Conversion stories: Catholic & Protestant

[Cardinalsong]

I’ve been coming to the forums for awhile and I usually read more than reply or post but actually I’m here almost on a daily basis.

Anyway, back to my question. I have noticed that when a Catholilc converts to Protestantism they usually (but not always) have something negative to say about the Church such as “bondage”, “unscriptural”, “false doctrine”, etc. They seem so angry.

Now when I see Protestants convert to Catholicism I notice that most the time (but again not always) they are thankful for their former Protestant church, pastor, teaching, etc. They usually hold no ill will toward them. Even after losing friends and even family due to their conversion they still hold them in high regard.

Why is that? I don’t understand why people who were Catholic most of their lives who converted to Protestantism hate the Church so much?

Again I want to empasize that this is NOT always the case. It just seems to be a very common occurence and for someone who is very close to converting to the Catholic Church (which is another story in itself) I have not seen anything posted here by non-Catholics that would keep me from coming home to the Catholic Church.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I’ve been coming to the forums for awhile and I usually read more than reply or post but actually I’m here almost on a daily basis.

Anyway, back to my question. I have noticed that when a Catholilc converts to Protestantism they usually (but not always) have something negative to say about the Church such as “bondage”, “unscriptural”, “false doctrine”, etc. They seem so angry.

Now when I see Protestants convert to Catholicism I notice that most the time (but again not always) they are thankful for their former Protestant church, pastor, teaching, etc. They usually hold no ill will toward them. Even after losing friends and even family due to their conversion they still hold them in high regard.

Why is that? I don’t understand why people who were Catholic most of their lives who converted to Protestantism hate the Church so much?

Again I want to empasize that this is NOT always the case. It just seems to be a very common occurence and for someone who is very close to converting to the Catholic Church (which is another story in itself) I have not seen anything posted here by non-Catholics that would keep me from coming home to the Catholic Church.

I noticed that too. Ex-Catholics=are angry about the Church. However, Protestants who turn Catholic are happy about their upbringing.

 

[Rawb]

This is just a possibility, as obviously I don’t know every convert’s stance on this, but I think it could be because when a Protestant is converting to Catholicism it is because they’ve found the fullness of truth. They’ve generally been studying for some time and are exstatic that they’ve found this Church from God.

When a Catholic converts to Protestantism it (not always obviously, but oftentimes) is generally because of some abuse, whether real or imagined (and there is a definate possibility of it being real, I know The Church is not perfect) and so they’re bitter and angry at the church.

The reason we don’t hear about bitter Protestants who are now Catholics is because a Protestant who is angry at their church goes to another Protestant church. It’s (generally) not a big deal to switch churches within protestantism, I did it six different times before entering RCIA, and I’m only 18.

I will say I agree with you. I for one am very thankful for my last church before The Church, because I learned a lot and it was a truely Christian atmosphere (the Youth Group at least). I’ve also noticed that when discussing conversions in my RCIA nobody ever says which church they went to or what denomination they were. I hear a lot of “Well, in my last church” or “when I was a protestant” or “Well, you know which church I went to before and”. If you’re talking one on one they might tell you, for instance I know one man who was a Nazarene preacher, and always says “Well, you know my background” when addressing the group leaders in front of everyone.

 

[Roman_Catholic_1]

I think it is going to come down to the individual. Some converts to Protestantism may feel they have been hurt by the Church and therefore have a great deal of animosity towards it.

I agree with the general feeling thatCatholic converts are usually thankful for their protestant upbringing. A lot of their conversion stories I have read have as their first chapter their experience in their different faith and it is generally always positive.

I don’t know the reason for those converts who hate the Catholic Church. Maybe it only seems that converts hate the church because they are the only ones we hear?

 

[Jeanette_L]

I’ve been coming to the forums for awhile and I usually read more than reply or post but actually I’m here almost on a daily basis.

Anyway, back to my question. I have noticed that when a Catholilc converts to Protestantism they usually (but not always) have something negative to say about the Church such as “bondage”, “unscriptural”, “false doctrine”, etc. They seem so angry.

Now when I see Protestants convert to Catholicism I notice that most the time (but again not always) they are thankful for their former Protestant church, pastor, teaching, etc. They usually hold no ill will toward them. Even after losing friends and even family due to their conversion they still hold them in high regard.

Why is that? I don’t understand why people who were Catholic most of their lives who converted to Protestantism hate the Church so much?

Again I want to empasize that this is NOT always the case. It just seems to be a very common occurence and for someone who is very close to converting to the Catholic Church (which is another story in itself) I have not seen anything posted here by non-Catholics that would keep me from coming home to the Catholic Church.

I think that many exCatholics view their Catholic experience as a complete error in their Christian journey, or a falsehood so to speak, of which they had to be “saved” from, whereas the exProtestant views their Protestant experiences as stepping stones along the Christian journey, a progression which finds it’s completeness when home in the Catholic Church.

As an exProtestant/Evangelical, I can say that although I do still feel some sadness over some of the things I was taught and believed, mainly because I know how many there are out there who believe an incomplete Christian theology, overall, I am very grateful to the Lord that I have had the background in the Christian world that I have as it has given me great experience and understanding of a very broad view of Christian thought. And frankly, the Catholic Church teaches us, as converts, to be thankful for our Christian upbringing and or journey as a blessing from God. You won’t find that same attitude taught on the other side of the conversion equation.

I have a great appreciation for the beauty and wisdom and genuine charity of the the Catholic Church towards all Christians.

 

[Cardinalsong]

Thank you all for replying I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who has noticed this. It is very sad to see anyone angry about the Church but can understand if it was a case of abuse for instance.

I am very grateful to the churches I have attended over the years and fortunately the only reason for a change was either because of my parents as a child and then moving to another state as an adult. I don’t ever recall being angry enough to switch denominations. I started out as Catholic (as a small child until my parents switched to Protestant back during the 1970’s turmoil), then Assemblies of God, the Non-Denominational & now on the way back to Catholic.

I’ve come full circle:thumbsup:

 

[Damascus]

I was a Protestant.

I dont know how I fit into your post frankly. I dont have much to attack do I?

No Pope to mock now. No statues to leer at in disgust.
No Crucifix to point to and say— my Jesus is alive and you kill him everyday and like him depicted dead all the time!

I dont have the smug self confidence that I am saved!

I cant go on its too painful to admit how absolutely ridiculous My train of thought was, and how I feared the “Whore” of Bab…

I cant even type it. I was lead to hate the Catholic Church all my life.

Its amazing how much so.

 

[Penitant]

The Church teaches that we shouldn’t hate our Protestant brothers. It teaches that they simply lack the fullness of truth.

The same can’t be said for all Protestant denominations.

-Penitant

 

[AlegreFe]

Why is that? I don’t understand why people who were Catholic most of their lives who converted to Protestantism hate the Church so much?

I would say for the most part, it boils down to arrogant pride. They just don’t realize that that’s what it is most of the time.

My brother is now a Protestant and has been for many many years. As a teenager (he’s now in his late 40’s) he was slapped by a priest in his Catholic high school. He needed to be reprimanded for how he was talking about another priest but he didn’t need to be slapped so violently. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Cry.gif None of us (his familly) knew for years that this happened. He just kept it to himself.

He served as an altar boy when he was in grammar school but never believed in what he was doing. He had questions about the religion from the get go. I never knew this either until last summer (or was it the summer before that? time flies).

He is so angry with the priest and so angry with the church. He is arrogant in many ways but he will never admit to that. He doesn’t think he is. He is just very hurt, in a lot of emotional and psychological pain and it just comes out as anger. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Cry.gif I feel for him. I wish I could take his pain away. But I know this could possibly be part of his journey, at least I hope it is, back into the Church.

Since he is a former Catholic and so angry with the Church he is one of the worst anti-Catholics out there that I know of anyway.

I try to tell him about the Catholic faith but he just doesn’t want to hear it.
Prv 13:10
10 Among the proud there are always
contentions: but they that do all things
with counsel, are ruled by wisdom.

I believe that if someone leaves the Church because of abuse more than likely they are angry and anger is a sin. Sin prevents grace from penetrating into our souls. Therefore the Truth cannot be seen even if it is right in front of their face. In my brother’s case he also refuses to forgive the priest who slapped him; that is also a grave sin. So no matter how much I try to explain certain things to him, he will not want to believe it. I think it is more that he doesn’t want to believe and therefore convinces himself that he doesn’t believe and therefore it must not be the Truth.
Prv 21:24
24 The proud and the arrogant is
called ignorant, who in anger
worketh pride.

1 Jn 5:16-17
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning,
if the sin is not deadly, he should
pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not
deadly. There is such a thing as deadly
sin, about which I do not say that you
should pray.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin
that is not deadly.

Since my brother now thinks he will definitely get to heaven then he has no reason to fear the Lord. He’s on easy street; he’s taken the easy way. He just doesn’t say that he’s on “easy street.”
Prv 8:13
13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil:
I hate arrogance, and pride, and
every wicked way, and a mouth
with a double tongue.

He’s so prideful that he left so many protestant churches because he didn’t agree with any of them. He is now his own little “pope” and stays at home and watches TLN or other protestant channels and thinks that that’s worshipping on Sundays. It’s just too sad.

 

[Mannyfit75]

I would say for the most part, it boils down to arrogant pride. They just don’t realize that that’s what it is most of the time.

My brother is now a Protestant and has been for many many years. As a teenager (he’s now in his late 40’s) he was slapped by a priest in his Catholic high school. He needed to be reprimanded for how he was talking about another priest but he didn’t need to be slapped so violently. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Cry.gif None of us (his familly) knew for years that this happened. He just kept it to himself.

He served as an altar boy when he was in grammar school but never believed in what he was doing. He had questions about the religion from the get go. I never knew this either until last summer (or was it the summer before that? time flies).

He is so angry with the priest and so angry with the church. He is arrogant in many ways but he will never admit to that. He doesn’t think he is. He is just very hurt, in a lot of emotional and psychological pain and it just comes out as anger. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Emoticons/Cry.gif I feel for him. I wish I could take his pain away. But I know this could possibly be part of his journey, at least I hope it is, back into the Church.

Since he is a former Catholic and so angry with the Church he is one of the worst anti-Catholics out there that I know of anyway.

I try to tell him about the Catholic faith but he just doesn’t want to hear it.
Prv 13:10
10 Among the proud there are always
contentions: but they that do all things
with counsel, are ruled by wisdom.

I believe that if someone leaves the Church because of abuse more than likely they are angry and anger is a sin. Sin prevents grace from penetrating into our souls. Therefore the Truth cannot be seen even if it is right in front of their face. In my brother’s case he also refuses to forgive the priest who slapped him; that is also a grave sin. So no matter how much I try to explain certain things to him, he will not want to believe it. I think it is more that he doesn’t want to believe and therefore convinces himself that he doesn’t believe and therefore it must not be the Truth.
Prv 21:24
24 The proud and the arrogant is
called ignorant, who in anger
worketh pride.

Since my brother now thinks he will definitely get to heaven then he has no reason to fear the Lord. He’s on easy street; he’s taken the easy way. He just doesn’t say that he’s on “easy street.”
Prv 8:13
13 The fear of the Lord hateth evil:
I hate arrogance, and pride, and
every wicked way, and a mouth
with a double tongue.

He’s so prideful that he left so many protestant churches because he didn’t agree with any of them. He is now his own little “pope” and stays at home and watches TLN or other protestant channels and thinks that that’s worshipping on Sundays. It’s just too sad.

One advise for Anti-Catholics like your brother. Pray! Pray! Pray! The Holy Spirit will change his heart and he will be Catholic.

 

[AlegreFe]

One advise for Anti-Catholics like your brother. Pray! Pray! Pray! The Holy Spirit will change his heart and he will be Catholic.

I always pray for him. That’s all I can do. But since you’ve replied I have changed my post and added a bible verse;

1 Jn 5:16-17
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning,
if the sin is not deadly, he should
pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not
deadly. There is such a thing as deadly
sin, about which I do not say that you
should pray.
17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin
that is not deadly.

I still pray however because although I know that he is very angry and does not forgive the priest, which are both mortal sins, I don’t know if what’s really in his heart is hidden by such anger and that only God can see what is truly in his heart. I hope that his sin is not mortal.

 

[AlegreFe]

As far as cradle protestants, I’ve commented on this in other threads; I think it’s because they are not in any kind of sin and therefore are completely open to God’s Grace so the Truth can be told to them and they will see it and recognize it.

The “human” side or “flesh” in them will just have to research to make sure that it is the truth. At least that is how I see it. Is that how it is for most cradle Protestants who converted?

But they still want to say YES to God and actually want to be in Jesus Christ’s Church and don’t let pride or wanting to be right get in the way of their journey.

I have many conversion stories on DVD and CD and people like Michael Cumbie and Alex Jones and Stephen Ray were all very good Christians with great love for Jesus Christ. There is no sin in them to block the Truth from coming in. So Grace flows in with ease!

 

[Cardinalsong]

My brother is now a Protestant and has been for many many years. As a teenager (he’s now in his late 40’s) he was slapped by a priest in his Catholic high school. He needed to be reprimanded for how he was talking about another priest but he didn’t need to be slapped so violently. None of us (his familly) knew for years that this happened. He just kept it to himself.

He served as an altar boy when he was in grammar school but never believed in what he was doing. He had questions about the religion from the get go. I never knew this either until last summer (or was it the summer before that? time flies).

He is so angry with the priest and so angry with the church. He is arrogant in many ways but he will never admit to that. He doesn’t think he is. He is just very hurt, in a lot of emotional and psychological pain and it just comes out as anger. I feel for him. I wish I could take his pain away. But I know this could possibly be part of his journey, at least I hope it is, back into the Church.

Since he is a former Catholic and so angry with the Church he is one of the worst anti-Catholics out there that I know of anyway.

Oh Sandy, I’m so sorry to hear about your brother It’s understandible the anger he feels. But still…I will pray for him for healing of this pain and anger and also that he returns home to the Catholic Church. Thank you for your post

BTW, my name is Cathy.:tiphat: I forget to mention that since I don’t have a signature inserted.

 

[Cardinalsong]

I have many conversion stories on DVD and CD and people like Michael Cumbie and Alex Jones and Stephen Ray were all very good Christians with great love for Jesus Christ. There is no sin in them to block the Truth from coming in. So Grace flows in with ease!

---

Sandy

Oh yes, I’ve heard their stories. Most awesome, especially Alex Jones and his entire congregation converting to the Catholic Church. I saw it on EWTN a couple months ago:yup:

 

[AlegreFe]

Oh Sandy, I’m so sorry to hear about your brother It’s understandible the anger he feels. But still…I will pray for him for healing of this pain and anger and also that he returns home to the Catholic Church. Thank you for your post

BTW, my name is Cathy.:tiphat: I forget to mention that since I don’t have a signature inserted.

Thanks so much Cathy! After I posted my thread I realized that I forgot to ask for everyone to pray for my brother. I’m so glad you were prompted to pray for him without my asking. Thanks so much.

 

[Cardinalsong]

Thanks so much Cathy! After I posted my thread I realized that I forgot to ask for everyone to pray for my brother. I’m so glad you were prompted to pray for him without my asking. Thanks so much.

You’re most welcome

 

[chris_molter]

Folks hate what they don’t understand. Most ex-Catholics who hate the Church feel that way because of misconceptions (poor catechesis!!), others because of personal reasons which have little to do with the Catholic faith itself.

I’ve seen a few ex-Catholics who had a solid understanding of Catholic doctrine, but became convinced of the claims of one protestant denomination or another. Sometimes it’s just because a Catholic (who usually doesn’t have a strong Catholic system of belief to begin with) has a great experience at a protestant church (a lot of people have commented about how great most protestant churches are at hospitality and making outsiders feel at home), makes friends and joins that church.

I think the comments above regarding protestant converts to Catholicism are pretty spot on. It’s true in my case, as I’m grateful for my upbringing in the Episcopal Church (I’m lucky to have been in an orthodox diocese!!).

 

[dawgfan]

I too am a convert. I respect my former church in a lot of ways and received alot of blessings. That said I do have issues with my former faith. I disliked very much the actions of some in the church about how they treated some of the pastors especially when they fell out of favor and forced them to leave.

But I guess my reaction in these cases are more toward the actions of others and not an indictment toward the faith itself although it certaintly provided an environment for these abuses to happen by focusing on the sermon rather than the worship of God. They have a good man now. I pray it stays that way.

Also, on a national level my former religion has gotten kind of liberal on a lot of issues. I just can’t endorse that at all.

 

[FromTheCrossroa]

Thank you all for replying I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one who has noticed this. It is very sad to see anyone angry about the Church but can understand if it was a case of abuse for instance.

I am very grateful to the churches I have attended over the years and fortunately the only reason for a change was either because of my parents as a child and then moving to another state as an adult. I don’t ever recall being angry enough to switch denominations. I started out as Catholic (as a small child until my parents switched to Protestant back during the 1970’s turmoil), then Assemblies of God, the Non-Denominational & now on the way back to Catholic.

I’ve come full circle:thumbsup:

My experience is the same. My journey led me here after several non-denominational churches and denominations. I did leave several churches that were either in serious error or did not have the full gospel message. I may have been angry at the time but I do realize that I learned something from each stop. My faith would not be what it is without my experiences.

The ONLY thing I can complain about is the attitude by some (on both sides of the issue) who believe the other guy is less (or not at all) Christian because they choose to be Catholic, or Lutheran et.al without first getting to know their personal experiences in the Christian faith. My grandmother (raised baptist now non-denominational) and her family have made my conversion quite the scandal. I hate generalizing but those kind of people are the reason I left that group behind. I love them and pray for them but I can’t make someone else understand our faiths are not different in the areas that matter. I doubt any of my Protestant family will ever join me. If that was my concern, I’d still be looking on from the outside.

 

[twiggymoo]

I noticed that too. Ex-Catholics=are angry about the Church. However, Protestants who turn Catholic are happy about their upbringing.

Actually, as a fundamentalist Protestant for many years, when I discovered the Truth of the Catholic Church - I was angry that I had been denied the truth.
My wife was raised Catholic and when she discovered “the protestant fundamentalist truth” she was captivated by it. She said she never knew who Jesus and the Holy Spirit was. I found that hard to believe. Although perhaps as a catholic, she didn’t understand fully - she was obedient and I believe she was a Christian then as now - she just understands more now. Now it is my duty to enlighten her more and bring her back to the catholic faith.