Definitely maybe

[Mammoths]

So here’s the deal, I’ve heard the primary arguments and I agree that it’s not intellectually dishonest to be catholic. The characteristics of objective truth require internal, external consistency and correspondence with reality. It’s one thing to see how something could be logical and another thing entirely to identify with it at the core of one’s being. Assenting to the suffering, crucifiction, death, burial, resurrection, manifestation, and assencion of Jesus is one of those beliefs I have such identification with. However, recognizing the Catholic Church in the same way seems to be out of experience. How does this change for people? I don’t mean, what fact will persuade me. I have been down that road for hundreds of hours over several years. Not how does it make sense or what is the evidence. How do you KNOW?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Well, not sure how to answer this, but try this.

Faith, is a gift from God. It is His revelation to us, however that may happen.

Religion, is our response to faith.

So, in essence, being a Catholic is responding to the faith Jesus Christ gave me, when He revealed Himself to me, and that this was the Church He established when he said:

so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,* and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.* Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Mathew 16:18-19

In all, pray and ask to the Lord Jesus to show you the way.

Jim

 

[InOmnemTerram]

You can’t do enough mental gymnastics or intellectual somersaults to wrangle faith out of God’s hands.

Supernatural faith is a free gift. It is a grace that ALLOWS us to give assent to revelation. We’re not able to give this assent without supernatural faith, lest any man should boast. "I believe because I’m so incredibly intelligent and so incredibly scholarly; but that dummy over there? He’s an idiot, how on earth could he believe?

This is impossible without being fully repentant of one’s sins, and of consequently being in a state of grace. One who is not in a state of grace cannot have supernatural faith. All they can have is an opinion.

That’s the bottom line.

 

[Graceful_Lamb]

Faith. Blessed are those who have not seen but believe."John 20:29

I felt God pulling to the Catholic Church (I’m a former Episcopalian) and I felt deep down that the Catholic Church was the only way to get to the Truth. I agree with all of the doctrine, dogma, etc. of the Catholic Church

 

[Mummsie]

Continue to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Go where He leads you.

I am a cradle catholic; but, have only recently (last 10 years) really embraced my faith. For me, the Holy Eucharist is everything. When preceded by a good confession, it is the IT for me.

Praying for you on your journey. Jesus, I trust in you.

God Bless You.