All Questions
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Luke 16:25 and Spiritism
But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received
your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is
comforted here and you are in agony.
Link
Does it ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
What personal possessions did Pope John Paul II have at the time of death?
The pope recieves no salary, but from what I understand, popes do have some personal possessions. A personal possesion is something that you own. For example, Pope Benedict XVI, I believe, had a ...
5
votes
2answers
92 views
What do churches that prohibit the use of icons think an idol is?
In the Orthodox and the Catholic Church icons and statues are permitted, and members of those churches look at such in much the same way they look at photographs of loved ones. We also talk to people ...
9
votes
1answer
173 views
Does the Nicene Creed condemn Chiliasm?
I've repeatedly seen it asserted that Chiliasm was condemned as a heresy in the fourth century by the Church when it included the phrase "whose Kingdom shall have no end" in the Nicene Creed. However, ...
-1
votes
1answer
135 views
Where did the “We are the pure and chosen few / And all the rest are damned” nursery rhyme originate? [closed]
I've heard Christopher Hitchens say this a few times now,
We are the pure and chosen few
And all the rest are damned
There’s room enough in hell for you
We don’t want heaven ...
7
votes
2answers
122 views
What is the difference between icons and idols in churches that permit icons?
There are a number of Protestants that say the use of the images and statues in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church is idolatry. I know that these churches call certain images "icons", but I ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
About statues and pictures [duplicate]
What is the catholic argument that justifies the usage of statues and pictures of Jesus Christ and saints?
12
votes
3answers
359 views
What does Bible say about possibility of seeing/hearing people on Earth from heaven?
I mean, for example, could my dead grandmother see me from heaven?
This was bothering me as a Christian and I was frustrated not to find the answer, because this is important to me personally. For ...
1
vote
4answers
248 views
Why is circumcision not a requirement for Christians?
I recently read an argument which was basically 'Paul against Jesus' type and was something like this:
Jesus said that He didn't come to abolish the Jewish laws but to fulfill them.
Matt. 5:17
...
3
votes
4answers
272 views
Can a married person be elected as the Pope?
What is The Roman Catholic law for electing the Pope in this area for a married person? If a married person is elected, what will happen to his wife after becoming the Pope?
2
votes
2answers
47 views
What is World Youth Day?
A recent question mentions World Youth Day. Wikipedia says that it's an event for young people organized by the Catholic Church. That isn't very helpful, since there are a lot of different types of ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
Is there any connection between the country of origin of Popes and nearby large gatherings of Catholics or Councils?
Not that a run of 2 means anything (or Rio is in Argentina like I mistakenly assumed It is just down the road) and given there were hundreds of years of Italian popes to skew this statistic, but it ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
What does “amen” mean?
One of the most common responses that Christians make is to say the word "amen". Here's an example from a Mass:
Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
What happens to retired Popes like Pope Benedict?
Does the pope get paid for being the pope?
The above question is answered very well and shows that the Pope genuinely has no personal assets. He is well cared for by the Vatican.
But what about the ...
1
vote
0answers
48 views
Does the Prophecy of St. Malachy allow for any Popes between the Glory of the Olive and Petrus Romanus? [closed]
The Prophecy of St. Malachy was apparently supposed to have predicted the line of popes for that past few centuries. Recently, some have suggested that we were reaching the final pope in the prophecy ...
12
votes
1answer
177 views
Why can't cardinals over 80 vote in the conclave?
Why can't cardinals over 80 vote in the conclave? Is there a reason given anywhere?
14
votes
2answers
401 views
Does the pope get paid for being the pope?
I just started wondering after seeing the white smoke, did the cardinal just receive a raise when he became the pope? What's his salary if he is paid.
5
votes
2answers
188 views
What does “Habemus Papam” mean?
I'm seeing this phrase being displayed on all the news channels, in conjunction with a lot of cheering people under umbrellas who have been waiting for the new pope to be elected. Is there some sort ...
16
votes
3answers
305 views
How should one reconcile a wrong against another person?
I'm looking for a general Christian teaching on this subject. If there's a wide range of opinions on this, I'd like to know what the teachings are, and the Scriptural support for them.
When someone ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Historical evidence other than Bible about Jesus [duplicate]
As the title sugests, besides the Bible, what sources are there about the existance of Jessus Christ.
I can imagine if someone did many miracles and would have thousands of people following him on ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Does God tempt Abraham in Genesis 22:1?
In James 1:13 it says:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
But in Genesis 22:1 it is written:
And it ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Why didn't Adam and Eve die when they ate the fruit? [duplicate]
God gave Adam and Eve the following command, followed by a cause
Genesis 2:17- But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou
shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest ...
1
vote
0answers
37 views
What is the place where Jesus went after death? [duplicate]
After Jesus died, he went to the place of the Dead.
1 Peter 8:19-20
19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago ...
5
votes
1answer
75 views
If Genesis is not to be taken literally by the Roman Catholics, what is the basis of the original sin?
According to this answer, Genesis is not to be taken literally by the Roman Catholic church due to the scientific evidence contradicting it. In this view, what is the basis of the original sin?
7
votes
1answer
110 views
What happened to the Book of the Law?
2 Kings 22 (NIV)
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found
the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan,
who read it.
11 When the ...
4
votes
3answers
135 views
What does “two becoming one flesh” refer to?
In the bible when it refers to the two becoming one flesh, does it mean:
The physical act of sex creates a position where both body's are connected
or
The flesh from man and flesh from woman ...
5
votes
1answer
68 views
Was the white smoke ever supposed to be miraculous?
With everybody waiting on a puff of white smoke to eminate from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the engineer in me is curious about the mechanics.
I know in modern times that a special additive ...
8
votes
1answer
116 views
Was Christ's suffering unusually harsh for the standard of the Roman times?
I can understand the political reasons behind His execution. What I can't really understand is why did the Romans go through such a lengthy and gruesome process. I know crucifixion used to be a ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
Is modern technology part of the Divine Intention? [closed]
These days we have very advanced technologies which our forefathers could not have think of. Are the discoveries and inventions part of the Divine Plan or Intention?
Genesis 1:28 (NIV) God ...
6
votes
3answers
79 views
How are Proverbs 26:4 and Proverbs 26:5 reconciled?
Proverbs 26:4-5 (NLT)
4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools,
or you will become as foolish as they are.
5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
Where in the Bible does Jesus refute that He is just a prophet?
Unlike Christian, other Abrahamic religions say that Jesus was only a great Prophet. Christians belief, however, is deeply rooted in Bible, where there are many references supporting the Divinity of ...
5
votes
1answer
59 views
When should Water Baptism be done on a candidate?
Could you please give me any biblical supports as to when should water baptism be done to a candidate? Assuming the candidate have already met the so called "requirements" before being baptize, such ...
-1
votes
2answers
87 views
Who instituted the practice of sacrifice?
Sacrifice plays a very important role in the Bible. One of the earliest stories, that of Cain and Abel, begins with two sacrifices. The death of Jesus on the cross was a sacrifice.
Here is how the ...
6
votes
2answers
104 views
Is “A mighty fortress is our God” anti-Catholic?
So there's a hymn called A mighty fortress is our God (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott), written by Martin Luther; there's also a famous version by J. S. Bach. It is a call to arms against the devil, ...
8
votes
2answers
130 views
Who was Thomas's twin?
The sainted apostle "Doubting" Thomas is called Didymus, the Twin. Indeed, Thomas also means Twin.
Thomas, called Didymus / Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος (John 11:16; 20:24; 21:2)
There is no ...
2
votes
5answers
140 views
What is the opposite of sin?
We have:
Good - Evil
Love - Hate
Virtue - Vice
Bless - Curse
Righteous - Wicked
Obedience - Disobedience
_____? - Sin
I don't mean sin as a general disposition, or original sin. I mean a deed ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
What does Matthew 13:11-12 mean?
He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be
given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever ...
2
votes
2answers
120 views
Did Adam and Eve ever practice animal sacrifice?
Genesis 8:20 (NIV) Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking
some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt
offerings on it.
Noah sacrificed burnt offerings. What ...
4
votes
2answers
81 views
Who told Cain and Abel of Sacrificial rituals or offerings?
In Genesis 4 Cain and Abel gave offerings (or sacrifice). Who instructed them to give this offering or sacrifice? Was it a burnt offering?
5
votes
1answer
44 views
How is excommunication handled during the interregnum?
Not that I'm plotting anything heinous, but can one be excommunicated or have excommunication lifted during the interregnum?
I think, but I'm not positive, that some offenses that carry ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
What is latae sententiae?
I heard that some things (like getting an abortion or attacking the pope) have the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication. What is that?
2
votes
1answer
25 views
Did everything Christ did perfectly match what was required for salvation?
I was thinking about Christ's suffering for sinners and am wondering, 'Since everything he did as a man on earth was a form of suffering for the eternal son, did everything he do perfectly match what ...
2
votes
2answers
75 views
Is there any method to prevent an unbelieving pope from being elected?
Jesus did not seem to have any method to prevent a false apostle to become an apostle, as Judas has shown. (Not to imply that he could not have used one if it was the Father's will). Also, in ...
2
votes
3answers
105 views
Does God have the capacity to sin? Can God sin?
To clarify,
this question is not asking for a "justification" of those times, described in the Bible, when God struck someone dead. Life is His to take.
the question is also not asking strictly ...
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Does purgatory have a symbol?
I haven't found it on the internet. Are there any symbol for purgatory, or related to purgatory?
4
votes
1answer
228 views
How long can a conclave last?
In a short time a new conclave for the election of the new Catholic pope is taking place.
I was wondering if we will have a new pope in a short time. I don't konw much about the previous popes in ...
11
votes
1answer
106 views
Who is a Christian according to the Russian Orthodox Church
I was told by my Russian Orthodox friends on several occasions that according to their beliefs only members of the Orthodox Church are Christians. (For example, they pointed out that my statement that ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
What is the basis for the argument that Jesus DID NOT have the ability to sin or give in to temptation?
While some people people that Jesus could have given in to the temptations He suffered and sinned, others do not. They believe that Jesus could suffer temptation, but did not have the capacity to ...
1
vote
3answers
92 views
What is the basis for the argument that Jesus DID have the ability to give in to temptation?
I understand that some people believe that Jesus actually had the capacity to sin, that is, to give in to the temptations that He suffered. This seems to suggest that God has the power tos in.
In a ...
4
votes
3answers
333 views
Did Jesus perform miracles as a child?
I heard that there are some early books which tell of Jesus performing some miracles when he was a child. What are those books? And what are the miracles described in those books?
Are descriptions ...
