Anyone here a former agnostic or atheist here?

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Can you testify to me why you converted to Catholisism?
Just need some real life story to be a fuel for thought. I want to reflect it and I want to understand. That’s all, thanks!
 
Hi! Thanks for replying, your story is nice, but I do have a question, what does your real parents do after knowing that you’re a Catholic now? Well do they know you’re one? Be careful though, most atheist parents will do anything to make you drop your faith if they know their child is religious.
Anyways I don’t speak French, I only speak English and Indonesian (my native language)
May God bless you and keep you strong in your faith!
 
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Hello & Merry Christmas,

I took a rather interesting trip on my spiritual journey. I was raised in a very conservative independent baptist church, we were told that the Catholic Church was wrong and misguided, and 99% of catholics were probably bound for hell. I began investigating this religion and was soon fascinated, especially since it was ‘forbidden’ and I eventually converted in college. When I graduated I entered the US Air Force, I was in training and then moved and life got busy and I let my faith wither. Spiritual apathy eventually grew into full-blown atheism. I was reading Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, I got involved with a local atheist group.

But there was always something (or someone) behind the scenes waiting for me. When I got married (in the church, my wife is catholic) I felt the pull. It didn’t happen overnight but I began praying again, my atheists books found their way into the trash. When we had kids (triplets to be precise) is when I realized two things; there is way more to life than the material and I need divine help to make it through this!

It’s taken me a while to find my way back but this week I went and did my first confession in about 13 years, it feels good to be back. I am united to God’s holy church and his grace-giving sacraments. My kids have been baptized and I look forward to raising them in the church, my never taking it for granted and hopefully avoiding the path I took.
 
Hi,

I was born into the Church of England (born and raised a little north of London), and around the age of 15 I became an atheist after essentially buying into the ‘man in the sky’ tripe pushed by Richard Dawkins and company.

Eventually I read a book by Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart called ‘The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss’ which made me a theist. I was convinced by the argument from the contingency of the universe (in order for there to be anything contingent we must logically come to the absolute, from which all comes and to which all returns - exitus reditus), my beliefs have developed from this as the foundation, and I’ve never been more intellectually certain and satisfied. I am now studying theology, and with this intellectual foundation, I pray that my spiritual life develops also.

Anyway, I was at university at this time (2014-2015) and began attending RCIA classes as I was drawn to the beauty of the Catholic faith in all its facets, which resulted from my love for the Italian language and culture - I was studying Italian (later dropped out to pursue theology). During this time my faith grew and grew, I learned about Jesus, still many questions and much uncertainty, but with spiritual direction and my own tireless research I eventually was confirmed in to the Church, having already been baptised in the Church of England which the RCC views as valid.

Witness was also part of this journey, two priests who I thought of as particularly holy and loving people had a huge influence on my faith. One of these priests went out on the evening of Ash Wednesday 2015 until about 2am to give homeless people ashes on their foreheads and words of hope.

Almost 3 years later, here I am going through Catholic forums out of love and passion for the faith.

Josh
 
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To anyone who have replied, thanks you!
God Bless you, and Merry Christmas!
 
I grew up in a Christian household but ended up an Atheist at the age of 12.

At 13 I ended up having a healing miracle performed by a faith healer at a local church which turned me into an Agnostic leaning Christian… I am a very stubborn skeptic.

Since then in my mid 30’s I have at several very deep and strong mystical experiences (I think they are called ecstasies) at a local Monastery and in prayer.

What really cemented me Catholic was meeting possessed people.

I have a mental illness and used to think demons were just stories covering up mental problems. Then I started to encounter these poor people while I was in institutions. It was quite startling and really pushed me into the Catholic camp since we are the only ones to make any sort of comprehensive scientific understanding about it.

My background is Biology and Psychology with a focus on Neuroscience so I could understand my problem better and maybe help others if I am able one day. It is an understatement to say that it broke my scientific understanding encountering basically sentient and intelligent “mental disorders”.

I grew up Orthodox so I flipped to Byzantine Catholic. I figure it is better to bridge the gap of the two oldest branches of Christianity.

Peace
 
If you want conversion stories you should get to know Marcus Grodi who hosts The Journey Home on EWTN. Here is a link to many conversion stories: The Journey Home, with Marcus Grodi - The Coming Home Network

I am many years a revert to Catholicism after professing atheism for many earlier years and EWTN was a help in my journey home. A gift of a Scott Hahn talk which I listened to many times over and G.K Chesterton readings from a great friend had a hand in turning back to Jesus and His Church. However, it is The Spirit that convinces us and convicts us of our errors with a charity that is The Divine Mercy.

Being taught to say The Rosary by my earthly mother allowed our heavenly mother to bring me to her son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. My guardian angel was always present to guide me along the path home.

Welcome Home. May you find great joy and comfort as a part of His Body.
 
I was raised Roman Catholic as a child but always had a shaky faith. Eventually, I left behind religion altogether until earlier this year when life dealt its blow. My life as I knew it shattered and I no longer wanted to live another tortuous day. Somehow, through my mother’s initiation I ended up back at my old church. I thought…why not, what else is there left to try? If I wasn’t contemplating my death, I was waiting for it. I just wanted the agony to stop. I didn’t expect much to begin with…but over time…I felt myself begin to change from within. Almost as if the darkness within me was being purified. What once felt like two opposing sides battling it out in my head, now had a reigning champion to get me through the day. I began to see light at the end of the tunnel. I began to feel hope. Before I knew it, I realized that the world around me had changed…or at least, the way I view it did. I regained my will to live. I realize this explanation doesn’t specifically explain why I return to Catholicism. Truthfully, given that I’m new to the faith (and even as a child I’d never delved into it)…I haven’t yet examined the faith across the rest of the denominations so this forum would provide me insight as well.
 
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Dude, Christians doesn’t believe in Karma. It is not compatible with the faith.
 
There is an understanding of karma in the Eastern Orthodox tradition which is not that of Dhaoism or relevant to Bhuddism nor Modern Age. Although, we are in the last age since Christmas. That is, The Incarnation and Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus began a new age that will end with His return at the end of time. The crown of creation was born in a manger and rules in justice by mercy and love. Nothing in any of the Eastern religions compares fully well with this way. So, karma as the light of the east, the rising son, Christ Jesus, is in this understanding not only compatible but a total Enlightenment bringing the world to fulfillment.
You are correct, however, that karma as understood in bhuddist or similar traditions is not compatible with Christian beliefs.
 
I’m a former atheist.

I had a mystical experience where God spoke to me audibly.
 
Your personal revelation is hard to swallow. Your Orthodox practice would not be likely to include Eucharistic Adoration. This is where I would expect God’s Presence to be made known.
What did The Lord say to you to bring you home?
 
mkoopman said:
Your personal revelation is hard to swallow. Your Orthodox practice would not be likely to include Eucharistic Adoration. This is where I would expect God’s Presence to be made known.
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If you’re directing this comment at Spyridon, God has “talked” to many people over the centuries who didn’t happen to be at Eucharist Adoration at the time, You can find examples of this in the Bible and in the stories of many saints.

While Eucharistic Adoration is being in the physical presence of God in physical form of a host, God is not limited in his communications by physical forms and is indeed capable of audibly talking to anybody, any time, and anywhere.

Also, if whatever God audibly said brought a man back to the faith, then what is so “hard to swallow” about that?
 
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Don’t be swayed here and there in the winds, but have a solid foundation built on the Rock, the Church! God bless you and do good
 
I’ve been ridiculed for this before, but I don’t care, it’s the Gods honest truth.

God spoke to me… on the phone. An automated voice started repeating my name and asking me “Spyridon, do you believe in God?” And I would answer “yes”. Then I’d think in my mind “I’m going nuts” and the voice would repeat again. If I thought “I believe in God”, it would stay quiet. As soon as a doubtful thought entered my heart, the voice would repeat the question, and it kept doing this until I just kept repeating over and over and over “I believe in God I believe in God I believe in God”.

This was in response to me praying “God, if you exist, show me”.

The air in the room thickened, I felt a presence. Then it happened.

My theory is the Angel of the LORD took possession of the machine on the other end, either that or modified my perception of what was happening.
 
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Wow, never know that such thing could happen… God bless you man, may you find what you’re looking for in Christ!
 
Sorry for the late response. Holidays = busy work time for me.

Originally, I was a Methodist, and had been until I turned 30ish. Worked for a local Methodist church while in law school.

Then, wound up embracing atheism/moral nihilism. Had always been a cynic over the course of my life.

Then, over the last year or so, got the feeling that I should become involved in Christianity again. I can’t explain why. Used to being able to describe/explain things. Really not good at explaining the why. After visiting various churches, I found my way to the local Catholic church. Just seemed to “fit.” My schedule plays merry hell with the RCIA schedule, and I’m forgetful about sending paperwork in, but it just somehow feels “right.”

I apologize for not being very descriptive. Words are normally my stock and trade, but not really good at describing this.
 
Raised without any faith formation I was a hard atheist with a capital “A” from age 20 - 36. Read and took in all I could of the arguments by Hitchens, Dawkins, etc…

I’ve actually written most of the notes of my conversion to Roman Catholicism but it is much to long to post. The short is that after the end of my first marriage, a series of what I called synchronicites but now recognize as the the Holy Spirit working in my life slowly lead me to not only my new wife and family, but to faith and the church. (For more details feel free to message me.) I spent three years studying and praying, two of which I spent in RCIA and I was baptized last Easter. Our first born daughter was baptized a week later. 🙂

I have gone back over many of the “convincing” arguments against God generally and Christianity specifically that I used to find compelling and just find them so full of holes now it is really quite sad. Especially so with things like the simulation theory or the dark matter / dark energy nonsense… They go so close to saying or implying God in so much that I read recently but cannot do it because it doesn’t fit their model.
 
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