Hellish doctrines?
I still get a newsletter from a bigot group that I used to support. They use the same language.
Well....let's see.
The following are doctrines of the universal (katholicos) Church which consists of both us Orthodox and the Latin rite:
The Trinity -- Don't believe this one? You are in deep weeds with most Christian denominations. And probably with God, although ultimately He is the final Judge of your estate. You are a Trinitarian compliments of the universal Church, which defended this doctrine at Nicea.
The Bodily Resurrection -- Would you believe there actually are "christians" who disbelieve this doctrine? Such is the result of allowing for "private interpretation". Part of the Nicene Creed. Yours compliments of the universal Church.
The Final Judgement -- Another of the insidious teachings of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, one which all "orthodox" Christians subscribe to.
The Incarnation -- Again, we were here first. Your "orthodoxy" in this area is compliments of the councils of the universal Church.
The Virgin Birth -- Another doctrine stoutly defended by all true Christians, yet formulated by the universal Church for you. We were the ones who opposed the heretics, not you. You just took what you liked and discarded the rest.
How we doin' so far? Any "hellish doctrines" in there? No? Why not?
It was, in fact, the universal Church, headed by Pope St. Gregory and his predecessors who really defined all the major teachings of the natures of Christ, opposing the Monothellites, the Monophysites, the Nestorians, and a HOST of other HERETICS. Where were youse guys? Oh, silly me. I forgot....Baptistry would begin for another several hundred years. Ditto with Protestantism.
C'mon DHK, why don't you admit it? 95% of what you believe STARTED, was DEFINED and DEFENDED by the UNIVERSAL CHURCH -- the CATHOLIC Church!!!
And you are really in a corner on this one, because if you are going to borrow these doctrines and tag them as "orthodox", yet at the same time claim that the Church and Her councils were not infallible, then HOW do you know that what you have chosen to believe really is true?
Hmmmmmmmmmm.....????
Maybe the Oneness Pentecostals are correct with their interpretation of the Scriptures. They use the Scriptures consistently to "prove" their position. So did heretic bishop Arias.
Maybe the Mormons are correct. Or any one of a thousand nutball cults. How do you know, how do you PROVE they are wrong when you have no way other than YOUR interpretation of Scripture.
WE CATHOLICS on the other hand, have the PROMISE of Jesus our Lord that the office of the papacy would be PROTECTED from error!! To me, that is a lot stronger than "I think...." or "Well, I believe Scripture says..."
Your blanket statement says in effect that 2000 years of Ante-Nicene Fathers, Early Fathers, and Doctors of the Church, as well as greatly holy and pious men, were wrong. Sorry, I don't buy it!
Your claims in effect state that the apostles told the truth of God to men who almost immediately twisted and tortured the truth with deliberation and malice. In other words, they were not as noble as you are, right? C'mon, that is not only crass, it is slanderous of men who died rather than to betray Christ and His teachings!!
We have labored with you over and over and over again to show you how Biblical the teachings of Orthodoxy and Catholicism are. You refuse to listen, believing what you have been brainwashed to believe (the Catholic Church is the Whore of Revelation, yap yap yap).
I feel sorry for ya, man. You left the true Church for a distortion of the Church. You don't understand and don't agree with the teachings of the Church, therefore you pronounce them wrong and refuse to listen to any explanation.
And I do understand...you are scared for your soul and its well being. That is understandable. I went through the same doubts and torments (it ain't fun converting, believe me!!) that you harbor now. But through God's grace, I came to understand that no matter how poorly administrated, how filled with sinful priests and stupid administrative rules the Church may be, She is still the Church. Her doctrines and teachings are correct, even if Her leaders are full blown HYPOCRITES!!
Ahhhh.....what more can I say? I really actually feel sorry for you. I'll try to remember you in my prayers to our Mother.
Cordially in Christ,
Brother Ed