Catholicism is Not Real Christianity

Seeing that my opponent has forfeited this round, I will continue on explaining how Catholicism cannot be classified as Christian. I will now restate my points from the first argument: 1. Catholics pray to dead saints and worship idols. - Covered; true (Exodus 20:4; 1st Timothy 2:5) 2. Having priests, bishops, and a pope is not Biblical or necessary. - Covered; true (Matthew 16:13-19; John 17:11, Matthew 15:3, 6, 7) 3. The Catholic Church contradicts the Bible on many things. - Yet to be covered. 4. Catholics worship Mary. - Yet to be covered. 5. The Catholic Church has pagan roots and views. - Yet to be covered. I will now cover the remaining points. ------------------- 3. The Bible prohibits any idols (Ex. 20:4-5) http://www.truth-that-matters.com... http://www.ahnsahnghong.us... No Meat on Fridays; Lent, etc. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats..." (1st Timothy 4:1-3) -- (Also notice it says "forbidding to marry"?; popes, priests...) The Rosary "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7) These are a few examples of how Catholics ignore the Bible. 4. "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." - 1st and 2nd Commandments. http://www.truth-that-matters.com... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... Catholics venerate the Virgin Mary to a level of "goddess". The Catechism of the Catholic Church says of the Immaculate Conception of Mary: "490. To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace." In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace. 491. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1844: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." (Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854.) 492. The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son." The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love." 493. The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God "the All-Holy" (Panagia) and celebrate her as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature". By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long. For more on the role of Mary in Salvation History, read the entire section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, ï¿½ï¿½ 456-511." To see the Bible's take on the Immaculate DECEPTION, read: Romans 3:10-12, 2nd Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, and Isaiah 64:6. There is NO Biblical reference supporting a sinless Mary. Also, Mary did not remain a virgin. "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not (this means he did not have relations with her) TILL SHE HAD BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRSTBORN SON: and he called his name JESUS." -Matthew 1:24-25 (Emphasis mine). "Is not this [referring to Jesus] the carpenter, the son of Mary, the BROTHER of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not HIS SISTERS here with us? And they were offended at him." -Mark 6:3 (Emphasis mine). Also see: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... 5. http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... In Genesis 10 and 11, we see parts of the story of Nimrod, who founded Babylonia. Though the Bible doesn't give much info on his story, actual Babylonian tradition does. http://www.scribd.com... Nimrod in a nutshell: He is outcasted, marries his mother, founds a great empire, dies, mother/wife claims that their child (consumed before his death), was given to her by the sun. This is the birth of false religion, or paganism. Nimrod's mother/wife was from then on called "Queen of Heaven", and the sun was worshipped. Priests would also wear "fish hats" to honor their river god. Now notice that the Catholic Mary is called "Queen of Heaven". Notice the halo (light; sun) in these Catholic renditions: http://www.hol.com... (Read: http://www.hol.com...), http://www.sabbathtosundaychange.com.... Fish hat: http://tinypic.com... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... All pagan religions are polytheistic (have multiple gods). Technically, the Catholic Church is polytheistic. Catholic "gods": God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), the pope, Mary, and the canonized saints. Christian God: God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Catholicism is deeply rooted in paganism. The Catholic Church might as well be directly condemned in the Bible; just look at all the Biblical laws they break. I know I posted this before, but I feel this is an important article to read. All Catholics should read it. http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... Also read some of the linked articles near the bottom of the article. In conclusion: Catholicism promotes and requires idolatry, commands fasting from meat, forbids marriage for "officials" (pope, priests, etc.), commands vain and repetitive prayers (Rosary), prays to others besides God, worships Mary, claims pope is "God on earth" (http://amazingdiscoveries.org...), commands Salvation by works (http://www.jesus-is-savior.com...), believes in "purgatory" (purgatory basically says Jesus' work was incomplete; and what about when Jesus said to the thief on the cross by Him-"I will see you TODAY in paradise" - http://www.jesus-is-savior.com...), changes God's Word around, is polytheistic, and comes from pagan religions and still holds pagan traditions. http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... http://www.jesus-is-savior.com... God Bless!