Conversion Question.

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Ok, i’m going to revisit an old question. I think i’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since i last asked this, so maybe i’m more prepared to express myself clearly.

It is true i feel drawn to the Catholic Church. However, i am constantly stonewalled by my intellect and training as a Protestant. It seems the doubts and questions never stop. . . and I doubt they ever will stop completely.

I have been told I must “believe” in all things Catholic to become Catholic. I doubt that will ever happen. I can “accept” as truth, perhaps. But to “believe”. . .I cannot force myself to believe anything. I don’t wish to get specific on what things, otherwise this thread will meander into something it’s not intended to be.

What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?

Again, please don’t ask about what i have doubts about. Those questions have been tackled in many posts elsewhere.👍
 
My priest put it as such: it is okay to question Church teaching to learn, but one must always accept the answer, even if it is not understood.

I don’t understand 99% of Catholic theology simply because I haven’t studied it, but I still accept it. If someone tried to explain Catholic eschatology to me in two minutes, I’d have no idea about the subject, but I could still accept it.

You must accept, as truth, all doctrine of the Church, and to dissent against it is sin.

You don’t have to understand things to accept them. If it frees your conscience any, just don’t trouble yourself much with learning about theology and you won’t have to worry about not accepting it. Acceptance of doctrine is much more a passive allowance than it is an active thing. Think of it as deferring to authority. You don’t have to understand it, you don’t even have to know it exists, because somebody is there to take care of it for you.
 
That’s putting it a bit harsh. At the same time as that’s being said, the Church takes a dim view of blind obedience, though it may often seem stereotypical of Catholics. It is not desirable to be unquestioning of the Church’s teachings. Doubt and reasoning is part of the process in developing our faith and understanding of the Church, rather than simply being machinations to God’s divine law.

If you cannot in good conscience accept what the Church is teaching, I think it’s worth standing back for a while and examining the issues at hand. There are a few books that can help guide you along in better understanding the Church’s teachings, and you can always approach a priest from a nearby parish to help clear your doubts. 🙂
 
CCC
2088 The first commandment requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it. There are various ways of sinning against faith:
Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated doubt can lead to spiritual blindness.
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Your first step is to sign up for RCIA.

🙂
 
Hello friend,

I was much like you just a year ago. I had questions that I wanted to have answered, but out of respect, I wanted to find an environment open to this discussion, rather than bombard a study group or RCIA class. I did the Catholics Come Home course. It’s a perfect place to begin this journey. There is no requirement to be Catholic (I was the only Protestant, but I learned on Day 1 that the Church sees all Christians as separated Catholics and was welcomed as such). We studied with group leaders as well as two parish Priests and a nun. It was a vibrant and educational experience I will never forget, and critical to my conversion. The purpose of the course is to answer the tough questions and issues that keep us from being in full communion with the Church.

Good luck, I am sending a prayer that you are led to the answers you seek.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments. Sorry it took so long to respond. Tis the season to be busy, fa la la la la, la la la la…I will think them over.
 
freerf said:
Ok, i’m going to revisit an old question. I think i’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since i last asked this, so maybe i’m more prepared to express myself clearly.

It is true i feel drawn to the Catholic Church. However, i am constantly stonewalled by my intellect and training as a Protestant. It seems the doubts and questions never stop. . . and I doubt they ever will stop completely.

I have been told I must “believe” in all things Catholic to become Catholic. I doubt that will ever happen. I can “accept” as truth, perhaps. But to “believe”. . .I cannot force myself to believe anything. I don’t wish to get specific on what things, otherwise this thread will meander into something it’s not intended to be.

What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?

Again, please don’t ask about what i have doubts about. Those questions have been tackled in many posts elsewhere.👍
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This is a touchy subject and the following is intended for Catholics based on
what I know about myself and from my understanding of the Church’s teaching.

I will say that there is a difference between a question and a doubt.
A question is the mind searching to understand the faith, but does not question the truth of it.
A doubt is the mind questioning whether the article of faith is true until understood.

“Nor do I seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand.
For this too I believe, that unless I first believe, I shall not understand.”
St. Anselm of Canterbury

For example, to speculate, “I wonder if Jesus is really present in Eucharist,” is to question the
truthfullness of Jesus and deny his authority. But to say, “I wonder just how Jesus is really
present in the Eucharist,” is a question to understand “how” after the fact of belief.

On the other hand the devil may present someone with the thought, “You really don’t believe
that He could possibly be present because that would certainly be below His dignity.”
Now the person has to decide. Do I reaffirm my belief or do I doubt and hesitate and
begin to wonder. The person must respond, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” He cannot
say, “well I need more time to consider this,” or “I’m not so sure, I should be careful,
there are others who don’t think this.”

And also the true faith must be complete. It would be foolish to suppose that we can pick
and choose among the things God has told us according to our particular taste. For example
to say “I believe in being saved, but not in Baptism,” is to say that “God can be wrong.”
And from this follows “why believe in God at all.”

Just a few thoughts to consider.
 
freerf said:
Ok, i’m going to revisit an old question. I think i’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since i last asked this, so maybe i’m more prepared to express myself clearly.

It is true i feel drawn to the Catholic Church. However, i am constantly stonewalled by my intellect and training as a Protestant. It seems the doubts and questions never stop. . . and I doubt they ever will stop completely.

I have been told I must “believe” in all things Catholic to become Catholic. I doubt that will ever happen. I can “accept” as truth, perhaps. But to “believe”. . .I cannot force myself to believe anything. I don’t wish to get specific on what things, otherwise this thread will meander into something it’s not intended to be.

What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?

Again, please don’t ask about what i have doubts about. Those questions have been tackled in many posts elsewhere.👍
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Just a thought: You have at least a seed of faith that has started you down the Catholic road, so to speak. But in order for that seed to grow and blossom, you also have to act upon your faith. Speaking from my own experience, I know that once I took the step of enrolling in RCIA and attending Mass regularly, my remaining doubts fell away one by one. Make an appointment with a priest, and join RCIA. It doesn’t commit you to anything, and it is a great opportunity for you to start living as a Catholic and get your remaining questions answered.

Also, study up on the reasons why Catholics believe what they do. For example, I had difficulties with some of the Catholic teaching on Mary, and also on the Church’s teaching on contraception. However, the more I studied these doctrines from a Catholic viewpoint, the more I realized that they made beautiful sense.

Ultimately, the question is, “Did Christ found a Church that still exists today, and does the Holy Spirit guide that Church into all truth?” If you believe (or even suspect) that the answer to that question might be yes, you owe it to God and yourself to resolve that question.
 
=freerf;8707417]Ok, i’m going to revisit an old question. I think i’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since i last asked this, so maybe i’m more prepared to express myself clearly.
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It is true i feel drawn to the Catholic Church. However, i am constantly stonewalled by my intellect and training as a Protestant. It seems the doubts and questions never stop. . . and I doubt they ever will stop completely.
Click to expand...
I have been told I must “believe” in all things Catholic to become Catholic. I doubt that will ever happen. I can “accept” as truth, perhaps. But to “believe”. . .I cannot force myself to believe anything. I don’t wish to get specific on what things, otherwise this thread will meander into something it’s not intended to be.
Click to expand...
What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?
Click to expand...
Again, please don’t ask about what i have doubts about. Those questions have been tackled in many posts elsewhere.👍
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My dear friend in Christ,

IF you TRULY wish to know what we believe, Why we believe it and HOW we are able to do so; PLEASE do yourself a favor and send me a private message.

We Catholics take the position of being the ONLY source of Complete truth on ALL Faith and Moral issues because that was and remains God;s OWN decision and choice.

NEVER-EVER did God even one time permit belief of more than the ONE and ONLYONE set of Faith beliefs He Himself mandated and taught; and warrants, protects, and guides the ONLY Church actually founded by God: today’s Catholic Church. AND THIS IS PROVEABLE BY THE BIBLE.

READ: Mt. 16:16-19; Mt. 28:16-20; Jn.14: 16-17; Jn.17:15-19 and Jn. 20:19-23

God Bless, you,
Pat 🙂
PJM on the Forum
 
Also it is important to point out that faith is a gift from God. It is one of those theological virtues along with hope and charity. (Faith, hope and charity). I am a convert myself from a Protestant background. I struggled with issues. But what helped me was to pray for the gift of faith (as well as hope and charity). I still don’t understand everything, but I have more peace in being able to accept that the promises of God are true.

In fact, it seems like I run on the “hope” mode a lot more than the “faith” mode.

God bless you in your journey.

Neden
 
I do have to add that I have heard “people” call some Catholics simpletons because of their seemingly blind adherence to doctrines.

So be it. It is a path of humility and faith is a gift from God. I know that St. Thomas Acquinas in all of his gifted intelligence threw his own Summa aside and said that it was trash when he had set down to try to explain these things.

God does give us a brain. However there are many things where we have to be led by our soul. That is why there is the term “Sacred Mysteries” in the Church.

Neden
 
freerf said:
Ok, i’m going to revisit an old question. I think i’ve learned a lot about Catholicism since i last asked this, so maybe i’m more prepared to express myself clearly.

It is true i feel drawn to the Catholic Church. However, i am constantly stonewalled by my intellect and training as a Protestant. It seems the doubts and questions never stop. . . and I doubt they ever will stop completely.

I have been told I must “believe” in all things Catholic to become Catholic. I doubt that will ever happen. I can “accept” as truth, perhaps. But to “believe”. . .I cannot force myself to believe anything. I don’t wish to get specific on what things, otherwise this thread will meander into something it’s not intended to be.

What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?

Again, please don’t ask about what i have doubts about. Those questions have been tackled in many posts elsewhere.👍
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The very short answer is Yes…

If anyone says they fully understand all of the Church teachings…wweeellll…There a better man than I am Gunga Din.

The principle question that you must answer is this - have you reached the point where you are convinced that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Christ and as such has his promise of protection and guidance and has his authority?

If the answer to this is yes, then what you don’t understand, you simply take on faith…Just as, as a protestant, one takes the Bible on faith…

Peace
James
 
freerf said:
What I’m wondering is if it’s ok to have doubts? To convert because one is spiritually drawn to the Catholic Church… though not being entirely convinced of it’s complete authenticity?

:
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The point I could never get away from is the deep belief that Catholicism is the fullest expression of Christianity. The main thing for me was acceptance of that truth.
I suppose this is like the Graham Greene quote (in a way): “I doubt my doubt.”
I know my priest does not like the word acceptance in relation to the faith (but it stands out for me).
I think as converts we feel we have to explain and know “everything.” At least that has been my experience.
There was a time when I knew more about dogmatic positions than the real centre of the Church, Christ.

I would recommend two books to you:

Peter Seewald’s second interview with the Holy Father, God and the World.

Dietrich von Hildebrand’s Transformation in Christ.
Transformation is not a “pleasant” book in that von Hildebrand has a way of cutting through the “b.s.”
 
This is a reply by Fr. Longnecker to his blog reader about the same dilemma:

" My own view is that it is perfectly fine for a person to be in the Catholic church and have serious reservations about particular doctrines. I make the distinction between absolute denial of a doctrine and a kind of agnosticism or difficulty with a doctrine.

Take purgatory for example. One can say, “Geesh, I don’t know about purgatory. I doubt it, but I’m not going to deny it. I’ll just leave it be. If the church says so, okay, but I personally have my doubts…” That’s okay. They can be Catholic.

But if they say, “Purgatory. That’s a load of hogwash. I utterly deny such an imagined foolishness…” Well, in my opinion that won’t do."

From
gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/

Hope this helps.
 
"The souls of the just which, in the moment of death, are burdened with venial sins or temporal punishment due to sins, enter purgatory. (De Fide.) p. 482, The Fundmentals of Catholic Dogma, by Ott.

Just an observation.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
This is a reply by Fr. Longnecker to his blog reader about the same dilemma:

" My own view is that it is perfectly fine for a person to be in the Catholic church and have serious reservations about particular doctrines. I make the distinction between absolute denial of a doctrine and a kind of agnosticism or difficulty with a doctrine.

Take purgatory for example. One can say, “Geesh, I don’t know about purgatory. I doubt it, but I’m not going to deny it. I’ll just leave it be. If the church says so, okay, but I personally have my doubts…” That’s okay. They can be Catholic.

But if they say, “Purgatory. That’s a load of hogwash. I utterly deny such an imagined foolishness…” Well, in my opinion that won’t do."

From
gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/

Hope this helps.
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very nice. thank you.
 
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