Very interesting you call the religion "The Catholic Church" rather than catholicism. Perfect example of what I mean by political monarchy.
Well, actually it isn't. I don't mean to be rude or condescending or anything of that manner when I say this, but that really is an assumption on your part. It's an assumption about what I mean when I say "Church." When I say it I am referring to the Mystical Body of Christ, spoken of by Paul in his letters. This is important because it concerns how I perceive my religion. While it may be true that there is a hierarchic model in place in the Catholic Church, and She certainly is involved politically, particularly in global matters, these are not the aspects of my Church which are at the forefront of my mind when I think of Her. They certainly weren't when I answered your question.
I call this Church Catholic because I am distinguishing it from those other Christian religions which resulted from the Protestant Reformation, as well as Anglicanism and the Orthodoxies. It's an important distinction for me because there are certain theological tenets which I hold to concerning my Church which other Christian religions do not. Perhaps it is a meaningless distinction for those who are unfamiliar with such differences, but to those who do, it does not seem so pointless.
So...let's ask this for example. Do you believe Purgatory exists or doesn't exist? (Since the Vatican basically admitted they don't know either, let's see what you think...here's where 'all' becomes a problem)
I do believe that Purgatory is a reality. The Church teaches this to be true, and without doubt. What you might be thinking of is the question of whether Purgatory is a real
place. The Church certainly doesn't take a position on this question, but does hold that even Earth can be a form of purgatory. Here is a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is basically a summary of Church Doctrine (and Doctrine never changes in the Catholic Church) concerning the matter:
" III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY
1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.[604] The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:[605] As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.[606]
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."[607] From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.[608] The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead: Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.[609] "
Anyway, the point is irrelevant. Where the Catholic Church doesn't take an official stance, I can believe whatever I want. It is in matters of Faith and Morality that the Church claims infallibility, and as such Her Doctrines and Dogmas never change. Moreover, we are required to accept these, for being infallible, to deny them is to deny what is true, and this is to deny Christ, for Christ said, "I am the Way, the
Truth, and the Life." So, were the Church to not take a particular stance on Purgatory, it wouldn't matter what I believed about it. So, when I say, "I believe all that the Catholic Church teaches," I mean all that is Dogma, Doctrine and Deposit of Faith.
I say this, for everything else the Church says is open to prudent judgment. We can hold to whatever scientific theories we deem most truthful. The Church may make suggestions, or support certain theories, but we are not required to believe these, and the Church does not teach them as infallibly true in any kind of official manner.
You might make the argument about the Galileo incident. The matter of that has less to do with infallible Church teaching, as it does with the political power it was wielding in that era. I don't say this in a positive or negative way. I am simply saying it as a matter of fact. Galileo's theory of a Heliocentric
Universe (yes, that was his theory, not a heliocentric solar system, but universe. He believed the sun was the center of the universe) had not been proven, nor was it merely intended as a scientific theory. Galileo was challenging Church authority. Perhaps the whole affair was handled poorly, house arrest seems a bit extreme in hindsight I suppose, plus the... well, it doesn't really matter. I don't want to get into a whole debate about this issue. Matter of fact, the Church wasn't making an infallible statement about a scientific idea. Aristotle's arguments concerning parallax shifts (or rather their absence) was the basis for continuing to support the ancient theory of geocentricity, and it had little to do with theology. In any case, we are not required to believe in a scientific theory, even if it is supported by the Church, for the Church does not teach it as true
in an official fashion.
I've never heard of such a thing as a religious faith, an organized religion, that requires one to accept all of the teachings of that faith. Do you? If so, which ones?
Because of a girlfriend, I was considering joining the Catholic Church, and took some "lessons" from a couple of priests. Never once did they say taht I had to accept everything that they were teaching ....only that I keep an open mind and not make undue denial of the teachings.
I'm curious ...it's been a long, long time ago, but my guess is that it's even less restrictive now than it was 50 years ago.
Baron Max
Actually, I can understand that position. It isn't that we aren't required to believe in all Church Doctrines and Dogma, we are. As an unbeliever, it would be unfair to demand that of you, so the position they were asking you to take was merely that of an open mind. If, in the course of your conversion, should you have done so, you had found disagreement with certain teachings, it would have been explained to you the reason(s) for that teaching, as well as whether it was doctrine or not, if not then you were fine to disagree with it, if it was doctrine, then you would have been told that it was a tenet of the Faith and not accepting it would not allow you to be in full communion with the Church.
