Is Christianity the only way?

[Anonymous]

My ex girlfriend and I broke up due to religious differences, as I’m catholic, and she’s Christian.
That’s the major reason we parted ways, but I tried to convince her we could coexist with our religions, Is there any major differences between them? I’m lukewarm on this topic, and I try to focus on my relationship with God.

[Skinhead-1979]

No... if it works for you, I am happy for you and I respect that.

Though I am very critical about religion and I can write lengthy essays, with supporting material - even the Bible and the OT, why I disagree with Organised Religion and point all the errors that are in it.

I don't see how this should affect someone's believe in God... Truth be said, I am more than willing to believe there is a God, or maybe even multiple Gods... but I reject the notions that God expects us to live in perpetuate servitude and that He will interfere in our lives.

I am, possibly, what's being called a 'Deist'. Deism:

Deism is the philosophical position and rationalistic theology that generally rejects revelation as a source of divine knowledge and asserts that empirical reason and observation of the natural world are exclusively logical, reliable, and sufficient to determine the existence of a Supreme Being as the creator of the universe. More simply stated, Deism is the belief in the existence of God (often, but not necessarily, a God who does not intervene in the universe after creating it), solely based on rational thought without any reliance on revealed religions or religious authority. Deism emphasizes the concept of natural theology—that is, God's existence is revealed through nature.I am not American, and I severely struggle with how ingrained religion has become in your society (although it is slowly but surely becoming less); I am sorry to say, but in many cases it feels fake and forced... and it's always Americans who try to force their, often Evangelic, religion onto me. I struggle less with Catholicism, because I do come from a Catholic background, and Islam... but I criticise those 2 religions just as much as Protestantism.

[Skinhead-1979]

And I am sorry to say... but you are making a slight error.

You separate Catholicism from Christianity; I am fully aware that in the US Christianity means Protestantism... But both Catholicism and Protestantism are Christianity.

Catholicism came first; Protestantism and Reformism evolved out of that during the Reformation in the 15th and 16th century.

[genericname85]

obviously it's not. cause there's so many other religions to go with. and a good chunk of all the people having no religion goes really well with that option too. so clearly your chosen way isn't the only viable way.

help me understand what you said a little better: "i try to focus on my relationship with god". in practical terms what exactly does that mean?

[Asker]

For me it’s this, as a catholic, I believe in God and serve him, so I don’t see how either religion is different when it’s all to serve him. And, she wants me to convert to Christianity,

and she was adamant on that when we dated, and while I’m not against it, I’d rather be with her again to fully commit to that, yk?

[genericname85]

oh so from what you said there about other religions it seems you never even learned about other religions in the first place. don't you think it's kind of one sided to decide in favor of one option when all you know is that one option and you're just ignoring all the others?
i mean catholics are christians. christianity has a few denominations which are not very different from each other. you're right in saying that these are all the same. islam and judaism are quite similar too, cause they litterally evolved in the same general area from the same fundamental abrahamic god idea.

but there's so many very fundamentally different religions. for instance there's religions like buddhism or taoism that do not even have any deity allthough they do have notable authors who are considered the authority on that faith. or the indians and their hinduism have countless gods. even more gods than norse mythology or greek mythology.

and then obviously secular humanism derives moral value and virtue without any sort of god or defined authority. so there's many options that are VERY different from the path you chose. i think it is important to know the options before you choose and not just choose out of ignorance of any other options.

and then you didn't answer my question about what i means in practical trms when you say "i try to focus on my relationship with god".

i feel like asking the questions concerning this girl is pointless before the previous issues i pointed out here being sorted out.

[genericname85]

because at that point you're just drawing an arbitrary imaginary deviding line between you and other people that is purely made of ignorance.

[Asker]

True, and I try to explore other religions, but don’t really align myself with one in that sense of getting closer to God

[genericname85]

ok. so what does that exactly mean. i still don't understand. what does "getting closer to god" mean practically?

[Daniela1982]

Here are some theology differences. This almost makes Catholicism a cult.

[PeachyPie93]

What was the issue? She believes in the trinity and you don't? LOL

[Anonymous]

Sry but this wasn't the main reason. I am an atheist who was toghether for 8 years with a catholic girl. In the end we lived us apart but religion was never an issue as long as you live in mutual respect.

[strateguy632]

why wouldn't you compromise "no pope" since no basis in bible that...

a vatican appoints a pope, is it critical to your faith?

[Astarlessnightsky]

LOL its basically the same catholic is a christian religious subgenre.

[Asker]

Exactly, but my ex and I broke up cuz of it, starting to think that wasn’t the only reason lmao

[HelpfulWoman]

eh, if she thought it was reason enough, then it was a reason

[Staximus]

Try to focus on your relationship with her, a real person. Not with your imaginary all powerful big daddy in the sky.

[Asker]

Definitely trying to be a better friend to her, problem is, if she were to get a boyfriend, she cuts me off, but they often don’t last lol and she comes back

[Drewtate]

You are not a Catholic and it shows

[Anonymous]

Are you Catholic or Roman Catholic?

[Asker]

Catholic

[Opinion Owner]

I don’t understand why your girlfriend doesn’t recognize Catholicism as being “Christian”. The Catholic Church is literally founded on Christian principles.

[Opinion Owner]

I do know that some Protestant denominations look down on Roman Catholicism because of their views on the pope or historical issues of the past, but even the Orthodox are considered Catholic.

[Asker]

Exactly, I worship God the way she does, mother Mary, Rosa de Guadalupe in Spanish, same ideals essentially, makes me wish I was still with her, or y’all could shake some sense into her

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

She did right. Catholicism is hersey.