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Angela Laitano
C. Martinez
Religion
10 April 2016
Roman Catholicism
Christianity is the biggest religion in the world and a split from Judaism in the first
century created it. Back in this time The Roman Empire controlled the vast majority of land and
sea, having one main language and used Greek theology to create one religion. The Romans
created safe roads that connected all the land in the empire, facilitating the spread of Christianity.
The leaders of the Roman Empire were extreme, but they maintained peace throughout the land,
enforcing their pax romana. When Christianity was created, there was stability and peace in the
Empire. The Empire had no religion in specific, many believed in pantheons, but the belief in
them had largely ceased. In the empire, there was a wave of religions but one of the major ones
was Judaism. Christianity was created from Judaism as a sect but then it became the biggest
religion in the world. “Christianity began as a sect of Judaism in the first century C.E. , when the
Roman Empire was at its peak and Augustus Caesar ruled (Hopfe, Woodward, and Hendrickson
203).
Jesus Christ was the founder of the Catholic Church. “The Roman Catholic Church is
founded by Jesus Christ”(The Timetables of History). Jesus himself said in the bible: “ And I tell
you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
prevail against it” (NRSV, MATT. 16.18). Many try to argue that Jesus Christ did not found
Catholicism, but the proof is evident. When Jesus died, Catholicism suffered. He left Simon
Peter as leader. Christianity grew immensely and new rules were created, but a division occurred
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between Eastern and Western Christianity. The Church Jesus founded was now separated. Each
side had their own rules and they grew apart.
The Western Christianity was powerful. Roman Catholics believed in purgatory and how
people could try to help friends and family to pay their penance. Leaders of the church were
blinded by greed and power; they started selling indulgences in prices many could not afford.
Going against the rules of the Catholic Church was extremely forbidden because it was looked as
treason; it could sometimes be punished by death. A man called Martin Luther decided that what
the Church was doing was not right, and he decided to write 95 theses and nailed it to the door of
the church. He created a new separation called Protestantism, and the church split again. If
Martin Luther had never protested, it is possible that the Catholic Church would have not split
again. Catholics beliefs and views are the correct ones because it was the church founded by
Jesus Christ, but many Protestants deny the truth and believe that Catholicism is wrong.
Protestants persecute Catholics because of their beliefs.
First, many non-Catholic Christians believe that Catholics worship idols and practice
idolatry. Their argument begins saying that The Roman Catholic Church’s teachings are wrong.
They state that the images and icons are only helping in prayer by having a material
representation. They may even say that it is a need for Catholics to have an image at the time of
prayer. Catholics do say that it is forbidden to take material objects and praise them as if they
were God Himself. Many need the image of representation that reminds them how God loves the
world so immensely that he sent his son to die for the world’s sins. God even ordered to make a
sign of his presence among his people using the Ark of the Covenant. “And let every able man
among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its
covering, its hooks and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases; the ark with its poles, the
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mercy seat, and the veil of the screen;” (NRSV, Exo. 35.10-12) People went to pray in the tent
and asked God for help; that was an image that God gave the people.
Using images and having statues shows how much respect and veneration Catholics have
for God, Mary and many saints; they deserve respect and gratitude. Just as many people have
pictures of their relatives hanging around the house or have statues of a war hero they are just
showing respect towards their family and respected ones. This is a constant reminder of their
loved ones. Hanging pictures of things one loves is not a sign of idolatry; it is just a sign of
homage, respect and admiration. Catholics only use images for representation as a constant
reminder; God is the only one who can be adored.
The non-Catholic Christians’ argument would later state the part where Catholics
suspiciously merge the First and the Second Commandment to say that “you shall not have any
