Here is a fantastic scripture which shows how we become the body of Christ by partaking of his body and drinking of his blood.

1 Cor 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Notice we are all one bread, which is the same as saying we are all one body, the body of Christ. Are we symbolically the body of Christ or are we actually the body of Christ? If we are actually the body of Christ then how can it be possible if we are not also partaking of the actual body of Christ? I am a Protestant as are you all, but I must concede that we cannot have it both ways.

No you are not really a protestant, you have proven that. Plus not "all are" protestants or Catholics on the board, there are some that are neither.
Plus the moderators have asked you not to continue with this thread. They did not suggest you just move it.

Clearly therefore you could not answer the point I raised.

Well all I can see is a blank in your last post.

Just to answer your point. I actually wrote the OP some time ago as a protestant questioning what I had been taught for many years. Independently I studied many questions such as faith without works, sola scriptura, symbol of the sacraments, authority of the clergy and others and found that there were serious issues with them in the protestant teachings. I then discovered that lo and behold my new understanding which I had independently come to from the scriptures actually matched Catholic teaching exactly. I then deliberately studied those doctrines which differed from protestantism such as purgatory and marian doctrines and discovered that I could not refute them from the scripture and that in fact there was very significant scriptural support for them. In the last couple of months I have also investigated many of the hateful accusations levelled at Catholics by protestants and have found them to be extremely prejudiced and grossly embellished in order to demonise Catholics.

Some people here believe that I am promoting Catholicism. Not so. I am promoting the truth. I read the Bible, I study history, I study the writings of the early church (prior to the Romanisation of the church by Constantine). If this happens to line up with Catholic teaching of today then I am certainly not going to reject it because of my own personal prejudices.

Please don't reject my posts because they are "Catholic" (said with a sneer). Show where they are wrong clearly from the Scripture.

Those who have followed my posts will know that I have supported everything I have posted WITH a direct scripture. It is inadmissable to reject scripture simply because it supports Catholic teaching. In fact this is even opposing the precepts of Sola Scriptura. I know that in one protestant denomination a very competent theologian trained in the seminary presented a large thesis from the scripture showing that we are saved by faith and works and not by faith alone. His thesis could not be refuted from the scripture, nevertheless he was booted out of the church and forbidden to teach. So much for Sola Scriptura. Clearly in this case people of that protestant church were exalting their protestant church traditions and beliefs above the scripture. The very thing which they are sworn not to do by Sola Scriptura.

Have you noticed in these threads that every variety of bizarre pattern, image, teaching, doctrine which can be contrived from the scriptures and in your case the stars and constellations is allowed on this site with virtually no recrimination. But as soon as a pattern, image, teaching or doctrine is advanced that has a mildly Catholic flavour it is roundly condemned and rejected.

Your responses here are a perfect example of this. Instead of answering my question with respect you label me "Catholic". I can almost hear the scorn, condemnation emanating from you. Your arrogance was also shown in one of your other posts as you gloated that your wonderful teaching was offending people and causing them to leave your study group. Where is your heart of love and pain for those people to go after them to take them back into the fold? I only hope and pray that in following you and then in leaving you that they do not depart the faith as a consequence and that they will do as I have been advising and return to the church of their youth.

I am a protestant in that I still attend a protestant church. I do not teach. I sit in the stands and humbly learn. I swallow my tongue when wickedly untrue things are said about the Catholic church. In the wide world of protestantism where any belief is permissable surely my beliefs are permissable. There was always an Anglo-Catholic order in the anglican church which was always referred to as a last resort in the old church of England. They were not driven out. Why then can I not be tolerated by you?

As I said I love the truth. Which is why I correct Dennis Mann when he spreads vicious lies about the Catholic church. As I would defend anyone who suffers a lie thrown at them. If I study the Bible and come to a conclusion that smells a bit catholic then I will not be ashamed. No I will be pleased that my belief is in accord and unity with the long held teachings of the ancient church of Jesus Christ.

And what hyprocrisy that we can consult any kind of guru from the modern age with information from computer software, modern business practices, occult and new age and in your case information from the stars and constellations but then when we consult the teachings of respected bishops and theologians of the ancient church we are immediately labelled and sneered at as catholics denying the authority of the Bible and heretically drawing on extra-biblical knowledge.

here is an answer for you...

we can't have it both ways...

so choose what you will and live it
out the best you can with an open heart and surely more will
be revealed...