I agree with you, OP. I'm of Italian/Irish descent so my entire extended family is Catholic, and I grew up in a Catholic-heavy area (Philadelphia) so have a lot of friends who are Catholic. They know almost nothing about Protestants.

I also went to a Catholic university (Go 'Cats!), and I'll never forget the woman in the dorm room next to ours telling me I was going to hell. Very matter-of-fact. Catholics treat other Christians differently. All baptized Christians can take communion in most Protestant churches, but only baptized Catholics can take communion in their churches.

My husband grew up Catholic in New Jersey, and didn't even meet a Protestant until he was 12. Everyone in the town was Catholic or Jewish.

I know tons of Protestants who know nothing of Catholicism and we CAME FROM THEM. Actiually I know lots of Catholics who know copse to nothing about Catholiscism and likewise for Protestants. so there.

It runs both ways. I talked to a college educated fundamentalist Baptist once who thought that Catholics literally worship Satan during mass. My Methodist MIL says really ignorant things about Catholics because she just doesn't know any (rural, Protestant area) and doesn't care what they believe, just knows that she doesn't like "them."

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.

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.

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.

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)?!?

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.).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've encountered quite a few Catholics who know absolutely nothing about being Protestant. They didn't have the first idea how it happened or what Protestants (in general) believed. I'm a Protestant, but I certainly know about Catholicism.

What's up with this?

What do you know about Catholicism, OP?

Well, I know about the pope and the Vatican, Mariology, the rosary, Catholics needing to go to confession, etc.

And what is this knowledge based on? Movies? Or, do you remember confirmation classes or something? (When we were going through confirmation we studied other religions).

It's based on the religion classes I've had over time, and from Catholics I've known.

I assume they think that if they teach about other religions, especially more modern ones, then they will lose followers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've encountered quite a few Catholics who know absolutely nothing about being Protestant. They didn't have the first idea how it happened or what Protestants (in general) believed. I'm a Protestant, but I certainly know about Catholicism.

What's up with this?

What do you know about Catholicism, OP?

Well, I know about the pope and the Vatican, Mariology, the rosary, Catholics needing to go to confession, etc.

And what is this knowledge based on? Movies? Or, do you remember confirmation classes or something? (When we were going through confirmation we studied other religions).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've encountered quite a few Catholics who know absolutely nothing about being Protestant. They didn't have the first idea how it happened or what Protestants (in general) believed. I'm a Protestant, but I certainly know about Catholicism.

What's up with this?

What do you know about Catholicism, OP?

Well, I know about the pope and the Vatican, Mariology, the rosary, Catholics needing to go to confession, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I've encountered quite a few Catholics who know absolutely nothing about being Protestant. They didn't have the first idea how it happened or what Protestants (in general) believed. I'm a Protestant, but I certainly know about Catholicism.

What's up with this?

What do you know about Catholicism, OP?

I've encountered quite a few Catholics who know absolutely nothing about being Protestant. They didn't have the first idea how it happened or what Protestants (in general) believed. I'm a Protestant, but I certainly know about Catholicism.

What's up with this?