A Choice or product of sorroundings??

[Carl_Nicholas]

Good afternoon to all,

I sincerly hope this question comes across with great respect and kindness to ALL parties. ( that is my true intention )

Does one declare its Catholic or Protestant beliefs on a set of circumstances that one may have been raised in or possibly had an enviornment that lended itself in favor in one direction or another. or

Does one declare their beliefs based on an independent study of facts ( all of them from all branches of christianity ) laid out on the table, and then decide, if any, The one that makes sense and warrants their full commitment and dedication.

I do appreciate all your comments.
God bless,
Carl

 

[ralphinal]

Good afternoon to all,

I sincerly hope this question comes across with great respect and kindness to ALL parties. ( that is my true intention )

Does one declare its Catholic or Protestant beliefs on a set of circumstances that one may have been raised in or possibly had an enviornment that lended itself in favor in one direction or another. or

Does one declare their beliefs based on an independent study of facts ( all of them from all branches of christianity ) laid out on the table, and then decide, if any, The one that makes sense and warrants their full commitment and dedication.

I do appreciate all your comments.
God bless,
Carl

To me, and this is just me, it is both.

The home environment should point us to a life of faith. I am Catholic because I was raised as such. I am Christian because I was raised as such. That is my starting point.

As a human goes through life, they must eventually decide for themselves what has value. If the faith that they cling to does not have value to them, they should examine why. If they find that they have trouble with parts of it, they should study more. If they see that in studying, they are lead into another faith, they must first examine the Truth of the new faith and see if that faith has more value than the one that they are in.

Many people who think that their faith is not important would be shocked if the realised that the importance of it is related to what we put into it, like bank account

I have looked at other forms of Christianity. I found all of the problematic. There is no valid reason that I can see to leave the Catholic Church.

 

[Publisher]

Good afternoon to all,

I sincerly hope this question comes across with great respect and kindness to ALL parties. ( that is my true intention )

Does one declare its Catholic or Protestant beliefs on a set of circumstances that one may have been raised in or possibly had an enviornment that lended itself in favor in one direction or another. or

Does one declare their beliefs based on an independent study of facts ( all of them from all branches of christianity ) laid out on the table, and then decide, if any, The one that makes sense and warrants their full commitment and dedication.

I do appreciate all your comments.
God bless,
Carl

I was raised in a “nominal Christian” family. My parents attended the Church of the Nazarene. When I entered Jr. High, one summer my mom sent me and my brother to “Vacation Bible School” at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. That was the first time I heard…or at least “understood” in a child’s way the story of Jesus…in my early childhood my mom had sent me to the Assembly of God for Sunday School…they were the only ones who had a bus coming around to pick us up.

As I got older and we moved closer to a Nazarene Church we began attending every Sunday.

I became acquainted with the Society of Friends at 19. After much study and prayer, I became “convinced” of the Truth that Friends taught and petitioned the Monthly Meeting for membership.

I became very interested in church history and began a life long study of the development of the early Christian church. My life as a Christian has been challenging but I’ve found peace and satisfaction among the people called Quakers. I understand the claims the older faith traditions of Orthodox and Catholic make, I just do not find them compelling enough. I understand some of the reasons Luther felt compelled to challenge the existing church of his day but he didn’t take it ‘far enough’. The 15th and 16th century were times of great change and an expansion of knowlege in Western civilization.

My mom was Called about 15 years ago…my dad is in failing health and has renewed his faith among a small “full-gospel” church in So. Cal. Everyone in the church are in their 60-90 range…he fits in well there…plus they “sing the old time hymns and songs” he grew up with.

I am not blind to the claims that others make about their faith traditions…I chose to live in the Light I have and trust in that Light.

 

[ralphinal]

I was raised in a “nominal Christian” family. My parents attended the Church of the Nazarene. When I entered Jr. High, one summer my mom sent me and my brother to “Vacation Bible School” at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. That was the first time I heard…or at least “understood” in a child’s way the story of Jesus…in my early childhood my mom had sent me to the Assembly of God for Sunday School…they were the only ones who had a bus coming around to pick us up.

As I got older and we moved closer to a Nazarene Church we began attending every Sunday.

I became acquainted with the Society of Friends at 19. After much study and prayer, I became “convinced” of the Truth that Friends taught and petitioned the Monthly Meeting for membership.

I became very interested in church history and began a life long study of the development of the early Christian church. My life as a Christian has been challenging but I’ve found peace and satisfaction among the people called Quakers. I understand the claims the older faith traditions of Orthodox and Catholic make, I just do not find them compelling enough. I understand some of the reasons Luther felt compelled to challenge the existing church of his day but he didn’t take it ‘far enough’. The 15th and 16th century were times of great change and an expansion of knowlege in Western civilization.

My mom was Called about 15 years ago…my dad is in failing health and has renewed his faith among a small “full-gospel” church in So. Cal. Everyone in they church are in their 60-90 range…he fits in well there…plus they “sing the old time hymns and songs” he grew up with.

I am not blind to the claims that others make about their faith traditions…I chose to live in the Light I have and trust in that Light.

Publisher,
I would say that you have found value in it, after searching for something of value for a faith.

 

[RobHom]

I do think that the environment that you spring from does have influence over your life. That influence may form positive driving influences for your life, or you may form negative responses or even be repulsed by the environmental influences you experienced growing up. Not everyone is alike in their responses to their beginning environments.

Myself…I was born a Catholic, Baptized and raised Catholic, as were my two older brothers. The oldest aspired to be a Priest but the last I heard…he had declared himself to be an atheist. The middle brother…who knows…he’s a perennial “fence-walker” who probably hasn’t been in a Church in ages. We were all brought up the same way…but it would seem that I am the only one of three sons who has stayed “Catholic”.

Oh, I had my period of “falling away”…and I even investigated other faiths and religions…that period last a number of years, mostly doing nothing more than reading the comics on Sundays.

Later on…I realized, after being literally “consumed” by a definite feeling of need to go to Church one Sunday…while I was on the road…I went to Mass…and it really felt “GREAT!!!” I “reverted” back to the Catholic Church…and have stayed as I feel in both my heart and mind that its not only where I belong, but it is the right Church…the “One True Church”.

One thing that I find interesting…is that in my keeping my core faith and beliefs…I am the only one of three sons who faced death on the battlefield…and yet after it all…I am the one still believing.

I have known people of other faiths that have gone through similar things…so I am drawn to the conclusion that it all depends on the individual.

I’m not sure that one would ever decide which faith is the correct one based on “investigation”. That smacks too much of seeking out a religion that “pleases one’s tastes”. I sincerely believe that we are led or guided either by the Holy Spirit, or kicked in the seat of the pants by our Guardian Angels…which by the way… mine has been on “triple-overtime” for about 58 years…

 

[Publisher]

Publisher,
I would say that you have found value in it, after searching for something of value for a faith.

Thank you for the kind words. I will say, this Journey over the last 34 years among Friends has been wonderful, sometimes painful, other times terrible as “life” hit me square in the eyes at times…but it has been worth it.

Each of us faces that Place where our faith must become Real or we will never be satisfied. We each are given a “starting point” and He is Present at each Place, even if we can’t See Him at times.

 

[ralphinal]

Thank you for the kind words. I will say, this Journey over the last 34 years among Friends has been wonderful, sometimes painful, other times terrible as “life” hit me square in the eyes at times…but it has been worth it.

Each of us faces that Place where our faith must become Real or we will never be satisfied. We each are given a “starting point” and He is Present at each Place, even if we can’t See Him at times.

Amen

 

[JRKH]

Good afternoon to all,

I sincerly hope this question comes across with great respect and kindness to ALL parties. ( that is my true intention )

Does one declare its Catholic or Protestant beliefs on a set of circumstances that one may have been raised in or possibly had an enviornment that lended itself in favor in one direction or another. or

Does one declare their beliefs based on an independent study of facts ( all of them from all branches of christianity ) laid out on the table, and then decide, if any, The one that makes sense and warrants their full commitment and dedication.

I do appreciate all your comments.
God bless,
Carl

This will, of course, be something unique to an individual but in General I would say that:
In My Opinion
If the environment is a positive one, devout and loving with a true love for the faith, the Child will likely stay with that faith, even if they choose not to practice it.
If the environment is not positive, then the Child will likely leave the faith, possibly even rejecting God, at least for a time.

If a person leaves a faith by being disallusioned and later decides to seek God the likelyhood is that they will look not re-enter the Church they were raised in. If they left because of “Laziness” there is a good Chance they will return to the Church of their youth.

For myself, I left initially due to laziness. I then did a fair amount of reading on various religious subjects and systems of beliefs. I found none to be as acceptable to me as the Church of my youth and so I cam home.

Peace
James

 

[Flopfoot]

Mainly a result of my surroudings. I am Catholic because I was raised by a Catholic family. I haven’t looked much into other religions; I see no need to until I find something wrong with my current faith, which has not happened yet.

 

[hasikelee]

I think the environment can just form opinions for you. For example, I grew up in a tight-knit, devoutly Catholic family. The experience associated positive feelings with Catholicism. That’s not why I chose to follow this faith, but it made it emotionally easier.

I know some people who had Catholic families with very bad experiences in the family life (neglectful parent, abuse, etc) and inevitably they associate pain with Catholic practices such as going to Sunday Mass or praying. Even if they want to be Catholic, they still have to contend with the deep hurts from their family life.

 

[Pug]

I think our environment and raising frequently determines which possibilities appear before us as choices. For a simple example, if one has never heard that the Greek Orthodox Church exists, it is hard for it to be one of your options when examining what faith to pick. Also, sometimes a person who was raised in a monotheist environment might find it difficult to do anything but dismiss all polytheistic religions out of hand. But I think it might be more important if your culture doesn’t allow options at all. I think it takes a certain viewpoint for it to cross one’s mind that a person can have their choice from a buffet of faiths. One might have been raised that to even begin to think such a thing is unthinkable.

Looking back at my life, it literally never crossed my mind that it was possible for me to not go to college. It simply never did. That is on account of how I was raised. I don’t see why religion is exempt from this sort of thing. Maybe if I had been some other person, yet still raised like I was, well, then it might have occurred to me. But I am not some other person. Yes, I was aware that other people didn’t go to college, but not going was not something I ever considered as a course of action, even though I could have found some way to escape, if it had crossed my mind.

 

[Carl_Nicholas]

A very sincere " Thank you " to all of your responses.

I appreciate your time to respond.
I am very new to these " debates " for the lack of a better word.
And I am trying as well as struggling, in my own personal journey.

Thanks again for your responses

God bless,
Carl

 

[Sepharad]

For me, it is a little of both.

I was raised an Orthodox Jew, however as a child, I found the mainstream Orthodoxy of my childhood to be rather dry, impersonal and rote oriented. Consequently, I left (rebelled) in my teen years, only to return later, but in a more modified format.

I still hold some of the more traditional views I was raised with, but my actual practice is more moderate. Its as if I started out at one end of a pendulum swing, swung to the other end when I rebelled, and have now settled somewhere in the middle.

Although I live in an Orthodox Jewish community, and my children attend an Orthodox school part-time (they are homeschooled for the secular subjects and attend an Orthodox Jewish school for the religious subjects), I have found that what best fulfills my spiritual needs is the Jewish Renewal Movement.

This movement, founded by a Chasidic rabbi, aims to give Jews a more spiritual, mystical, personal experience in communing with God. They are not a denomination, but an addition for Jews already in mainstream synagogues, be they Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist. We have Jews of all backgrounds, and amazingly, we get along very well because all of us were seeking a deeper relationship with God, and we found it.

So for me, the answer is a little bit of this, a little bit of that…mostly what I grew up with, but with more vibrancy thanks to the Renewal Movement!

 

[reen12]

quote: Carl Nicholas

Does one declare its Catholic or Protestant beliefs on a set of circumstances that one may have been raised in or possibly had an enviornment that lended itself in favor in one direction or another…

Was born into Catholicism over 60 years ago. At that time, one was often born into
an entire Catholic “culture.” 17 year of Catholic education followed.
I was taught that the RCC is the church founded by Christ, Himself.
Catechisms, of that day and age, conveyed the doctrines of the RCC.
One memorized, daily, the assertions of the faith.

quote: Carl Nicholas

Does one declare their beliefs based on an independent study of facts ( all of them from all branches of christianity ) laid out on the table, and then decide, if any, The one that makes sense and warrants their full commitment and dedication.

Had I not been born, into Catholicism, I would never have
accepted the assertions of same, as to Who God is, and who Jesus of Nazareth was.
I would have chosen to remain a Gentile, praying to the God of Israel, Who is and remains One, not Triune.

“When that time comes, ten men will take hold—speaking all the languages of the nations—will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say,
‘We want to go with you, because we have heard that G-d is with you.’” [Zechariah 8]

Solomon, at the dedication of the first Temple, said:

“To the foreigner, likewise, who is not of your people Israel, but comes from a distant land to honor you (since men will learn of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, listen from your heavenly dwelling. Do all that the foreigner asks of you, that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, may fear you as do your people Israel…” [1 Kings 8]

The scriptures tell man, basically, that:
God exists, God creates, God wishes His existance to be known.
God wishes relationship with man. God gives basic commands,
to be followed by His human creatures.
Mostly, all common sense.
[A society would be hard put to long exist, if these blessed commandments
were left largely unfollowed.]

Yet human beings like structure.

From this bracing simplicity, tome after tome has been crafted,
claim after claim asserted - as to Who God is, and what He
commands, and how He saves.

Mercifully, the still, small voice of God may still be heard,
in the silence and quiet of the human heart.

reen12

 

[Memaw]

Thank you for the kind words. I will say, this Journey over the last 34 years among Friends has been wonderful, sometimes painful, other times terrible as “life” hit me square in the eyes at times…but it has been worth it.

Each of us faces that Place where our faith must become Real or we will never be satisfied. We each are given a “starting point” and He is Present at each Place, even if we can’t See Him at times.

I think thats the main problem for Christians today, We have been picking and choosing for ourselves, what we want to believe and what we want to throw back. Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, gave us a Church to follow Him. One HE promised would NEVER teach error, and the Gates of HELL would NOT prevail against. He taught the Apostles everything HE wanted them to know and they have passed those teachings on to us thru HIS true Church. For 2,000 years the One ,Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church has taught everything Christ taught the Apostles. There is NO other denomination that can make the same claim. We can argue till the end of the world but guess what Church will be still teaching what Christ taught in its fullness. Yes, the Catholic Church.

Look at what has happened to protestantism in the last 500 years since Martin Luther started the whole thing. They have divided and divided into more than 40,000 different denominations that cannot even agree on what the bible only means.
Study the Early Church Fathers and see what they believed and then compare it to what your denomination teaches. If you are really seeking the truth, you will take the time and effort to do that.