I don’t understand Catholicism

Posted stuff before on r/catholicism and got banned. Thats why I’m posting this here.

Context: I’m an agnostic/atheist. I grew up Protestant and found that there is a decent amount of prejudice against Catholics where I grew up, and I think this is generally true among North American Protestants. Speaking to people here, I’ve found that Catholics seem to be very progressive and far more reasonable than many North American Protestants. However, after looking into British political philosophy, the thirty years war, the Protestant reformation more generally, and modern Catholic ideology, I must say that Catholicism seems very stupid and reactionary (radical) to me, so much so, that I’m starting to believe that the only reason anyone is Catholic is for cultural or traditional purposes. The aim of this post is to see if there is something I’m missing or misunderstanding and to try to understand the Catholic perspective.

Inherent tension between Catholic Ideology and critical thought

Historically, Catholicism was strongly associated with absolutist-style monarchy (the notion that the monarch has a moral right to rule us absolutely without checks and balances; this right is bestowed by god). On the other hand, Protestantism was associated with republicanism, or at least systems of governments where the monarch’s power is checked. But what does this have to do with Catholic ideology? Well, modern Catholic institutions may have publicly denounced absolutism, and their doctrine may reflect that denunciation to some degree, but modern Catholic ideology still has “absolutist” tendencies. The one in question here is the doctrine of dogmatism (which I believe states that the word of the pope or clergy has authoritative value and cannot be questioned). How can one be critical of ideology when one must accept absolute truths?

“Oh but how critical you are is all just relative. You can’t be infinitely critical thinking”

Our modern understanding of the term “critical thought” literally came from Immanuel Kant’s, “What is enlightenment?” which argues that people are too afraid to think for themselves. He coins the term “dare to know”. That notion is eventually what would become the enlightenment understanding of the term “critical”. It implies daring to challenge authority. According to this very strict, appropriate, and relevant definition, Catholicism is (as the doctrine of dogmatism would imply) dogmatic. To be critically minded, you don’t have to be infinitely critical, just generally critical of institutions and ideologies presented by institutions. Kant even explicitly singles out Catholic institutions and ideology as the metaphorical epicentre of that which keeps us from enlightenment.

2. Why reject the ideals of Protestantism?

I’m sure most of you have some idea about the Protestant reformation. My question to Catholics is, what exactly about Protestantism do you reject? Think about it from my perspective. The Protestant reformation was largely about education, corruption, and critical thought. The church actively prevented people from learning to read the bible, interpret passages for themselves, and corrupt practices.

“Oh but if the masses of uneducated people interpret things for themselves, they will misunderstand it”

Ok but what about today? We’re better educated today than we ever were. Do you not believe that we are educated enough to interpret the bible for ourselves? If so, then I think it’s fair to say that you don’t believe in critical thought. People today aren’t going around guillotining suspected royalists. So what’s the harm in interpreting the bible for oneself today? Historically, Catholics were poorer and less educated than Protestants. I think this correlation makes sense considering the Protestant notion of thinking for oneself. Does gods want his people to be less educated?

“Oh look at how uncritical the Protestants are”

This an appeal to hypocrisy. I want to understand what it is that YOU Catholics reject about Protestant sentiment. I don’t care about how Protestants act in practice, I want to know what it is about the principles of the Protestant reformation that you reject

3. A reason I think the notion of dogmatism is real dumb is because: how can 2 different people have divine authority while also making contradictory claims? Oh one was right about the claim and the other was wrong? I thought the popes word was absolute? I must be missing something crucial here. Tell me what it is