First, let me state that I am a former Roman Catholic. Much of my family, even today, is Roman Catholic. I do not hate Roman Catholics, at all. I love them from the bottom of my heart.
Very simply, my articles on Roman Catholicism are a response. According to the Roman Catholic Church, I must submit to the Roman Pontiff, and if I do not, I will be damned:
Unam Sanctam (1302 AD)
Urged by faith, we are obliged to believe and to maintain that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and also apostolic. We believe in her firmly and we confess with simplicity that outside of her there is neither salvation nor the remission of sins
Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.
Cantate Domino (1442 AD)
It firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart "into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt. 25:41), unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.
So, they have made claims on my life, and my eternal destiny, hundreds of years before I was born. I did not, unprovoked, go out looking to pick a fight with Catholicism. Rather, claims have been made, and they are serious claims, and so I need to respond. That's why this section on faithalone.net exists.
In addition to the articles in this section, I also have made a playlist on YouTube of videos addressing Roman Catholicism. Thankfully, there are many others who have dedicated themselves to this topic, and have produced a lot of good resources already.
So, to reiterate - if you are Catholic, I do not hate you, at all. Your Church has made statements saying that I am damned. I don't believe you are damned. And, it is in my interest to vindicate why me, and others like me, are not damned, in spite of the Catholic Church's claims.
While this section is focused primarily on Roman Catholicism, there is some inevitable overlap with Eastern Orthodoxy, especially in relation to Marian devotion, icon veneration, and the Canon of Scripture.
Eastern Orthodoxy likewise demands itself to be addressed, because - contrary to the claims of many Orthodox - they anathematize all non-Orthodox to Hell, as can be seen in many ways, such as their affirmation of the Second Council of Nicaea, which states:
Second Council of Nicaea (787 AD)
If anyone does not salute such representations as standing for the Lord and his saints, let him be anathema.
Let them who do not venerate the holy and venerable images be anathema!
To those who have a doubtful mind and do not confess with their whole hearts that they venerate the sacred images, anathema!
We salute the venerable images. We place under anathema those who do not do this.
[We have likewise decreed] that these images are to be reverenced (προσκυνεῖν), that is, salutations are to be offered to them. The reason for using the word is, that it has a two-fold signification. For κυνεῖν in the old Greek tongue signifies both "to salute" and "to kiss". And the preposition προς gives to it the additional idea of strong desire towards the subject; as for example, we have φέρω and προσφέρω, κυρῶ and προσκυρῶ, and so also we have κυνέω and προσκυνέω. Which last word implies salutation and strong love; for that which one loves he also reverences (προσκυνεῖ) and what he reverences that he greatly loves, as the everyday custom, which we observe towards those we love, bears witness, and in which both ideas are practically illustrated when two friends meet together.
If anyone does not accept this our Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Synod, let him be anathema from the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and from the seven holy Ecumenical Synods!
Now anathema is nothing less than complete separation from God. For if any are quarrelsome and will not obediently accept what has now been decreed, they but kick against the pricks, and injure their own souls in their fighting against Christ.
As can be seen above, veneration of images with actual affection - "strong love" - is mandated by this ecumenical council, not simply allowed, and all who reject doing so are Anathema - which is explicitly defined in the council as "complete separation from God". This is one of many, many such exclusivistic statements, accepted by all Orthodox Christians, which could be cited.
I do not plan to dedicate a separate section of faithalone.net to Eastern Orthodoxy specifically. However, the following resources are highly recommended:
Any imperialist religion claiming Apostolic succession, like Catholicism or Orthodoxy, has almost certainly buried all other Christians in dozens or hundreds of Anathemas, all "infallibly" proclaimed, and therefore irrevocable, because they are the true Church, and "the gates of Hell shall not prevail...", etc. Many ecclesiastical institutions make the same sectarian claims. Catholicism and Orthodoxy just happen to be the largest of the sects at present, and so are worth taking time to investigate.
If you belong to one of these religions, I do not hate you, nor am I mad at you. I love you, and am sincere in my desire to give peace to my brethren who are troubled by the exclusivist, sectarian claims made by these churches, when they damn everyone outside of their group.