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Catholic Intellectual Tradition

I'm not overly christian...but...?

I feel an emotional and intellectual connection to the bible. I enjoy the way of the catholic church. I like the sanctity and the tradition and repitition.

I'm neither Catholic nor Protestant buts heres what I know 2 b true:

In the Bible it severely warns us not 2 trust humans (including clergy), not even ourselves (Jer 10:2-5,23; Is 2:22; Job 12:11; Prov 14:12; Acts 17:11). So carefully think over what I say. Dont just believe or disregard what I write. It might save u from making the same mistakes many have made, getting caught up in religious beliefs that have nothing 2 do with finding & knowing God - see Mat 12:36 regarding whats 2 b judged.

Anything practiced as a ritual has no meaning under the NT Covenant. The Hebrew rituals were by the instruction of God the best 1 could do under God's Law (None in NT). Other religions (including many Christian) either copied or invented rituals (the best humans could do within the limits of being human). Jesus' perfect sacrifice canceled the need 4 any rituals (doing them calls God a liar as they make it appear Jesus failed His mission). The closest thing 2 a ritual is Communion but that doesnt mean it should b treated as a ritual as its 2 b treated most seriously (Its not 2 b presented as Jesus' actual body & blood - Catholic [Cc] belief).

Many dont know the difference btwn a ritual done as a ritual & genuine "rememberance" - not possible without knowing/following Jesus' actual Biblical instructions - absent in Cc teachings (the Cc didnt write any part of the NT [not a Cc text or their writings - NT was written in the 1rst century by Apostles, Cc possession wasnt until 3rd century] which contradicts their teachings/practices & God's will, 1 in truth & Spirit not rituals - God allowed them 2 produce the Bible dispite their wrong teachings like He allowed the Romans 2 fulfill prophecy without their knowledge [happening again today). A teaching can have a truth in whats written but the action taken can be superficial - The Cc like the Pharisees know how 2 clean the outside of the cup but dont understand how the inside is 2 be cleaned with respect to Jesus' actual message. The fact that the Cc & other religions retain an altar @ the center of their religious pracrtices is 1 sure sign of their being about religious rituals not the truth.

The problem is theres many religions & different varieties. 1 day I realized they cant all be right (i.e. theres 1 Bible, why so many interpretations? - II Pet 1:**19-21). Most religions came thru people who thought up things for a God they & others liked. Some realized religion could be good 2 control the masses & 4 other agendas. However, religion cant teach u much about God (they cant teach what they dont know). Who knows more about a house the Builder or he who moves in later?

4 Christians, the trouble began when the Apostles/disciples were killed off or died during the 1rst century (Christianity was illegal 4 most of that time). Over the next century others, whom either didnt know Jesus or were less informed than Jesus' 1rst generation of believers &/or (un)intentionally added in their own ideas/agendas replaced the original believers. By the time the Catholic religion became a "state - Jn 18:36" recognized, organized religion around the time of Constantine (about AD 325), most of what Jesus taught & original Apostles practiced were no longer present.

The Cc mixed in things of Pagan & religions practices 2 please & draw in people, thus, creating a new religion they decided 2 label "Christian/Catholic". The Cc's, like other religions' agendas (some mayve been well-intentioned), was mostly 2 control masses & 2 influence politics (II Tim 2:*4; I Jn 2:*15-17; Col 2:*8; Jer 10:*2-5). The Cc claims they didnt distribute Bibles 4 over a century b/c people couldnt read so why didnt they just teach people 2 read?

God & Jesus have never been about pleasing man. In fact, the Cc RCc & Oc had made religions just like the Pharisees, which Jesus emphatically stated was an abomination b/c they were about pleasing man not God (Mt 23:15; LK 16:15). Even when others like the Protestants split off from the Cc they retained the same wrong Cc format & structure.

Even though these churches got rid of some of the Cc nonsense they still didnt know much about Jesus (most ignored or skipped over Biblical instructions due 2 various agendas) nor did they go 2 the Bible 2 find out all of Jesus' instructions [a huge mistake, as they're fulfilling prophecies against the core of their practices (Amos 8:*11; Jr 12:*10: Is 5:*9 (large houses r churches - Mt 24:*1-2); Hos 4:*6: Mk 7:1-23 (John 3:*3,5 & Ez 36:24-27,*26); Lk 16:**15 (see Rv 21:27; Jr 10:**2-5; Is 1:*11-15)].

Some wrong Cc teachings r:

1. The CC claims 2 b the 1rst church & that since they r the longest existing church, they r the only "official" church. Jesus' Apostles never named their church "catholic (not in the Bible)" nor did they ever practice Cc religious rituals. There was nearly a 250 year gap btwn Jesus' original Apostle's church & the start of the "official" Cc - there4, the Cc was never a part of or the true 1rst Christian Church (neither a label or the amount of time it existed proves anything - its what they practice that makes all the difference btwn truth & error - u can call a dog God but its doesnt make it so).

2. Peter was never a pope nor was he or his fellow Apostles ever a member of the Cc - it isnt in the Bible - the use of the word pope is a Cc invention - the Bible instructs us not 2 go beyond whats written (I Cor 4:6; Rev 22:18-19). Peter was never a bishop of the Cc (he was already dead about 250 years b4 the Cc became a church. Peter would never call himself a pope b/c calling 1self Father is an abomination.

A short list of other wrong Cc practices/rituals having nothing 2 do with knowing Jesus r:

Mass (not in the Bible) is full of non-biblical rituals, Statues (God isnt in2 dead things - non-living things can't help or save anyone - praying 2 them is an abomination), the Rosery, mother Mary (wasnt sinless) as interceder (Jesus is the only way 2 God - not His Apostles/disciples - Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:12; IS 1), candles, incense, the cross (its more a symbol of the curse rather than Jesus & 4 the same reasoning against statues), making the sign of the cross, stations of the cross, the pope's & other leader's garb they wear, monks, nuns, confirmation, the Catholic creed & other Catholic documents, raising people 2 the status of "saint" (only God & Jesus have authority 2 do this), purgatory, catechism, devotionals, sacraments, holy eucharist, penance, traditional & repetative type prayers & many other things they do rnt in or coming from the Bible.

Its b/c religion is about man & what he likes (spirit of religion), not what Jesus mandated 4 1 2 do 2 follow Him. The result is that few will end up saved thru most of them (no1 can save themselves by their own inititve nor will good deeds save them - theres no good in any man - Rom 1:23). 1 must b very careful not 2 get sucked in or going 2 various denominations (especially if u dont have a good handle on whats actually written in the Bible) as u can only add 2 any confusion ur already experiencing.

Just b/c religions made many fatal mistakes doesnt mean God doesnt know what He's doing. The main point missed: Jesus is the only 1 in history whom stated that no1 can find our real God except thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:11). This means "the" truth was complete & there4 finished thru what Jesus taught & did. So, any so-called new teaching & other religious beliefs r null & void & cant lead u 2 God. The truth is either the whole truth or it isnt the truth. The truth is the absence of any lie. Either Jesus told the whole truth or He's a false prophet, among many, whom should be disregarded - meaning that God must not exist either (He either knows what He's doing or He cant b God).

But, heres evidence God knows what He's doing. Jesus couldntve done nor said what He did unless He had full understanding of the entire Old Testament (the New Testament didnt exist @ the time of Jesus - the only way Jesus couldve known the whole OT is if God was with Him). & the Apostles couldnt remember & write down the NT unless Jesus allowed them 2 remember & know what He was here 4 (Lk 24:25-27,45). This wasnt possible unless an incredibly Intelligent Being caused it.

But God outsmarted man, b/c the Bible's the only 1 known 2 man that cant be properly understood without going thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; II Cor 3:14, Is 29:11-12 - If the Jewish people cant pierce the veil over the OT without going thu Jesus then rest-assurd neither can all gentiles). This is why theres many interpretations & people thinking its all just fairytales (Jesus came with the sword of division).

A church thats very serious about finding the Biblical truth, understands what being Born Anew is about, might b able 2 help u but no1 can save u except Jesus (Jn 3:1-14 - note: Nicodemus was very religious but Jesus flatout told him he had missed the 1rst most important step, that he must b Born Anew or no matter how religious or good he thought he is he couldn't go 2 Heaven (Jn 3:3,5; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). No1 can live without breaking God's Law - why we need Jesus.

Whoever seeks Jesus Christ with all his heart & soul will find Him (u shall know the truth & it will set u free). But u can lead a horse 2 water but u cant make them drink. Why should God want u 2 live with Him forever if u dont want 2 know Him (reason 4 free will - Jn 1:12-13)? The truth of God remains forever while things of a man dies with him, including his religions & gods made in his image. Theres everlasting hope only in Jesus Christ.

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	God, Philosophy, Universities: A Selective History of the Catholic Philosophical Tradition List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $20.89 Used From: $20.88
	'What does it mean to be a human being?' Given this perennial question, Alasdair MacIntyre, one of America's preeminent philosophers, presents a compelling argument on the necessity and importance of philosophy...

	Creative Fidelity: American Catholic Intellectual Traditions (American Catholic Identities: A Documentary History) List Price: $30.00 Sale Price: $11.99 Used From: $3.25

	Oral Culture and Catholicism in Early Modern England List Price: $31.19
	After the Reformation, England's Catholics were marginalised and excluded from using printed media for propagandist ends. Instead, they turned to oral media, such as ballads and stories, to plead their case and maintain contact with their community...

Christian Spirituality in the Catholic Tradition $19.95 A complete overview and history of Catholic spirituality from the Apostles to the present day. Aumann's excellent and interesting survey of the many spiritual traditions in the Catholic Church shows the wonderful variety of saints and spiritualities that are part of our rich Catholic heritage. '

Catholic Christianity $17.95 For the first time in 400 years the Catholic Church has authorized an official universal catechism which instantly became an international best-seller, the Catechism of the Catholic Church . Using this official Catechism, the highly-regarded author and professor Peter Kreeft presents a complete compendium of all the major beliefs of Catholicism written in his readable and concise style. Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was written for the express purpose of grounding and fostering catechisms based on it for local needs and ordinary readers, Kreeft does just that, offering a thorough summary of Catholic doctrine, morality, and worship in a popular format with less technical language. He presents a systematic, organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental Catholic teachings in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Church's Tradition. This book is the most thorough, complete and popular catechetical summary of Catholic belief in print that is based on the universal Catechism. "In Catholic Christianity , Peter Kreeft has taken the core of the Catechism's teaching and has represented it in his pithy and winning style. The result is the best entree to the Catechism yet-and therefore the best entree to the Catholic faith." "Karl Keating Author, What Catholics Really Believe "Peter Kreeft's work is: 1) unfailingly brilliant 2) intellectually agile 3) astonishingly perspicacious 4) gloriously orthodox 5) Chestertonian-ly aphoristic. Buy and read this book, and be instructed and delighted." "Thomas Howard Author, On Being Catholic "As an apologist who speaks at many seminars and conferences across the country I am often asked what book I would recommend for an adult catechetics class. I always find myself recommending three our four books rather than one. No longer. This is the ONE book I've been looking for! Dr. Kreeft gives a summation of our Catholic Faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church that is filled with bite-sized morsels of truth and producing a veritable feast of faith!" "Tim Staples Radio Host and Apologist Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., a Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, is a regular contributor to several Catholic publications, and is the best-selling author of over 25 books including Prayer for Beginners, Back to Virtue, A Refutation of Moral Relativism, Heaven the Heart's Deepest Longing, and Fundamentals of the Faith . '

The Catholic Church and the Bible $11.95 Are Catholics biblical illiterates? So goes the frequent question, proving that myths die hard. But Catholics ought to be able to answer the charge made by many non-Catholics in this regard. This book is a response to Fundamentalist critics and an explanation of the Catholic biblical tradition. The Catholic Church and the Bible is a significant scriptural study guide, published from a Catholic perspective and particularly keyed to the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. The well-planned, straight-forward text is clearly outlined to make information easy to find and understand. Main topics include: - The Catholic understanding of the Bible - God's Word and its purpose in the Church - A biblical theology of the Mass, the place of the Bible in the Sacred Liturgy - A question-and-answer section that deals with pertinent and popular inquiries made by Catholics and non-Catholics alike This work should be heartily welcomed by both clergy and laity, for Father Stravinskas sheds new light on Catholic Bible study by writing with candor, clarity and scriptural backing. This is ideal for high schools and RCIA programs. "An excellent tool for the Catholic apologist. The reader has everything in one place: pithy answers plus biblical and magisterial citations. Fr. Stravinskas is the best priest-apologist in the country." "Karl Keating, Author, Catholicism and Fundamentalism Fr. Peter M.J. Stravinskas is the well-known editor of the The Catholic Answer magazine, a contributing editor to National Catholic Register , and has written over 500 articles for numerous Catholic publications.

Catholic Education: Homeward Bound $17.95 Two experienced home schooling moms present a very thorough, balanced and practical guide to both the merits of home education, as well as the important ideas, resources and curriculums to home school. Hahn and Hasson cover all aspects - statistics supporting home schooling's excellence, the nitty-gritty of lesson plans, and hundreds of ways to keep the fun in (and boredom out) of learning. Most importantly, they offer compelling advice and inspiration for parents as they undertake their child's religious, moral and intellectual formation. This is a reliable guide for Catholic parents who want to stay close to the heart of the church in the schooling of their children. The authors demonstrate that home schooling is not a fringe movement on the Church's periphery, but it is squarely based on Catholic teachings drawn from Sacred Scripture, natural law, and the writings of saints and popes. Readers will find the right combination of secular and sacred, theoretical and practical. Whether you are looking for advice and encouragement, language resources, aids for teaching multiplication or phonics - or the Ten Commandments - this book is sure to be a very functional tool. ''"This book gives practical clothing to the truth that there are as many ways to home school successfully as there are homes in which to school. It helps us place our Catholic faith squarely at the heart of our curriculums. In addition to Kimberly and Mary's helpful advice and resources, this far ranging book also turns to numerous veteran home schoolers for valuable recommendations." " Laura Berquist, Author, Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum '' "Hahn and Hasson provide strong arguments backed by solid documentation to reassure the timid and convince even doubters that the best place to educate their children in a Catholic culture today is at home." " Donna Steichen, Author, Ungodly Rage "This readable book is more than a manual for just home schoolers. For all parents it offers a rich fund of insights on how to provide a proper formation for their children and how to strengthen their families." " Charles E. Rice, University of Notre Dame Kimberly Hahn , a home schooling mother of five, holds a Master of Arts Theology degree, is the co-author with her husband, Scott, of Rome Sweet Home, and is a frequent speaker at conferences on family issues. Mary Hasson , a home shooling mother of five, is an attorney who has done graduate work in the theology of marriage and the family. She is a frequent speaker at family conferences, and serves on the Board of the National Association of Catholic Home Educators.

Why I Became Catholic $9.95 Originally written as a personal testimony to his own children on why he became a Catholic, this is a thoughtful and timeless conversion story of Sir Joseph Pope written during the early part of the 20th century. Born in 1854 to a family renowned for distinguished service to the Canadian government, Joseph carried on the family tradition as a highly regarded civil servant. Like St. Thomas More, Pope was held in high esteem as a public servant, and he enjoyed the total confidence of prime ministers and governors, all whom sought his advice. He was a prolific author of some two dozen books and pamphlets, including the official biographies of major Canadian historical figures. Amidst this busy public life, Sir Joseph Pope developed a profound spiritual life and a mind always hungry for eternal truth. Raised in a nominal Anglican family, his persistent and courageous search for the fullness of truth and grace finally led him home to the Catholic Church. "A marvelous journey of discovery and adventure. Joseph Pope, a courageous man of a century ago, followed the same path that thousands of Protestants have discovered again in this generation." "Stephen K. Ray, Author, Crossing the Tiber "This book is a treasure from the past. Although written a century ago, the issues are pertinent to our faith in this twenty-first century. It will warm the heart and challenge the thinking of both Catholic and Protestant. This is a book to buy, pass around, and discuss." "David Currie, Author, Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic

	Educators in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition List Price: $28.95 Sale Price: $28.95 Used From: $109.65
	This book contains a collection of studies of prominent educators who have made significant contributions to handing on the Catholic intellectual tradition in the United States. These men and women have enriched this tradition by careful attention to educational theories and methods that find their origin in the Jewish and Christian past...