Have you ever wondered why people are so harsh towards the Catholic faith? Despite disagreements with Catholicism, why are people so quick to criticize it? Fear seems to be at the root of this issue. People are afraid of Catholicism because of its claims, which put you in a position where you must become Catholic if you recognize them to be true.
The Catholic Church claims to be the church founded by Jesus Christ and remains under the governance of Jesus’ chief Apostle Peter, to whom he gave the keys of the kingdom. This claim is unique to Catholicism, and it creates a different level of unity that doesn’t exist anywhere else.
This unity is a key part of Catholicism, and it’s not just a unity of basic Christian doctrine, but a unity of everything the Church teaches that was passed down to the disciples, including governance. This is where many people break down because we don’t like anyone telling us what to do, think or believe. We don’t want anyone else in charge of us, not even the Church.
The fear of Catholicism runs deep within us because we don’t want to become Catholic, and the Church makes it clear that if you recognize their claims to be true, you have to become Catholic. There’s no in-between, and this is hard for many people. People want to have the freedom to interpret the Bible according to their preferences and opinions, and they don’t want to be told what to believe or how to behave.
But here’s the thing; as Christians, we need the Church. We are not smart enough or adequate enough to interpret the Bible perfectly and understand everything that it means. We need the Church’s guidance to help us understand the Bible and what it teaches. The Church’s role is not to tell us what to think or do, but to help us understand the truth.
The fear of Catholicism is not just about the Church’s teachings but also the liturgy and traditional practices. Many people view Catholicism as hokey, with people wearing robes, chanting, and singing old songs. However, this fear can be overcome by understanding the beauty and meaning behind the Church’s liturgical practices.
In conclusion, fear seems to be the reason why many people are harsh towards Catholicism. We fear being wrong, fear becoming someone we don’t want to be, fear being told what to do or think. But the Church’s role is not to control us but to guide us towards the truth. We need to overcome our fears and seek to understand Catholicism better.