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rpp
Guest
Noma,
I am deeply saddened that you have come to the conclusion that you did. I enjoyed our discussion and I also appreciate your honest and kind earnestness in the points you made.
I also appreciate your humility.
I too am a convert from atheism. A little more than three years ago, I had a supernatural experience which pretty much instantly (well took both two weeks and at the same just one very short evening) changed from a lifetime of ardent atheism to a certainty of God and that the Catholic Church is His true Church. Over time, I evolved into a conservative, traditional leaning, Catholic. I posted a brief description of my conversion on this thread. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=122474
Like you, I had zero support from my atheist (now ex-) wife. She even divorced me because, as she told the court, I refused to stop going to Mass. (Even worse, I actually voted for a Republican!
)
For me, the most difficult thing to get rid of was an aspect I did not even realize I possessed; a self assurance so supreme that it bordered on arrogance. This made it very difficult for me to “bend” myself to accept the teachings of the Church. It required me to submit obediantly to things to I did not at first understand. However, because of my experience, I knew the Church to be true. After this suppression of my will, I came to learn and understand those teachings. It required me to learn a new way of thinking, which is difficult for a middle-aged man set in his ways.
For me the two big issues when I came into the church were abortion and the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It took much study, and a very humble re-examination for me to understand the Church’s reasoning. However, with the realization that Faith and Reason are not in conflict within Catholic Theology, I knew I could find the answer.
For me, the answer came by means of voracious reading. Modern teachers like Scott Hahn at first. Then I went to the Doctors of the Church, particularly St. Augustine, (City of God, Confessions) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Suma Theologica, Suma Contra Gentiles).
It was, however, the combination of two things that helped me to understand and accept the Church without exception. The first was a private retreat I made at a Franciscan retreat house. For 4 days, I sat with a Franciscan Sister, who also had to divide her time with taking care of retired sisters as this was also a retirement house and infirmary for Franciscan sisters. She has since become my spiritual director. Her guidance has been invaluable.
The second major influence was St. Francis de Sales book, Introduction to the Devout Life. This has helped me greatly, though I most definitely have a long way to go.
The Church today has many problems. It is not the happy, joyful band we would all hope it to be. But then, this has always been the case. Look at the Old Testament, there have always been more devout and less devout, and downright wicked people who all claimed to love God. Often a single person would go through all these stages, Look at King Saul and King David. In the New Testament, in the Book of Acts we see division grew among the Apostles and a meeting was held (later called the first Church Council). In many of the letters of the Apostle Paul, he admonished many people because they fell away or were following incorrect teaching.
A writer (G.K. Chesterton?) once wrote the effect that we should not judge the Catholic Church by its members, but what the Church desires its members to aspire to. I ask that you consider this advice.
God bless you and you will be in my prayers.
I am deeply saddened that you have come to the conclusion that you did. I enjoyed our discussion and I also appreciate your honest and kind earnestness in the points you made.
I also appreciate your humility.
I too am a convert from atheism. A little more than three years ago, I had a supernatural experience which pretty much instantly (well took both two weeks and at the same just one very short evening) changed from a lifetime of ardent atheism to a certainty of God and that the Catholic Church is His true Church. Over time, I evolved into a conservative, traditional leaning, Catholic. I posted a brief description of my conversion on this thread. forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=122474
Like you, I had zero support from my atheist (now ex-) wife. She even divorced me because, as she told the court, I refused to stop going to Mass. (Even worse, I actually voted for a Republican!
)For me, the most difficult thing to get rid of was an aspect I did not even realize I possessed; a self assurance so supreme that it bordered on arrogance. This made it very difficult for me to “bend” myself to accept the teachings of the Church. It required me to submit obediantly to things to I did not at first understand. However, because of my experience, I knew the Church to be true. After this suppression of my will, I came to learn and understand those teachings. It required me to learn a new way of thinking, which is difficult for a middle-aged man set in his ways.
For me the two big issues when I came into the church were abortion and the Immaculate Conception of Mary. It took much study, and a very humble re-examination for me to understand the Church’s reasoning. However, with the realization that Faith and Reason are not in conflict within Catholic Theology, I knew I could find the answer.
For me, the answer came by means of voracious reading. Modern teachers like Scott Hahn at first. Then I went to the Doctors of the Church, particularly St. Augustine, (City of God, Confessions) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Suma Theologica, Suma Contra Gentiles).
It was, however, the combination of two things that helped me to understand and accept the Church without exception. The first was a private retreat I made at a Franciscan retreat house. For 4 days, I sat with a Franciscan Sister, who also had to divide her time with taking care of retired sisters as this was also a retirement house and infirmary for Franciscan sisters. She has since become my spiritual director. Her guidance has been invaluable.
The second major influence was St. Francis de Sales book, Introduction to the Devout Life. This has helped me greatly, though I most definitely have a long way to go.
The Church today has many problems. It is not the happy, joyful band we would all hope it to be. But then, this has always been the case. Look at the Old Testament, there have always been more devout and less devout, and downright wicked people who all claimed to love God. Often a single person would go through all these stages, Look at King Saul and King David. In the New Testament, in the Book of Acts we see division grew among the Apostles and a meeting was held (later called the first Church Council). In many of the letters of the Apostle Paul, he admonished many people because they fell away or were following incorrect teaching.
A writer (G.K. Chesterton?) once wrote the effect that we should not judge the Catholic Church by its members, but what the Church desires its members to aspire to. I ask that you consider this advice.
God bless you and you will be in my prayers.
