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Religion or Cult?

Dittohead not! said:
If they don't believe that god will heal them, then god won't heal them. If they don't believe that the sugar pill is real, then the sugar pill won't heal them either.
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It's up to God in those cases. There's also the faith of friends to heal someone.

From Luke chapter 5:

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.
 
Logicman said:
Nonsense. The web is full of healing testimonials.
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Yes they are very good sales tools but absolutely worthless as proof of anything
 
Dittohead not! said:
All churches require money from their adherents. Without money, no church or anything else will survive.
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Sure. They don't force anyone to give though at least not in my Church or any Catholic Church I've been too. They pass around a collection plate and some people give some money others don't, the ones who don't aren't thrown out or forced to leave.
 
MaggieD said:
The Catholic Church most certainly does expect its members to tithe.



FAQs About Tithing

It was practice to shun those who were excommunicated.



CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Excommunication

Don't feel bad. Many non-Catholics know more about the Catholic Church than those who practice the religion. That's why they're not Catholic.
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Oh I'm sure I know a hell of a lot more about my Church then most people given the fact that I've studied her teachings for well over a decade now but I do admit that it would take a lot more to know everything well over a lifetime I would say given that it's a two thousand year old Church covering multiple continents and cultures throughout that time period. I would be the first one to admit that I certainly don't know everything about it that's why I kindly asked you to clarify. I've read through that source multiple times, showme where it proves you right?
 
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Monserrat said:
Oh I'm sure I know a hell of a lot more about my Church then most people given the fact that I've studied her teachings for well over a decade now but I do admit that it would take a lot more to know everything well over a lifetime I would say given that it's a two thousand year old Church covering multiple continents and cultures throughout that time period. I would be the first one to admit that I certainly don't know everything about it that's why I kindly asked you to clarify. I've read through that source multiple times, showme where it proves you right?
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I started to do this, but you can do it yourself. If you've read through the sources multiple times and still missed that tithing is an expectation of the Catholic Church? When the site itself is from the St. Louis Archdiocese? And deals with the whys and wherefores of the expectation?? What am I going to post that you're going to understand??

As to ex-communication and shunning? Same thing. It's right there. Ctrl F shunned. There are four references. Again, if you've read the source multiple times and don't understand it? What am I going to post from it that you're going to understand??
 
rjay said:
Where do you draw the line between a Religion and a Cult?

The bottom line for me is this: Any religion that requires you to turn your back on a family member, because they have left the religion, is a cult.

The concept of 'shunning' is a real cult indicator, in my opinion.
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In the ot many sins required stoning to death, God killed lots wife on the spot for disobeying---- Now Gods word in the nt teaches--- remove the wicked one from amongst yourselves.( they get a chance to repent) Also Jesus taught ones own family members would be their enemies( spiritually)
Ones own family members aren't offering eternal life---God is.
 
Monserrat said:
Sure. They don't force anyone to give though at least not in my Church or any Catholic Church I've been too. They pass around a collection plate and some people give some money others don't, the ones who don't aren't thrown out or forced to leave.
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No, they don't require their worshippers to pay, but they do have to have some donations or they will go out of business.
 
MaggieD said:
I started to do this, but you can do it yourself. If you've read through the sources multiple times and still missed that tithing is an expectation of the Catholic Church? When the site itself is from the St. Louis Archdiocese? And deals with the whys and wherefores of the expectation?? What am I going to post that you're going to understand??

As to ex-communication and shunning? Same thing. It's right there. Ctrl F shunned. There are four references. Again, if you've read the source multiple times and don't understand it? What am I going to post from it that you're going to understand??
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I wasn't talking about tithing when I said I read through that source multiple times I was talking about the last source you posted on excommunication. I've read through that multiple times, it's a good source. I mentioned earlier that I had never heard that the Catholic Church shunned members pre-1983 in regard to excommunication, I asked you to support that statement that you had made. Then you posted the source from the Catholic encyclopedia without showing where it supports that claim that you had made. I've read through it many times, where does it mention shunning pre-1983? Edit add: Where in 1982 or 1981 do you have examples of the Church shunning people?

Catholics absolutely are not required to give money every time they go to mass. Some people don't have any money to give but no one is going to be turned away for not putting that check in the collection plate. All donations are willingly given. Tithing was an Old testament obligation given to the Jews, Catholics since they are not Jewish are not required to tithe that 10 percent. I don't know about your site from whatever diocese you found your information from but if you want to know what the Catholic Church teaches it's best to go straight to the source, the Catechism does not mention tithing as a requirement. Here's what Catholic answers says, hopefully it helps clarify things for you:

What is the Church's position on tithing? | Catholic Answers
 
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Dittohead not! said:
No, they don't require their worshippers to pay, but they do have to have some donations or they will go out of business.
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Yep. And most Catholics that I know realize that and try to give what they can for Church upkeep and different charities that the Church has collections for. My main contention is with those who try to paint the Catholic Church as some money grubbing entity, it's really not. Certain Catholic Churches may have a larger focus on money then others and a lot of times it's just an issue with upkeep.
 
Monserrat said:
Yep. And most Catholics that I know realize that and try to give what they can for Church upkeep and different charities that the Church has collections for. My main contention is with those who try to paint the Catholic Church as some money grubbing entity, it's really not. Certain Catholic Churches may have a larger focus on money then others and a lot of times it's just an issue with upkeep.
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Agreed its the televangelists that are the money grubing enteties
 
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