PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS ANSWER THIS?

Question

there is no purgatory in the bible. then why do protestants and catholics believe in purgatory? isnt it that considered adding a command to the teachings in the bible which is not acceptable?

in giving holy supper, why do catholics and protestants only give the white circles to eat? isnt it suppose to be that they should also give the drink not only the bread?

why is it that in catholicism and protestantism separation or divorce allowed? because God joined the two person and should not be separated isnt it?

Answer 1

Okay...

Purgatory is an ancient teaching and was believed by the Jews before Jesus was ever born. Jesus was a Jew and he never renounced this teaching. Additionally, the understanding of Purgatory certainly is biblical if you understand how to read your Bible. You are assuming that since you don't see it, then it isn't there. You are not an infallible interpreter of scripture.

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgato...

In some Catholic parishes, we receive both the Host and the Precious Blood (mine offers both). But when the Eucharist is consecrated, the priest puts a bit of the Host into the Precious Blood signifying that the body and the blood are one and cannot be separated. When you receive one, you receive both.http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_euc...

Divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church. What God has joined together let no man put asunder. The Church holds to this. What makes you think it is allowed? The Church can't bar Catholics from going to a judge and getting divorced, but the Church (and God) does not recognize that divorce. In some circumstances (not all) a Catholic can be granted an annulment. This states that because of other circumstances the marriage was not valid when it was entered into. Let's say your spouse to be lies and tells you he/she wants chldren. Then once married renigs and refuses to have children with you. Because of this lie, the marriage is an invalid sacrament. It was still legal, but the lie about something as important as "life" can render the sacrament invalid.

But those Catholics who are divorced, remarried, or living with someone are in mortal sin. The Church does not recognize their divorce or remarriage. They are not to be receiving Eucharist in this state.

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/divorce...

Answer 2

Most of these have been answered in one way or another, but there are a few points of clarification.

Catholics believe in purgatory which is inferred from the Bible (i.e. praying for the dead, as mentioned before).  The reason protestants do not believe comes from the changes Luther made to the Bible when he split from the Church.  Most of the the clear references to praying for the dead were removed (2 Maccabees is a good one). Therefor, most protestants will claim it isn't found in the Bible (because it isn't in theirs).

As far as communion goes, Catholics believe it is actually Jesus body and blood.  Stranger than that, we also believe that a small piece of the Eucharist or a small drop of the Blood, contains ALL of Jesus (so we don't have to have both--most just have the Eucharist).  Many protestants believe that this is symbolic, but Catholics do not.  We take a lot of that meaning directly from the Bible (John 6).

Divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church, and this is also taken from the Bible (Sermon on the Mount, Matt 5, 6 and 7).  If read in the context of the day, separation is only allowed if the relationship is not legal (NOT because of infidelety as many Protestants will interpret)

Marriage is a bonding between a man and a woman MADE BY GOD.  That means, it can't be broken, except by death.  the only exception, isn't really, because if it's illegal in the first place, than God never made the bond.  That's the nature of an Annulment.  For example, if one person in the relationship was lying about their past and who they were or why they were getting married, then God would not make the bond.

Answer 3

First of all, only Catholics believe in Purgatory and you're right there is no mention of purgatory in the Bible.

We do not only give white circles to eat. There is also wine.

Divorce is not "allowed" in the Catholic church. My friend, a devout catholic was divorced and while she wasn't "ex-communicated" she wasn't permitted to receive communion. In the Protestant church, divorce is frowned upon, but they recognize that there are times when divorce is morally and scripturally indicated. The Bible does permit divorce in certain circumstances.

To answer why people can seperate read Deuteronomy 24:1-4,  Matthew 5:32 and 19:9. and 1 Corinthians 7:15. Divorce is allowed in cases of adultery and marrying an unbeliever.

Answer 4

There IS no purgatory in the Bible, so the idea mustnt be supported.

In our church, wine is also served with the bread, only it's more of a few drops^^;;

Divorce is allowed if the spouse was abandoned or committed adultery.

Answer 5

YA does not allow enough space to provide you with Biblical evidence for Purgatory in addition to divorce/remarrie. Since you seem to be making a bigger deal out of divorce, I will provide Biblical teaching as it pertains to Divorce/Remarriage:

Gen. 2:20-24 - we see that, from the beginning, husband and wife are joined together by God and become one body. A body cannot be dismembered and still live.

Mal. 2:16 - God says "I hate divorce." These are strong words from our Lord. Divorce and remarriage violates the sacred marital covenant between a husband and a wife that has been ordained by God.

Matt. 19:6 - Jesus makes it clear that it is God who joins the husband and wife together, according to His will. What God joins together cannot be dissolved because God's will is perfect and eternal.

Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18 - Jesus says that whoever divorces and remarries another commits adultery. This is an offense against the natural law.

Rom. 7:2-3 - again, Paul reiterates Jesus' teaching that sacramental marriage followed by a divorce and remarriage is adultery. He who commits adultery destroys himself. (Prov. 6:23). Many Protestant denominations have rejected this teaching of Jesus and His Church.

1 Cor. 7:10-11 - once again, Paul gives Christ's teaching that married couples cannot divorce and remarry. This violates God's divine plan for the husband and wife.

Matt. 5:31-32 - the Lord permits divorce only for "porneia." This Greek word generally means unlawful sexual intercourse due to either blood relations (also called incest) or nonsacramental unions. The Lord does not permit divorce for "moicheia" (adultery). It is also important to note that in these cases, a marriage never existed in the first place, so the Lord is not actually permitting divorce, but a dissolution of the unlawful union.

Eph. 5:22-32 - Paul says that the sacramental union of husband and wife is the image of Christ and the Church. Just as Christ the Bridegroom and His Bride the Church are inseparable, so are a husband and wife also inseparable. A civil divorce cannot dissolve a sacramental marriage (between two baptized people).

1 Cor. 7:12-15 - these verses set forth what the Church calls the "Pauline privilege" - two unbaptized people marry, and afterwards one of the people is baptized. If the unbaptized person decides to leave the marriage, the Christian is free to remarry (because the first marriage was not sacramental, and a union between a baptized and an unbaptized person can jeopardize the baptized person's faith).

Ezra 10:1-14 - these verses support what the Church calls the "Petrine privilege" - a baptized person marries an unbaptized person. To save the baptized person’s faith from being jeopardized, the Pope may dissolve such a marriage pursuant to his binding and loosing authority.

Rev. 19:9 - the marital union of man and woman reflect Christ's union with the Church at the heavenly marriage supper. Just as Christ and the Church have become one flesh through the Eucharist and the union brings forth spiritual life for God's children, a man and a woman become one flesh and their union brings forth physical life for the Church. This union is indissoluble.  

Answer 6

You are right that purgatory is not in the Bible. I don't know why some people believe in it.

In all churches I've been to, including Catholic and protestant, the drink was offered along with the bread. I've never heard of any church that does not also offer drink along with the bread.

Divorce is against the law of God. Like all sins, people can be forgiven and start life anew. People cannot follow God's law perfectly. If a Christian takes their faith seriously, s/'he would not take divorce lightly. But it cannot always be helped. God does not hold a hammer over us and pound us for everything we do wrong in life. He forgives.

I agree with Mike C's last statement. But it's good you asked. That's what this forum is for.

Answer 7

Huge, sweeping generalizations! I'm not sure where you got your info on Protestants but I believe it's incorrect. I'm Lutheran and this is what I was taught and what I believe:

1. There is no purgatory.

2. There are 10 commandments. You can't make up additional ones.

3. Both the beverage and the wafer are offered at communion.

4.There are only certain circumstances when divorce is allowed such as if the person you are married to commits adultery. That's breaking a commandment and takes precedence over marriage vows.

Answer 8

The idea of purgatory is indeed in the bible. It is not explicitly mentioned in the bible but is implicitly mentioned- much like the word Trinity is not in the bible. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:14–15: "If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." You see, the Latinate word purgatory means a purgation or burning by fire. Paul in these verses refers to a purgation process whereby a man is saved even though his works are burned away. This is precisely what the Catholic Church teaches. A person at death who still has personal faults is prevented from entering into heaven because he is not completely purified. He must go through a period of purgation in order to be made clean, for nothing unclean will enter heaven (cf. Rev. 21:27).

  There is also no divorce in the Catholic church.  There is the process of annullment but that is not the same as divorce.  

   When receiving the Eucharist you receive the whole body and blood of the Lord when you take the host (bread). It is not necessary to take the blood (wine) to receive the full divinity of God.

  I

Answer 9

OK.  First off Catholics have more than the Bible.  We also have the magisterium and tradition that goes back to Peter.  So, not everything is in just the Bible, or just in tradition, or just in the magesterium.    

"Purgatory" simply means a place where you are cleansed.  We do not believe that anything imperfect can enter into heaven.  We are saved, we are forgiven our sins and redeemed, but we still have the stain of what we have done.  The idea of purgatory is simply to take care of whatever is left of imperfection so we are fit to stand in the presence of God.  There is a much better way to explain it, but I'm afraid my brain is a bit fried.

I don't know about protestant churches, but in my church we take communion under both species, bread and wine.  

Catholicism does not allow divorce.  You may have a civil divorce, but in the eyes of God and the Church you are still married.  The only way to dissolve a marriage in the Catholic church is to get an annulment.  An annulment does not mean that the marriage has ended, it is a finding that a proper, sacramental marriage did not take place.  You can't get an annulment simply because you don't want to be married anymore.  There has to be a finding of fact.

I think you have some reasonable questions, but I am afraid you have a lot of misinformation about what Catholics actually believe and teach.

God bless.

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Regarding your comment about government, you also must remember that Jesus said to "render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

I think a lot of your questions about Catholicism can be answered by getting a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It's pretty clear.

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Kelly S-- I'm sorry that your divorced friend was not allowed to receive communion.  That is not church teaching.  If you have a civil divorce you still can receive the sacraments, including communion.  In the eyes of the Church you still are married, even though living separately.  However, if you remarry without receiving an annulment, you are considered to be committing adultery, living in an unrepentant state of sin, and therefore cannot receive the sacraments.  It's not the divorce that is the problem, it's the remarriage without the annulment.

Answer 10

Protestants, generally speaking, do not have the teaching of Purgatory.  Purgatory is alluded to in the bible and attested to by common sense.

In most Catholic and Protestant churches both the bread and wine (or grape juice in some protestant church) is offered.

In the Catholic Church divorce is neither allowed nor disallowed, but it's discouraged unless there is threat of physical or mental harm, etc.  Remarriage is not allowed in the Catholic church unless an annullment is obtained...and annullment states a true sacramental marriage didn't exist.

Many protestant church are more liberal in their approach to marriage and divorce.

You're two for two on your COMPLETE misunderstanding of basic doctrines and you group protestants and Catholics together on issues in which they're seperated.  You need to study more.

Answer 11

As far as I'm aware protestants don't believe in purgatory. That's a Catholic invention. And separation and divorce isn't really allowed. Divorced people can not stand in the pulpit or something like that. It is accepted but frowned upon to be divorced. And they cannot remarry someone else in the church either.

Answer 12

prugratory is a word given to the concept of death and our judgement. it is well documented in the bible. purgatory is the time when we are being judged and cleansed/testedin fire. when the sins that were not forgiven in this life are forgiven for nothing unclean shall pass.  as with the word Trinity - purgatory is a word given to the entire concept. It's Catholic doctrine.

THe host is generally distributed but more then 65% of Catholic churches also offer the wine. It's similar to the reality that no church, while "Doing in Rememberance of Me" is having a full seder meal and thus doing fully.

in the Catholic church divorce is allowed but bot condoned. if one is divorced but the marriage is not annulled they are still married. there ARE legitimate reasons for an annullment. I do not believe for a moment that God would want someone to be in an abusive marriage.  Marriage is a sacrament and when entered into falsely they have lied to God and to man and thus the other party should not be condemned.

Answer 13

Use the searxh box.

Again, like your last question, this has been asked and answered.

Answer 14

as far as i know only catholics believe in purgatory. divorce is legalized by the government so whatever your religion is, you can avail of it. but there are still many catholic countries which do not permit divorce.

Answer 15

Protestants who believe in purgatory are still left with the traces of Romanism to their brand of organized religion. With all due respect, at least it is better that they have at least reached that degree of seperation from it. But, a Christian doesn't even need to be a Protestant to be a believer. The system of orthodoxy is so broken down, that it is left for the individual to decide in the modern age. What is important, however, is how the individual puts into practice the lessons of the Bible. There are even Catholics who agree with this. These types of Catholics are labeled as "evangelical Catholics". But, these Catholics usually give greater weight to what the bible says, than Roman Doctrine, while giving the Roman Church it's glory. Such is life.

Communion and remembrance is more important than how the instruments are used. And Jesus is not a round disc of bread.

Divorce is a sensitive area. I highly doubt God would expect a woman to be subdued to a treacherous husband. They should stay united. Yes, but, even this sin is forgivable. I'm not saying it should ever be done. But, life is what it is.

EDIT: For the sake of moral order these things are allowed to persist, I guess. But, as it relates to salvation... well, maybe these are exactly the things that the Lord intends to save us from...

Answer 16

Hold on a second as I answer:

1) There is no direct concept of Purgatory in the Bible. But there are several passages in the Bible that talk about praying for the dead. The question then becomes, why pray for the dead? If they are in either h**l or Heaven, their condition is permanent and praying for them cannot do any good. The fact that praying for them is mentioned implies the presence of "somewhere else" where progress towards Heaven after death is possible. I believe it is from this that the concept of Purgatory was derived. Also, Protestants do not accept Purgatory, I believe that it is a Catholic concept.

2) I assume that you are talking about Holy Communion. Protestant Churches do not usually give the Holy Communion (although some do). The Catholic way of giving the Holy Communion is to dip the bread (representing the body of Christ) into wine (representing the blood of Christ) and them offer the dipped bread as Communion. I hope this clarifies things.

3) The Catholic Church does not allow divorce. Protestant Churches do. Both these positions are based on different interpretations of the Bible. If you remember the passage where Jesus Christ talks about divorce, you will notice that He says that it was not so from the begining (i.e., divorce was not intendend by God), but that Moses was given the laws for divorce because of the weakness of man. The Protestant Church claims that we are not less weak now, so Mosaic divorce still applies, while the Catholic Church says that we should follow the original intention of God.

Hope this helps.

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You are right, the Protestant Church(es) split from the Catholic Church. However, their doctrine is very different.

Answer 17

I'm Christian (protestant? if that means not catholic, then yes) I don't believe in purgatory, and nor does anyone in my church. I think purgatory is a catholic "thing". But I'm pretty sure it does mention something about it in the Bible...

Answer 18

catholics believe that in order to be in the presence of God, you cannot have any flaws in your soul. Therefore, when you die, you have to go to purgatory to make up for your sins by seeing the presence of God, but not BEING in the presence of God.

the priest usually drinks the blood of Christ

REAL 1st Vatican Council Catholic do not believe in divorce. however, nowadays Novis Ordo churches are a little bit more lenient. and people have become "cafeteria catholics' who believe only certain things of the catholic faith. however, to be a catholic, you must believe in all of the catholic teachings and doctrines ect.

the catholic church does not like divorce unless one of the two was being unloyal. but after you divorce, you can't get married again.