Divers And Strange Doctrines

9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. (Hebrews 13:9-10)

Varied and strange teachings (or in the King James "divers and strange doctrines") seem to be piling up in my life lately. For some reason I'm surrounded by Catholic priests who prefer pre-Vatican II teachings, and new age Catholic nuns who love their power of handing out magic crackers, and neo-pagans who think Pope Francis is just awesome because he doesn't let that whole Bible thing get in the way of being the pope. In the end these people are trying to offer comfort, but I just want to scream, "Padre - Latin is dead, English please.", "Sister - it's what's in your heart, not in your hand" and "Broomhilda - just stop"

Don't get me wrong, the Lords Prayer is a great prayer, but it was intended as an outline of how to pray, not what to pray. There's something strangely unnerving to me to hear it repeated over and over again (Matthew 6:7) with the joy and enthusiasm of a half awake school child droning through the pledge of allegiance just to get it over with. The best part of my day lately has been when I can cast aside the fripperies and icons of a religion God has led me away from and to relax with the pure joy of Sola Scriptura - to delve into God's word and let it wash the pain of the day away.

To me the sacred traditions of the RCC are not intended to clarify scripture but to justify the sins and abuses of the past. I was never comfortable with the rosary, I was never comfortable with the catechism, I was always at odds with the question "If Jesus is my savior, why do we ignore him and pray to a dead woman?" Then I read:

5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

I have nothing wrong with tradition, but tradition by itself is just an excuse to do something without needing a reason. Catholics will claim that communion is a sacred tradition, and I say good! It's biblical and was instituted by Jesus Christ Himself. No better way to start a tradition than by a command from God. Then they say that papal infallibility is a sacred tradition, and at that point I start to question not only the concept of tradition but the catholic definition of "sacred". Papal infallibility is a man made concept not a biblical decree from Jesus, nor does it have anything to do with God. It was invented in 1869 by the most corrupt Pope Pius IX, the best part is that the church doesn't even bother to claim this was a revelation from God, they clearly state that the idea that the pope is infallable is theirs:

So then, should anyone, which God forbid, have the temerity to reject this definition of ours: let him be anathema. (which means damned to hell)
— Vatican Council, Sess. IV , Const. de Ecclesiâ Christi, Chapter iv

Is it possible that a pope could make a mistate? For centuries it was thought so, by popes themselves: 

"It is beyond question that he [the pope] can err even in matters touching the faith. He does this when he teaches heresy by his own judgment or decretal. In truth, many Roman Pontiffs were heretics." --Pope Adrian VI, 1523

All of this makes me want to ask Questions (with a capital Q) but in the end I remember: 

24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

It's best to ask when I'm in a better frame of mind.