Can you talk me out of becoming a Catholic?

[spockrates]

You must be younger than me to remember that stuff.

And I thought I was ancient!

Not a clue, certainly nothing about being thankful cows don’t fly.

Jon

He said that the quote was an ancient one. Which brings me to my next question: If I were to quote Socrates as saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” (as indeed he is the first in all ancient history who we know said the words) would I be wrong?

 

[spockrates]

I think you should go for the “swim” spockrates and join the RCIA groups, and during the group meetings you can ask frequent questions what you are not too sure off. If you feel that throughout the time you mind is drifting away from the Catholic teaching and going more towards the protestant way of thinking you can leave, but I highly doubt that once you actually start learning the Catholic teaching you will find scripture agree’s and so does common sense. unless your arrogant and in self-denial like the protestants.
God bless buddy!

Thank you, Patrick. Sounds like good advice.



I have met a few arrogant and ignorant protestants, but I’ve met many sincere and humble ones as well.

 

[JonNC]

I think you should go for the “swim” spockrates and join the RCIA groups, and during the group meetings you can ask frequent questions what you are not too sure off. If you feel that throughout the time you mind is drifting away from the Catholic teaching and going more towards the protestant way of thinking you can leave, but I highly doubt that once you actually start learning the Catholic teaching you will find scripture agree’s and so does common sense. unless your arrogant and in self-denial like the protestants. God bless buddy!

Welcome to CAF, Patrick. Curious, is it your belief/impression that all Protestants are arrogant and in self-denial?

Jon

 

[jmcrae]

LOL! That I have, JM; that I have. Maybe I’m just afraid to make the swim? I suppose it will be one giant leap for me to sign up for RCIA.

Yep - that’s when it moves from being an idea in your head, to being something you do with the physical location of your body. Kinda scary, I know!

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

Thank you, Priscilla. I have not read the entire Catechism, but what I’ve read I’ve found thought provoking. Please tell me, how do I know that what I think I know about what the writers of the Catechism know is really what they did know and not my misconception of what the really did know. You know?

Read the Catechism, and read the Bible. Compare the teachings of the Catechism with the teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament. Don’t be swayed by what I or others may say to persuade you. Rely on God and the Bible. Spend much time in prayer, asking God to lead you to the truth. He will not fail you.

God Bless You!

 

[JonNC]

Read the Catechism, and read the Bible. Compare the teachings of the Catechism with the teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament. Don’t be swayed by what I or others may say to persuade you. Rely on God and the Bible. Spend much time in prayer, asking God to lead you to the truth. He will not fail you.

God Bless You!

I think, Priscilla Ann, that there is nothing wrong with listening to others. For example, read some from the ECF’s and early councils, as well. Make sure you understand what your current faith communion really teaches, because one wants to know for wure what one is walking away from.

Jon

 

[jmcrae]

And I thought I was ancient!

Okay, now I feel old. Sesame Street first became available on cable the same year that I graduated from Junior High school.

He said that the quote was an ancient one. Which brings me to my next question: If I were to quote Socrates as saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” (as indeed he is the first in all ancient history who we know said the words) would I be wrong?

You’d be like that Star Trek character in one of the episodes that takes place in an insane asylum, where the crazy girl is writing Shakespearean sonnets. She says, “I wrote that just this morning,” and Kirk corrects her, reminding her that Shakespeare wrote it, and then she says, what, just because he wrote it first, I don’t get to write it too?

 

[spockrates]

Yep - that’s when it moves from being an idea in your head, to being something you do with the physical location of your body. Kinda scary, I know!

If it were just me, there’d be no fear nor worries. But one close to me will find my change more fearful and worrisome than I. It will turn her world upside down.

 

[spockrates]

Read the Catechism, and read the Bible. Compare the teachings of the Catechism with the teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament. Don’t be swayed by what I or others may say to persuade you. Rely on God and the Bible. Spend much time in prayer, asking God to lead you to the truth. He will not fail you.

God Bless You!

I can see your faith is larger than a mustard seed, dear lady.

 

[SirThomasMore]

Why not?

um…cuz I don;t want to?

 

[phoenixrrt62]

I see. Well, perhaps you and I could play by the rules. Instead of telling me why I should not become a Catholic, tell me why you should not become a Catholic. That way you won’t be breaking any rules, but we will both know what is going on.

I don’t know if you are directing this question at someone in particular, or you are tossing this out for anyone to answer.

If I offend, my apologies. I am searching, I want no battles with anyone.

I have come to lose my faith…well, because…of different reasons.

One.
I cannot believe that Jesus, a man, who was born supposedly of a virgin,
(oh, and WHY a virgin? It wouldn’t have to do with other stories and myths of other religions, now, that have the same or close to same “virgin birth” story, now, would it?) came to earth, and died (like everyone else does) and COMES BACK to tell everyone that there is is eternal life.
So.
There wasn’t eternal life before that? Didn’t he talk to Moses, Abraham, and Elijah on the day he knew the Romans were going to kill him? If there wasn’t eternal life before that, where did they come from? and, being the son of god, and knowing the deal, what was he so worried about?
Death was temporary, after all, he knows this. He’s going around telling people this, according to your teachings…

Oh, and then, he goes into the clouds. To be with his father. Who happens to be him, also…a threefold nature. HUH?

WHY do I have to believe, on faith, that Jesus, is the son of God?
Know what I see? I see a person who was revolting against the terribly confining strictures of the Jewish faith, and, I feel, rightly so…to be sure.
He wanted greater freedom, compassion, and better treatment for ALL souls, not just a select few…and I suspect he was planning to revolt to get those rights, the Romans saw him as a threat, and they killed him.

Two

Now.
What god would allow the suffering that happens in the world? WHAT GOD would let a 3 month baby die from SIDS (and yes, I CODED that baby, to no avail, she was dead)…and let a murderer or child rapist live? Why? what god does this?

In the bible, God seems to kill people for the most insignificant things, yet lets some people do monstrous things, and they are considered great prophets.
Look at what the great king David did. Had another man killed? Because he wanted to sleep with his wife?
Let some man do that today. He’s going to prison. And rightly so.

Why is this?
Could it be that these books of the Bible are written by different people, with different political agendas?

What god lets 6 million people die in the holocaust? What god lets people suffer today in mass killings all over the world? What god lets this happen?

This, while people like you and I live in comfort.

I have my health, I have a roof over my head, I have a healthy son. However, I walk down the street and see a homeless man, no roof over his head, no job, no hope.
I see people who have no job, and are struggling every day.
I go to work and see people sick, suffering and in despair.
I see children who are suffering, DYING with terrible illnesses…what have they done that I did not?
WHAT?
WHY?

You know what a family member said to me the last time I worked…he HATES his god, he HATES what he’s done to his dear friend’s father…he asked me…WHY? The man was the salt of the earth, he says, worked all his life, did what was right, was the nicest man you’d want to meet…but now, he says, the man was a pain in the a**, and he was SO SORRY (the person in question was suffering from dementia).

What do I say to that? WHAT?

All the stories, and all the rules, all the politics, all the KILLING over whose god has the bigger-um-appendage…it’s insane. It has to stop.

Taking another life because you said something against Muhammad.

Killing, maiming children because some men with an AGENDA are saying they are possessed by witches. This is going on in African villages today…what god lets that happen? Oh, and it’s supposedly done in his name. How insane is that?

And someone like ME is the one who will burn in hell. OK. Fine. If that’s the case…I welcome the company…

That is why I am still searching. Because, unlike my son…I am holding on to a thread, a sliver, a shred of hope. Perhaps I am wrong.
Perhaps there is a god.
Somewhere.

However. I despair. Sorry, but I do. I feel I will go to my grave not finding the answer.

And…even as I told you-as you asked-why I struggle with a belief in god as you know him, I suspect I will be banned.
However. I did play by your rules.
You asked.
This is my honest answer.

 

[AmateurPianist]

I’m pretty sure I’m making the right decision, but I’d like to hear any reasons why I should not become Catholic. Anyone have any thoughts?

Hi spockrates. Live long and prosper.

You may have missed my earlier post. I will simplify it.

If you believe what the Catholic church claims concerning itself and by extension all other Christian organizations, then you should become a Catholic. If not, then you should not.

Beam me up Scotty.

 

[Lutheranteach]

Maybe I could, but I certainly would not make it my business or presume I have a right to do so. If you have doubts, explore them and come to terms with them before any decisions are made. That’s as far as I would go.

 

[spockrates]

um…cuz I don;t want to?

Then shouldn’t your answer to my question been, “Yes I can, but I won’t”?

 

[spockrates]

Okay, now I feel old. Sesame Street first became available on cable the same year that I graduated from Junior High school.

You’d be like that Star Trek character in one of the episodes that takes place in an insane asylum, where the crazy girl is writing Shakespearean sonnets. She says, “I wrote that just this morning,” and Kirk corrects her, reminding her that Shakespeare wrote it, and then she says, what, just because he wrote it first, I don’t get to write it too?

But even Shakespear would admit that much of what he wrote was not his own, but something commonly said by the culture of his day, me thinks.



Consider what Mother Teresa of Calcutta said:

Once you see truth, you can’t *unsee *it!

Do you think that she was the first to have such a thought?

Like the wise King Solomon said:

There is nothing new under the sun.

So if you or I were able to ask Sir Arthur Conan Doyle if he was the originator of the truth:

If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains—however improbable—must be the truth.

I’m sure he’d chuckle and say, “What? Are you daft? Of course I did not originate such a truth! I merely made it memorable. Don’t you think that the truth Sherlock Holmes uttered is as old as truth itself?”

 

[spockrates]

I don’t know if you are directing this question at someone in particular, or you are tossing this out for anyone to answer. …

It matters not who answers as long as the discussion leads to the truth. Don’t you agree?

 

[phoenixrrt62]

It matters not who answers as long as the discussion leads to the truth. Don’t you agree?

Yes…I do agree.
But WHOSE truth?

You (not you personally, I am referring to your church) claim to have the truth. Sad to say, I’m not convinced. Not hardly. Perhaps I’m spiritually blind.

Or perhaps I am looking for a more tolerant and forgiving spiritual reality, and as my kid says, it’s like believing in fairies and unicorns. They/it doesn’t exist.

 

[cyberwolf001]

I’m pretty sure I’m making the right decision, but I’d like to hear any reasons why I should not become Catholic. Anyone have any thoughts?

Your asking people to do something that will result in a ban.

That said: “No, don’t so it. You are making the biggest mistake of your life.”

To the mods: The above is a joke and not an attempt to proselytize.

 

[Dylpickleh8]

There’s the no meat on lenten fridays thing, but that’s easy enough…
(People look at you funny if you freak out because you’re not sure if the dish has meat.)
If you can handle that, you can handle anything.

 

[LilyM]

catholic-rcia:

You will have to place a Crucifix in your home above the front door.

Uh, no you won’t. I DO have a crucifix in my home (in the living room actually, rather than above the front door) but there’s no requirement that a Catholic have a crucifix anywhere in their home, let alone a specific location. Where did you get the idea that this was a requirement?