M1Buckeye said:
one MEEN Ag said:
M1Buckeye said:
one MEEN Ag said:
M1Buckeye said:
Zobel said:
follows original scriptures, doesn't read Greek or Hebrew
The great thing about Catholocism and the Eastern Orthodox is that they don't need God's word, they just make up whatever they like and guys like you follow them.
I implore you. Go learn a sliver of church history.
If you won't, at least share with us how you go from a religion that is 2000 years old with roots to nearly 4000 years ago, with texts written in hebrew, aramaic, and greek with strong traditions of study and understanding by a priest class to something written in english whose context is based upon the understanding of you alone.
I don't understand how you can cut the head off the giant whose shoulders you stand upon.
I go by what the Bible says. The Catholic Church practices numerous doctrines that aren't Biblical and, in some cases, doctrines that are CONTRARY to God's teachings. One must ignore a LOT of scripture to be a Catholic.
So your opinion about what the bible says on every subject is more definitive than say...those who compiled the bible and/or those who translated the bible to english?
So what is your take on the early church that did not have a Bible? What is your take on practices that have clearly been a part of the church since its founding that aren't in the Bible?
And what specific teaching catholic or orthodox do you think is unbiblical? And remember, both of those groups were around before the Bible was made (they made it). Their idea of "unbiblical" is different than yours.
My brother, I believe that members of the early church were guided by the Holy Spirit to compile the scriptures into what we now call the Bible.
As for unbiblical doctrines, praying to Mary is one.
Here's a relatively straightforward answer from an orthodox church about Mary. Took 2 minutes of googling. Addresses basically all of your points about Mary.
https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/orthodox-worship-virgin-mary/She's not worshipped. She's venerated. There is a difference. Nobody approaches Mary (or any of the saints) asking for any intercedence by Mary or the saints via their own power. They are venerated because of their position to God and the pious lives (for God) they lived.
And also, protestantism likes to conflate worship with praise. Those are also different things.
Mary is venerated because God declared her holy enough to be able to be the Theotokos. She had dedicated her life to God from toddler's age. She went in to the holy of holies. Was brought before Jewish elders for being pregnant and basically stood trial. Go read the Protoevangelium of James. Had to flee while pregnant to save her son. And walking through the trials of watching your innocent son be tortured and murdered.
Usually protestants don't know anything about the lives the saints lived from 80AD onward. There are incredible miracle workers most protestants know nothing about, but ask yourself in sunday school, 'Where did all the miracles go?' Learning the lives of the saints of the church is a humbling experience. And I think it goes hand in hand with the lack of understanding about Mary.
I emplore you, take a few minutes out of your day to learn about the early church.
