Can you be a Catholic if?

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Hey well I was raised in a baptist home all tho I only went to church a couple of times growing up, In my early 20’s i converted to Islam i stuck with that for like a year and then became a atheist.
Im now in my 30s and have been studying religions for years, off and on over the internet.
I have come to have a love for Catholic way of life and art.
Anyway my question is can you be a Catholic if you just believe in the Bible as allegory?
Like i really like the story of Jesus and all i just lack the faith to consider it as a really happening.
If i could still become a Catholic id follow the rules and traditions but it would lack faith is that ok?

Sorry i dont know which topic to post this in so if mods want to move it feel free.
 
Why don’t you think it could have really happened? Most historians do.
 
well i see the story as more of a spiritual story not as history, I lack the faith to believe it more then a guide to life.
 
I think you will have to say you believe a lot of things that you don’t if you became catholic. Every week. You would have to believe or lie. For instance the creed. Satan is denounced at baptism. Would be better to not be fake.

On the other hand maybe you should just take it slow and perhaps the Holy Spirit is prompting you to feel as you do now. Calling you.😉
 
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There are parts of it that are allegories, and there are parts of it that are historical. The Bible isn’t one book, it’s a library.
 
The Catholic Church is not made is not made up of ‘rules’ .we have traditions ,yes but it is so much more. If you do not believe in Jesus and that He came down from heaven.died for our sins,how could you participate in the Mass which during the CONSECRATION reminds us of what Jesus went through for us. How could you receive Communion? You have said there is a lack of faith. Jesus’s life and what He did is not a story, I suggest you reread the bible and may God open your heart. I will remember you in my prayers,and I hope you find your way. God Bless.
 
Maybe it’s more about being open to believing it. Sometimes faith doesn’t come easily.
 
Your only options are to either keep studying outside of the faith until you feel you can believe it, or take a leap of faith.

Some people think that’s not possible, but billions of human beings do it everyday. At some point no matter what evidence you have you are going to have to place your trust in something.

If you just like Catholic tradition or see it as just a hobby its really not worth it. I liked the idea of being a priest once, but i realized that i only liked the idea and i knew my heart was not 100% in it. I would be wasting my time and everybody else’s.
 
I would recommend joining RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) at a local parish. This is a group for those who wish to join the Catholic Church and for those who are unsure if they want to become Catholic but would like to learn more about the Catholic Church. This will allow you to learn more about the faith, and may allow the Spirit to work in your life to bring about faith in your heart.
 
If you mean that you do not believe that Christ was a historical person, or rather that the stories are more myths based on a historical person, then yes this is problematic.

While we read parts of the Bible in an allegorical sense we do not consider the books of the Bible as simply a collection of morality stories without a basis in history. When we read of miracles we believe that they really happened. Was Elijah assumed into heaven? Yep. Did Christ raise Lazarus from the dead? Yes. Did Christ drive out demons? Most certainly. Was Christ crucified, died, and then rose from the dead an ascended to heaven? If he didn’t then Christianity makes no sense.

If you were to become Catholic, you would make a profession of faith that says:
I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.
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By that statement you state that you not only love the Catholic way of life and art, but also the very faith those things are based on. Those things you mention as being drawn to are simply the reflections of the faith; they are like the moon’s reflection of the sunlight. The beauty of moon light simply cannot exist without the sun. In the same way, one cannot profess Catholicism while disavowing those things that are central to the faith.

Catholicism is not simply a way of life, but is rather a way of life rooted in faith. Without those roots it is nothing but the bark of a 150 year old tree that has rotted and hollowed. It might look majestic, but a strong wind will push it over and cause it to shatter upon the ground.

I would encourage you to study. Ask specific questions here or join study groups at the local parish. Take an example from the father in Mark 9:24 and pray “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
 
Jza said:
Hey well I was raised in a baptist home all tho I only went to church a couple of times growing up, In my early 20’s i converted to Islam i stuck with that for like a year and then became a atheist.
Im now in my 30s and have been studying religions for years, off and on over the internet.
I have come to have a love for Catholic way of life and art.
Anyway my question is can you be a Catholic if you just believe in the Bible as allegory?
Like i really like the story of Jesus and all i just lack the faith to consider it as a really happening.
If i could still become a Catholic id follow the rules and traditions but it would lack faith is that ok?

Sorry i dont know which topic to post this in so if mods want to move it feel free.
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Lol! It doesn’t really matter what we think, it matters what God thinks.

Soooo. How to explain?

Here’s what you have to believe in order to be a Catholic:

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Do you believe all of that?

If you do, then come on home. And with a little bit of grace, you’ll start believing the Bible.

You need to go to a Catholic Church and register in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). God bless you!
 
you do not have to believe in the teachings of the Church to live your life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church. but, that should be obvious to you, so why did you ask, is there something else to which you want to get at?

to call yourself a catholic, if you want to be intellectually and factually honest, you need to believe and profess what is in the Apostles Creed and in the Nicene Creed.
 
Jza said:
well i see the story as more of a spiritual story not as history, I lack the faith to believe it more then a guide to life.
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No, you cannot truly be Catholic if you believe it’s only an allegorical “guide to life.”
 
Hi, J!

Imagine if you will a place where you could fish (or whatever sport/activity you may like); all you need do is go to that place… you get your ducks in a row… and you begin the activity… second into it the attendants show up and ask you for your permit… of course you do not have one because you thought that all you needed to do was show up and do you… they explain to you that you must have a permit; that even being there physically without the permit you are braking the institutional rules; they ask you to leave… you ignore them and continue with your activity… soon they return in-force and forcefully remove you from the premises…

Here’s Christ’s teaching on this:
22:1 Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again, 22:2 ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. 22:3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. 22:4 Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” 22:5 But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, 22:6 and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. 22:7 The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. 22:8 Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, 22:9 go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding”. 22:10 So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 22:11 When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, 22:12 and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. 22:13 Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth”. 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.’ (St. Matthew)
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Faith is not optional!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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Nor are good deeds:

Matthew 25:31-46New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and all the nations[a] will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 [c]Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ 44 [d]Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ 45 He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ 46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
 
J,

I bought Bibles for my collection----and only read a few of them…

I bought many reference books—and read only a few of them…

Then I decided to go to Church and receive the Eucharist…

I came Home and renewed my Faith.
 
Find a nice local church, talk to the priest. You may grow to understand Catholicism is a LIVING religion if you can put down your internet access and see it for real! May your journey be fruitful and your dreams of finding the path be fulfilled!
 
Hi, De Maria!

Correct!

…it is the challenge made by both St. Paul and St. James: faith without charity/Love is empty; Jesus forever sealed and elevated this term (Love):
15:12 This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. 15:13 A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. (St. John)
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Maran atha!

Angel
 
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