Comparative Religious Studies: Catholicism
No other offshoot of Christianity has caused more damage to the name of Christ than Catholicism. From the persecution of the Jews in Spain through the Crusades, and on through the persecution of the Protestants, no other force in nature or man has given atheists and skeptics more ammunition to shoot at Christ than the Roman Catholic Church.
Please let me make one point emphatically clear. While there are certainly those within the Catholic Church which are Christian and who have in the past and do in the present follow Christ, the Catholic Church itself is not, nor has it ever been, a Christian institution.
The origin of the Catholic Church begins in it’s own unique way. The word “Pope” is brought to us from the Latin “Pontifex Maximus.” It is from the word pontifex that we get our term “to pontificate.” The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the old Roman pagan gods. Julius Caesar, on his ascension to Emperor of Rome declared himself Pontifex Maximus. His reason for doing so was so that he could claim authority over Roman law, and the twelve tablets.
The laws of Rome were declared to be inviolate because they were the will of the gods. It was for this reason that Julius declared himself a demi-god and took the title Pontifex Maximus. The tradition of the emperor having the title of high priest continued through the era of imperial power in the Roman Empire.
During the reign of Constantine I the church catholic became the Catholic Church. The first official Pontifex was Damasus I1 although the first man to hold the title of Pope was actually Siricius. It was a dispute over the authority of Rome and it’s place as the capital of the world which began the devolution of the Catholic Church into it’s current state of complete heresy. It was during this time that Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople (named after the emperor) that the authorities in Rome refused to accept the authority of the second ecumenical council at Constantinople in 381AD. It was the council of Chalcedon in which the council fathers declared that “Peter has spoken through the mouth of Leo!” referring to Pope Leo I, the Pope of Rome.
From here the church in Rome began to systematically seal it’s authority over Christendom by eliminating the bishops of other cities. The main center of it’s power was it’s claim to having a continued line of succession of leaders, descended directly from the apostle Peter, who they claim began the church in Rome. This claim is suspect to say the least, but regardless of whether or not Peter did start the church in Rome, he never would have agreed to the idea of one central ruler of the church, other than Christ himself.2
Over time the Pope began to receive the power of Jesus himself. The Pope has the final authority on the meaning of scripture, and can even negate scripture by mandate.3 Thus, the very words of Christ and his apostles are negated by the traditions of the Catholic Church, and the whim of the Pope. This is evident in the number of times that the stance of the Catholic Church has taken on a number of issues.
The celibacy of priests is an invention of Papal fiat.4 Even the condition of the universe came under the authority of the Church, and not God when the Church decided that Galileo’s adherence to Copernicanism5 was heresy.
Among the most heinous doctrines espoused by the Roman Catholic Church is the eternal virginity of Mary. Their adherence to this Babylonian6 cultic practice has transformed the trinity from Father, Son and Holy Ghost to Father, Mother and Son. The idea of praying to Mary7 is a serious and grievous sin against God8. The supplication of the saints is nothing more than idolatry. Even the idea that the Church and the Pope has the authority to declare who is and who is not a saint is pure anathema.
Further doctrines, such as the idea of purgatory and the concept that salvation comes through the sacraments, and the sacraments through the church are a doctrine of salvation by works, or worse, salvation for pay and profit. The concept that relics provide power to the believer through their contact with saints does nothing but promote witchcraft and sorcery through a process of enchanting common objects for the purposes of providing power over the spiritual realm. The blessing of “Holy Water” is nothing short of laughable and has become a cliche among the death worshipers who live out a goth lifestyle and admire vampirism.
The Roman Catholic Church sprang from the pagan traditions of ancient Rome and from the beginning has sought actively to meld pagan traditions and practices with it’s own. It is the single greatest cause of the destruction of the testimony of those who, throughout the ages, have truly and sincerely sought to follow Christ. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and every other modern atheist apologist point directly at the Catholic Church and it’s actions throughout the centuries when attempting to destroy the belief in God and His goodness.
Although the Catholic Church has, throughout the years, done some measure of good deeds, and has provided some measure of order in the secular world, there is no doubt that it’s rise to power is the single most destructive influence on the character of real Christianity ever. The best thing that ever happened to the Catholic Church was Martin Luther.
- Some controversy remains over whether or not Damasus was actually the first “Pope” because it was his successor, Siricius who first claimed the title “Papa” or “Pope.” However, Damasus I was conferred the title of Pontifex Maximus by Constantine as a way of consolidating the church and mollifying a dispute between the pagan worshipers and the Christian following.
- Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18
- “The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 100
- http://www.arthurstreet.com/celibacy1993.html#Anchor-Th-1269, I Corinthians 7:25-40
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei
- The Two Babylons by Hislop
- Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she cares for the brethren of her Son, who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home. Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.
- Exodus 23:13, Exodus 34:14, Acts 4:12
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