coming from a former catholic
Alright, so I wont get too deep into the discussion, and I know hearing from a 17 year old isnt exactly going to give you any 'wisdom' but this is what I have to say.
I was born into a catholic family, who are catholic still, merely for the tradition. I went to Catholic school for 3 years. It did nothing for me, and many of the other people I was there with. No one I knew (adult or child) questioned what they believed, and why they believed it. Did they even know what transfiguration was? Did they know that scapulars could get you to heaven? Did they know why they prayed to Mary, instead of going to Jesus himself? No.
the Catholic religion believes in the immaculate conception. This means, that Mary was sinless when she had Jesus. That, again, I dont think is true. It isn't in the Bible. JESUS is the ONLY person who LIVED AND DIED SINLESS. Mary was human, meaning she had original sin. I do BELIEVE though, that Mary was a Virgin, that IS in the Bible.
The Apocrypha isn't part of the Bible, yet the Catholic Church refers to it. I believe, that if God wanted those books to be in the Bible, they would have been in the Bible. But they weren't. So why does the Catholic Church insist on adding them? Purgatory isnt mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but because it's in the Apocrypha, and it sounds 'pretty' we'll add it? I don't get the logic behind it. And another thing, it says in the Bible we are saved by GRACE, not by some scapular. But because Mary came to some Saint named Simon Stock, and told him that its a sign of "grace" for him to recieve this scapular, that ANYONE who wears it when they die, won't suffer "everlasting fire"
So, recap, I need a SCAPULAR and God's grace, to go to heaven? I think not. Anything in the Bible say that you need a scapular to be a back-up if God's grace isnt enough? If you think you need a scapular on TOP of God's grace, then you really don't have faith in God that he'll follow through with his promise.
Do you see what I'm saying? The Bible states:
"We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved."(Acts 15:11)
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."(Ephesians 2:1-10)
The Catholic Church believes that good works and grace are necessary for salvation (wouldnt want to go to purgatory now would you! )
NO MATTER HOW MANY GOOD DEEDS YOU DO ON EARTH, YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF; ONLY JESUS CHRIST SAVED YOU. Anyhoo, the point is, if you need a scapular to save yourself, then you don't truly believe that you are SAVED BY GOD'S GRACE (JESUS DYING ON THE CROSS)
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."(2 Timothy 1:8-10)
And again I will say.
Thank God for RELATIONSHIP, not religion
Look, if you have a relationship with Christ, then your good to go. If your faith lies within the Church, I'd be a bit worried. My mother's catholic (born and raised in a 3rd world country in South America, what other religion would she be? haha), 45 years of it, and she does have a relationship with Christ and accepts him as her Savior. I'm not going to go telling her, "YOUR RELIGION IS A LIE BLAH BLAH BLAH" All I can do is pray for her to search for herself the truth in the Bible. I know whats in her heart, and I know God does too.
But, since you have the chance to know the Truth, I think you should go ahead and do some research. Seriously. I never knew I could have a relationship and *gasp* talk to Jesus, but now I do. In a great church.
The Church in the Bible, is not the "catholic church" it is the body of believers under Jesus Christ. Case closed.