Catholics Aren't Christians?

[The Grand Nudger]

Is the contention here that there are sufficient trappings of paganism/other cultures/faiths within catholicism as to disqualify them as christians? I'm unimpressed....the OT is a borrowed book..and the NT fares no better. They're all a bunch of fucking pagans - they're just too pigheaded to own up to it, and I have to say...so fucking what, what's the big damned deal? A faith of borrowed thought that spawns another faith of borrowed thought (and schisms like stars between them over the centuries) and each sect pointing the crooked finger at the other...for what...borrowing? If that's a problem....they're all in trouble, but why is it a problem?

[Chad32]

When a child asks what trees and rabbits have to do with Jesus' birth and resurrection, adults just laugh it off as silly. No one knows, or dares to tell, of the pagan influences of christianity. How the beliefs of different cultures were interwoven in order to help conversion. That would seem weird for people of the One True Faith to do, especially since Yahweh has always taken a dim view of other beliefs.

[abaris]

When a child asks what trees and rabbits have to do with Jesus' birth and resurrection, adults just laugh it off as silly. No one knows, or dares to tell, of the pagan influences of christianity.

My upbringing must have been an exemption then. Especially my father constantly pointed it out after I was beyond the miracle phase every small child goes through.

I don't know if there's a US equivalent of what we call "Gymnasium", but it covers the same years as high school in America. In history class we also had the teachers point the similarities out, especially when talking about the Romans.

[The Grand Nudger]

The rock of faith is exceedingly porous.

[fr0d0]

In my understanding the faith acknowledges its roots. Catholicism was typically corrupted by power, still evident, and they didn't like Luther bashing them over the head with that. They do acknowledge the books that were thrown out by the Nicean council, interesting historically maybe, and other ideas that may have been overlooked in the cleansing. We need some Catholics to come better defend their position. As for the view of the outsider, yes, why should you care.

[abaris]

In my understanding the faith acknowledges its roots. Catholicism was typically corrupted by power, still evident, and they didn't like Luther bashing them over the head with that.

I hope you do realise that Luther was also a bigoted fuck, believing in witches, hating jews and applauding the landowners for quelching peasant insurrections in blood.

There's virtually nothing that makes this guy more loveable than any other clergyman of his times.

[fr0d0]

The guys imperfection makes no difference to me, no. If someone says the truth, he can be the vilest scum that ever lived but that doesn't affect what he said.

[Minimalist]

Calvin was a fucking prick, too.

Their [the Jews] rotten and unbending stiffneckedness deserves that they be oppressed unendingly and without measure or end and that they die in their misery without the pity of anyone.

No wonder Hitler turned out like he did.

[abaris]

No wonder Hitler turned out like he did.

Luther is considered the major contributor to German antisemitism. There's his infamous tract "The jews and their lies". And he's also behind the ruler of Saxony's decision to throw out tje jews of his realm.

There's also this beauty speaking of his character

Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants (German: Wider die Mordischen und Reubischen Rotten der Bawren) is a piece written by Martin Luther, related to the German Peasants' War. Beginning in 1524 and ending in 1526, the Peasants' War was a result of a tumultuous collection of grievances in many different spheres: political, economic, social, and theological. Martin Luther is often considered to be the foundation for the Peasants' Revolt; however, he maintained allegiance to the Princes against the violence of the rebels. Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants typifies Luther’s reaction to the Peasants’ War, and alludes to Luther’s concern that he might be seen to be responsible for their rebellion.

All in the name of saving his own sorry hide. A little bit of asscrawling goes a long way after all.

On witches, by a Luther apologetic, who obviously thinks this is less horrible, if it's just a criminal act and the ensuing punishment.

Kai Lehmann: Martin Luther was firmly convinced of the existence of witches. He believed that they harmed human beings, cattle and the harvest with their magic. He requested that witches should be killed by fire. However, he wanted nothing less or more than punishment for a crime that he perceived as a real one.

And let's not forget, he was also a delusional motherfucker, who always saw the devil at his bedside. This would be actually funny, if it was only about that.

“Almost every night when I wake up the devil is there and wants to dispute with me. I have come to this conclusion: When the argument that the Christian is without the law and above the law doesn’t help, I instantly chase him away with a fart.” (Martin Luther, Table Talk, 469)

[fr0d0]

Someday a mass murderer might quote your hateful comments about theists and cite them as their reason min