

OP here. But this is when we were specifically talking about religion head on. It started by talking about Pope Francis. And I wasn't mocking Catholicism at all. We weren't avoiding it by talking about the weather. Some in the conversation Catholics acted like they didn't even know Protestants were Christians. And forget about knowing about Episcopalianism. It was frankly really surprising.

*should read "Some Catholics in the conversation..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

I also went to Catholic school in the 1970s and we weren't taught that at all. That's disturbing.

Anyway, I'd guess that many Catholics don't know much about Protestant religions because Catholics were the original Christian religion. So I remember being taught that there were those who broke off and formed their own religion because they didn't agree with something in the Catholic faith. We didn't learn specifics about those new religions, just that there were those who left the church and headed in a different direction.

I'd imagine that if you are a part of one of the Protestant religions that broke off from Catholicism, it would be far more important to know about Catholicism since it was the origin of your religion and the reasons for difference and splitting off would be an integral part of defining your beliefs.

I don't think it's anything sinister on the part of the Catholics not to get into the belief systems of the Protestant religions, as in fear that people will abandon Catholicism if they know more about Protestants, as one pp suggested. The Protestants are no longer part of the church and their existence is common knowledge, but not what they went on to do after leaving or what they're all about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

I also went to Catholic school in the 1970s and we weren't taught that at all. That's disturbing.

Anyway, I'd guess that many Catholics don't know much about Protestant religions because Catholics were the original Christian religion. So I remember being taught that there were those who broke off and formed their own religion because they didn't agree with something in the Catholic faith. We didn't learn specifics about those new religions, just that there were those who left the church and headed in a different direction.

I'd imagine that if you are a part of one of the Protestant religions that broke off from Catholicism, it would be far more important to know about Catholicism since it was the origin of your religion and the reasons for difference and splitting off would be an integral part of defining your beliefs.

I don't think it's anything sinister on the part of the Catholics not to get into the belief systems of the Protestant religions, as in fear that people will abandon Catholicism if they know more about Protestants, as one pp suggested. The Protestants are no longer part of the church and their existence is common knowledge, but not what they went on to do after leaving or what they're all about.

So funny. Protestants are the majority in this country. And Protestantism is part of HISTORY, not just some quaint obscure event. Every heard of Martin Luther? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

*Ever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

I also went to Catholic school in the 1970s and we weren't taught that at all. That's disturbing.

Anyway, I'd guess that many Catholics don't know much about Protestant religions because Catholics were the original Christian religion. So I remember being taught that there were those who broke off and formed their own religion because they didn't agree with something in the Catholic faith. We didn't learn specifics about those new religions, just that there were those who left the church and headed in a different direction.

I'd imagine that if you are a part of one of the Protestant religions that broke off from Catholicism, it would be far more important to know about Catholicism since it was the origin of your religion and the reasons for difference and splitting off would be an integral part of defining your beliefs.

I don't think it's anything sinister on the part of the Catholics not to get into the belief systems of the Protestant religions, as in fear that people will abandon Catholicism if they know more about Protestants, as one pp suggested. The Protestants are no longer part of the church and their existence is common knowledge, but not what they went on to do after leaving or what they're all about.

Protestantism wasn't a "new religion." Jesus Christ is lord and savior. It's reformed Christianity that's grounded on rejection of the corruption of the Papacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

I also went to Catholic school in the 1970s and we weren't taught that at all. That's disturbing.

Anyway, I'd guess that many Catholics don't know much about Protestant religions because Catholics were the original Christian religion. So I remember being taught that there were those who broke off and formed their own religion because they didn't agree with something in the Catholic faith. We didn't learn specifics about those new religions, just that there were those who left the church and headed in a different direction.

I'd imagine that if you are a part of one of the Protestant religions that broke off from Catholicism, it would be far more important to know about Catholicism since it was the origin of your religion and the reasons for difference and splitting off would be an integral part of defining your beliefs.

I don't think it's anything sinister on the part of the Catholics not to get into the belief systems of the Protestant religions, as in fear that people will abandon Catholicism if they know more about Protestants, as one pp suggested. The Protestants are no longer part of the church and their existence is common knowledge, but not what they went on to do after leaving or what they're all about.

So funny. Protestants are the majority in this country. And Protestantism is part of HISTORY, not just some quaint obscure event. Every heard of Martin Luther? Probably not.

What's funny? As an American, I know about Protestants and Martin Luther. I'm not sure why you seem to be peeved.

I'm explaining why the Catholic Church doesn't delve into teaching the details and teachings of the Protestant denominations, and why it's more likely that a Protestant would know more about Catholicism than a Catholic would know about Protestantism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

I also went to Catholic school in the 1970s and we weren't taught that at all. That's disturbing.

Anyway, I'd guess that many Catholics don't know much about Protestant religions because Catholics were the original Christian religion. So I remember being taught that there were those who broke off and formed their own religion because they didn't agree with something in the Catholic faith. We didn't learn specifics about those new religions, just that there were those who left the church and headed in a different direction.

I'd imagine that if you are a part of one of the Protestant religions that broke off from Catholicism, it would be far more important to know about Catholicism since it was the origin of your religion and the reasons for difference and splitting off would be an integral part of defining your beliefs.

I don't think it's anything sinister on the part of the Catholics not to get into the belief systems of the Protestant religions, as in fear that people will abandon Catholicism if they know more about Protestants, as one pp suggested. The Protestants are no longer part of the church and their existence is common knowledge, but not what they went on to do after leaving or what they're all about.

Protestantism wasn't a "new religion." Jesus Christ is lord and savior. It's reformed Christianity that's grounded on rejection of the corruption of the Papacy.

Yes, He is. Sorry I worded it in a way that was inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

Even other Christians (Protestants)?!?

NP here, but yes if you weren't catholic you go to hell or at least purgatory. I was in catholic in the 80s, but I'm Protestant. Catholics at my school were very isolated and self segregating.

This sounds like my Catholic school (here in DC) in the mid 2000s.

[Anonymous]

Protestants know about Catholicism because it's part of our history. Catholics don't need to learn about Protestant beliefs in order to learn about their own. Whereas Catholic beliefs are a critical part of explaining the Protestant movement and why Protestants believe as they do.

I also think it's the nature of the religions. Catholics have go-betweens. They don't need to know the ins and outs of their religion, because they have an actual personal authority they can go to. Protestants have a personal relationship with god, no go betweens. Sure, you can talk to your pastor, and he or she can give you guidance, but there's no absolution or anything. It's between you and god.

[Anonymous]

I went to RCIA and one of the major questions people had were the differences between Christian denominations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Catholic here. In my Catholic elementary school (in the 1970s), we were told that others were going to Hell. So I guess we weren't too interested in learning about their beliefs. (which is a problem, I agree.).

+1
I grew up in a latin evangelic church and we were taught the same about Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to RCIA and one of the major questions people had were the differences between Christian denominations.

I think adults who convert to Catholicism have lots more questions, and therefore understand their faith much better, than those who were raised Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Protestants believe they are going back to the original tenets of Christ, not that they are formed out of Catholicism. They left Catholicism to return to the original faith, the true faith.

[Anonymous]

I went to Catholic school in the 70s and we spent lots of time learning about other faiths and going to other churches. It was the beginning of the ecumenical movement, and we planned services with other churches on a regular basis. Because they were close to our Catholic Church, I and my classmates spent a lot of time in Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

I've belonged to a number of different Catholic parishes across the country since then and also taught religious education classes and I've never encountered anyone in a Catholic Church teaching that anyone who isn't Catholic would be going straight to hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get into theological discussions with my Protestant friends. If you were my friend you'd have no idea how much I know about your religion. If conversation veers into religion, ie. "How about that crazy pope Francis?" I'd laugh and steer conversation away. I am very conscious of prejudice from Protestants- "Mariology". If you open a conversation like that I will shut it down. Let's talk about the weather.

Yep.

And much of the protestant knowlege about Catholicism is based off stereotypes, half truths, misconceptions and outright lies.