Ex-Mormon Turned Agnostic, Learning about Catholicism

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GKMotley said:
MERE CHRISTIANITY, chap. 12, “Faith”, p. 115, I952. Originally published in CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR, chap. XII, “Faith”, p. 69 (one of the three books originally given as broadcast talks, and published in 1943-1945, expanded and revised and published as MERE CHRISTIANITY, 1952.
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You’re like a human citation engine. It’s astounding.
 
I was ALWAYS asking the hard questions in RCIA. From the crusades, the inquisitions, the sex abuse scandal, etc.

NOTHING was off the table. EVERYTHING was talked about. The good, the bad, the ugly.

There was no whitewashing. Everything was tackled head on. And again, with no pressure to join. Ever.
 
It’s limited to subjects I have been reading on, studying and collecting for over (in some cases) 60 years. And I can’t always do it. But when I can, I do, then save the citation for later use.

In this case, I own a 1st edition/later printing of the 1952 MERE CHRISTIANITY, and 1st American editions of the three books which went into making it up, foundationally: THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY (British title: BROADCAST TALKS), CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR and BEYOND PERSONALITY
 
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She has already rejected Mormonism. It’s about where she senses God is guiding her, not where she has come from. Not really sure why you think your post will “better” assist her.
 
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We know that Mormons are taught to lie for the Lord so you have to be careful of anything that they bring to this forum.
 
I must say I admire your tenacity. We’ve danced this dance before, gazelam.
gazelam said:
In order to better assist the OP, some incorrect statements need to be addressed.

AlbertDerGrosse:
Mormonism isn’t just a strange form of Christianity. It’s not Christianity at all, no matter how much Mormons might argue otherwise.
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A Christian by definition is trinitarian. There is no such thing as a non-trinitarian Christian anymore than there are polytheistic Jews or trinitarian Muslims. The nature of divinity is a pretty important facet of a religion and it makes no sense lumping together under the label of a single religion people who have wildly different beliefs about their god(s). Christianity settled this issue 1500 years before Joseph Smith showed up and decided he could unilaterally redefine Christianity to his liking. In so doing he founded an entirely new and different religion.

Christians believe in one single divine being who exists eternally in three coequal persons. Mormons believe in an innumerable amount of divine beings (which includes humans!) whose divinity differs in degree. If you think you can square that circle and shoehorn those diametrically opposed beliefs into one religion called “Christianity” then the word is absolutely meaningless.

Your comment about “non-Hellenized Christianity” is a popular one as a talking point in Mormon apologetics and it demonstrates the average Mormon’s complete ignorance of Christianity outside of the Roman Empire. Non-Hellenized Christianity? That would be the religion of the Mar Thoma Christians in India, the Assyrians in Iraq/Iran, or to a lesser degree the Syriacs in the Levant and the Copts in Egypt. Their liturgies, practices, rituals, spirituality, theology, etc. is very non-Greek. But guess what they all have in common? Trinitarianism. That’s why they’re Christians.
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I’ll let the others (if they want to) address the remarks that you said… but if you don’t mind me asking as a Mormon do you believe there was a complete apostasy? How would most Mormons answer that? 🤔☺️ 🌻❤️
 
I know you didn’t ask me, but the Great Apostasy is a central tenet of Mormonism. You know, sort of like how (gasp!) the Trinity is a central tenet of Christianity!

Maybe I should start referring to myself as a Trinitarian/“Hellenized” Mormon. I’m sure the LDS wouldn’t mind that, especially since they don’t even want the term for themselves anymore. I’m a Trinitarian Mormon who just so happens to not believe in the prophethood of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon as scripture or history, or the Great Apostasy, and I coincidentally believe everything in the Nicene Creed. But I’m still a Mormon. What do you say, @gazelam?
 
I’m not asking if they believe there was an apostasy but rather if they believe there was a complete apostasy. ☺️
 
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Thank you.

Why would some say it wasn’t complete?🤔

Would you say some would be likely lying or they just don’t know what Mormonism teaches?
 
Why would who say it wasn’t complete? I’m not following.
 
Why would some Mormons answer that it wasn’t a complete apostasy? I might have had a young Mormon in the past told me they didn’t believe it was a complete apostasy or something.
 
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Since I wasn’t there I can only guess. Perhaps they were just giving a more nuanced answer? They could’ve been referring to the effects of the Great Apostasy (i.e. doctrines or behavior) versus the actual object of the Great Apostasy (priesthood authority). Most Mormons have no trouble saying that various Christian denominations teach some truth or that among their ranks are many good people with sincere faith, but the LDS Church teaches that the loss of priesthood authority to carry out the “ordinances of the Gospel” was total. Well, almost total. There were 4 men who were allowed to never die who roamed the Earth doing… God only knows what while the rest of Christendom floundered in darkness. These would be the 3 unnamed Nephites and the Apostle John. Why these four didn’t “restore” the Church of their own volition is never adequately answered by the LDS Church. Or at least it wasn’t when I was a member.
 
While you’re waiting for RCIA to come around again, I’d suggest the Catechism of St. Pius X as a very concise summation of the faith, in a question and answer format.
I was just telling my LifeTeen group yesterday how concisely John 1: 1-14 summarizes Trinitarian theology and Christology. As does the Nicene Creed, of course.
 
Yeah, but it has this line:

“The Apostles were killed, and priesthood authority—including the keys to direct and receive revelation for the Church—was taken from the earth.”

What they fail to say is that according to their doctrine, most of the apostles were killed. John was not and still tarries on the earth to this day. So when did God strip the priesthood from John?

That’s only the beginning of questions regarding this total apostasy nonsense.
 
Just go to Mass, read your Bible and pray. That’s what Catholics do.

RCIA is a year long process. A time for learning and discernment. Just talk to the person leading the RCIA, tell them your concerns. It will be fine.

If you’re in the US, I recommend “The United States Catechism For Adults”.
 
I was raised LDS. Left 40+ years ago. Met and married my husband and I was an atheist for the majority of my adult life.

All these feelings you have are normal. I wondered if God could forgive my unbelief. I attended Mass for a year, as an unbeliever. Felt many times like I did not belong. Then one Sunday the priest gave a homily on how everyone belongs at Mass. That we are all on the same journey, towards heaven and our Lord, Jesus Christ. We just all happen to not be at the exact same point, on this journey. The important thing, is to be on the journey.

So yes, you belong. So do I. So does the most militant atheist you could think of.

God bless you on your journey.

-Rebecca
 
Congratulations on leaving the mormon church. That’s a step in the right direction. 😀
 
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