Authority, the issue that decides all

[The_Iambic_Pen]

BlestOne:

…STOP THINKING WITH YOUR HEAD AND LISTEN TO YOUR HEART!!!
You are trying to totally reason out faith. The very nature of faith is to believe without PROOF…I read your posts and I see that you are an intelligent person, you want proof to exist before you commit to believe. That is precisely why this is so hard for you. Your heart is seeking but your mind is objecting. Listen to your heart…You will never ever regret it I promise!

I understand what you’re saying, I really do, and I am trying to listen to my heart. I guess I am reluctant to place too much trust in emotional responses. I’m reminded of a year and a half ago (give or take a few months), when some Mormon missionaries came to my house. We talked for a while, and one of the reasons they gave for believing as they do was a “burning in their bosom.” Basically, this meant that they had this emotional feeling that told them the Book of Mormon was true, regardless of the lack of evidence. Well, this didn’t convince me at all. After all, people of all faiths probably feel that their beliefs are true.

So, I prefer to examine claims with my mind as well (yet, never forgetting that God also gave me my heart). And my faith in God is not without proof (or at least evidence). Through the writings of the apostles, I have come to know Christ (the intellectual side), and through my confession of Him as Lord, I have come to know Christ for myself (the “heart” side). I guess what I’m saying is my heart and mind work together, supporting each other, and together bringing me to the truth. My mind alone is capable only of a dry, academic conclusion. However, if I trusted only my heart, it would be very easy to believe in anything and everything.

I guess my apparent anti-emotion stance comes from my experience in some Charismatic churches I have visited. Through upbeat music and dynamic, energetic preaching, the congregation often can be made to feel that they are having a wondrous spiritual experience (and to be fair, perhaps many of them are). However, when this “spiritual high” wears off, these people often feel down, as if they are at a low point in their faith. The way I see it, my faith in Christ is something to which I need to have an intellectual commitment. This is so my commitment remains even when my feelings alone might cause me to doubt.

Anyway, I’m not this emotionless creature I may be making myself out to be. I just believe my heart and mind should be in agreement, especially when it comes to an issue such as this. Thanks for your post!

Church Militant:

Hey IP!
I have 2 of the Surprised By Truth books and have read a third one and I must tell you as a Catholic coming home to the faith after long years away. I found myself in tears sometimes while reading that first one as I realized what I had been born into and abandoned. It’s so good to be home!

You are in my prayers.

Yes, the first one is very good so far. I’ve had another busy day, so I’ve still only read the first chapter, but it was amazing. The writer sounded so similar to me. I mean, my background isn’t exactly the same, and I’ve never had any periods of atheistic rebellion, but I identified very strongly with his approach. He was one of those intellectual types too.

Anyway, I’m going to continue my studying. I have quite the reading list now: *Surprised by Truth * (ed. Patrick Madrid), *A Biblical Defense of Catholicism * (Dave Armstrong), *Orthodoxy * (G.K. Chesterton), *The Everlasting Man * (G.K. Chesterton), The Catholic Church and Conversion (G.K. Chesterton), and *Apologia Pro Vita Sua * (John Henry Cardinal Newman). And, of course, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, various writings of the Early Church Fathers, and last, but certainly not least, the Bible. There are quite a few more, really, but these are a good starting point. Of course, they will take a long time to finish, and I’m not saying I’m going to hold off on a decision until I’ve finished them all. I guess what you all must keep in mind is that it has been only one month and one day since I started studying Catholicism. If I decide to become a Catholic (and, I must admit, that is quite likely), I need to know it’s the right thing to do. If I was back in the States, I could just start going to RCIA and see where that led me, but it’s a little more complicated over here. So, I’m kind of limited to books and the Internet. We have mass on Saturday nights over here, but I wasn’t able to attend. Hopefully next week.

Well, that’s all for now. God Bless! Thanks for your prayers!

 

[Atreyu]

I’m sorry Blestone, but I couldn’t disagree with you more. Iambic Pen has the right way of it, in my opinion. Also in my opinion, Catholicism is the logical religion to be. If you could study every single religion in the world objectively, without bias (what an impossible task!), then I think Catholicism is the only religion that you could conclude to be the Truth. I think that Iambic Pen is well on the way down this path, and I am very happy for him. It really seems to me that he is studying this objectively, and I congratulate him. One of the great testaments of Catholicism (although certainly not proof of its truth) is that so many great theological minds seem to convert to Catholicism. John Henry Newman, for example. I really wish there were some statistics on this, as it seems to me that the Catholics that convert to Protestantism are the uninformed ones, whereas the Protestants that convert to Catholicism are the best and brightest. I really wish I could check if this is statistically the case…

 

[BlestOne]

Atreyu:

I’m sorry Blestone, but I couldn’t disagree with you more. Iambic Pen has the right way of it, in my opinion. Also in my opinion, Catholicism is the logical religion to be. If you could study every single religion in the world objectively, without bias (what an impossible task!), then I think Catholicism is the only religion that you could conclude to be the Truth. I think that Iambic Pen is well on the way down this path, and I am very happy for him. It really seems to me that he is studying this objectively, and I congratulate him. One of the great testaments of Catholicism (although certainly not proof of its truth) is that so many great theological minds seem to convert to Catholicism. John Henry Newman, for example. I really wish there were some statistics on this, as it seems to me that the Catholics that convert to Protestantism are the uninformed ones, whereas the Protestants that convert to Catholicism are the best and brightest. I really wish I could check if this is statistically the case…

Atreyu,
I agree with you to a point…yes if you clinically examine Catholicism with an open mind then you should come to the conclusion that it is the One and True Church. The point I was trying to make to Iambic and I think he got was that there comes a point where you have to take that leap of faith…Yes study first…reseach is important…but then don’t let your heart be ignored when it calls you home. It appears to me that Iambic has had many experiences with many churches that weren’t what they claimed to be or looked like at first glance. I would like to compare this in a way to a lover if you will…You know that happy giddy feeling when you are in a new relationship and you think this might be the one…then you find that the newness (or passion if you will) wears off and things aren’t as they seem? The Catholic Church is not usually like that person, it is more like that best friend you grew up with, but in retrospect you have always had that comfortable peaceful feeling that you can grow old with…you know what I mean? That perfect pair of jeans that feels good or that old pair of shoes, dependable, worthy but not the newest style(an old classic). The new, stylish, exciting (shoe, jeans, religion) never feels as peaceful, comforting or good. I agree that the greatest minds that study religion usually have to admit at some point that Catholicism is the true church…just look at some contemporary folks too…Scott Hahn, for example.

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

To continue on, I should mention that I am really just now reaching the point where studying churches became an issue. The whole time I was growing up, my father was a Protestant pastor. So, it was quite obvious that I, along with my whole family, would go to the church where he preached. It was a good denomination, in my opinion, which believed the Bible was absolutely true, and had very similar beliefs to Catholicism when it came to social issues (i.e. abortion, homosexuality, euthenasia, etc.). In that church, I was baptized, learned about the Bible and made my commitment to Christ. So, my experience with that church was very positive, and I remain very thankful for it.

In recent years, my father left and (obviously) ceased to be a pastor. The rest of the family and I continued to go to our old church, but it began to change. Those of a more Charismatic bent began sort of “taking over” the church, and it just didn’t seem right anymore. This is not a criticism of the Charismatic movement as a whole, but rather the hyper-emotional, appeal to the feelings kind of worship that often accompany it. So, my family began attending a different church. I was in college at the time, so I attended a variety of churches in the area, trying to find the one that I thought was the best. Please note that I’m not a fan of “church hopping.” I was just trying to find the right church. Well, I ended up attending a non-denominational church in my college’s town with a bunch of other students. The Sunday services were always good, but I wasn’t really involved with the church in any other way. I was much more involved with the Campus Crusade for Christ group on campus.

After college, when my BA in English Literature didn’t seem to be bringing me the six figure salaries I had assumed would be forthcoming , I joined the Army. Since then, I have mostly attended base chapel services, but they didn’t quite do it, either. Not that there was anything theologically wrong with the services (at least, to my Protestant mind). It’s just that I didn’t really feel I belonged there.

So, now that I’ve given you all my life story , I bring you to the present day. My father attends one church, the rest of my family attends another (both Evangelical Protestant denominations), and I’m overseas with a choice of Catholic or Protestant services (when I can go). Anyway, I’m now at the point in my life where I need to really decide what I believe. I know I am a Christian, I know the Bible is true, and I know I want to serve God with all my heart. And, one day a little over a month ago, I thought, “hey, why not do a little study of Catholicism?” I wasn’t seriously considering it, but I had to admit I had been curious about it for years.

Well, having studied it and now continuing my study far beyond what I originally anticipated, I have come to the conclusion that Catholicism might be true. This might not sound like a very strong conclusion, but believe me, it’s a huge step from where I was before. And, I’m continuing my studying. So, that’s where I’m coming from! God Bless!

Note: I reserve the right to reprint the above in any possible conversion stories I might write in the future. So, don’t try stealing it!

 

[LSK]

So, now that I’ve given you all my life story , I bring you to the present day. My father attends one church, the rest of my family attends another (both Evangelical Protestant denominations), and I’m overseas with a choice of Catholic or Protestant services (when I can go). Anyway, I’m now at the point in my life where I need to really decide what I believe. I know I am a Christian, I know the Bible is true, and I know I want to serve God with all my heart. And, one day a little over a month ago, I thought, “hey, why not do a little study of Catholicism?” I wasn’t seriously considering it, but I had to admit I had been curious about it for years.

Well, having studied it and now continuing my study far beyond what I originally anticipated, I have come to the conclusion that Catholicism might be true. This might not sound like a very strong conclusion, but believe me, it’s a huge step from where I was before. And, I’m continuing my studying. So, that’s where I’m coming from! God Bless!

Note: I reserve the right to reprint the above in any possible conversion stories I might write in the future. So, don’t try stealing it!

I am keeping you in my prayers. You are on a wonderful journey and I have no doubt that you will come home soon to the Holy Mother Church. You remind me of Cardinal Newman. You keep studying, my brother, and we’ll keep the door open and the lights on for you!

 

[Lillith]

Good Luck Iambic pen…wherever your Journey leads you at least it is exciting!!

Be prepared to catch some flack from your folks…particularly your father…study well and explain the belief that you may obtain and be prepared for debates…

I have heard of entire families converting over time starting with one person…

You never know!!

Lillith

 

[Atreyu]

Lol Iambic Pen… I pray that you come to know the fullness of God’s Truth (no implications necessarily implied).

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

LSK:

I am keeping you in my prayers. You are on a wonderful journey and I have no doubt that you will come home soon to the Holy Mother Church. You remind me of Cardinal Newman. You keep studying, my brother, and we’ll keep the door open and the lights on for you!

Thanks for your prayers. And hey, any comparison to Cardinal Newman is a good one. I’ve admired him for a long time (even before I thought about studying Catholicism). I’ll keep studying!

Lilith:

Good Luck Iambic pen…wherever your Journey leads you at least it is exciting!!

That it is.

Be prepared to catch some flack from your folks…particularly your father…study well and explain the belief that you may obtain and be prepared for debates…

Yeah, I’ve talked to my mom and brothers and sisters, and while they don’t quite understand my sudden interest, they’re certainly not hostile. Of course, they’d prefer I stay an Evangelical Protestant. I really should talk to my dad too, and I will soon.

I have heard of entire families converting over time starting with one person…

And I’ve been praying that if Catholicism is true, they would come into the Church as well.

Atreyu:

Lol Iambic Pen… I pray that you come to know the fullness of God’s Truth (no implications necessarily implied).

Thank you! And I must say, I’m a fan of *The Neverending Story * as well.

God Bless!

 

[antiaphrodite]

The Iambic Pen:

To continue on, I should mention that I am really just now reaching the point where studying churches became an issue…

thank you for with sharing us your story. we’re praying for you and your journey! (and your family too!)

may God keep you safe.