Coming Home and a 2 Questions

[SapientiaEtAmor]

Hello!

1. What do you suggest for someone who wants to come home to the faith?
   If you have a suggestion please list a series of steps. (DO SO IN A SERIES OF STEPS PLEASE)
2. Also what are your views on the multiple Christ Like figures before Christ and Judaism ever existed and what is the Church’s stance? (YOU CAN MAKE A THESIS OR SOME SORT) (*Note that I believe in Jesus, I am just rather curious).
3. What are some good INTELLECTUAL books to read? ie The Everlasting Man

Answer guidelines for second question:

1. All claims must be supported by evidence. It can be an essay or a short answer, but it must be supported by OFFICIAL SOURCES. Official being Church Rulings and or outside sources. YOU GET BONUS KOODOS for outside sources in my book.
2. All philosophical answers must be supported with a logical deconstruction of the situation.
3. I accept no fallacies. Please answer carefully.

-A little info on me-
-I am very scientific and I love Biology and Chemistry most of all, studying both truly compliments my Faith, and not to mention, I cannot wait to get my hands on Physics.

-I have been in the traditional catholic faith but I burnt myself out by taking it way too seriously and scrupulously in so much that I will admit to being a close minded individual. I have been away for 4 years and it has been about 4 years since my last confession as of this year.

-I love the traditional faith but I love keeping up with the times as well. I truly believe it is possible to live the traditional faith in these modern times.

-I am not a fan of mysticism or miracles, I believe there is something deeper to the faith which there is. Though miracles occur, I do not take them that seriously only because of my studies. I treat the faith as something truly deep that moves within me that coerces me to do things in a charitable and loving way.

-I don’t believe in praying for hours and hours on end. I believe in a good balance of prayer and action. More action than prayer because the action in itself is my prayer. (Good actions).

-I am a fan of GK Chesterton and His Excellency Fulton J Sheen because they balanced Faith and Reason pretty well. (Not to mention Saint Thomas Aquinas).

-I am a believer in evolution and I believe in the Big Bang. Along those lines I believe God caused those to happen and that is the religious truth I interpreted from Genesis. (I do not take the Bible too literally, I am a contextualist and after studying literary theory and technique for a while I’ve come to realize that the Bible is a beautiful book with deep meanings, not to be taken too literally).

-I believe it is okay to question some aspects of your faith like Stephen Colbert. Again, I believe in THE DEEPER MEANING OF THINGS and that my faith is even more beautiful the more I deconstruct it. For instance studying how Christianity came to be, and how there were multiple Christ like figures before Jesus Himself, just studying that leads me to the deeper side of the faith.

Thank you for your time! Thank you for taking the time to respond and read. God Bless you all. Please pray for me and know I pray for all of you.

Sincerely:
Your friend in Christ.

 

[TimothyH]

Here are the steps…

**Step 1: **Talk to a priest or deacon.
Step 2: Do what the priest says.

I’m not kidding. There are too many variables in individual lives to give any more steps than this. Everyone’s situation is unique. Anyone who gives any more than this is guessing.

The only thing we really can say for certain is that one of the subsequent steps will likely include confession.

And everyone is called to mysticism. Mysticism is just participation in the mystery of God. Christ was the supreme mystic - he participated in the mystery of the Trinity in a unique and deep way. We are called to imitate Christ. We are called to participate in the mystery of the Trinity in some way now.

-Tim-

 

[SapientiaEtAmor]

Thank you for your response! I hope to get in contact with a priest soon.

 

[TimothyH]

Thank you for your response! I hope to get in contact with a priest soon.

…or deacon! I will pray.

-Tim-

 

[ccmcmg]

Here are the steps…

**Step 1: **Talk to a priest or deacon.
Step 2: Do what the priest says.

I’m not kidding. There are too many variables in individual lives to give any more steps than this. Everyone’s situation is unique. Anyone who gives any more than this is guessing.

The only thing we really can say for certain is that one of the subsequent steps will likely include confession.

-Tim-

While I have my own personal thoughts on the original post (I agree and disagree with various points, personally), I recommend taking those directly to the priest who can address them better than I can. I’d recommend calling the diocese or checking their website for any coming home programs available. If you like, meet with him about it, and then ask him to hear your confession. However, it needn’t even be that complicated; my return was simply going to confession. But my reasons for being away from the Faith and Church were likely different than yours. Therefore, your return could also be different. But it could still be very simple.

Nonetheless, welcome home!