Conversion Stories

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Gilbert_Keith

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I am interested in knowing the main reasons why Protestants are drawn to the Catholic Church. I am especially interested in the views of converts on the subject, but would also like to hear from any Protestant who is restless with his religion and is exploring Catholicism in a sincere way. The reason I ask is that I’m involved in a prison ministry and several prisoners are now signing up for RCIA. It would help if they could hear about the experiences of others going through the same soul-search.

Thank you for any thoughts you care to share.
 
I converted to the Catholic Faith through a deep love for Mary, Mother of God (cf. Spirituality sub-forum, Praying the Rosary thread, post #23 ?]).

I prefer a Kingdom with a Glorious Queen!

As one of the writers of the Romantic period put it:
“A Knight without a Lady Fair is like a body without a soul”…
 
Gilbert Keith:
I am interested in knowing the main reasons why Protestants are drawn to the Catholic Church. I am especially interested in the views of converts on the subject, but would also like to hear from any Protestant who is restless with his religion and is exploring Catholicism in a sincere way. The reason I ask is that I’m involved in a prison ministry and several prisoners are now signing up for RCIA. It would help if they could hear about the experiences of others going through the same soul-search.

Thank you for any thoughts you care to share.
Click to expand...
You might find the books in the “Suprised by Truth” series interesting. Many of those who tell their conversion stories (including Jimmy Akin!) converted from a Protestant tradition.
 
I’m in the process of converting right now, so I don’t know how much of a help it’ll be.

I had considered Catholicism on a couple of occasions, but they were more of a ‘well what if I converted’ kind of thing. In 2003 I became highly dissatisfied with the Episcopal Church and decided to become a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion. My views always leaned more towards the Catholic side. I had seriously considered converting after my first year at Duquesne, but didn’t think I was actually going to do it right away. I played around with the idea of becoming Orthodox, but decided against it. I realized that I believed in having a pope, and once I discovered that I agreed with it I really didn’t feel that I had much choice but to convert.

I can’t say I’ve had the easiest time converting. I have at times questioned if I was making the right decision in leaving the faith that I grew up with. Anyone who spends a half hour talking to me would realize that I am very much drawn to the Anglican way of worship, and I do have a soft spot (old habits die hard, right?). I have been very disturbed by some of the behavior that I have seen in some Catholic churches. I don’t know if my experiences are typical (from what I’ve read on these boards, it seems that the problems happen quite a bit, but I could always be wrong), but some of the disrespectful behavior that I have seen is stuff that would’ve never happened in my church. My biggest reason for sticking with it is that the Catholic Church really is universal. And if it’s universal it means that everybody has a place in it. For better or worse, if someone is more traditional than there is a place for them, and if someone prefers a more contemporary style there is a place as well. In my background, I never really found that. It seemed like we almost treated our Church as an elite club that you had to be good enough to get into. I know that not every Anglican church is like that though. I really liked the real universality of the Catholic church.

I hope this helped in some way. Anymore questions, please PM me.
 
As a former Protestant, currently in RCIA, I was drawn first by the Rosary. There was just something about it that I really wanted one and bought one and then taught myself to pray it.

I was also very drawn by the devotion to Mary and very interested in the Saints. These are all things that I feel other religions really miss out on.

Now that I am attending Mass regularly and in RCIA, the more I learn, the more right it feels. I love the Catholic Church and can’t wait to be accepted into it. I am drawn by the Real Presence, the caring and compassion of the Church and the structure and history. Just everything about it appeals to me (and I have never ever been a person for rules!).

I also love the focus on the family and the moral standards that I feel Catholics are held to (as all people should be).

I can only say that while I have loved God/Jesus/Holy Spirit as far back as I can remember and was baptized at 8 at my own request, I really believe He led me to the Catholic Church so I could experience Him in an even fuller manner. My faith, love for God, devotion to Him and desire to live a better life have grown by leaps and bounds since coming to the Catholic Church.

My DH is also coming into the church and this has brought us even closer than we were before.

Amie
 
Beluvdlily,
It sounds like Mary is pointing you to her son Jesus and the Church he started 2000 years ago. 👍
 
I dont know if LDS qualifies as Protestant, but I’d like to reply to your topic of conversion stories. I’m still “in process” though, so I’d like to share to this point in my journey. I hope thats ok!

For so many years I have spent day after day in a state of doubt and confusion. I knew that I was losing my faith, and I dont ever remember being really convinced that the LDS was the “true church” as I was taught. I just didnt know where else to turn.

I have a strong belief in Christ, but I realize now that I dont know him very well. Although I have been blessed (by grace) with this belief in Christ and a realization that his death on the cross has somehow paid the price for my sins and the sins of the world…I find myself feeling empty. I am searching for His truth and His church. I have come to hope and believe that the Catholic church is His church.

It was pretty incredible that I decided to turn toward the Catholic church. Honestly, it felt as though something dropped out of the air; an option…a place to turn. I knew I believed in some sort of authority. But I never dreamed I would be carried into this whirlwind of learning, especially the history. I’m amazed at how much I dont know!

Its difficult though, because I still find myself wondering. But I feel that I should continue to move forward, trusting that God has lead me here. I suppose I am an “over-thinker”, and I question just about everything.

Would it be appropriate for me to ask for your prayers? I need help in just being quiet, and in learning how to listen to God. I know there are so many avenues in this church, different ways for people to worship and increase their faith through meditating on the rosary, and things like that. Its just all so foreign to me. I dont know yet, what will bring the peace in Christ that I have been searching for. Maybe it will happen this Easter…

Peace to you all.

truthsilence
 
truthsilence

*I suppose I am an “over-thinker”, and I question just about everything.
*
Thank you for sharing that. I think most of us have been guilty of over-thinking at certain points in our lives. Skepticism is rooted in the exclusive “authority of intellect” to decide all matters. But intellect without imagination and the emotions is a dead instrument. So it seems you are trying to return it to life, revitalizing it with your prayers.

My wife and I will join you in those prayers.

Thanks to all the rest of you for sharing. I have answered some of you by PM.

God bless,
Gilbert
 
Dear truthsilence,
you certainly have my prayers !!
I joined the LDS church for a short while in 1987/88, but resigned from it over doctrinal issues. I had been raised Jehovah’s Witness. After LDS, I began reading the bible, came to believe in the Trinity, and wanted to get baptized right away, so I joined the Presbyterian Church in my neighborhood. But the more I studied the bible, and the early church fathers, I began to realize that Protestant theology never existed in the early church, neither did LDS beliefs or JW beliefs for that matter. The early fathers seemed, well, quite Catholic to me !!
I finally was received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil of 1999 after years of thinking about it.
I have a book recommendation from you, and you can get it at
amazon.com
It is called THE CATHOLIC CONTROVERSY by Francis de Sales.
I cannot recommend that book to you highly enough.
I also urge you to read Karl Keating’s CATHOLICISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM as well.
God bless,
Jaypeeto3
 
For me, it was the discovery of how the precept of “individual interpretation of the Scriptures” has been a complete disaster for Christianity.

After that, I fell in love with the Eucharist.

And it was all uphill from there 😃

DaveBj
 
truthsilence,
You definately have my prayers and feel free to pm me with any questions.
 
Thank you all so much for your prayers.

Jaypeeto3, I went to the link you posted, but I couldnt find the book you suggested there. 😦 I will definately keep trying. I appreciate the recommendation!

God bless you good people…

truthsilence
 
hey everyone,
i was pretty excited to see this thread, as i’m currently thinking of converting. i’ve been raised Protestant, and am finding myself growing increasingly frustrated with it. quite honestly, i’ve had about enough of the astonishing variety of theologies, religious practices, and lifestyles present. as much as i’ve tried to find peace and to be content with Protestantism, i keep finding myself almost irresistably drawn to Catholicism. this past week, i went to Mass and made arrangements to go in and speak with the Priest about my questions/issues/concerns- so i’m actually really looking forward to that. i’ve also been thinking about starting to pray the Rosary- seeing BeluvdLily’s post above, i think i am going to start doing that for sure.
i guess i’d just appreciate y’all’s prayers. i’ve got a growing sense of peace about the idea of converting; i’m seeing my initially overwhelming amount of questions slowly resolving in my mind- however, i’m still extremely worried about actually converting because of how i know my family and friends would respond. i’ve been raised in a Protestant church, and even graduated from an amazing little Christian high school. i love everyone dearly, but i feel like there’s far more to faith than the rather narrow- minded evangelical view. in all honesty, the only thing holding me back is my fear of how people would respond.
God bless,
janna
 
Janna
I know how you feel about worrying about the reactions of our friends and family. I chose Catholism when I was a teenager through my own choice and with out any influece.

My father is agnostic (borderline athiest), my mother’s side is Catholic and my father’s side is Born Again. When I was 13 there was a HUGE family fued about this issue. Both saying what I should do.

Fortunately for me my Born Again Grandmother bought me a bible (KJV naturally) and I began to read and discover for myself what the truth was. It was Catholism. Everything Catholism is about is supported with in scripture.

To this day with my father’s side of the family it causes controversey. But I have in my heart and mind what is true. I have seen it with my own eyes. Furthermore I have done my homework and easily quiet them with their objections.
 
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