Catholicism Options

[Erik B.]

god has favorites? that doesn't sound like a loving/forgiving/merciful/nice god

Yeah. Context, Lance. Context.

[Spectatrix]

nah, still the same to me.

How can normal, dead people (because mary and "saints" were ordinary people like you and me) hear your prayers? or even, help you!?

if you believe they can do this, c'mon..you've gotta believe they're somewhat holy or something!

Well, Catholics believe that Mary and the other saints are in Heaven and that they can pray to God just as you and I can. Catholics ask the saints to pray for them just as they might ask other living people to pray for them or for a cause or whatever. If I ask you to pray with me for something, does that mean that I think you're holy? No.

[jonathan83]

protestant churches are incredibly corrupt when it comes to handling $$$

yeah, many are. not disagreeing at all there.

[Jim]

Well, Catholics believe that Mary and the other saints are in Heaven and that they can pray to God just as you and I can. Catholics ask the saints to pray for them just as they might ask other living people to pray for them or for a cause or whatever. If I ask you to pray with me for something, does that mean that I think you're holy? No.

Bah, you responded before me. Bad Christine =P

[jonathan83]

Well, Catholics believe that Mary and the other saints are in Heaven and that they can pray to God just as you and I can. Catholics ask the saints to pray for them just as they might ask other living people to pray for them or for a cause or whatever. If I ask you to pray with me for something, does that mean that I think you're holy? No.

no, if you ask me to pray with you that's different because we're both alive and praying to God.

i dont understand why catholics would pray to Mary and other saints to pray FOR them. why wouldn't they want to go STRAIGHT to God himself? do they not think they're good enough to go directly to him?

[jwttu]

no, if you ask me to pray with you that's different because we're both alive and praying to God.

i dont understand why catholics would pray to Mary and other saints to pray FOR them. why wouldn't they want to go STRAIGHT to God himself? do they not think they're good enough to go directly to him?

I think what Christine is trying to say is that in addition to praying to god directly they also get the saints to pray for them. So its basically they are counting on the more that pray to god the more likely the prayer is to be answered.

[Seeker]

no, if you ask me to pray with you that's different because we're both alive and praying to God.

i dont understand why catholics would pray to Mary and other saints to pray FOR them. why wouldn't they want to go STRAIGHT to God himself? do they not think they're good enough to go directly to him?

QFT

[Seeker]

god has favorites? that doesn't sound like a loving/forgiving/merciful/nice god

BUMP

[Jim]

no, if you ask me to pray with you that's different because we're both alive and praying to God.

i dont understand why catholics would pray to Mary and other saints to pray FOR them. why wouldn't they want to go STRAIGHT to God himself? do they not think they're good enough to go directly to him?

Stop contradicting yourself, please. Why can't you just go to God yourself without asking someone elese? Never, EVER ask for someone to pray for you. Or, you can, if you stop saying that asking the saints/Mary to pray for you is the same as worshipping them and is wrong.

[Erik B.]

How can normal, dead people (because mary and "saints" were ordinary people like you and me) hear your prayers? or even, help you!?

For starters, we don't believe that people in heaven are dead. Quite the opposite.

Jesus said "Now he is a God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." (Lk 20:39-40)

[chook]

How can normal, dead people (because mary and "saints" were ordinary people like you and me) hear your prayers? or even, help you!?

if you believe they can do this, c'mon..you've gotta believe they're somewhat holy or something!

They cannot, their is no heaven. Your minister said it so he could molest little boys like you, then use the power of persuasion to make up the story of Jesus. Like you among all people, you've gotta believe!

EDIT : NO ETERNAL LIFE!

[chook]

churches don't run on faith and love

you need money to pay the bills, son !

There is an energy source that runs on PLURific love and faith, but the govt keeps it secret!

[FORSAKENR320]

why wouldn't they want to go STRAIGHT to God himself? do they not think they're good enough to go directly to him?

you've actually caught on the the gist of it. though not in the way you want. catholicism is about humility and humbleness of spirit. as an unclean being, do you feel it's ok to march up to god and demand attention? no, you look on the face of god with downcast eyes. there is also a different angle thats missing. christians believe that you die, and go to heaven, but the human spirit will forever remain a human spirit, for that is gods favorite creation. in catholicism, there are those (saints) who not only go to heaven, but are allowed a closer seat at the left hand of god, and can actually become angels. it is believed that those saints actually earn that right. since the angels soul duty (all 3-4 layers of them) is to serve the will of god, you aren't actually praying to the saint, you are honoring his/her worthyness, and asking guidance from that spirit who sits so close to god, WHILE praying for god's blessing

[Spectatrix]

Um, Brandon, Catholics don't think that saints become angels. Angels are celestial beings, without free will, created completely seperately from humans. They DO believe, however, that having been good enough to get into heaven (as evidenced by their holy lives), that maybe the saints know a thing or two about that whole "god" thing and can get a word in edgewise.

[woody]