The Deception of Catholicism (all forms)

[Zionas]

Catholic beliefs:

-You are saved by both faith AND works, and you need works to maintain your salvation

-The Pope is the representative of God on earth, and he can alter Scripture if necessary

-Literal ceremony involving bread, water, and wine

-Saints are special people that must be approved by the Catholic church

-Mary is held in very high regard and made part of prayer

-The existence of purgatory



The Bible:

-You are saved by faith alone, but works show your faith, true salvation can never be lost

-Jesus is God in flesh and the only mediator between man and The Father

-Bread, water, and wine are symbolic depictions of Christ's body and blood

-All true believers are Saints

-Mary was a woman devoted to God and chosen to be the earthly mother of Jesus, but had no special status besides that

-Heaven or Hell, nothing in-between

[Winston]

Why is Catholic teaching a deception though? The Catholic Bible contains the Apocrypha books which contain such doctrines you describe. Who's to say the Apocrypha books aren't as valid as the other books? It's humans who decided which books to put into the Bible, and humans are fallible. The Bible was written by humans and is fallible too.

Just because fanatical Christians say that the Bible is infallible doesn't make it so. Every book, especially of that size, contains flaws and human errors in them. A book isn't an authority just because someone says it is.

See my essays:

Christianity's Irresolvable Problems, Circular Reasoning and Lack of Foundational Basis
http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/Christian_Problems.htm

Summary of Christian Circular Arguments and Assumptions Debunked
http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/Debunk ... Page36.htm

My debate with two Christian Missionaries - A summary of points I wrote up to two devout Christian missionaries I met, who were never able to refute or address them.
http://www.debunkingskeptics.com/Respon ... naries.htm