A question for those who were raised Catholic

[Joan_of_Bark]

But Joan, you seem to be ignoring that the parents in question were raised under a belief system and despite that upbringing were able to review all the available info and reach an objectively valid conclusion.

Did they reach an objectively valid conclusion? If as adults they hold the same beliefs as they did as children, there’s really no way to know. Would you make that defense about third-generation Muslims? Or evangelicals?

You havent presented a single reason for the parents to deviate from the upbringing that they had: one in which the parents belief system was used to provide something beneficial to the children and which allows them to pursue alternate beliefs in adulthood.
You seem to have refuted your own premise in the OP with this conclusion of yours.

I’m not sure what conclusion you’re referring to. In my OP I made the point that people tend to end up with the same religion they were raised with. I asked if this might mean that they had not actually considered the alternatives and were simply too indoctrinated to evaluate other beliefs. And as few here seem to have noticed, I mentioned that OTHER BELIEF SYSTEMS MIGHT BE ACCUSED OF THE SAME THING. Yet many answering this question seem to have taken the line that Catholicism is the truth, so of course that’s what children should be raised with.

If a Muslim said that Islam is the truth, so of course that’s what children should be raised with, and they should not be exposed to any other beliefs, would posters here defend them equally? Or would they see the Muslims as being close-minded? Or if I told you that my parents refused to expose me to Christianity because they were atheists (they weren’t), would Catholics defend them also?

 

[Joan_of_Bark]

Have you ever considered that you may have been brainwashed by secular society?
thank you

I’ve already answered this question earlier. I was raised a Christian – Baptist, to be precise.

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[Joan_of_Bark]

This will be my last post for awhile. I’m going out of town and will probably not have access to the internet for several days.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Perhaps. But without being able to look into the day-to-day details of someone’s life, it’s impossible to know how much they have contemplated, studied and researched other faiths. And I would ask you if you would argue such a point if we were talking about Muslims and Hindus instead of Christians?

Please forgive my late response.

Nowhere in my response did I mention Christianity. I would argue the same point if we were talking about Muslims and Hindus instead of Christians.

 

[antroji]

Having participated in this thread, LittleSoldier, I agree wth and support Joan. She applied her question as a matter of acquiring a beliefe system, and could, and did, I believe, (lol) apply it to even political, etc. beliefs.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Having participated in this thread, LittleSoldier, I agree wth and support Joan. She applied her question as a matter of acquiring a beliefe system, and could, and did, I believe, (lol) apply it to even political, etc. beliefs.

Is this a reply to my post immediately preceding yours? If so, I am a bit confused as to what I wrote that made you think you should write what you did. I only answered a general question Joan asked me quite awhile ago and I did not disagree with her in the least.

Would you please rephrase your post? Thanks.

 

[LittleSoldier]

As Joan has announced she will be gone for awhile and I’ve just skimmed the thread (again), I would like to say that I am very happy that so many people who left the Catholic Church and examined other religious systems came back home. I did something similar. I left the Church and I wish I could say I did a lot of thinking about God. I thought a little bit but it was so much easier to not think about God at all. After all there were more important things going on in my life such as school, a marriage falling apart, a job…

At least I thought those things were more important. I was wrong and after many years I too returned home to the Church and I will never leave again.

I had to write that. God bless you all!!

 

[Randy_Carson]

Have you ever considered that you may have been brainwashed?

Consider the fact that children raised in Saudi Arabia become … Muslims. Those raised in most of India become Hindus. Children raised by practicing Jews in Israel tend to become practicing Jews. And kids raised by evangelical Protestants usually turn out to be Protestants. Why do you suppose this is? Do you believe that upon becoming free-willed adults they carefully consider all religious creeds and come to the conclusion that (fill in the blank) is really the best and truest religion?

Of course not. We can see that they’ve merely been indoctrinated into their religious creed without the benefit of a balanced exposure to other religions. So are you really any different?

Now you may have been raised in the west, where a more pluralistic society prevails. Certainly while growing up you would have encountered other religious sects. But is a child who goes to a Catholic school five days a week, and to mass every week, and has Catholic parents and relatives, really any different than a Saudi Muslim – except in the degree of the indoctrination?

Look at it another way. If you had children, would you take them to a Jewish synagogue, a Muslim mosque, a Protestant church, and a Hindu temple – as well as a Catholic church – and say to them: “Okay, my child, it’s now up to you to decide which of these religions – if any – is the true one”?

If you answer ‘no’ to this question, perhaps you can begin to see where the question at the top of this post comes from.

And what is your theory regarding those of us who were raised in an active Protestant home but converted to Catholicism after careful consideration of the facts of history and the Word of God?

 

[NoNameMe78]

I was a baptized, First Communion, Confirmed Catholic, All catholic Schools. Catholic at Heart. I swayed from the Catholic church and now am Happy to be back. It is NOT brainwashing. I have been in a brainwashing, controling, thing called a church, the Catholic Church is NOT. The Catholic church like God give you the tools and freedom to choose right or wrong. IT is up to you to follow God’s teaching which is the Catholic Church.
I do not have all the answers, nor do I pretend to have all the answers or know everything there is about the Catholic church. All I know is the Catholic church is the right place for me to Worship God.

 

[Ignatias20]

I was NOT raised Catholic. I was raised in a smaller rural town where most of the men were farmers or ranchers down here in the South West. We had one church building in the town. On Sundays most all the people would attend church. It of course was protestant where Baptists, Methodists, Church of Christ and Presbyterians plus some others, got together. There was one Catholic family who drove 11 miles to the next town to go to mass. The result of this was essentially I was a Pagan who was familiar with Bible verses, could remember words to some Hymns and behaved as if I was just “one of the boys”.

As a Pagan/Christian I did not attend Church after I entered the Air Force. although I did believe that God existed. Things started to change after I had been in combat in Korea for about a year. The second year I was there I noticed that the Catholic guys would go off on Sundays to their religious service but the Protestant guys just avoided Church. One day I asked a man from back East if I could go with him to the Catholic mass. We went! There was a tiny glimpse of something different. The Chaplain was not all sugar-coated. He laid it on the line. The boyhood experience with preachers had ne almost laughing at the mealy mouthed platitude they told us… never said ho to be good.

After getting back to California to March A.F.B. I went to see the Catholic Chaplain. He gave me a Baltimore Catechism ans shooed me out. So I went to the local Corona, CA church a few times and the old priest was like a drill Sergent - I liked that!!
After a few weeks I went to the rectory (no one ever encouraged me mind you). The Mon senior told me to be there every Wed. at 6:30 PM. I was there. He said he would instruct me if I wanted to be Catholic. I had a dream one time of a giant lighted Cross up in the Sky…with lights like a runway has a t night…I thought it was approval from God.
Anyway, the old Mon senior and I became friends - sometimes we’d walk in the park for instruction.
In about three months he asked me if I would consider becoming joining an Order - The Trappists - since they take guys who didn’t have Latin in H.S. I said yes.
Well, I had to wait for a year they said. Meanwhile I met a Navy Nurse and fell in love. Got married and we have 3 great big wonderful sons who are now successful.

I am a 4Th Degree Knight of Columbus, taught CCD several years and still feel like I am trying to learn more about this instrument that God gave us for Salvation…the Catholic Church. I am a beginner!.
** I wasn’t raised Catholic. I was a Pagan. BIT I AM CATHOLIC NOW! Perhaps that is why I like Saint Augustine**.

 

[Pier]

No. Because most of us have been exposed to other religions, and are well aware that we’re free to worship any way we choose.

 

[beehumble]

To the OP’s question, there is the story of St. Francis converting the heart of the muslim Sultan. He explained the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the sultan in such a compelling way that the Sultan wanted to convert, but told St. Francis if he did, he would be killed, and so would St. Francis. He asked St. Francic to baptize him before he died, and St. Francis said he would. The sultan grew old, and St. Francis died. As the sultan was on his death bed, he prayed for St. Francis to baptize him. St. Francis appeared to two of his disciples and asked them to go and baptize the sultan - they did.

The point is, this high-up Muslim, who was raised Muslim, once properly taught the Gospel, wanted to convert. I don’t think it would happen the other way around - the other faiths don’t have what we have.

 

[LittleSoldier]

No. Because most of us have been exposed to other religions, and are well aware that we’re free to worship any way we choose.

I love and hate your signature. I think it’s very effective. God bless you!!!

(off topic, sorry)

 

[colmcille1]

I was NOT raised Catholic. I was raised in a smaller rural town where most of the men were farmers or ranchers down here in the South West. We had one church building in the town. On Sundays most all the people would attend church. It of course was protestant where Baptists, Methodists, Church of Christ and Presbyterians plus some others, got together. There was one Catholic family who drove 11 miles to the next town to go to mass. The result of this was essentially I was a Pagan who was familiar with Bible verses, could remember words to some Hymns and behaved as if I was just “one of the boys”.

As a Pagan/Christian I did not attend Church after I entered the Air Force. although I did believe that God existed. Things started to change after I had been in combat in Korea for about a year. The second year I was there I noticed that the Catholic guys would go off on Sundays to their religious service but the Protestant guys just avoided Church. One day I asked a man from back East if I could go with him to the Catholic mass. We went! There was a tiny glimpse of something different. The Chaplain was not all sugar-coated. He laid it on the line. The boyhood experience with preachers had ne almost laughing at the mealy mouthed platitude they told us… never said ho to be good.

After getting back to California to March A.F.B. I went to see the Catholic Chaplain. He gave me a Baltimore Catechism ans shooed me out. So I went to the local Corona, CA church a few times and the old priest was like a drill Sergent - I liked that!!
After a few weeks I went to the rectory (no one ever encouraged me mind you). The Mon senior told me to be there every Wed. at 6:30 PM. I was there. He said he would instruct me if I wanted to be Catholic. I had a dream one time of a giant lighted Cross up in the Sky…with lights like a runway has a t night…I thought it was approval from God.
Anyway, the old Mon senior and I became friends - sometimes we’d walk in the park for instruction.
In about three months he asked me if I would consider becoming joining an Order - The Trappists - since they take guys who didn’t have Latin in H.S. I said yes.
Well, I had to wait for a year they said. Meanwhile I met a Navy Nurse and fell in love. Got married and we have 3 great big wonderful sons who are now successful.

I am a 4Th Degree Knight of Columbus, taught CCD several years and still feel like I am trying to learn more about this instrument that God gave us for Salvation…the Catholic Church. I am a beginner!.
** I wasn’t raised Catholic. I was a Pagan. BIT I AM CATHOLIC NOW! Perhaps that is why I like Saint Augustine**.

Hi Ignatias20,
I was very touched by your story. You sound like a most interesting man.
God Bless,
Colmcille1.

 

[LittleSoldier]

I was NOT raised Catholic. I was raised in a smaller rural town where most of the men were farmers or ranchers down here in the South West. We had one church building in the town. On Sundays most all the people would attend church. It of course was protestant where Baptists, Methodists, Church of Christ and Presbyterians plus some others, got together. There was one Catholic family who drove 11 miles to the next town to go to mass. The result of this was essentially I was a Pagan who was familiar with Bible verses, could remember words to some Hymns and behaved as if I was just “one of the boys”.

As a Pagan/Christian I did not attend Church after I entered the Air Force. although I did believe that God existed. Things started to change after I had been in combat in Korea for about a year. The second year I was there I noticed that the Catholic guys would go off on Sundays to their religious service but the Protestant guys just avoided Church. One day I asked a man from back East if I could go with him to the Catholic mass. We went! There was a tiny glimpse of something different. The Chaplain was not all sugar-coated. He laid it on the line. The boyhood experience with preachers had ne almost laughing at the mealy mouthed platitude they told us… never said ho to be good.

After getting back to California to March A.F.B. I went to see the Catholic Chaplain. He gave me a Baltimore Catechism ans shooed me out. So I went to the local Corona, CA church a few times and the old priest was like a drill Sergent - I liked that!!
After a few weeks I went to the rectory (no one ever encouraged me mind you). The Mon senior told me to be there every Wed. at 6:30 PM. I was there. He said he would instruct me if I wanted to be Catholic. I had a dream one time of a giant lighted Cross up in the Sky…with lights like a runway has a t night…I thought it was approval from God.
Anyway, the old Mon senior and I became friends - sometimes we’d walk in the park for instruction.
In about three months he asked me if I would consider becoming joining an Order - The Trappists - since they take guys who didn’t have Latin in H.S. I said yes.
Well, I had to wait for a year they said. Meanwhile I met a Navy Nurse and fell in love. Got married and we have 3 great big wonderful sons who are now successful.

I am a 4Th Degree Knight of Columbus, taught CCD several years and still feel like I am trying to learn more about this instrument that God gave us for Salvation…the Catholic Church. I am a beginner!.
** I wasn’t raised Catholic. I was a Pagan. BIT I AM CATHOLIC NOW! Perhaps that is why I like Saint Augustine**.

Welcome home! That is a great story! Thank you for sharing it. (BTW I lived in Corona for a time - back then you could still smell the orange blossoms. Now they’re all gone.)