Do you believe that the communion bread is the actual body of christ?

newmug wrote: »

Ah they're not real Catholics, not in the true sense of the word. Catholicism (of the roman variety) is just the original Christianity, all the way back to Jesus's time.

Eh no. It's not. Its really not.

The word Catholic came about when protestantism was invented, as a way of distinguishing the two (cos protestants actually see themselves as Christian, the irony!)

I think ye're both way off, but they've as much right to call themselves that. Well for a start the Prods didnt start adding stuff to the basic faith when they felt like it.

and I have no idea where the roman part comes into it, apart from the fact that St. Peter spread the religion as far as rome, where he was murdered and buried. It really pi$$es me off when people stick the word roman in there:mad:

Well then I would suggest you never read about the history of the church(inc the books the Protestants claim), you'll really melt your head. It's called Roman because that's what it is. Ever wonder why and how the heirarchy of the church evolved? Why the pope hangs out in Italy? Why the lingua franca of the Church until vatican 2 was Latin? Why the Jews were blamed for killing Jesus while the Romans wiped their hands of it. Never happened. The Romans didnt release prisoners on passover. By decree they never acknowledged local religious holidays unless it was an excuse for a pissup. Total directors cut that part. Why, unlike Jewish practice followed by Jesus, Christians don't have to observe kosher food restrictions or circumcise their boys among other things? Cos the Romans and the Greeks thought the former daft and the latter the sign of a barbarian. Why Mary, who barely gets a mention in the original texts is second in command if not at the same level as Jesus in the catholic faith? Because various female deity cults were all the rage in Rome(and the greek world). Mostly Diana. The christian church is the Roman church. While the protestants are closer to the orginal, both are basically following the Paulian doctrine. A Roman Jew who never met Jesus, tailoring a new faith to the culture of his adopted citizenship.

I wouldn't sweat it, I doubt Yeshua Ben Yosef believed that stuff either. Invented later. Like much of it. More like "everytime you break bread together(big family meal thing) you remember me and my message and my sacrifice and repeat what I told you". I reckon the lad from Galilee would freak out if he knew how his teachings ended up.