Another delicate post, much like my post about Jehovah's Witnesses, I will talk about Catholic beliefs and why I am not Catholic. It is my sincere desire to not misrepresent the Catholic church or Catholicism. If there seems to be any misunderstandings on my part, please feel free to correct me. I am not above amending something that I have misconstrued. Unlike my post about the Jehovah's Witnesses, I could not find a direct website from them, thus Wikipedia was my main source of information. Therefore, I have all the more need for your comments to make sure that my understanding and information is correct.
Like with my other post, I will focus on the three questions of the soul:
Where did I come from?
Why am I here?
Where am I going?
The Catholic church, an umbrella term I am using to refer to Catholicism in general, is comprised of an organization based around priesthood authority. Claiming lineage of this authority primarily through Peter, and therefore Christ Himself, passing down to Linus (2 Timothy 4:21) as the first recorded Pope (arguably Peter, but since he is still referred to as Saint Peter it is Pope Linus as the first Pope), then to Anacletus, Clement, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telephorus, Hyginus, Pius, et cetera.
Under the pope are Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Deacons. This is based much after the organization depicted in 1 Timothy chapter 3 minus the Cardinals, who are basically superior Archbishops.
It is interesting to point out that in the same chapter where this organization is set forth, there are also stipulation that are unmet in the Catholic church today, including Bishops being the "husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2) and Deacons as well (1 Timothy 3:12). This seems contrary to the current practice of celibacy required for the station of Bishops and other clergy. However, I must admit that though this seems to be a requirement, it does appear to be closely related to the "forbidding to marry" as warned about in the following chapter (1 Timothy 4:3).
Alas, this brings us to the doctrines taught. Though they teach from the Holy Bible, many of their practices and doctrines come from tradition and other liturgy written and formulated by former Popes and other leaders, including theological counsels.
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| Saint Birinus Catholic Church link |
One of the most famous of these counsels was that of Nicaea. From the counsel was created the Nicene Creed which decrees the nature of God as the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, Spirit of God) all as one being in order to stand apart from the polytheistic (multiple god) religions of Greece and Rome.
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| Madonna (Virgin Mary) from All Saints Catholic Church St. Peters, Missouri |
With this monotheistic (one god) extreme of combining the Trinity into one, other doctrines were set forth, including prayers, sacraments, and other forms of worship. One of the many forms of worship that other Christians often view as idol worship is prayers to Mary the mother of Jesus and various Saints. However, in the course of my research I have been able to discern why this isn't so, or at least, why Catholics do not view it that way.
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| Adam's Creation by Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Censored |
God created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing) in 6 literal days. Though, Catholic consign that evolution may have been the means of creating the first human body (Adam), God is responsible for creating his soul.
After Satan's fall, he tempts Adam and Eve into mortal sin. Mortal sin being unpardonable after death while venial sin is more forgivable. Baptism washes away mortal sin, thus with the fall of the human species, children have to be baptized to remove this original sin. Yet, this does not remove their agency.
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| Infant Baptism |
While children, through baptism, have been cleansed form the original sin, there is a second conversion at 13 in which an individual expresses a personal willingness to serve God and thus, essentially, renew their baptism.
Though mortal sin can only be forgiven in this life through confession, penance, and a priest conferring absolution, venial sin can be forgiven after. This, therefore, allows for death bed repentance and thus salvation. According to Catholicism, when we die we are taken to God for judgment where we are set into one of three states of being.
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| Catholic Heaven as depicted in Simpsons season 16 episode 21 |
There is heaven (Mark 14:62), where those who are free from sin are raised in a state of "unspeakable joy that lasts forever" (wiki).
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| Depiction of Dante's Infero |
Then there is hell, a state of eternal misery burning in fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10). Even though I find interesting the depiction of hell in Dante's Inferno, the description of nine circles is inaccurate according to Catholic theology. In this terrible state are all those who die with mortal sin remaining such as unbaptized babies, murderers, adulterers, et cetera.
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| Purgatory scene from 1999 The Haunting |
Lastly, there is a temporary state of purgatory, where people who die with venial sins remain until they are purged by penance and prayers of others still living, on their behalf. Once they are cleansed, they are finally released to heaven or dragged down to hell. I like how this was depicted in the movie The Haunting, where an evil man clung onto children, thus holding them in purgatory with him until the demons finally dragged him down and released the children into heaven.
But what does this have to do with the "idolatry" of Saints? Because heaven is alive and well now, those who die and go there are currently alive and with God. Thus, prayers to Mary and other Saints are more like phone calls to someone not in the room. Also, with the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Mediator, being one with God the Father, there is no mediator to plead for us in mortality other than the Saints. Wherefore, praying to Saints to ask God for blessings on our behalf is the only help we can receive beside from God directly.
With this knowledge, it also makes sense why Pope Francis recently talked about how having a personal relationship with Christ can be dangerous (youtube). It appears woven into their beliefs that without others you are alone. Without Saints pleading to God on your behalf, without friend and family at church praying for you after you die, or receive constant absolution from priests then your efforts by yourself, as an individual, could leave your soul in jeopardy.
Now that I have talked about their beliefs and even defended the Pope, lets answer the questions at hand.
Where did I come from? Our bodies are essentially those of an animal though in the likeness of God having a spirit uniquely created by God at our birth.
Why am I here? Our purpose is to not sin and worship God.
Where am I going? Depending on how well I did not sin and worshiped God, I either go to heaven or hell, everlasting bliss or misery respectively. There might be a brief stay in purgatory, but eventually it would be one of these two places.
Not having any memories before this life, personally, I could live with my mortal body being created at birth and God creating my spirit at that time, but mortality seems rather pointless, just scraping by to live and commit no grand sins in order to make it to heaven. Then in heaven, yes it is ultimate bliss, but what is the point?
It seems as though most of the incentive to keep from sinning comes from not burning in hell fire for eternity. As it stands, according to Catholicism, I would be damned to hell because I have not been baptized by their authority and thus being cleansed from the original mortal sin. It is interesting, however, to note some of that power and authority as laid out in the Holy Bible. Matthew 16:19 is Christ addressing Peter concerning the keys of authority He gives him, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
As anecdotal evidence, while on my mission I had an opportunity to talk to a Catholic who clearly had talked to missionaries before. He politely turned my companion and I away, but before closing the door he added that the "keys" to bind and loose are found in the Catholic church. I knew what he was referencing because as a missionary, we talk a bit about how the keys are restored and families can be bound or sealed together for all eternity. Thus his comment intrigued me. In all of my research of the Catholic church I have not found what they would use this authority for (if they indeed had it).
With confession and absolution it seems as though they openly exercised power to "loose" people from the binds of sin on earth and in heaven, but what do they bind? Catholic marriages are till death do they part, so they bind on earth, but NOT in heaven, where everyone is like an angel of God (Matthew 22:30) having no spouse or children but are all brothers and sisters or children of God. I truly do not know what they "bind" on earth and heaven and therefore it appears as though they do not in reality have this authority to which they profess and claim.
To sum up, though I do not think the Catholic church is God's church on the earth, I do find their desire to serve God by being proper Christians, and even their desire to pray and try to help those who have passed on to be admirable. Yet, their idea of the purpose of life leaves me much to be desired, including the results of the afterlife. It boggles my mind that God would create a spirit for a new born baby or infant only to damn it to everlasting fire and brimstone for simply not being born to a Catholic family. This philosophy portrays a God that performs much for pointless and futile reasons. Alas, with this viewpoint I recognize my bias and advise others to follow their own hearts and to pray, asking God, to learn and know truth for themselves.
Love,
Jacobugoth
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