I’ve really been curious lately about the Catholic religion. Two things you said in your essay raise questions for me. I was raised a Protestant preachers kid and recognize my ignorance when it comes to Catholicism. You said, “Still, we encourage each other in our respective faiths.” If your faith is in Jesus Christ as your Savior and the only way to a right relationship with God and eternal life, isn’t that one faith? I’m really not trying to be argumentative, I just really wander if you feel like it’s separate faiths. Or, did you mean religions? The other thing, being a pretty conservative Protestant, is any time someone uses the words “multiple roads” that sets our neck hairs on end. Your essay was very short so you didn’t go in to much detail, I understand. I guess I’m just wandering where you’re at as far as how different/similar Catholicism and Protestantism really is. Thanks for sharing.

@ Bradley: Thanks so much for the comment. I’m happy to clarify.

Re: the faith in which I said my friends and I encourage each other, “faith journeys” might have been more accurate than “faith” because, you’re right — our faith regardless of denomination is in Jesus Christ as Savior.

I don’t think it’s possible for me to adequately express my thoughts re: how different/similar Catholicism and Protestantism are without doing the research, writing a book and gettin’ it published, lol (someday!). But regarding multiple roads, I just clarified that for another reader in the comments section of the story. So I’ll copy that and paste it here:

“While somebody’s affiliation with, say, a Baptist church might be the avenue that leads him or her to faith in Christ, somebody else’s affiliation with Catholicism might be the avenue that leads that person to faith in Christ. And for still others, it might not be affiliation with a church at all that points them toward Jesus, but an encounter with a Christian or the stumbling upon of a passage of Scripture, etc. So what I ultimately meant when I wrote multiple roads lead to Him is that everyone’s journey to faith in Jesus is unique. I don’t believe a person has to be Catholic to be a Christian, in other words. Nor do my Protestant friends believe a person must be Protestant.”

Arleen,

Although we attend two very different churches, it seems to me that you love and want to follow Christ; I looked at a couple of your blogs and I wanted to let you know that I find your stance on certain subjects very admirable and I admire you as a person. I just want to encourage you to keep seeking Christ wherever that may lead and keep living for Him; He’s worth it and He loves us.

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your article. I am a convert to Catholicism and I have experiences with many Christian denominations. It seems to me that as Christians we have more important things to do than entertain divisions among ourselves. It all gets so complicated and yet the funny thing is that Jesus only gave us one commandment (John 15:12). I was talking to a married couple, one Protestant and the other Catholic. The differences in their worship was one of many troubles in their marriage. I suggested that their faith should bring them together if they pray with one another. In fact, I suggested a particular prayer. It begins, “Our Father, who art in Heaven…”
Keep up the good work! God bless.

Hi Arleen,
I read your essay tonight after being informed about it by someone we both know… you know who? I thought your essay was very well written and hinted to what divides most all Protestant/Christians of all denominations from Catholics. In light that there are some thirty thousand or so of them. They don’t understand that although what has been taught to them by well meaning teachers, parents or otherwise, is not the fullness of truth. But just what is in all cases someones interpretation of scripture in bible versions of all types. Reasons of which most protestants can’t even agree themselves on any particular aspect of the faith as we Catholics do. Because we are one universal church… all in union! Not to mention, that they are not using a complete bible, including the seven books that the protestant bibles don’t have. Of which were taken out during the protestant reformation. Most Christians don’t even know that there are that many interpretations of the faith/bible.
After reading comments left by others I felt I had to put this out there, not for you of course, but for all your readers. I have come across the same protestants as you have and in all my encounters it’s always as though they are asking us to defend what we believe, but are not open to what we have to say or explain… and to make things worst they ask without an open heart and arms crossed, as they say. I guess at this point one can say we are all on the same walk with Christ just on different versions of the fullness of truth! I’m currently reading a book on “Spiritual Warfare,” in fact that’s the name of the book. Written by a Dr. Karl I. Payne. So far it’s been a real eye opener to a whole new aspect of our Christian walk with Christ and the way the enemy temps and tries to divert us. It’s the kind of book that really tests your understanding and knowledge of scripture as well as what we as Christians have been called to do with the faith delivered to the Saints. “We are commanded to live in this world as ambassadors, shining as lights in the midst’s of a crooked and perverted world.” As I said pretty heavy duty read. It even touches on the subjects of sociological, psychological and of course supernatural aspects of what we all encounter as Christians in our walk with Christ. I recommend it given your course of study!
Anyway, thought I’d put some good information out there for your readers.
“Catholics come home!”
God Bless,
Lou