Am I Close-minded Because I Embrace Church Teachings?

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WitnessToHope

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Earlier this week I read a thread in which a fellow Catholic, in frustration with a particular Church teaching, referred to Catholics who embrace all the teachings of the Church as close-minded, fundamentalist, right wing Catholics.

Now what really interested me about this person’s comment was the reference to having a closed mind for not questioning Church teachings and desiring to change them. Little did she know that there was a time in my life as a Catholic when I felt women should be priests, some abortions were allowable, confession wasn’t necessary, homosexual acts were okay, and a host of other beliefs that were contrary to what the Church taught.

I spent years with these beliefs. My relationship with God was so difficult and I couldn’t figure out why. The turning point came one Sunday when I heard the homily of a newly ordained priest. He spoke about embracing all the truths of the Church, not just some. I can’t paraphrase what he said but I can tell you I went home and prayed, “Lord, I have botched our relationship up to this point. From now on, whatever your Church here on earth says, I believe.” From there I began to read and study the particular teachings that I struggled with. I read everything………Scripture, early Church fathers, the Catechism, writings of the saints, papal writings, and present day Catholic theologians. Soon, I began to understand why the Church taught what She did and it made sense. Even areas that didn’t make sense I knew I just needed to spend more time praying and studying or accept that I simply wouldn’t understand fully, in this lifetime. I will add that I read dissenters on Church teachings as well but the arguments contrary to the Church were poorly supported and too secular. There was so much caving in to societal norms versus what Jesus had taught through Scripture and Tradition. So with a very open mind I chose to follow the Truth. It was a dramatic change for me in my relationship with God. That’s when I experienced true growth in my faith.

It’s a bit of a long tale but I’m curious as to others’ experiences. For those of you who would be classified as ‘closed-minded, fundamentalist, right wing Catholics’, how did you come to the decision to embrace Church teachings versus wanting the Church to conform to society? And I guess for the sake of a differing viewpoint, I’d like to hear from those Catholics who prefer to take the approach of changing Church teaching. How did you come to the belief the Church needs changing?

Witness To Hope
 
I knew from the get-go that Catholicism demanded a definite submission to the teaching of Rome on all matters of Faith and Morals. Being a former Protestant, I was TOLD I was allowed to disagree with any church teaching I liked, as I was supposed to be interpreting Scripture for myself. (That went well. Ha, ha!) It ended with this radical theory concerning the Trinity and Holy Sophia and… well, it’s complicated. Let’s just say that had I stuck to it, I would have started a new denom. I didn’t want that. I wanted Truth unabridged. I knew how few churches called themselves the “pillar and support of truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), and was somewhat taken aback by the RCC’s boldness in this claim.

I examined her claims.

Well… Here I am–14 years old, attending Mass Saturdays, a Baptist service with my parents Sundays, going to Catechism classes as an “observer,” taking Latin lessons from an awesome deacon at my parish so I can have an excuse to show up Wednesday nights for Religious Education. 😃

Now, as for reform in Church policy and practice, I’m all for it! For instance, I think a certain amount of seminary training for youth ministers and religious education teachers should be mandatory (like that of the Protestant youth ministers) to ensure both orthodoxy and dynamics. I also would like to see a more widespread use of the Teen Mass, because I truly believe getting Catholics my age to realize that it’s not too early to begin worshipping God is essential to spiritual growth. I also would like to see a new spirit of love from the Church. In this day and age when society is changing so much, I want to see the children of God reaching out to those in society who are outcasts and alone or hungry or whatever, embracing them and meeting their needs. I think we need to see Catholics on the street with homeless men and women, a greater emphasis on mission efforts, etc.

Oh, and a more affirmitive statement in the case of polygenism would be nice–assuming the parameters of such a belief were clearly defined.

But hey, there’s time to get around to that later when I’m some radical kicking it with the poor and needy and making them omlets and whatnot.

😛

Pax!
 
Hi Witness! Welcome to the forums!

Your story reads like mine except that while I was “fallen away” for 27 years, I was as anti-Catholic as R. O’Donnel, G. Carlin, B. Maher, and the whole secular anti-Christian crew.

My return happened in stages. With each new truth I resisted at first, fearful that my whole existence would be destroyed as well as most of my relationships with friends and family. Probably the only thing I did right was pray and read. However, this time I read books and writings written by faithful Catholics! And like you, I found their arguments to be more logical and reasonable. There was a symmetry and continuity that made complete sense. Eventually, I couldn’t help but accept it all. Leaving out any one part would have left an illogical void.
 
As a former Southern Baptist, I was always a truth seeker. I was always in search for the Church of the New Testament. At a time I felt the Southern Baptist denomination was the closest to what the Bible taught, but I started to see that there were so many divisions within the denomination and all you had to do was pick a flavor or a Baptist trend that best suited you.

But eventually, to make a long story short I saw the light of the Catholic Church shining bright with Her truth. And as I began to study the faith, I realized that this was the very Church that the Lord Jesus established. And when it come down to it, if Jesus established this Church then I had no problem believing what She taught and submitting to that. I love having something that I can totally believe in with all my heart and trust with my life, and even be sure enough about it that I would die for it.
 
Anyone who does as you have done, being in disagreement, and searching seriously for answers, finding that the Church answered your questions in a manner that was satisfactory to you, is exactly what is required. You did everything perfectly and are to be commended for it. Sadly, as some have pointed out, many do not do this, and do think that they can simply “agree to disagree” and follow their own dictates. Such persons take a dangerous path, since have not followed appropriate methods to either learn what the Church teaches or why.

I would think that most people if they actually take the time to do the work may and in most cases will find themselves in agreement. That is what the process is for.

My congratulations to you!
 
For those of you who would be classified as ‘closed-minded, fundamentalist, right wing Catholics’, how did you come to the decision to embrace Church teachings versus wanting the Church to conform to society?
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Hi Witness,

I tried many decades to make my relativist and secular world view fit into reality. Never did, to my satisfaction. When I began to return to the Church, it made so much sense, but I was a bit scared about giving up everything I built my life on. I actually prayed to God to change me into what He wanted, but please do it very slowly! (I don’t do change well.) So how do I embrace Church teachings? Because I figured my opinion was no match for the wisdom of 2000 years of the Magesterium being led by the Holy Spirit himself. If I didn’t agree with or understand a teaching, the ignorance has always proved to be mine.

-Tim
 
The Nazarene stated: " I am sending you out like sheep amongst wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Later, the church’s founding fathers, especially Peter, countered the peoples’ adulation with the simple phrase; “We are just people, like you”

In truth, it tells us that heaven is not here. That everyone, absolutely everyone, is under the enfluence of sin. Only the Nazarene is infallible.

You truly do righteousness when you question authority, regardless of where that might lead.
 
Spent my first 40 years of life following my own rules and what ever teaching suited me at that moment (former atheist)

Age 41 and wham bam…CONVERSION.👍

Jesus did not teach partial-half truths, nor did He instruct His church to do the same.

The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit in ALL truth, so we all must, as faithfilled followers of Jesus follow ALL the teachings of the Church. To do otherwise (in my opinion), means that we do not believe in all that Jesus taught.
 
I always find it interesting that the people who distrust the teaching of the institutional Church usually follow lockstep with the teaching of institutional education–people will believe what they’re told about history, science, geography, etc., but not about God.

And I’m not saying trusting teachers in other fields is necessarily a bad thing. If we all just set out to personally verify every truth we embrace, we’d get nowhere fast–we’d have to re-invent the wheel every time. Likewise, it is arrogant to think no one knows better than anyone else about any other topic. We’re not all equal in that regard.

What we can do, however, is evaluate the credibility and authority of a teacher. Just like we do in other situations, we allow such teachers to correct our misunderstanding–we should do the same with those authorized by Jesus Christ to teach us about Him. 👍
 
joseph_virgen said:
The Nazarene stated: " I am sending you out like sheep amongst wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Later, the church’s founding fathers, especially Peter, countered the peoples’ adulation with the simple phrase; “We are just people, like you”

In truth, it tells us that heaven is not here. That everyone, absolutely everyone, is under the enfluence of sin. Only the Nazarene is infallible.

You truly do righteousness when you question authority, regardless of where that might lead.
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And yet, Peter, Paul and the others did not allow their teaching authority to be challenged–saying those who taught a Gospel different than the one they handed on were to be treated as anathema. And rightfully so–the Apostles were commissioned by Jesus Christ to teach in His name. Likewise, no one could preach unless they be sent–they had to be authorized.
 
Usually, “close-minded” is a term people throw out at others who won’t agree with them. 🙂 It’s not a reasoned argument. This sounds like no exception.
 
I grew in stages. I had to spend more time with the Bible, with Catholic magazines and newspapers and other places where I could get an appropriate, faith filled view of the world. The Bible tells us the road to destruction is wide and the way to life narrow and “few are they who find it.”

The secular world is bombarding us with words and images daily that are against God’s word, sometimes outrageously so. And sometimes, people say, “Why can’t we just do what we want? We have new knowledge and new truths!” Man has not changed. Yes, we have new technology, toys and gadgets. Wonderful. But what are we doing with our lives? How are we choosing to live? We are told to take up our cross daily. And the Ten Commandments and the words of Christ are just as relevant today as they were when they were first given.

Christ established His Church and promised the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We shall not be free from temptation but we are freed from slavery to sin. And when we do stumble, we have the means to reconcile ourselves to God who experienced being tempted Himself.

His infinite mercy is never far from us.

God bless,
Ed
 
I’m a cradle Catholic that didn’t practice between the age of 8 and 34. When I was 34, after a spiritual experience, I went to what I knew was the Church. I was reconciled, confirmed, had my marriage blessed and started to practice again. I understood that the Lord had commanded what the Church bound on earth was bound in heaven… I don’t always do what I should but I accept the teachings of the Church as one of it’s members. In grey area’s I’m not sure of , I bring it up in the confessional and believe the advice is in persona Christi. I’m not always happy being bound to the teachings, but believe just the same. I could care less if people consider me “close minded”. It is my mind, not theirs. Tim
 
WitnessToHope said:
Earlier this week I read a thread in which a fellow Catholic, in frustration with a particular Church teaching, referred to Catholics who embrace all the teachings of the Church as close-minded, fundamentalist, right wing Catholics.
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that is the typical defense of someone who knows they are wrong, feels compelled to embrace a position at odds with Church teaching, usually because of personal lifestyle choices, or conflict with someone close to them who has lifestyle “issues” (we would have called them sins in an earlier time), and cannot reconcile the conflict without blaming the Church, because it is to painful to blame themselves or the loved one.
 
There are people out there who think that monotheism is bigoted because it does not accept other gods. And I’ve experienced people who adamantly believe that moral relativism is tolerant, while defining universal truth and the support of it (unless putting the words “I believe” to degrade it from a solid truth to just another belief) is intolerant.

As Catholics we believe in universal truth, and reject the notion of moral relativism. This does not bode well with today’s society. So people accuse Catholics of being bigots because we’re monotheists proclaiming universal truth. Some think we’re intolerant that we don’t attend certain weddings or certain occultic practices. We are called to proclaim the truth, some see this as “pushing religion”, no matter how nice or gentle we are. Some even say we hate.

I love all those people who accuse us, those who call us names and find us to be a great number of many horrible things. I love them and I grieve that they see things in a negative light. If they call you names, please don’t let it get to you; just be concerned for their soul, even though some may see your concern for their soul as arrogance. Love them anyway, and endure all things for Christ, because He is worthy. 😉

God bless you :hug3:
 
I think the be a true hard core “right wing” catholic you need the grace from God to have full faith in the institution of the Church. Like there are people that agree with all the teachings but dont like the pope, you know. Like the OP, during my investigation period of the church, i had a lot of trouble with many things.

But then one day, reading ECF stuff, i realised the dogma was all the same as it was today! And I submitted, I prayed and took a leap of faith, and then my spiritual life changed dramatically and things got much more rich. And most importantly, i am very grounded and firm in my beliefs.

I think the grace can only come from God, when you kill that certain pride in you that thinks you know better, and you submit to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

peace!

-revelations
 
MarcoPolo said:
Usually, “close-minded” is a term people throw out at others who won’t agree with them. 🙂 It’s not a reasoned argument. This sounds like no exception.
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MarcoPolo, you hit the nail on the head and this was really the reason I began the post. I kept seeing several posters on the forums who continually berated people for being close-minded simply because they follow the teachings of the Church and have placed their trust in the Magisterium. Even to the point of referring to them as mindless sheep. I knew that for myself I had to put a lot of time in prayer, thought and study before I reached the point of accepting those teachings, and I suspected that was the case for many other Catholics. My point was to bring those posters’ attention to the fact that following the Magisterium doesn’t make us mindless idiots who can’t think for ourselves.

It’s been very interesting reading everyone’s journey to acceptance of Church teachings. Thanks to all of you for sharing your journey to truth!

Witness To Hope
 
I think for those who consider Catholics as being not politically correct, especially when it comes to sexuality or life issues regarding abortion or euthanaisa…they believe we are close minded…not because we believe in what Jesus taught us, but because we don’t agree with them. Anyone who doesn’t agree with anyone…is close minded rather than of another opinion.
Sad to say…But in this case, who truly is close minded.

Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life.
So who is speaking the truth…the politically correct??
 
I believe that you have to be more “close-minded” to reject Church teaching. Church teaching is wise, logical, and true…you better shut your mind up pretty good if you plan on rejecting it…🤷
 
WitnessToHope said:
MarcoPolo, you hit the nail on the head and this was really the reason I began the post. I kept seeing several posters on the forums who continually berated people for being close-minded simply because they follow the teachings of the Church and have placed their trust in the Magisterium. Even to the point of referring to them as mindless sheep. I knew that for myself I had to put a lot of time in prayer, thought and study before I reached the point of accepting those teachings, and I suspected that was the case for many other Catholics. My point was to bring those posters’ attention to the fact that following the Magisterium doesn’t make us mindless idiots who can’t think for ourselves.

It’s been very interesting reading everyone’s journey to acceptance of Church teachings. Thanks to all of you for sharing your journey to truth!

Witness To Hope
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I don;t think many object to anyone following Church teaching as they understand it. And i agree that sometimes those who disagree with some teaching are not diplomatic in their choice of words. But those who espouse full agreement with all Church teaching do have a tendency to pontificate a bit and also to mistate what is advised into what is demanded by the Church, in some attempt to protect people from what they consider unsafe reading. When they immediately accuse people who are struggling with something as being self-excommunicators, heretical, or calling Jesus a liar (my personal favorite) its a good formula for an argument. Not all do this to be sure, but there is a strong self-righteousness expressed by some. I’m sure those people have complaints as well. But this forum, like most, attracts the opposites of the spectrum rather than the middle, so its inevitable.
 
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