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

[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 was taught the same thing in Catholic elementary school in the 1970s. They were going to Hell because they rejected the one true church. In Catholic high school we learned all about the the non-Catholic religions. By the time I got to high school In the 1980s I was no longer being told the non-Catholics were going to Hell.

Catholic schooled 1960s and 1970s. Never taught anyone was going to hell because of their faith. However, as an adult, I was instructed in various protestant churches that people are going to hell because of their faith. Never believed it. So returned to Catholicism.

[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.

Ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Pretty accurate except that majority are protestants. Most are not any christian denomination. Unfortunately, the thread isn't really a question. Just looking for an argument. Not worth an arguing with those who are already convinced they see it all clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 I'm always shocked by what people on these threads think Catholics believe. I had a friend once who for years didn't tell me she assumed I was anti-science and a creationist! Where do people get these ideas?

[Anonymous]

I learned about Zoroastrianism at my Catholic high school in the 80s. We learned about Protestants and most other religions as well. FWIW, I was never told that others were going to hell or anything like that. I would say there may have been a bit of a disinterest in Protestant faiths because the very nature of their existence stems from a rejection of the Catholic Church. We did learn basics about Martin Luther, but there wasn't really an inclination to dwell or do much introspection.

[Anonymous]

I was raised Catholic in a mixed small-town community with lots of Protestants and some Jews.

We learned about differences in our religions from each other.

We also learned about historical events involving religion in public school (e.g., the crusades, Muslim rule in in Southern Spain, the reformation, the holocaust)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Pretty accurate except that majority are protestants. Most are not any christian denomination. Unfortunately, the thread isn't really a question. Just looking for an argument. Not worth an arguing with those who are already convinced they see it all clearly.

But "Protestants " is a meaningless term in this context. Pentecostals are no more similar to Lutherans than Catholics are to Southern Baptists.

Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

No more so than a minister.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

And Protestant churches have ministers and pastors. Same thing.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe the Catholics you know were just better at math class than religion class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

A priest will be the first to tell you he is human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

A priest will be the first to tell you he is human.

The priest is the human between you whom you need to be forgiven of your sins by god. Catholics can talk (pray) to God directly, but only a priest can forgive their sins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ok, Catholic school from K to law school and I have no idea why you think I don't have a personal relationship with God. What the heck are you talking about? What's a go-between?

A priest.

A priest will be the first to tell you he is human.

NP. I thought the pp who mentioned the concept of a go-between was referring to the priest's ability to forgive sins in the sacrament of reconciliation.