Former Protestants, what led you to Catholicism?

[zcha10]

I was raised Protestant, although the past few years I haven't really been sure what I believe.

Recently I've become curious about Catholicism, particularly because I'm realising that some of what I was taught about Catholicism growing up doesn't seem to accurately represent what Catholics actually believe.

I'd really like to hear from people who were previously Protestant and later became Catholic. What made you start questioning Protestantism, and what eventually convinced you that Catholicism was true?

I'm just trying to understand what I believe, and I'd particularly like to talk to people who have been through that process themselves.

 

[po18guy]

I was a more-or-less non denom, but my faith life was nebulous. A series of 'God events' lead me to the Catholic Church. As to what we believe, I can heartily recommend a copy of "Catholicism for Dummies" which is one of the. yellow and black Dummies series of books. It is an excellent intro and clearly explains beliefs and the reason for those beliefs.
Do you know a Catholic? You might consider attending mass with them and just watching. Stand when they stand, kneel when they kneel and maybe ask questions after mass. And we are a resource here also. Just ask!

 

[zcha10]

I was a more-or-less non denom, but my faith life was nebulous. A series of 'God events' lead me to the Catholic Church. As to what we believe, I can heartily recommend a copy of "Catholicism for Dummies" which is one of the. yellow and black Dummies series of books. It is an excellent intro and clearly explains beliefs and the reason for those beliefs.
Do you know a Catholic? You might consider attending mass with them and just watching. Stand when they stand, kneel when they kneel and maybe ask questions after mass. And we are a resource here also. Just ask!

I actually just went to mass last Thursday. It was a little overwhelming because people were sitting and standing often and repeating things back to the priest that I obviously didn't know. However, there was a lady there that spoke to me and welcomed me. I bought some small books explaining the fundamentals. I am also going to Sunday mass and have decided to attend the Cathedral for a group during the week to ask questions. So I'll see how it goes!

 

[DaveBj]

When the urge to take a dip in the Tiber hit me, I had already been a hard-core Bible-studying-and-teaching evangelical for 30-ish years, after a really serious conversion experience at age 29. I ran across a passage from a Psalm that was quoted in Hebrews with completely different wording, and all my Protestant commentaries couldn't tell me why, which version was right, and who had the authority to say whether or not all that mattered. I already knew that the Catholic Church was the only major Christian organization that claimed the authority to interpret Scripture, so with fear and trembling I started investigation Catholicism (including devouring Catholiciam for Dummies), and the rest is history. Officially entered the Church at Easter Vigil Mass, 2005.

Dxx

 

[po18guy]

Here is what I suggest to those interested on YouTube: If you have not already, please consider going to Adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, also known as “Holy Hour.” Time spent in our Lord’s Presence is priceless. Call your local Catholic parish and find out when they offer it. Some parishes offer 24/7 Adoration. Simply go, sit in Christ’s Presence. TAKE YOUR BIBLE! Read scripture, contemplate, pray. Tell Christ of your love of Him, and of your worries and doubts, even your fears. Then, be as patient with Christ as He has been with you. Grace will flow and when you receive the grace to know that HE IS THERE, you will be forever changed. Miracles occur in Christ’s Presence - of that I can personally attest.
Worst case scenario: You read scripture and pray for an hour.
Best case scenario: You recognize Christ’s Presence and are called to the most intensely personal relationship with Him this side of heaven.
Win-win.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

One other suggestion I'd like just to "throw out there", have you ever been to a Traditional Latin Mass? If you like Adoration, you'd love the TLM.

Here's a website that lists TLMs that are fully approved by the Church:

Latin Mass Directory – A Catholic directory of approved traditional Latin Masses

A Catholic directory of approved traditional Latin Masses

www.latinmassdir.org

 

[The_Reginator]

I was raised Protestant, although the past few years I haven't really been sure what I believe.

Recently I've become curious about Catholicism, particularly because I'm realising that some of what I was taught about Catholicism growing up doesn't seem to accurately represent what Catholics actually believe.

I'd really like to hear from people who were previously Protestant and later became Catholic. What made you start questioning Protestantism, and what eventually convinced you that Catholicism was true?

I'm just trying to understand what I believe, and I'd particularly like to talk to people who have been through that process themselves.

Hey zcha! (That's a hard name to pronounce.)

I found this tab open on one of my many windows on my computer. I will FINALLY answer your query.

1) Introduction. I grew up as a low church Anglican. In university I was surrounded by a lot of evangelicals when I joined my first Christian youth group. After a couple of years I was introduced to the concept of a visible, hierarchical church. Eventually I began to refer to myself as an Anglo-Catholic, a term I thought I made up myself.
2) When I was 24 I married a cradle Catholic girl. (Well, not technically a "girl" anymore.) We attended the local rural Catholic parish for 14-15 years.
3) A friend from the parish gave me a little book called:

Confession of a Roman Catholic​

by Paul Whitcomb "A former Protestant minister\'s own gripping story--how he was led to the Catholic Church by reading his Bible." -- per amazon

I was mulling things over for a while so I read it a second time.
Here's what convinced me to become Catholic:
- Jesus established ONE Church
- His Church is a TEACHING Church
- It teaches with AUTHORITY

Those three things, well two actually, were the "final blow" that resulted in me, one Friday night in June 1996 at my first ever Tridentine Mass, being welcomed home into the Catholic Church. Although I no longer have a way of getting to the Traditional Mass I still find that I get more excited about being Catholic every year. Just to walk into a Catholic Church and see the Tabernacle is an amazing experience. Yes, God is all around us, but He is especially present in His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Tabernacle.
.

 

[zcha10]

Hey zcha! (That's a hard name to pronounce.)

I found this tab open on one of my many windows on my computer. I will FINALLY answer your query.

1) Introduction. I grew up as a low church Anglican. In university I was surrounded by a lot of evangelicals when I joined my first Christian youth group. After a couple of years I was introduced to the concept of a visible, hierarchical church. Eventually I began to refer to myself as an Anglo-Catholic, a term I thought I made up myself.
2) When I was 24 I married a cradle Catholic girl. (Well, not technically a "girl" anymore.) We attended the local rural Catholic parish for 14-15 years.
3) A friend from the parish gave me a little book called:

Confession of a Roman Catholic​

by Paul Whitcomb "A former Protestant minister\'s own gripping story--how he was led to the Catholic Church by reading his Bible." -- per amazon

I was mulling things over for a while so I read it a second time.
Here's what convinced me to become Catholic:
- Jesus established ONE Church
- His Church is a TEACHING Church
- It teaches with AUTHORITY

Those three things, well two actually, were the "final blow" that resulted in me, one Friday night in June 1996 at my first ever Tridentine Mass, being welcomed home into the Catholic Church. Although I no longer have a way of getting to the Traditional Mass I still find that I get more excited about being Catholic every year. Just to walk into a Catholic Church and see the Tabernacle is an amazing experience. Yes, God is all around us, but He is especially present in His Body and

 

[zcha10]

Thanks for sharing your experience and for taking the time to answer my questions. I've started RCIA now, so I'm beginning to learn more about the faith properly. At this point, I do think I'm likely to continue through the process and ultimately join the Church and become Catholic.