>And ~ 51% of the world's Christians are Catholics - America
>is not the whole of the world. And I seriously doubt that
>the "vast, vast majority" of American Protestants agree with
>you that Catholicism is not Christianity.

that's why protestantism evolved in the first place...

>And your opinion on the matter is irrelevant to over a
>billion Catholics worldwide, and to the billions of Muslims,
>Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and the rest of the vast
>majority of the world who consider Catholics Christians -
>that is the point johnny_domino was making.

...I just don't see why that point could possibly be valid on an opinionated, debatable post... i mean, that's not even a point-a stance, it's just a molded fact which can, in no way, be proven either way... we're going to eternally disagree here, so this one isn't even worth discussing anymore.

>That is what I originally said - you are the one who brought
>up the stereotype thing when I said that your opinion is
>irrelevant to most people.

it may very well be, but it isn't irrelevant to this post, which i created, is it? same issue... let's drop it.

>But ok, if it isn't a stereotype, then do you also think
>it's not a stereotype when Muslims and Jews consider
>Christians to be pagan idolators?

No, it's an opinion based on their interpretations of facts... they're completely entitled to believe this.

>Don't know about that, but there are countless more who
>would agree with me - the vast majority of Muslims,
>actually.

No. The majority of Muslims claim OBL an imposter and an enemy of Islam.

>Firstly, I'm not being hostile; I am listening to your
>opinions and interpretations, I just disagree with them for
>the most part.

ok.

Secondly, let me rephrase that - I'm open to
>your opinions when they're supported by objective facts
>rather than just your interpretation of facts (two totally
>different things) - we went over this on the Mary thing in
>that other thread a while back.

The objective fact in the Mary thing is the Immaculate Conception. My interpretation of this objective fact was deification. They are two totally different things, but that's how opinions are formed.

Just like you weren't open
>to my opinion on Lutherans practicing confession until I
>provided objective facts to back it up instead of just my
>interpretation of the facts.

True, but at the same time, there are also Lutherans who don't practice confession, so... I admitted that you were right that some do. This is much different than having two references though. In the case of Mary, I completely understand the concept of Immaculate Conception. Mary did not sin. Based on my interpretations of Biblical scripture, my highest regarded book, this means that Mary could not have been human. I am going off my interpretation of more than one objective fact to form a conclusion.

>Yes, that's right, I'm a propagandist - and it's my
>subversive propagandist agenda to convince the vast majority
>of the world that Catholics are Christians... my job should
>be pretty easy then, since the vast majority of the world
>already believes that (I wish all of my work was so easy)

yeah, I really shouldn't have called you that, and I apologize. my point is not to offend, and that was just stupid. I guess I just don't really care what the rest of the world thinks on the topic (which is still in the air) because my conclusion is based on educated research.

>Dude, you really need to calm down... the point is, your
>opinion is valid for *you*, but that's not what we're
>talking about here; we're talking about the common opinion
>worldwide, and that opinion happens to be that Catholics
>are Christians.

It's just not that black and white. Protestantism formed because of this very notion.

Your opinion, while relevant to you, is
>irrelevant to that fact. That's all I'm saying - if you
>want to take offense to that, that's on you.

That fact isn't a fact, because there's no way to prove it.

>I know that the majority of the world considers Catholics to
>be Christians.... I mean, are you trying to tell me that
>people in Jerusalem don't consider Catholics Christians?
>Yeah, OK, whatever man...

Been there. That's where I've learned virtually everything I know.

>And what the hell do *you* really know about the majority of
>the world - you're from Nebraska (see, now *that's* being
>hostile - ha ha)

lol. that wasn't hostile. I don't spend much time at home though... I'm a touring musician.

>I'm sure that you do cherish your roots in Judaism - that
>doesn't change the fact that most Jews DO NOT consider
>Christianity to be a "sector" of Judaism (offshoot, yes;
>sector, no)...

I flat out do not and will not ever care what the majority of anyone thinks of anything... it doesn't matter at all. What matters is research, education and opinions. People, in general, are idiots.

hell, it was difficult enough to get them to
>accept that the Falashas constitute a sector of Judaism, and
>some ultra-Orthodox sects still don't accept that. So they
>sure as hell ain't accepting you as such.

Don't really care at all.... we've reached our standing wave... let's end this sinking post. Peace,