How I Am Not A Catholic - Part Five

So now that I've taken the sufficient amount of time to lead you on and on, I will now disclose more fully how I am not a Catholic.  I think the biggest question for me is:

 
Who are you going to believe?  How does one determine which religion, leader, doctrine, etc. to follow?  What is truth?


You can say that you put your full trust in an authority to teach the truth, but I don't believe that is true.  At the end of the day you are the authority on what you believe.  You had to make the decision that that authority would be authoritative for you.  And why did you make that decision?

Maybe it was intellectual reasons.  You agreed with their doctrines and their arguments.  You heard their logic and studied their traditions. You read books and went to lectures and debated with others.

Maybe it was emotional reasons.  You connected with the people in that church.  You saw compassion and the work being done outside the church and around the world.  You were inspired, supported, and encouraged by that community.

Or perhaps you were born into it and don't know anything else.  Perhaps you're too afraid to look outside and ask yourself the question, "Am I a part of the right church?" 


But once again, at the end of the day, it is you who decides what authority you follow.  Whether by intentional choice or by apathy or by ignorance, you are still choosing to remain under that authority.

But how do you know that you have chosen well?  After all, there are numerous groups, denominations, leaders, and churches selling themselves as the authority on truth.  How do you know which is the "one"?


A problem with Catholicism is that it directly competes with the Orthodox Church.  And I think the arguments for both sides are compelling and intriguing, but neither side has an edge over the other one.  They are both good churches.  They both teach truth.  But I couldn't say which one is truer than the other.

No one can say they have a monopoly on the truth.  If the gospel is for the simple and the humble and the poor in spirit, then the gospel must be simple.  It must be easily accessible for all people, all ages, all races, etc..  How would a simple man know who to follow, the Orthodox or the Catholic? 


Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the Catholic position on authority.  If so I encourage your feedback.

So that is one reason I am not a Catholic.  I don't believe they hold the ultimate authority when it comes to truth, or even specifically simply interpreting the Bible.  Oh, and I didn't even get into how they can't even agree on what is truth!  Well, I have more reasons for not being a Catholic.  Those will come in due time...