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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Envios of paganism???	Jon	Friday, February 18, 2005
Question: Hello Br, I pray all is well with you and yours. I am not quite sure how to state this. I was watching a N Geographic show the other day on a tribe of Indians in the Amazon. Now I know what the Church teaches about pagans and the real possibility of true salvation due to true ignorance. But I was almost envious, they seemed to have it right, life was easy because they knew no better. They lived and breathed their spirituality and faith everyday and seemed to bring God into there lives at all times. Now granted they did not have the names right, or the traditions of the Church, but they did seem Christian almost in nature, and they did worship God although they do not know him as we do. I do believe and understand the Church as having the only full truth, but it seems from watching that show that they may have it more right then I and most other Catholics. But also I am only seeing edited version of there lifestyle of course. But the Question is how much real Truth can come from Pagan cultures? Also if it seems that they may have a better life and better "chance" of getting salvation, should we "corrupt" their culture with the Church? I do not mean "corrupt" as a negative, can't think of a word to better explain it. There have been many atrocities in “spreading” the gospels by men to some indigenous groups, sickness, greed, forced conversion, just plain evilness etc, etc. I mean if the Spirit wants them to convert they will be converted, right? Why should we intervene? Peace of the Lord :-) Big Jon
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jon: There can be elements of truth in any culture. The Church recognizes those elements. The Church also affirms that those people who through no fault of their own may still find salvation according to God's mercy and justice and their sincere efforts to seek and know God as best they can. The reason that we still need to evangelize those people is threefold: 1) because Jesus said so 2) because salvation is not very sure in such situations. The Catholic Church is the surest way to find salvation. 3) because even if a pagan is saved by God that person misses out on the victorious Christ-life that he could have had if converting to the Church. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Envios of paganism???

Jon

Friday, February 18, 2005

Question:

Hello Br, I pray all is well with you and yours.

I am not quite sure how to state this. I was watching a N Geographic show the other day on a tribe of Indians in the Amazon. Now I know what the Church teaches about pagans and the real possibility of true salvation due to true ignorance.
But I was almost envious, they seemed to have it right, life was easy because they knew no better. They lived and breathed their spirituality and faith everyday and seemed to bring God into there lives at all times. Now granted they did not have the names right, or the traditions of the Church, but they did seem Christian almost in nature, and they did worship God although they do not know him as we do.

I do believe and understand the Church as having the only full truth, but it seems from watching that show that they may have it more right then I and most other Catholics. But also I am only seeing edited version of there lifestyle of course.

But the Question is how much real Truth can come from Pagan cultures? Also if it seems that they may have a better life and better "chance" of getting salvation, should we "corrupt" their culture with the Church? I do not mean "corrupt" as a negative, can't think of a word to better explain it. There have been many atrocities in “spreading” the gospels by men to some indigenous groups, sickness, greed, forced conversion, just plain evilness etc, etc. I mean if the Spirit wants them to convert they will be converted, right? Why should we intervene?

Peace of the Lord :-)
Big Jon

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jon:

There can be elements of truth in any culture. The Church recognizes those elements.

The Church also affirms that those people who through no fault of their own may still find salvation according to God's mercy and justice and their sincere efforts to seek and know God as best they can.

The reason that we still need to evangelize those people is threefold:

1) because Jesus said so

2) because salvation is not very sure in such situations. The Catholic Church is the surest way to find salvation.

3) because even if a pagan is saved by God that person misses out on the victorious Christ-life that he could have had if converting to the Church.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum