Well, what can I tell you? Adam and Eve had one requirement from God. They failed. Moses was given the Ten Commandments and the Torah and the Hebrews failed. Then they were allowed a King so they could be like the other nations and the Kings failed. Then He sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice once and for all and He was crucified.

It's all a master plan of God to have children and a family of true believers. It a way to separate the sheep from the goats and the wheat from the chaff.

Maybe the rabbis are keeping the truth from you? Kaduri figured it out. So can you. And I have never heard of an alien race or other beings having been found outside of good and fallen angels, I think you know more about the subject than you are letting on.

You know about the priest laying hands on the scapegoat and the red thread and the temple curtain being rent when Jesus died on the cross. 40 years later the temple was destroyed and the Jews scattered until 1948. You know about the scriptures in Psalms and Isaiah that describe Jesus perfectly, you know if you study Daniels timeline it leads to the time of Jesus's birth. You know that Bethlehem is where the temple sheep were raised and it's where Jesus was born. You just don't want to believe it. Because there is plenty of proof and prophecy that confirms it.

There are plenty of Catholics and Jews who follow Jesus and many who follow the Pope and Rabbis. We can't all be right. But it's always our responsibility to figure out our salvation. That's my two cents. Christians are not asked to spread the good news, we are commanded to do so and that's why we irritate people so much. Animal sacrifice worked to atone for sin as long as the red thread turned white. It stopped changing colors after Christ was crucified.

None of us can fully understand God, but we can always do more to understand Him better. God can certainly have a son if He wants one. He just can't lie or sin because He is Holy, He is the standard we can't hope to attain. There had to be a way to bridge this gap. The only thing that fits is Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah. Even His name means salvation.

I know one thing for certain.... I am not the judge of humans and I will never pretend that I am assured of a spot in heaven, although many argue that I along with all Jews have an assigned place in hell. I have never seen, to my knowledge, someone born on a different world. I have never seen G*d, I have never seen gravity, intelligence.... among thousands of other things that can not be physically seen with the eye, but they exist. Will Shakespeare had it right "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
- Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio. So, you may be righteous in all you say and do, the designated person to judge me and all Jews, and assured a spot in heaven..... who am I to say? I can say, better you than me........ I would always worry that even with all my beliefs and powers of observation that just perhaps I may not have all the answers.

Almost, there are a few differences such as:
When Rome speaks it is with the authority and guidance of tradition, the Magiste quoted from pafretrium and the Pope's infallibility, on matters of faith and morals, when he speaks ex cathedra (from the Chair of Peter). There is no "Rome", which is the final arbiter in all matters. The quote below covers the authority succinctly:

"Ex cathedra is a Latin phrase which means "from the chair." It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world. The concept derives from Jesus.

In Matthew 23: 2-3 Jesus spoke of the authority of the Old Testament magisterium saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair [Gk. cathedras] of Moses. Therefore, do and observe whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach what they do not practice." Since Jesus recognized the authority of the Old Testament magisterium when it spoke ex cathedra (with the authority of Moses),we recognize that the New Testament magisterium of the Church, which speaks with the authority not of Moses but of Jesus Christ himself (Mt 10:40, 16:18-19, 18:18; Lk 10:16; 2 Cor 5:18-20), possesses a binding, infallible teaching office which is guaranteed by Christ (Mt 28:20; Jn 14:16, 26, 16:13)."

The Roman Catholic Church bases all of its infallible teachings on sacred tradition and sacred scripture. ... A teaching of ordinary and universal magisterium is a teaching of which all bishops (including the Pope) universally agree on and is also considered infallible. So rather than not being rational, Catholicism is extremely rational and not arbitrary or capricious despite the many Popes who were unsavory at best and evil in their actions.

The incessant drumbeat about how many priests have turned out to be perverts does not define the Church just as the ill advised attempts at covering up such behavior reflect nothing more than man's concupiscent nature and his desire to avoid scandal or exposure.

There are many other issues besides Solo Scritura and the real presence of God in the transubstantiation. The Catholic view is that we have the Apostolic Succession and we represent the true church and religion. All these Johnny-come-latelies are heretics. It requires Bishops to consecrate priests and outside of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church, there is no valid Bishopric and hence no Apostolic succession. Without this succession the other churches are deprived of access to the fount of knowledge which they proudly proclaim that simpler humans can define for themselves what the religion is about.

One would have to be a Historian, a Master of ancient languages such as Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin and others as well as being an Archaeologist skilled in Middle Eastern Culture before he would be qualified to give definitive interpretations of those scriptures Or he can become a Catholic and avail himself of the knowledge of all those disciplines. It is presented to him at each Sunday Mass.

Okay, I think I have a handle on the war between Catholics and Protestants... but, I am tossing this out for a sanity check.

The animosity comes from basic human nature when dealing with fundamental disagreement over eternal truths. Some, or at least those posting on OPP, Protestants think Roman Catholics teach a works-gospel that cannot save, while Roman Catholics think Protestants teach easy-believism that requires nothing more than an emotional outburst brought on by manipulative preaching. Protestants accuse Catholics of worshiping Mary, and Catholics think Protestants are apparently too dull to understand the distinctions Rome has made in this regard.

And central to all of it is authority. When it comes down to deciding a theological issue about defined Catholic dogma, there is no discussion, because once Rome speaks, it is settled. This is a problem when trying to debate a Roman Catholic – reason and Scripture are not the Catholic’s final authority; they can always retreat into the “safe zone” of Roman Catholic authority.

Ergo it boils down to “private interpretation” of Scripture against the "official teachings of the Roman Catholic Church." Protestants are "by the New Testament" with heavy reliance on the writings of Saul/Paul. And a personal understanding that is conveyed from Jesus/G*d directly to the believer. Catholics rely on the Catholic Church, the Pope, to know the New Testament and tell the people what it all means.

I am positive that there are other satellites orbiting around both faiths, but at the core... do I understand the issues? Please educate me.... I am not asking anyone to "defend" their religion, I simply have a need to understand the divide. Can polish or correct.... and perhaps I have it all wrong, jump in and educate me.

Hello Pennylynn,

In simplest breakdown.

Protestant is a general term that many "christians" non catholic identify with when discussing theology with Catholics. However the "Christians" in the most recent discussions on opp with Catholics on opp among themselves identify among each other as "The Church, The body of Christ", Christians following a more literal read of God's word.
God gave first the Jewish his written word in the Old Testament, which Christians believe to be penned by man, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Anything any Prophet or man claiming to have a truth about God must be in agreement with the old Testament, have no Contridiction in teachings or doctrine. Then God gave man the New Testament penned by man and inspired by the Holy Spirit which is in perfect harmony with the Old Testament and having no Contridictions. Again any man claiming God has given him knowledge or spoken to him in teachings and doctrines not have any Contridictions to the Old and New Testaments. We believe God's word instructs us to search the scriptures that we will know false teachings that Contridictes Old and New Testaments.
The breakdown between Christians and Catholic Doctrine.... The foundation of their teachings does not pass the test of old /new Testament test, is not in harmony and does contridict. Further Catholic doctrines claiming to come from a third source (an addition to the old/new Testaments) referred to as "oral traditions" claiming to come from God, which adds dozens of doctrines, they are not in harmony with the Old or New Testament and in direct conflict, they do not pass the test of God's word. This same standard is applied to any "Churches" doctrine or anyone claiming to be a "Christian". Since false teachings even was entering the first century church as spoken of in the Bible and over the centuries has spread even further which we believe is Satan's efforts to deceive and counterfeit the Word of God and must be ever tested that we may know if it comes from God or the liar of liars.
To "Christians" this would be the foundation of challenging the Roman Catholic church's doctrines.

Interesting.... when I look out at the Universe, I do not think it is empty.... there has to be many world with many creations. I do not see any place in our writings (Jewish) that say we are the only creations.... and when I think of our Father, I do not see that there are limitations..... He created everything ..... and if more space is needed for those who believe.... He could "speak" it into reality. There has been billions of souls who have been born and have died... how many do you think believed and followed the Law as given to Moses? Or even the Laws of Saul... ? And going back before Moses.... how about the laws given by Noah? Is it possible that those souls will only just stay dead and Jesus only came for those he could recruit from "hell" while after he was murdered? I do not have an answer for these questions.... so, don't be offended... I am just asking.