Converting Between Religions

[silverwings]

I am considering converting to a Non-Christian Reiligion. Four of my closest friends are of this Religion. Two have been in this Religion for quite some time and one of those two is an ordained Reverand. The other two, one of which is my boyfriend, converted about three months ago. I was raised as a Catholic but to be honest, my Catholic upbringing basically stopped after my first communion 12 years ago. My friends are more than happy to include me in there study groups. I have attended one ceremony with them and I will admit that I felt more from that one hour than from anything I felt in a Catholic ceremony of any kind. I have left thier Religion as an unknown for an attempt to have a relatively unbiased response. Should I convert to their Religion? Or should I not? What do you all think? Please let me know, and any advice is welcome. Thank You.

 

[juno24]

I think you should study and find out about the religion you are considering leaving before you decide to join any other religion. Learn what Catholicism actually teaches before you decide to abondon Christ and His church.

 

[beckers]

I think you already have your answer. I don’t think you would post this and ask our opinion unless you thought there might be something wrong with converting. You have to ask yourself why??? Maybe GOD is telling you that it is time for you to explore your catholic faith in all of it’s beauty and richness. Welcome Home!

Beckers

 

[Jabronie]

What kind of non-Christian religion is this? Please come and post what problems you have with Christianity and the Catholic Church. I’m sure there’s plenty of us here who had left the Church and felt the same way as you before coming back.

God Bless!

 

[John_Basil]

What’s the name of this religion that you are “considering”…???
We could then compare the two & work-out the pros & cons…

 

[b_justb]

silverwings:

I am considering converting to a Non-Christian Reiligion. Four of my closest friends are of this Religion. Two have been in this Religion for quite some time and one of those two is an ordained Reverand. The other two, one of which is my boyfriend, converted about three months ago. I was raised as a Catholic but to be honest, my Catholic upbringing basically stopped after my first communion 12 years ago. My friends are more than happy to include me in there study groups. I have attended one ceremony with them and I will admit that I felt more from that one hour than from anything I felt in a Catholic ceremony of any kind. I have left thier Religion as an unknown for an attempt to have a relatively unbiased response. Should I convert to their Religion? Or should I not? What do you all think? Please let me know, and any advice is welcome. Thank You.

Since you asked:

No do not “convert” to their religion. Truth is not based upon feelings or emotion (not that feelings and emotions are bad or should be negated at all costs so we’ll all Mr. Spock’s).

Truth is truth, whether it feels good or bad. I believe the Catholic Church offers divinely revealed truth to mankind. I have come to conclusion this by study. I encourage you to dive into your own faith and find out what Truth is. The effort is the same on your part if you stay or go, you would have to research this other religion before you really decided to join or convert right? Since you’ve said up catechesis is poor, it’s your own time for you to make the Catholic Faith your own; through your own effort.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Gospel of Saint Matthew 7:7-8 (NAB)

 

[blueadept]

silverwings:

I am considering converting to a Non-Christian Reiligion. Four of my closest friends are of this Religion. Two have been in this Religion for quite some time and one of those two is an ordained Reverand. The other two, one of which is my boyfriend, converted about three months ago. I was raised as a Catholic but to be honest, my Catholic upbringing basically stopped after my first communion 12 years ago. My friends are more than happy to include me in there study groups. I have attended one ceremony with them and I will admit that I felt more from that one hour than from anything I felt in a Catholic ceremony of any kind. I have left thier Religion as an unknown for an attempt to have a relatively unbiased response. Should I convert to their Religion? Or should I not? What do you all think? Please let me know, and any advice is welcome. Thank You.

Your story sounds similiar to my own. I was born a Catholic but my education in my faith pretty much ended after my first communion. While I was growing up, I always felt that God was part of my life but I never truly understood any part of my Catholic faith, even the Eucharist. I married a lukewarm Catholic in my first marriage and I tried to incorporate God in life more but it didn’t work out. After six years as a single parent, I met a good Mormon gal and we got married.

Her faith had a lot of positives with the “families forever” thing and how they seemed to be a close knit group. I had the missionary lessons, went to both churches at that time and went through their gospel indoctrination for a year.

The thing I told my wife and my suggestion for you is that I needed to figure out what being a Catholic really meant before deciding to honestly convert to her faith. I took the RCIA course (even though I was a Catholic) and I truly figured out for myself that the Catholic Church is truly God’s church for me.

IMO, you’re using feelings (only) in making your decision at this point. My suggestion would be to do an honest investigation of your faith and analyze both sides. After I honestly did mine, I get all the good feelings of God’s presence from our Sunday Mass, spending an hour in Adoration weekly, Daily Mass and being a CCD teacher and especially developing an honest prayer life for myself.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[sainted]

What you lack is faith - work on it. The centurion didn’t know Jesus but heard of His work. He believed and had faith and what a marvelous outcome that follows. Recall what Jesus said about him!

 

[Booklover]

Hello! I believe as other posters have suggested, that you should learn more about the Catholic Church before you decide to “convert” to that other religion. It sounds as if you have doubts or you wouldn’t be here asking for advice. I would also like to suggest watching programs on EWTN, the Catholic network. It’s wonderful!

Vickie

 

[silverwings]

I have been studying both, Catholic and the other is Wiccan. Two completely different. I have been trying to become more involved with my Catholic upbrining since August and nothing has worked. Going to Church and Confession feel more like chores than something that has any meaning. I am slowly but surely reading my way through the Bible, which is a Catholic version, in chronological order, but I do not feel as if anything has changed. The one ceremony I attended on Samhein felt so different. I felt like I was actually connected to the others in the room, even though at the time I had no intention of becoming involved with anything they did. I have never felt that way in Mass. I will continue studying both for now, but four and a half months of studying my Catholic side and I feel as though nothing has changed and I ceremony has me feeling like I have a connection now to four other people. I feel obligated to stay with Catholicism because of my family, but I am not sure what they would think or do if I should concentrate my study on Wicca. Thank You for your (name removed by moderator)ut, and for now I will continue my studies in both.

 

[Cyber_Knight]

My comment is just as long as your ‘to be new religion’ not asking you to kill non believers then its ok with me. Beside, to decide whether you wanted to leave the Catholic faith or no, you just need to look into your heart and see if this is most important thing to do rather than try to understand it well. I was raised with non religion. But I see Catholic comfort me rather than any other denominational. It’s just a matter of choice. God is only one that He is Jesus. And He loves you.

 

[Kristina_P]

silverwings:

I have been studying both, Catholic and the other is Wiccan. Two completely different. I have been trying to become more involved with my Catholic upbrining since August and nothing has worked. Going to Church and Confession feel more like chores than something that has any meaning. I am slowly but surely reading my way through the Bible, which is a Catholic version, in chronological order, but I do not feel as if anything has changed. The one ceremony I attended on Samhein felt so different. I felt like I was actually connected to the others in the room, even though at the time I had no intention of becoming involved with anything they did. I have never felt that way in Mass. I will continue studying both for now, but four and a half months of studying my Catholic side and I feel as though nothing has changed and I ceremony has me feeling like I have a connection now to four other people. I feel obligated to stay with Catholicism because of my family, but I am not sure what they would think or do if I should concentrate my study on Wicca. Thank You for your (name removed by moderator)ut, and for now I will continue my studies in both.

Going through a time of dullness and lack of religious feeling is normal. Christians have regarded this time (in retrospect) as a time of testing and quiet, invisible growth. If you persevere in the faith through this, you will come out stronger.

Investigate and compare/contrast what Wicca and Catholicism teach. Judge these teachings not only with feelings, but with reason. Also, investigate the historical evidence for and against both religions.

Finally, pray and pray hard! Even though your emotions aren’t really in it, you can make an act of the will to pray to a God you aren’t sure you believe in. Ask him for guidance and for the gift of faith.

 

[TamaraS]

silverwings,

please do a lot of research and pray alot. I went down that same road a long time ago. For me, once it started with something harmless, then it just got worse. The Catholic church can take a lot longer than 4 or 5 months to understand. I went through RCIA about 8 years ago, and I am still learning more each day. I had always had a deep longing, but I never really even knew how to identify it for so long, and even in the first several years of my being a Catholic I wasn’t aware of it. The Catholic church is so wonderful, and deeply spiritual.
Tamara

 

[silverwings_88]

silverwings:

I have been studying both, Catholic and the other is Wiccan. Two completely different. I have been trying to become more involved with my Catholic upbrining since August and nothing has worked. Going to Church and Confession feel more like chores than something that has any meaning. I am slowly but surely reading my way through the Bible, which is a Catholic version, in chronological order, but I do not feel as if anything has changed. The one ceremony I attended on Samhein felt so different. I felt like I was actually connected to the others in the room, even though at the time I had no intention of becoming involved with anything they did. I have never felt that way in Mass. I will continue studying both for now, but four and a half months of studying my Catholic side and I feel as though nothing has changed and I ceremony has me feeling like I have a connection now to four other people. I feel obligated to stay with Catholicism because of my family, but I am not sure what they would think or do if I should concentrate my study on Wicca. Thank You for your (name removed by moderator)ut, and for now I will continue my studies in both.

Do think about it dear. I myself was a Wiccan before I reverted back to Catholicism this year. Even my own magickal name was Reyvynne Silverings, which is the numerological 7. I also became a Wiccan on Samhain.

I have felt the same too in the past. That I thought that the Church was a cold, empty institution with too many obligatory rules, and I can tell you that I was more emotionally hyped as a New Ager, Wiccan and Pentecostal than as a Catholic. However, Wicca is free of structure, which may be a good thing in a pantheistic view and that one can choose one’s own pantheon of worship. However, Truth becomes syncretic and emotion becomes Truth.

Humans are weak and not knowing when it comes to the Higher Truth. And the gift of Christianity is that Jesus came down to reveal this Truth for us and established the Truth here. As Wicca and other religions, people go to the Great Spirit, it is in Christianity where the Great Spirit comes to us. There is compassion and a personal feeling in that, rather in Wicca where the Spirit, as pantheistic as it is, does not seem to correlate with her creation.

Wicca has what Catholicism already has: looking at life in a sacramental view. Everthing is holy and sacred because, teeming with life, it is the sacredness of God Almighty, the Great Spirit. The magick practiced in Wicca is already in a different form, perpetuated by our Christian mystics Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. Both of them had mystical gifts, seeing the world in a sacramental view and unifying the soul with the Pure Essence of God. Whilst in Wicca, magick is the way to unify one’s will into the cosmos, Catholic mysticism unifies one’s soul into the Essence of the Great Spirit.

Sexuality is sacred in Wicca, no? That is why the Great Rite in Wicca exists! But in Catholicism, theologically sexuality is a great gift of the Great Spirit as well. But rather than merely an expression of passionate love, it also has the power to make Life. That is why we guard this treasure so closetedly, because of the power in the unification of sexual union out of Pure, Unconditional Love as a symbolic, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual unity of the Passionate Love that God resonates.

There is veneration of the Virgin Mary, the Great Mother who bore our Saviour. Remember that other religions profess to search and go to God? I believe that Catholicism is the whole Truth of what the pagan past was. To see all these older religions with Madonna and Child (yes there is a certain deification of them both), Catholicism clarifies this beautiful relationship of a godly Mother and a Godly Deity, humbled in a little child. She is the Blessed Maiden of the Anointed One, a path-follower of the Great Spirit and of the Way of Truth.

As we worship the Great Spirit, Catholicism, the oldest institution of Christianity, there are more ways than one to view one religion. I wish you the Sacred Spirit upon your paths, and may the Great Spirit be with you, from the rushing of the trees to the silent calm of the deep waters. As for me, Catholicism is simply ‘magickal.’

Amen.

 

[puzzleannie]

silverwings:

I am . I was raised as a Catholic but to be honest, my Catholic upbringing basically stopped after my first communion 12 years ago. My friends are more than happy to include me in there study groups. I have attended one ceremony with them and I will admit that I felt more from that one hour than from anything I felt in a Catholic ceremony of any kind. I

Should I convert to their Religion? Or should I not? What do you all think? Please let me know, and any advice is welcome. Thank You.

let’s see, you received the initial gift of faith, were baptized Catholic, ceased to learn anything whatever about your faith or to practice it for 12 years, and apparently have stopped associating with Catholics. your new friends introduced you to one experience where you felt an emotion (no mention of any belief, conversion, encounter with Christ etc.).

You are willing to change your entire life, abandon your baptismal faith, going on nothing more than one emotional experience and the testimony of a couple of friends.
No mention of studying the doctrine and practice of your own Church before you reject it.
No mention of studying the doctrine and practice of a new church before you embrace it.

Offhand, my answer would be no, do not convert to another religion. First convert to your own religion. You cannot reject what you do not know. We will be praying for you.

I suggest you first begin to pray, so that your spiritual life moves beyong emotion and sentiment and seeks a real relationship with Jesus Christ. I further suggest that you read the Bible, particularly the Gospels, beginning with Mark (which you can read in one sitting). If you are going to join a Church, identify the Church founded by Jesus Christ. All others are false teachers.

 

[ladylinguist]

silverwings:

I am considering converting to a Non-Christian Reiligion. Four of my closest friends are of this Religion. Two have been in this Religion for quite some time and one of those two is an ordained Reverand. The other two, one of which is my boyfriend, converted about three months ago. I was raised as a Catholic but to be honest, my Catholic upbringing basically stopped after my first communion 12 years ago. My friends are more than happy to include me in there study groups. I have attended one ceremony with them and I will admit that I felt more from that one hour than from anything I felt in a Catholic ceremony of any kind. I have left thier Religion as an unknown for an attempt to have a relatively unbiased response. Should I convert to their Religion? Or should I not? What do you all think? Please let me know, and any advice is welcome. Thank You.

I myself practiced Wicca for four years, before eventually converting to Christianity (and now consdering a switch to Catholicism). In those four years, I never got anything out of the religion, save what I put into it. Nothing about me changed as a person (and I believe that if a religion is true, it should make you better), and not a single prayer was answered by the so-called Goddess. Also, one of the things that is shady about Wicca is that you basically pick and choose which aspects of the religion you want to keep and practice and which you’d just want to throw away. IMHO, if a religion’s true (as I categorically believe Christianity is) then the truth should be fixed and unchanging.
I agree with those above who said you can’t judge a religion by how it makes you feel. I’ve been to church services where I’ve been absolutely filled with emotion, and some where I’ve been rather fidgety and impatient. Human beings are fickle, and emotion is a tricky thing. Concentrate on the thing that doesn’t change: God. He’s there, whether you feel all excited and sprit-filled or not. If you’re looking for a faith that keeps its promises, Christianity is the way to go.

 

[silverwings]

I am not making any decision soon, it will be at least several months before I make a decision. I am continueing to read my Bible and I attend Mass once in awhile but alot of what I hear from that is we are all going to hell and there is nothing we can do about it. If that is so, then why should I stay and go to hell when I can find comfort elsewhere? My friends have welcomed me to their study sessions and are willing to answer any questions I might have, which are numerous, and yet when I try to ask a Catholic friend some questions, I get brushed off. I am not sure I ever really believed in Catholicism when I was younger, it was more doing what my parents told me to do. Go to Mass, Go to Sunday School…and Sunday School was a bad experience in itself. I would beg mother to let me miss it. Again Thank You for everyone’s (name removed by moderator)ut. For those who are wondering, I wanted to leave Wicca un-named so that any incorrect stereotypes would not color anyone’s response.

 

[Kristina_P]

silverwings:

I am not making any decision soon, it will be at least several months before I make a decision. I am continueing to read my Bible and I attend Mass once in awhile but alot of what I hear from that is we are all going to hell and there is nothing we can do about it. If that is so, then why should I stay and go to hell when I can find comfort elsewhere? My friends have welcomed me to their study sessions and are willing to answer any questions I might have, which are numerous, and yet when I try to ask a Catholic friend some questions, I get brushed off. I am not sure I ever really believed in Catholicism when I was younger, it was more doing what my parents told me to do. Go to Mass, Go to Sunday School…and Sunday School was a bad experience in itself. I would beg mother to let me miss it. Again Thank You for everyone’s (name removed by moderator)ut. For those who are wondering, I wanted to leave Wicca un-named so that any incorrect stereotypes would not color anyone’s response.

Whoa! If this is really what you’re experiencing at your church, I encourage you to find a church more representative of the Catholic faith. Consider talking to a priest about your concerns. The Catholic Church does not teach that “we are all going to Hell and there is nothing we can do about it.”

Also, those questions that get brushed off by your friends will hopefully be answered on these forums. Feel free to ask them.

 

[Aurora25]

Hi silverwings. I am a former Wiccan (among other things). There are a couple things that I’d like you to know before you make your decision.

First of all, I hope you are familiar with the history of Wicca. Wicca was created by Gerald Gardner about 60 years ago. There was no “Great Goddess” of the past, and most of the Wiccan mythology is based on the false history written by Margaret Murray. While Catholicism has such a rich history, Wicca has none; it’s completely new creation of the 20th century. It’s actually younger than plastic!

Be aware that traditional Wicca does include nudity, scorging, and ritual sex. While eclectics don’t necessarily use these elements, some do, so do understand that these activities are a part of the Wiccan community.

But I have to ask, why are you interested in Wicca? What are your reasons? Generally, there are several reasons people get into Wicca. (If none of these apply to you, please don’t hesitate to set me straight. )

1. Peer pressure. Everyone’s doing it, and no one wants to be left out. This is not a good reason to do anything, and it brings nothing but trouble. Do what is right and you will never regret it.
2. Nature. This was a big draw for me. Someone on this forum quoted this passage (from the Book of Wisdom 13:2-5) that really helped me. *“2 But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. 3 Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. 4 Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them. 5 For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen.” * Paganism is based on nature, but nature isn’t God. Don’t confuse the Creator with Creation. Nature is very beautiful and powerful, but just imagine how much more awesome is their Creator, the source of all their beauty and power! Nature is just a taste of God’s wonder.
3. Feminism. There are many strong females in Catholicism. Look to Mary, or any of the female saints as role models. We can learn a lot from them, through their life stories, prayer and meditation.
4. Power. If you seek power, then look to the Creator. We have a direct line to the Almighty through prayer, anytime and anywhere. A few herbs and rhymes can’t compare to that! Plus, I’ve found that most Wiccan spell books amount to nothing more than pop psychology and self help books. If you’re looking for real power, turn to God. Through him, anything is possible.

Previously, you said that after the Samhain ritual, you felt a connection to the four other people? Don’t you want a connection to God? Religion shouldn’t be just about connecting to people; it should be about connecting to the higher power. Don’t you agree?

I’m glad that you’re studying Catholicism, but praying and meditating on God is even better. Get to know him.

 

[sainted]

I am not making any decision soon, it will be at least several months before I make a decision. I am continueing to read my Bible and I attend Mass once in awhile but alot of what I hear from that is we are all going to hell and there is nothing we can do about it…QUOTE]

I was born catholic and remain so for 3 decades and have never heard of such teaching. What would be the reason of being faithful to a church that teaches such message? What would be the reason of its own existence anyway? The above alleged teaching is the complete opposite of the purpose why Christ instituted His holy church on earth.

You might have walked into an anticatholic church by mistake!

Have you ever tried fasting once or twice a week? I also suggest to pray the rosary and Divine Mercy prayer everyday. You will be amazed at the result. Fasting is hard to do even for me but without prayers we are bound to fail. Try it it’s real amazing!

You are in my rosary and divine mercy prayers.