Converting my Catholic Neighbor - Essay Example

Converting my Catholic Neighbor Suppose you were an Albigensian and wanted to cover your Catholic neighbors.What would you say to convince them that your religion was the right one, and what questions or objections would they have for you? I would start by indicating why my religion is superior by referring to the doctrine of dualism. I would argue contrary to the catholic beliefs by convincing them that the universe is a product of the works of two gods; the good god plus the Evil god. To support this, I would explain the current situation of the universe.

For example, I would tell them that the current world sufferings emanate from the god of evil and that a good god is not responsible for the creation of such a world full of suffering (Warner 2007). The sufferings of the world are immense; the aspect of equality is lacking. If one carefully observes the world, one would see many people suffering from diseases and poverty, while others live in good health and peace. If there was only one god responsible for human creation where would there be so much inequality?

I would argue that believing in life after death is meaningless since; the life of man is full of contradictions. Contradictions arise in human life because of the struggles that most encounter to make life easy, yet even with the problems they encounter, the catholic religion argues that if they go astray they will suffer in hell. I would argue that the life of a person ends in the event of soul liberation, which leads to the alienation of the body and soul. Liberation of the soul occurs when one dies; meaning that the body and the soul become separate from the sinful flesh.

I would convince them to join my religion by telling them their religion is false since; they believe in the existence of hell after death. I would convince them that the only hell is here in the universe which the evil god chose to make humans suffer. I would argue by raising questions regarding the current sufferings including wars and illnesses (Warner 2007). The questions on why people should suffer so much on earth and again suffer in hell can make them feel challenged and opt to convert.

I would assert that although, Christ came to deliver human kind from the sinful body, he did not come in the form of human flesh. This is because the human body is sinful, and a creation of the evil god. I would tell them that Christ did not suffer because he came as a celestial essence and that believe that Christ suffered was an illusion. As Albigensians believe material is the product of the evil god, associating water with purification during baptism is wrong. I would add that sanctification is not possible neither through baptism by water nor through confession to the priest.

I would argue that by attempting sanctification through confession to the priest, or through baptism by water is meaningless. This is because the priest the priest has a sinful flesh just like other people. Water is a product of the evil good and, therefore, cannot be in use to purify souls. I would argue of the contradictions that exist between the old and the New Testament in order to convince the Catholics to join my religion (Warner 2007). This is because the contradictions can indicate the presence of two gods as my religion asserts.

As the Catholics belief in the existence of one God, I would argue that if only one god existed everything that he created should have been perfect with no need of correction. For example, if there were only one god responsible for creation, why would he create a world with many loopholes and then send his son to change the things he created himself? I would assert to the Catholics of the uselessness of having sacraments severally, contrary to my religion in which a person receives a sacrament of consolation in the event of death (Warner 2007).

I would say this because the body is sinful and even if one takes a sacrament to purify the body; it is inevitable for the flesh to cease from sin. Therefore, the sacrament is suitable during death when the body separates from the soul. One of the objections that the Catholics would have about my religion is my religions aspect of abhorring marriages. Albigensians detest intercourse during marriage and prefer concubinage, which is temporary, aspect of human interaction (Warner 2007). The Catholics will most likely have objections on my religion in terms of the belief on food consumption such as meat.

Albigensians believe that consuming meat, which is a product of sexual reproduction, is wrong. I will tell them that by believing that the material and the flesh are sinful then consuming its products is not right. They are likely to question the moral values of our religion considering the religion does not respect the union of marriage. The question of the belief that Christ suffering was an illusion may arise. I would handle the question by stating that Christ’s presence was in the form of an angel, and there is no way he could feel pain or suffer since; suffering is associated with the flesh.

I would argue that only human body could feel pain that since; Christ was a god, there were no feelings. The origin of religion indicates that it existed before the Catholic Church. This would indicate that the religion is the right one. I would give examples of the extinctions, which took place long ago, and uphold that the extinctions (mass killings of albegensians) were meant to end a true religion of Christ (Warner 2007). The aspect of purgatory in the catholic faith is evident as they believe that, after death, a person goes to a temporary purification place, where one experiences suffering and through the grace of God becomes forgiven.

I would criticize this aspect because it allows people to sin intentionally because of the belief that purgatory exists. References Warner, Henry James. 2007. The Albigensian heresy / by H.J. Warner. San Diego, Calif: The Book Tree.