Conversion

  • Thread starter Thread starter Josiah599
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Josiah599 said:
Hello everyone. My name is Josiah. I have been raised in a protestant family. My grandfather is a pastor, my dad was going to be a pastor. I have always been firm in my beliefs. But for the last few years I have struggled tremendously with my on and off faith. My father and mother have lost their faith. The church I attend has seen many scandal, and has split into many different branches because of petty feuds. I have been raised against catholicism and have never given it a thought. But recently I have felt compelled to research the beliefs and practices of the church. I am starting to really think I should convert. But some red flags are still going off in my mind. I have heard that the pope has accepted evolution, and that goes against everything I have ever believed. Also I am a bit leary about confessing to a man instead of jesus. And I am very unclear on the whole mother mary situation. Other than these things, I think converting would be a great thing for me. Please help if you can. Thanks and God bless!
Click to expand...
Perhaps you are thinking the Pope is talking about evolution as Darwin expressed it and that we as humans are somehow descended from apes. Evolution does not necessarily mean that. It does not mean crossing species, it can also mean changing as humans. Having bigger brains for instance or stronger bodies or whatever. It does not mean we were ever monkeys.
 
Howdy!

Here is a good place to begin with many of your questions- be sure to check the footnotes out as well, as they will recall the bible versus and various teachings to go to for more in depth information.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Mary is human, like us, although we believe God preserved her from sin before she could fall, so to speak. Jesus’ sacrifice saved her prior to his birth so he would have a holy and pure mother to reside within and to raise him throughout his childhood. She is regarded as highest of all the Saints and Angels, but certainly not God, and anything she is and does is because God has allowed her to do so- the same as he allows us. You can start a thread about her somewhere else to get to the bottom of all the questions I’m sure you have 🙂
 
Welcome! As a new convert I must tell you that many of your questions are very normal for protestants to have. It took me about three years reading, listening to EWTN radio and TV as well as CD’s, DVD’s and of course asking tons of questions topped with much prayers…now I’m Catholic. Keep seeking Truth and He will show you it. I give another amen to Catholics for Dummies and also want to add that you go to Lighthouse Catholic Media.com and get some good CD’s as well as biblechristiansociety.com (yes, it sounds evangelical but it’s a Catholic site) Online you can listen to Catholic Answers Live which is a radio program there to answer questions and has great guests.

You have my prayers. Blessings on your faith journey.
mlz
 
Josiah599 - I’ve recently had what could be described as a “reversion” to the Catholic Church. I had most of the common Catholic criticisms drilled into my head for years and years by my protestant friends. I have been simply insatiable in my journey towards finally learning and living my Catholic faith, which is why I get so excited about posts like yours.

Here’s my simple advice: there are answers to all your quetsions. Good answers. Answers rooted in centuries of sacred scripture, sacred tradition, and amazing theology and scholarship. Answer one question and the others will “fall” with ease.

This may be a somewhat simplistic view, but when I speak with my protestant friends now, I just have this wonderful peace and charitable confidence. No matter what they ask me, I know there’s an answer. And as I show them, one by one, that their thoughts and criticisms of the Catholic Church are almost without exception rooted in confusion, un-truths, or simple bias, I know that I’m one question closer to having my friends experience the fullness and beauty of Christ’s Church - the Catholic Church.

I will be praying for you. God Bless!

Moto
 
po18guy said:
Just know that the Church which Christ founded will be forever incomplete without you as a member. If we can be of any assistance whatsoever, we will.
Click to expand...
That is such a beautiful thought.

Welcome Josiah599! There is a forum group called RCIA an Converts. Please join us. We are there to answer your questions and to pray for you.
 
Thank you all for your kind and caring answers. I really appreciate all of your help. I am going to read the catechism as well as the for dummies book, and hopefully that will clear up quite a few things for me.
 
Another good book that helped me a lot was Born Fundamentalist…Born Again Catholic.
 
As someone who can relate to your situation (I am a protestant convert to Catholicism), I would encourage you to read the early church fathers. When you go back to the beginnings of the church, you will find that what the Catholic Church teaches is what the early Church taught.

Read Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Clement, Polycarp…these were all students of the original Apostles. This is where the Catholic Church gets its Tradition. Even the Bible says that not all things were written…Paul says, “hold fast to the *traditions *I have taught you, either by word or our epistle.” 2 Thess. 2:15

The Bible wasn’t canonized until the 4th century. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Bishops of the Catholic Church that this took place. That leaves 300 years of Christianity left to oral Tradition taught by the early Church Fathers.

Just keep studying…you will get there. Believe me, the more you study the early Church, the less you become protestant.
 
I have also been raised Protestant, and it wasn’t until we stopped attending church for a while that I found this amazing website. I began learning more, and I was so intrigued by the Catholic Church. I’m continuing to learn more everyday on here, and still posting and asking questions, but also yearning to help others. I pray that you will continue to learn more, because it will open up your eyes. Protestantism is wrong. I have yet to attend Mass (I’m a teen-Baptist parents would not approve), but I plan to once I’m out on my own and hopefully attend RCIA classes. I truly believe (after a lot of prayer and research) that the Catholic Church is truly Christ’s church. Because of my Baptist background as I learn more, some things are harder to accept, but through prayer I ask God everyday to lead me to the truth, and as I study more, I tend to find evidence for those things it seemed that just a few months ago, I could never accept. Anyway, I continue to pray everyday and ask God to lead me to the truth and whether or not the Catholic Church is true, and I believe he is leading me to the Roman Catholic Church. Until I am older, I will continue to study, learn, pray, and be lead to the truth. Have faith in Jesus, because he will always guide you through everything. I have prayed the Rosary one time (No, I have not memorized it. No, I do not own any rosary beads. And no, I do not completely understand the “Mysteries”), but after reciting those beautiful words and reflecting on them, I felt at peace. I realized when Catholics are praying the Rosary, they are not worshipping Mary, but asking her to pray for them. Catholics honor her, because she is not only Jesus’s mother, Mother of God, but Christians’ mother also. She cares for the children of God. Anyway, after praying the rosary, I realized Mary’s love for God’s children, and I was completely at peace. And that is still not even reflecting on the “Mysteries”, just reciting the beautiful prayers. Catholicism is beautiful. And I pray God continues to lead me to the Catholic Church, and that I will one day be a part of it. Trust God, and just pray. He will lead you to where you need to be. I will be praying for you! God Bless!
:crossrc: (And sorry this reply is so long! But I have this amazing passion for the Catholic Church.)
 
komeeks18 said:
I have also been raised Protestant, and it wasn’t until we stopped attending church for a while that I found this amazing website. I began learning more, and I was so intrigued by the Catholic Church. I’m continuing to learn more everyday on here, and still posting and asking questions, but also yearning to help others. I pray that you will continue to learn more, because it will open up your eyes. Protestantism is wrong. I have yet to attend Mass (I’m a teen-Baptist parents would not approve), but I plan to once I’m out on my own and hopefully attend RCIA classes. I truly believe (after a lot of prayer and research) that the Catholic Church is truly Christ’s church. Because of my Baptist background as I learn more, some things are harder to accept, but through prayer I ask God everyday to lead me to the truth, and as I study more, I tend to find evidence for those things it seemed that just a few months ago, I could never accept. Anyway, I continue to pray everyday and ask God to lead me to the truth and whether or not the Catholic Church is true, and I believe he is leading me to the Roman Catholic Church. Until I am older, I will continue to study, learn, pray, and be lead to the truth. Have faith in Jesus, because he will always guide you through everything. I have prayed the Rosary one time (No, I have not memorized it. No, I do not own any rosary beads. And no, I do not completely understand the “Mysteries”), but after reciting those beautiful words and reflecting on them, I felt at peace. I realized when Catholics are praying the Rosary, they are not worshipping Mary, but asking her to pray for them. Catholics honor her, because she is not only Jesus’s mother, Mother of God, but Christians’ mother also. She cares for the children of God. Anyway, after praying the rosary, I realized Mary’s love for God’s children, and I was completely at peace. And that is still not even reflecting on the “Mysteries”, just reciting the beautiful prayers. Catholicism is beautiful. And I pray God continues to lead me to the Catholic Church, and that I will one day be a part of it. Trust God, and just pray. He will lead you to where you need to be. I will be praying for you! God Bless!
:crossrc: (And sorry this reply is so long! But I have this amazing passion for the Catholic Church.)
Click to expand...
👍👍👍👍

Welcome. It only gets better!!
 
Josiah,

Catholics revere Mary. See the word reverence in the word revere. Not only do we revere or give reverence to Mary, but also to many saints who went before us. This is not the same as worship. We worship God only.

Jesus gave us two commandments. He said we are to love God with our whole selves and also we should love our neighbor. He did not tell is to love only God, did He?

Christians are the people of God. There is only one Church. Jesus more than once commanded His followers to be one. The theme of unity is found in the account of the Last Supper.

There is not a church here on earth and another one in heaven. There is only one people of God. When you die you will not stop belonging to the church on earth and join another different one in heaven. The bond of unity that holds us all together is love. God is love.

When someone we love dies we do not stop loving them. Love is more powerful than death.

When someone we loves dies they do not stop loving us. In fact they are more fully alive in heaven in the presence of God than we are here.

Here on earth we acknowledge greatness in different people. Maybe we admire Mozart the composer, or a great athlete, or scientist who discovered a new cure for a disease.

Catholics admire people who lived very holy lives, which God calls you to do also. Jesus said, “be ye holy even as your heavenly father is holy”. The saints are our heroes of the faith.

Protestants also revere other Christians, but believe the communion they have with their faith heroes stops when the person dies. They can care for and pray for one another here only. Catholics believe our love for one another is more powerful than death.

Saint Paul talks about finishing the race he has begun. When a saint finishes his race, dies and goes to heaven, he cheers on his team members to complete theirs. God loves you and the saints in heaven love you. They have been through what you are going through and pray for you.

Mary is the greatest of these holy souls. She is unique. Jesus is God. She gave birth to Him. She is the mother of God. She is also the daughter of the Father. She conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, making her the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

All the other saints are just like you. Mary has a unique relationship to the persons of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son. He is Son of God and Son of Mary. Saint Paul tells us we are adopted children of God. God loves you as His child. This makes Jesus the Son of God your brother by adoption. So God is your father and brother. Protestants would agree with this.

If this is true, then considering Mary’s relationship to Jesus, who is Mary to you?
 
grandfather said:
Josiah,

Catholics revere Mary. See the word reverence in the word revere. Not only do we revere or give reverence to Mary, but also to many saints who went before us. This is not the same as worship. We worship God only.

Jesus gave us two commandments. He said we are to love God with our whole selves and also we should love our neighbor. He did not tell is to love only God, did He?

Christians are the people of God. There is only one Church. Jesus more than once commanded His followers to be one. The theme of unity is found in the account of the Last Supper.

There is not a church here on earth and another one in heaven. There is only one people of God. When you die you will not stop belonging to the church on earth and join another different one in heaven. The bond of unity that holds us all together is love. God is love.

When someone we love dies we do not stop loving them. Love is more powerful than death.

When someone we loves dies they do not stop loving us. In fact they are more fully alive in heaven in the presence of God than we are here.

Here on earth we acknowledge greatness in different people. Maybe we admire Mozart the composer, or a great athlete, or scientist who discovered a new cure for a disease.

Catholics admire people who lived very holy lives, which God calls you to do also. Jesus said, “be ye holy even as your heavenly father is holy”. The saints are our heroes of the faith.

Protestants also revere other Christians, but believe the communion they have with their faith heroes stops when the person dies. They can care for and pray for one another here only. Catholics believe our love for one another is more powerful than death.

Saint Paul talks about finishing the race he has begun. When a saint finishes his race, dies and goes to heaven, he cheers on his team members to complete theirs. God loves you and the saints in heaven love you. They have been through what you are going through and pray for you.

Mary is the greatest of these holy souls. She is unique. Jesus is God. She gave birth to Him. She is the mother of God. She is also the daughter of the Father. She conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, making her the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

All the other saints are just like you. Mary has a unique relationship to the persons of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son. He is Son of God and Son of Mary. Saint Paul tells us we are adopted children of God. God loves you as His child. This makes Jesus the Son of God your brother by adoption. So God is your father and brother. Protestants would agree with this.

If this is true, then considering Mary’s relationship to Jesus, who is Mary to you?
Click to expand...
👍👍 Good post. Probably the simplest and clearest explanation I’ve seen defending the Communion of the Saints.
 
Hey Josiah, I really appreciate your private message! I was going to reply to your message, but it told me you won’t allow private messages! I think you can change that in the settings. If you don’t want to, I can just post my reply on here. It doesn’t matter. If you don’t need a reply at all, then that’s fine too! God Bless!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top