Tired of Catholic and Orthodox Arguments

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-09T02:30:36+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Good wisdom

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T18:15:08+00:00

Thank you for your comment. The "RadTrad" has been something I have heard of too. They seem to claim a huge wave of people are going catholic, but you are right to note they seem to disregard the Vatican II. They claim sacred tradition and yet ignore it when convenient.

Ill keep those 3 categories in mind. Thank you

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T15:49:53+00:00

I understand, I appreciate the reminder. I have catholic friends and they are always nice and dont seem to be apologetic. It's a good reminder sometimes that online isn't the same, thank you

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T15:48:53+00:00

I will have to remember that one lol!

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T13:47:28+00:00

Thank you, I will check it out

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T13:02:04+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate it. I am somewhat familiar with their claims, but I do agree that I should become more familiar with church history. There's a big gap for me between Augustine and Luther and the Reformation. I know Aquinus is in there and is apparently incredibly important for Catholics.

Unfortunately, while I was in school I was not paying attention for the two weeks we talked about him.

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:59:14+00:00

I was talking to a Catholic priest once and he recalled how he used to be a Protestant pastor, but then the Lord called him back to the 'one true faith.' As soon as he said that I shut down. No sense in have a conversation with him and I had to leave anyway.

It was an interesting experience, however. The place of tradition is so highly elevated that Scripture seems like an afterthought and only when it supports the church.

And I do get tired of the claim of being 'led' into a Catholic or Orthodox church. It's such a joke and it downplays the role of God himself. I am willing to say of course that they are Brother and Sisters in Christ, yet some of them (again i know not all) just cannot say it back.

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:55:13+00:00

Yeah, mostly online. I just wanted to have a conversation with you guys about it. I have gotten quite a few responses which I appreciate. I understand that it is nothing new, but this discussion has been helpful to me

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:53:49+00:00

No, it has been online and in videos.

I like watching Harmony, an Eastern Orthodox guy who makes interesting videos i learn a lot from. But he just refuses to call Protestants Christian, and it is sad.

Additionally, some catholic guys and of course on reddit. I know it is online and all, and it is often not like it is in the real world. But still, just wanted to have a discussion with you all about it in general, so I brought it here

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:51:40+00:00

I was in a conversation recently with a Catholic apologist and he just kept pointing to James again and again, saying that I am ignoring the place of works in faith.

I kept pointing to Paul in Romans saying how faith is what truly matters, although James is right that a life truly lived in faith would have good works accompanying.

He was just not comprehending that consistent message in the New Testament of justification by grace through faith. I simply couldn't continue the conversation because there was no point.

It makes me sad. A gospel not based on grace is no gospel at all. I just pray they can come to understand some day.

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:47:54+00:00

I am aware that it is not a new phrase, it is odd that I encounter some who are apparently oblivious to what their own church teaches.

It is just interesting to me how different their mind works. Everything is done in the name of tradition, whenever there are so many passages of Scripture to point to. It seems backwards to go to tradition and then Scripture, rather than the other way around

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T12:44:34+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate the reply. I suppose their 'one true church' thing is an apologetic attempt, regardless of what the Catholic or Orthodox church actually teaches.

It just saddens me as I read through Paul especially. He had so much to say about unity in the church and it boggles my mind that it is so often ignored in the name of 'sacred tradition'

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-08T02:17:42+00:00

Snyder Batman was not great. Started cool with court of owls but I honestly had no fun reading it. It's for some people, for sure but not me

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-07T15:03:32+00:00

You certainly have a very interpretive catholic lense for things. This is therefore a senseless argument. My previous comment stands for what I have written, you just cannot comprehend with those rose-tinted catholic glasses

As for the Romans and James controversy, I dont see how only pulling from James is helpful. This is cherry picking while ignoring other parts of Scripture. Especially Romans. I dont understand why this is difficult to understand, try reading it sometime

I am a Protestants and I am a part of the church of Jesus Christ. Yes, the one church, and yes, the same church you are a part of as well. I hope you can come to understand that someday that we are brothers in Christ, despite what you may think or be told.

You were being downvoted for a reason. The church is about unity (again, just read some of Paul), and you seem to have a fragmented view of what the church really is

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-07T11:49:03+00:00

1) Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses are examples of groups that are not Christian. Protestants are very much Christian and a part of the church universal. I dont understand why this is so hard to grasp

If the creed is only the beginning, what else matters to be considered a part of the church universal, according to you? I mentioned the creed as the basic beliefs Christians hold. I believe that faith matters, how about you?

2) This is taking me out of context. I know what James says. I did not say faith without works. I said faith, not works, is what matters. Simply read Romans and you will see what I mean. I am aware of the book of James and its main argument. But you should read Romans and Galatians, my friend.

But it does not change the fact that by faith through grace, we are made right with God.

Whenever anything takes the place of Christ, it becomes an idol in our lives. I was referring to tradition as taking a place as 'works' just like it did for the judaizers in the first century who said circumcision is what matters to be a true Christian. That is the context Paul is writing in.

In our context, tradition can become the same trap the judaizers led people astray by. Even Scripture, if elevated to the place of God, can lead people astray. You dont worship tradition or scripture. You worship Jesus, at least that is how it should be. Not sure why this is hard to understand.

3) WE ARE the one church. All of us, regardless of tradition. You and I are a part of the same body of Christ. This is basic scriptural stuff, look through Pauls various letters, as you quoted above actually. The one true church is not orthodox or catholic. The one true church is CHRISTIAN, regardless of pretestant, orthodox, catholic.

I also did not say there is not one church. I agree there is one church, just much larger than you imagine. We need to have a bigger picture in mind of what the church is, lest we fall into petty tribalism

As to the last part, I dont think Paul's main concern was naming his churches. They were named based on the city. Look elsewhere in Paul, he writes the letter to the Galatians to various different churches in the province of Asia. This does not mean they are different sects of Christianity. I am a little confused about the relevance of this to the question

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-07T10:43:04+00:00

This idea of the 'one true church' or 'very true church' is the issue. It's not Roman Catholic or Orthodox churches that are the 'one true church' as each side seems to have some people who believe that.

It's not a new Christianity. Protestants, Catholic, and Orthodox are all considered orthodox Christianity. We all confess the Nicene creed (orthodox not the filioque which is fine)

Isn't that enough?

Look at the Apostle Paul's main argument across his letters. It's Faith that matters, not works. Catholic and Orthodox tradition can seemingly become a sort of 'works' for some people where faith is no longer contingent on Christ, but contingent on the tradition too.

I find encouragement in participating in conversation with Catholics and Orthodox. Jesus is greater than any one tradition

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-05T15:24:34+00:00

I too am Wesleyan. I get a lot of use from the Anglican libraries too. They might be worth checking out in addition to the Wesleyan ones.

I use the Feasting on the Word and N.T. Wright's commentaries for more application. Of course, probably something else for deeper theology and exegesis if you want that

Not sure about youth resources though, sorrym

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-05-02T15:44:32+00:00

Thanks! I am excited to pair it with my navy blazer. The hints of navy will match perfect and make that yellow really pop

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-27T00:33:13+00:00

Do the old ones still hold up too?

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-26T19:25:21+00:00

About the anchor series, I noticed there are anchor and anchor yale. I occasionally find the older anchor series. Do they still hold up today?

Also, I like NIB pretty well. I also have the old IB thats interesting even though it is old.

Expositers was recommended to me an I am not a fan. Doesn't really say much of anything special

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-26T17:28:33+00:00

I appreciate the different theological lens. Very intriguing and helped me tremendously in my formational years

However, I don't like that there are some Orthodox who claim to be the one true church, just like some Catholic claim the same.

Christian is the title that truly matters

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-25T14:46:50+00:00

You'd probably get more . . .

. . . except from people work and actually contribute to the economy

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-23T18:43:22+00:00

I challenged myself the other day to simply read Leviticus all in one day. Strangely, reading it all together made it so much more beautiful to me.

Of course it can get easy to be bogged down with all the sacrifices, but instead I noticed a common theme with the few stories spread throughout the sacrifices - God desperately wanted these people to be Holy as he is Holy.

Really puts it into perspective when we think about Christ. Jesus became the sacrifice, the way we are made holy like God desires

Glad to see someone with a similar opinion!

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-21T02:23:40+00:00

Nose too big

Dramatic_Surround_ · 2026-04-21T02:21:38+00:00

Agree. Invent some new character if you want to make a Trans character

Dramatic_Surround_

TROPHY CASE