Have you explored other religions?

[Julia1996]

Hi, Julia1996,

Only God is Absolute Truth. We, the human creations of God, get just a peek at His Truth and would do well to act as a mirror of God’s Love for all of humanity.
Easier said than done, though.
Now, when it comes to ‘proof’ we need to clearly identify just what it is we are looking for. It has been ‘proven’ over and over again that water boils at 212F at sea level. We can look around at the heavens and earth and clarly ‘prove’ to ourselves that we did NOT create these wonders - our parents did NOT create them - and no one has ever claimed responsibility for such creattion - except God (Gen 1).
Is Genesis 1 supposed to be taken literally or is it merely to show that God made the world? I know that water boils at 212F (100C) at sea level under normal conditions. In the same way, I know that no human could have created the heavens and the Earth. But the question remains whether God made the heavens and the Earth. I believe he did but many people don’t.
Now, there are those who claim there is no God and all of creation just happened. You just have to wonder why, there are these constant laws of nature that keep on showing up (e.g., water boiling at 212F at sea level - never at 211F or 214F but ALWAYS at 212F) and there NOT be a Lawgiver Who set all of this boiling poin up… Maybe this is not proof enough for some - but, the issue remains. Nature is predictable because of Laws that science finds and then tries to work with. This does not mean Science established water to boil at 212F - only that they found out that this is what it does - every time. There are many other predictable things in nature - and we have uncovered only a small bit. But, the more you look the more complex you find the universe, the world, yourself to be. Look around and what else do you see? There is this tendency for things to break down - bread will mold and decay, gravity and friction cause things to slow down and stop, things tend to become simpler and break down. So, I just wonder why we are still experiencing all of this complexity - through Laws in nature. There are those who will argue smartly about this just being the case - the reality of the situation - in an effort to deny the existence of the Divine Law Giver - or simply act that way. There are others who are greatful for all that God has created and has given to us. On such a division, all humanity will eventually separate.
What would happen if humanity were to separate? Wouldn’t it be like the Protestant Reformation where they are able to live side by side in society and peacefully disagree?
Proof is in the eye of the beholder - there exists today a group who officially proclaim that the earth is flat! theflatearthsociety.org/cms/ Really.
There are many people who believe many things and believe that it can be proved that they are right, but their proof contradicts with proof supporting another point of view, because neither person can find conclusive evidence that a certain point of view is correct and they have to rely on twisting the evidence to say what they want.
I think you have to carefully evaluate just what ‘proofs’ you are willing to accept. But, if you go about this in a random manner, or a simply wander through the Yellow Pages to find a church - this would be similar to you being placed in the middle of a forrest and told to find your way home - and then you put a blindfold over your own eyes. Your local parish priest can give you a lot of guidance that will help you evaluate your own understanding of truth - as you move closer to the Divine Truth of God. But, not everyone who asks about Truth is interested in really find out what or Who is involved.
Relax. I don’t wander through Yellow Pages or draw names out of a hat to pick a church. I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each church and evaluated how well their views are supported by the Bible. My parents on the other hand did literally go through Yellow Pages to find a church. We have gone to more than 10 churches in the last 6 months because for some reason or another, one of my parents doesn’t like that particular church and decides to move our whole family. I don’t agree with this practice any more than you do. That is why I started considering the pros and cons of the different churches to decide which church was right.
There is an intersting dialogue in John 18:35-38. Jesus is handed over to Pilate who then proceeds to question Him. Christ says a lot more to Pilate than He does to Herod. Pilate ends this questioning session by asking Christ, “What is truth?”. What makes this so interesting is that the Author of All Truth is standing right before him and he walks away not even waiting for an answer. The Truth does not usually come wrapped in the manner we are expecting - even if we consciously are seeking it. Most often we are over-taken by it - the real root of ‘suprirse’.
Then how do we know what the truth is?
God bless

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Julia1996,

It was difficult reading your post … font, pitch and color seemed to blend in rather well with mine. Now, it could be that I am just getting old … but, that isn’t going change for the better! So, please find another way to resond (oh, maybe even skipping some spaces to separate your comments from mine would be an improvement… )

So, let me address three of your items:

1.) Wouldn’t it be like the Protestant Reformation where they are able to live side by side in society and peacefully disagree? and…

2,) I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each church and evaluated how well their views are supported by the Bible. … and …

3.) Then how do we know what the truth is?

So, let’s see what we have … Protestant Reformation with folks living peacefully together, eh? Well… the reformation was anything but peaceful - the Thirty Years’ War is perhaps a classic example - here is a link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years’_War. Now, this is only one example - for hundreds of years things were not even close to being peaceful. So, we need to be historically accurate. Things may be peaceful now - but, nothing is to be taken for granted.

Supported by the Bible, eh? Well, you have about 20,000+ groups, assemblies, cults, ministries - all claiming to be the True Church and all claiming to use the Bible - and all claiming the other guys’ interpretations of the Bible are flase. Well, check this out: the Bible as you know it today did not exist before the year 400AD - and this is because the Catholic Church established the Canon under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This Bible remained unchanged until the 16th Century when the Protestants decided to remove certain books.

The Catholic Chruch just does not use the Bible, but also uses Apostolic Tradition (which existed prior to the first words of the New Testament being written) and the Magisterium which is the official teaching authority of the Catholic Church. In Matthew 16:18 Christ built His Church on Peter and promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail. Well, here we are 2,000 years later - and the Catholic Church is still teaching the same things it taught at the beginning.

Oooooooops - I have to go now… will return later.

God bless

Julia1996:

 

[FaithG]

Hi, Julia1996,

It was difficult reading your post … font, pitch and color seemed to blend in rather well with mine. Now, it could be that I am just getting old … but, that isn’t going change for the better! So, please find another way to resond (oh, maybe even skipping some spaces to separate your comments from mine would be an improvement… )

So, let me address three of your items:

1.) Wouldn’t it be like the Protestant Reformation where they are able to live side by side in society and peacefully disagree? and…

2,) I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each church and evaluated how well their views are supported by the Bible. … and …

3.) Then how do we know what the truth is?

So, let’s see what we have … Protestant Reformation with folks living peacefully together, eh? Well… the reformation was anything but peaceful - the Thirty Years’ War is perhaps a classic example - here is a link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years’_War. Now, this is only one example - for hundreds of years things were not even close to being peaceful. So, we need to be historically accurate. Things may be peaceful now - but, nothing is to be taken for granted.

Supported by the Bible, eh? Well, you have about 20,000+ groups, assemblies, cults, ministries - all claiming to be the True Church and all claiming to use the Bible - and all claiming the other guys’ interpretations of the Bible are flase. Well, check this out: the Bible as you know it today did not exist before the year 400AD - and this is because the Catholic Church established the Canon under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This Bible remained unchanged until the 16th Century when the Protestants decided to remove certain books.

The Catholic Chruch just does not use the Bible, but also uses Apostolic Tradition (which existed prior to the first words of the New Testament being written) and the Magisterium which is the official teaching authority of the Catholic Church. In Matthew 16:18 Christ built His Church on Peter and promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail. Well, here we are 2,000 years later - and the Catholic Church is still teaching the same things it taught at the beginning.

Oooooooops - I have to go now… will return later.

God bless

Tqualey, please remember to whom you are speaking! This is the enlightened girl whose quest for truth among religions has led her to the Catholic church, not away!

I barely have time to participate in forums anymore, with everything else - whew! - but I must interject. Tqualey, your devotion here is working against you. While much of what you said is correct for many people, it is not correct for all. It has been my exploration of other religions that has also led me to realize a truth in Catholicism I simply had not seen before. It is, moreover, my previous understanding of non-Catholic religions, that had helped me so much to comprehend Catholic philosophy. It was the comparison/contrast of Islamic “inlibration” and Catholic “incarnation” that a teacher presented that finally opened my eyes to help me comprehend the concept of the Divinity of Christ. The blank, rote dogma that the average Catholic presents would never have convinced me: I had heard it for years and years already. It was, rather, reading the Catechism, and speaking with Catholic theology teachers, and comprehending finally the metaphysical premises undergirding Catholicism that have been mirrored in pieces in other faiths and in quantum mechanics… just never all together. A very close friend of mine professes that “Other churches can have Truth; but the Catholic church offers the most complete Truth.” After 2 years of cautious exploration into Catholicism, I find I must concur, that Catholicism is more complete than any other Christian denomination that I have personally known. Catholicism, at its heart, encompasses the deep spirituality of Eastern religions, the inquisitive mind of philosophy, the get-to-the-root search through ancient manuscripts and original languages. It manages to include and embrace science and logic while maintaining a Divine awareness. It moves with the times, yet preserves a strong, conservative morality, which I love. In the words of Chesterton, “The Catholic Church, one finds, is bigger on the inside than on the outside.” How remarkably true!

Different people operate different ways. Yet, all of the people in this forum at least, have expressed the feeling that even after wandering, they finally came home. Do not fear exploration. A person truly questing Truth will hear God’s voice in their lives, and He will take them where they need to be.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Julia1996,

Sorry about the break … but, I’m back now…

I see that there is another view on how best to persue an objective … so, let me address this and then move on. You know… if everyone pulled the same way - the world would tip over. Everyone here on the list is an individual - with their own unique Soul specially created by God to serve His Divine Purpose. What ever took place prior to you getting here on CAF is your own history. What ever you read or experience on CAF you need to validate for yourself. So folks can sincerely make a mistake - and it would be a shame to mislead anyone.

So, whether you jump right into a thread or evaluate each post - the idea is that you are learning not only about doing reserch and evaluating sites you may not have experienced before - but you are learning about our Catholic Faith and how some respond to it.

I have addressed you in a candid manner suitable for an adult. I figure if you are old enough to get on CAF and ask the questions you are asking, you are old enough to get the best I have to offer. Not everyone agrees with that - and, that is fine with me. From this rich bounty you have a wonderous selection of ideas. Enjoy the feast!

3.) Then how do we know what the truth is?

Without a doubt - this question is the challenge not only of a life-time … but, holds the key for where we will spend all eternity. Reserching such a question with an open mind and heart is for those with a weak spirit. So, let me see if I offer you some ideas that may be helpful as you prepare yourself to answer your own question.

1.) Take your Bible and pray to the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to the Word of God before you start reading.

2.) Consider reading the Gospel of John first, and then go to Matthew, Mark and Luke. St. John gives such wide and dynamic view - and I think this helps set the stage for the Synoptics.

3.) Take a pencil and paper with you and write down those things that you want to get more information on. Write it down when you encounter the item and identify just what it is you need clarified. Some Bibles offer footnotes - check out this site: usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml I think you will find it both helpful and illuminating with all of the cross references provided in each chapters end-notes.

4.) Use the ‘Search’ feature at this site: catholic.com/ to put in a key word or phrase and see if your question has aleady been asked or the matter addressed in the form of a well-written article. Besure to take notes that you can review at a later time. Then finally …

5.) Put all of this together and reflect on Christ actually taking a simple loud-mouthed fisherman and putting him in charge of the Church Christ was going to found (Matt 16:18) and has lasted for about 2,000 years - and that the Holy Spirit would guide and protect Christ’s Chruch. Then you decide for yourself where the truth lies.

God bless

 

[tqualey]

Hi, FaithG.,

Thank you for your thoughts.

God bless

Tqualey, please remember to whom you are speaking! This is the enlightened girl whose quest for truth among religions has led her to the Catholic church, not away!

I barely have time to participate in forums anymore, with everything else - whew! - but I must interject. Tqualey, your devotion here is working against you. While much of what you said is correct for many people, it is not correct for all. It has been my exploration of other religions that has also led me to realize a truth in Catholicism I simply had not seen before. It is, moreover, my previous understanding of non-Catholic religions, that had helped me so much to comprehend Catholic philosophy. It was the comparison/contrast of Islamic “inlibration” and Catholic “incarnation” that a teacher presented that finally opened my eyes to help me comprehend the concept of the Divinity of Christ. The blank, rote dogma that the average Catholic presents would never have convinced me: I had heard it for years and years already. It was, rather, reading the Catechism, and speaking with Catholic theology teachers, and comprehending finally the metaphysical premises undergirding Catholicism that have been mirrored in pieces in other faiths and in quantum mechanics… just never all together. A very close friend of mine professes that “Other churches can have Truth; but the Catholic church offers the most complete Truth.” After 2 years of cautious exploration into Catholicism, I find I must concur, that Catholicism is more complete than any other Christian denomination that I have personally known. Catholicism, at its heart, encompasses the deep spirituality of Eastern religions, the inquisitive mind of philosophy, the get-to-the-root search through ancient manuscripts and original languages. It manages to include and embrace science and logic while maintaining a Divine awareness. It moves with the times, yet preserves a strong, conservative morality, which I love. In the words of Chesterton, “The Catholic Church, one finds, is bigger on the inside than on the outside.” How remarkably true!

Different people operate different ways. Yet, all of the people in this forum at least, have expressed the feeling that even after wandering, they finally came home. Do not fear exploration. A person truly questing Truth will hear God’s voice in their lives, and He will take them where they need to be.

 

[Julia1996]

Hi, Julia1996,

It was difficult reading your post … font, pitch and color seemed to blend in rather well with mine. Now, it could be that I am just getting old … but, that isn’t going change for the better! So, please find another way to resond (oh, maybe even skipping some spaces to separate your comments from mine would be an improvement… )

I am sorry, I didn’t know my posts were so hard to read. Is this better?

So, let me address three of your items:

1.) Wouldn’t it be like the Protestant Reformation where they are able to live side by side in society and peacefully disagree? and…

2,) I carefully weighed the pros and cons of each church and evaluated how well their views are supported by the Bible. … and …

3.) Then how do we know what the truth is?

So, let’s see what we have … Protestant Reformation with folks living peacefully together, eh? Well… the reformation was anything but peaceful - the Thirty Years’ War is perhaps a classic example - here is a link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years’_War. Now, this is only one example - for hundreds of years things were not even close to being peaceful. So, we need to be historically accurate. Things may be peaceful now - but, nothing is to be taken for granted.

I haven’t heard about that war. I will look at that link. Thank you. I meant that although the Protestant Reformation was not peaceful, people learned to sort out their differences and live with the fact that people will not always agree with them to produce the society you get today.

Supported by the Bible, eh? Well, you have about 20,000+ groups, assemblies, cults, ministries - all claiming to be the True Church and all claiming to use the Bible - and all claiming the other guys’ interpretations of the Bible are flase. Well, check this out: the Bible as you know it today did not exist before the year 400AD - and this is because the Catholic Church established the Canon under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This Bible remained unchanged until the 16th Century when the Protestants decided to remove certain books.

The Catholic Chruch just does not use the Bible, but also uses Apostolic Tradition (which existed prior to the first words of the New Testament being written) and the Magisterium which is the official teaching authority of the Catholic Church. In Matthew 16:18 Christ built His Church on Peter and promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail. Well, here we are 2,000 years later - and the Catholic Church is still teaching the same things it taught at the beginning.

I thought that they changed their mind about eating meat on a Friday. I read a thread about that somewhere here on CAF but I didn’t quite understand what they were talking about.

Oooooooops - I have to go now… will return later.

God bless

 

[Julia1996]

Tqualey, please remember to whom you are speaking! This is the enlightened girl whose quest for truth among religions has led her to the Catholic church, not away!

I barely have time to participate in forums anymore, with everything else - whew! - but I must interject. Tqualey, your devotion here is working against you. While much of what you said is correct for many people, it is not correct for all. It has been my exploration of other religions that has also led me to realize a truth in Catholicism I simply had not seen before. It is, moreover, my previous understanding of non-Catholic religions, that had helped me so much to comprehend Catholic philosophy. It was the comparison/contrast of Islamic “inlibration” and Catholic “incarnation” that a teacher presented that finally opened my eyes to help me comprehend the concept of the Divinity of Christ. The blank, rote dogma that the average Catholic presents would never have convinced me: I had heard it for years and years already. It was, rather, reading the Catechism, and speaking with Catholic theology teachers, and comprehending finally the metaphysical premises undergirding Catholicism that have been mirrored in pieces in other faiths and in quantum mechanics… just never all together. A very close friend of mine professes that “Other churches can have Truth; but the Catholic church offers the most complete Truth.” After 2 years of cautious exploration into Catholicism, I find I must concur, that Catholicism is more complete than any other Christian denomination that I have personally known. Catholicism, at its heart, encompasses the deep spirituality of Eastern religions, the inquisitive mind of philosophy, the get-to-the-root search through ancient manuscripts and original languages. It manages to include and embrace science and logic while maintaining a Divine awareness. It moves with the times, yet preserves a strong, conservative morality, which I love. In the words of Chesterton, “The Catholic Church, one finds, is bigger on the inside than on the outside.” How remarkably true!

Different people operate different ways. Yet, all of the people in this forum at least, have expressed the feeling that even after wandering, they finally came home. Do not fear exploration. A person truly questing Truth will hear God’s voice in their lives, and He will take them where they need to be.

I just wanted to add something. A few somethings, actually.

If a religion contains as much truth as the Catholic Church does, then as Faith G said, they will come home.

Another thing is this, if I hadn’t wandered, I would never have found the Catholic Church and been drawn to it.

Wandering in itself isn’t all that bad, because it gives someone the opportunity to see things from another point of view.

 

[Todd520]

Another thing is this, if I hadn’t wandered, I would never have found the Catholic Church and been drawn to it.

Wandering in itself isn’t all that bad, because it gives someone the opportunity to see things from another point of view.

If someone is wandering out of a sincere desire to grow, it is a sign of spiritual growth.

 

[Julia1996]

Hi, Julia1996,

Sorry about the break … but, I’m back now…

No worries. I read both posts together anyways. The time zone keeps everything neat.

I see that there is another view on how best to persue an objective … so, let me address this and then move on. You know… if everyone pulled the same way - the world would tip over. Everyone here on the list is an individual - with their own unique Soul specially created by God to serve His Divine Purpose. What ever took place prior to you getting here on CAF is your own history. What ever you read or experience on CAF you need to validate for yourself. So folks can sincerely make a mistake - and it would be a shame to mislead anyone.

The thing about CAF is that the threads are posted on. If someone sincerely made a mistake, it is very likely that someone would have pointed it out or at least questioned it. Even so, I will be careful and think about what I read.

So, whether you jump right into a thread or evaluate each post - the idea is that you are learning not only about doing reserch and evaluating sites you may not have experienced before - but you are learning about our Catholic Faith and how some respond to it.

Isn’t that the whole idea of CAF? For people to learn about the Catholic Faith? More than learning how some people respond to the Catholic Faith, people can give you a different perspective on things. Sometimes you come across ideas and questions that would never have entered your head had that person not posted it.

I have addressed you in a candid manner suitable for an adult. I figure if you are old enough to get on CAF and ask the questions you are asking, you are old enough to get the best I have to offer. Not everyone agrees with that - and, that is fine with me. From this rich bounty you have a wonderous selection of ideas. Enjoy the feast!

I don’t mind whether I am being addressed as an adult or being addressed as a child. The only difference it makes is in the amount of time taken for me to process the information, and I have lots of time.

Without a doubt - this question is the challenge not only of a life-time … but, holds the key for where we will spend all eternity. Reserching such a question with an open mind and heart is for those with a weak spirit. So, let me see if I offer you some ideas that may be helpful as you prepare yourself to answer your own question.

1.) Take your Bible and pray to the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to the Word of God before you start reading.

2.) Consider reading the Gospel of John first, and then go to Matthew, Mark and Luke. St. John gives such wide and dynamic view - and I think this helps set the stage for the Synoptics.

3.) Take a pencil and paper with you and write down those things that you want to get more information on. Write it down when you encounter the item and identify just what it is you need clarified. Some Bibles offer footnotes - check out this site: usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml I think you will find it both helpful and illuminating with all of the cross references provided in each chapters end-notes.

4.) Use the ‘Search’ feature at this site: catholic.com/ to put in a key word or phrase and see if your question has aleady been asked or the matter addressed in the form of a well-written article. Besure to take notes that you can review at a later time. Then finally …

5.) Put all of this together and reflect on Christ actually taking a simple loud-mouthed fisherman and putting him in charge of the Church Christ was going to found (Matt 16:18) and has lasted for about 2,000 years - and that the Holy Spirit would guide and protect Christ’s Chruch. Then you decide for yourself where the truth lies.

I will try to keep your helpful tips in mind. And as FaithG noticed, I have already decided for myself where the truth lies. The fact that I am on CAF, some of my post content as well as my religion line all show it.

Julia

God bless

 

[Disciple96]

If someone is wandering out of a sincere desire to grow, it is a sign of spiritual growth.

Maybe. It can be perhaps. But if I’m trying to get to Birmingham AL*, it won’t help me much to wander around Montana, beautiful though Montana certainly is. Wandering may be more a sign of discontent or confusion. At some point one might want to stop wandering and start seeking. Seeking not growth only but Truth. I say this as someone who wandered a very long time before she wandered into a Catholic bookstore and discovered a world she had never imagined existed. Praised be God! (Of course, there was that kick in the pants a dear friend gave me…I’d been working in that bookstore for a while with no interest at all in conversion. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?)

*Though why you’d want to… Well, we do have EWTN, there’s that.

 

[Julia1996]

Maybe. It can be perhaps. But if I’m trying to get to Birmingham AL*, it won’t help me much to wander around Montana, beautiful though Montana certainly is. Wandering may be more a sign of discontent or confusion. At some point one might want to stop wandering and start seeking. Seeking not growth only but Truth. I say this as someone who wandered a very long time before she wandered into a Catholic bookstore and discovered a world she had never imagined existed. Praised be God! (Of course, there was that kick in the pants a dear friend gave me…I’d been working in that bookstore for a while with no interest at all in conversion. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?)

*Though why you’d want to… Well, we do have EWTN, there’s that.

Wandering is basically seeking. You wouldn’t wander around unless you figured that there was a hope of finding something. The only difference is that in seeking you are blind to everything else, with wandering you are open to anything and everything.

 

[Todd520]

Maybe. It can be perhaps. But if I’m trying to get to Birmingham AL*, it won’t help me much to wander around Montana, beautiful though Montana certainly is. Wandering may be more a sign of discontent or confusion. At some point one might want to stop wandering and start seeking. Seeking not growth only but Truth. I say this as someone who wandered a very long time before she wandered into a Catholic bookstore and discovered a world she had never imagined existed. Praised be God! (Of course, there was that kick in the pants a dear friend gave me…I’d been working in that bookstore for a while with no interest at all in conversion. The Lord works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?)

*Though why you’d want to… Well, we do have EWTN, there’s that.

But in this case, they already visited Birmingham and didn’t like it. Maybe they grew up there? After they see more of the country, we hope they return to Birmingham and love it with all their heart and soul, love being with their family.

 

[Julia1996]

But in this case, they already visited Birmingham and didn’t like it. Maybe they grew up there? After they see more of the country, we hope they return to Birmingham and love it with all their heart and soul, love being with their family.

If they decide that they like Montana, then would you rather that they return to Birmingham and be unhappy there or that they live happily in Montana?

 

[Blue_Knight]

Well sometimes when I explore other religious beliefs I sort of feel drawn to them. I usually let this happen to myself so that I can understand their POVs of their beliefs.

But I am Catholic. Though I do have to admit that I find Mass boring…sometimes
I still kind of like what my priests talks about in the middle of the mass.

 

[tqualey]

Hi, Blue Knight,

Welcome to CAF! I think you will find this an excellent site for discussing various ideas and concerns about religion. Let me make two comments on your post.

Well sometimes when I explore other religious beliefs I sort of feel drawn to them. I usually let this happen to myself so that I can understand their POVs of their beliefs.

But I am Catholic. Though I do have to admit that I find Mass boring…sometimes
I still kind of like what my priests talks about in the middle of the mass.

1.) None of us can commit evil just for evil’s sake… we can only do something if we see SOME good in it. So, no matter how objectively evil - we ignore that when we sin - we just focus on the good we are focused on (no matter how objectively minor) and do it. Now, seeing some good in other religions is perfectly understandable - after all they have attracted others for many years. The issue, however is not there ANY good in it (of course there is - or it would have repelled everyone) but, just how solid are you in your own faith? If you are weak in this area, you are really just playing with fire - and you will get burned.

2.) If you are saying you are bored at Mass, it may be that these are not just inadvertant distractions but at least the beginning of disinterest. In my opinion, this is something you may want to address immediately. Some approaches would be to prepare for the Mass you are going to attend by reading Scripture passages that will be said at Mass. Take this time to think of what is involved with these passages and what is the Church telling us. Here is a link you may find helpful: usccb.org/nab/ Another approach would be to read about the lives of the Saints, especially about saints who demonstrated a great love for the Mass and Holy Communion. And, finally, make an appointment to talk to your local parish priest and tell him about what it is you are experiencing and seek his advice.

Hope this helps.

God bless

 

[ILOVEGOD1970]

I was born & raised Catholic and Catholic I will always be - GOD WILLING! However, I love to see how others interact with my GOD so I have explored other religions to a point. A non-denominational Church I do ministries out of ( for the poor, nursing homes, etc.) is a pleasant mix of Catholics & Protestants and we all get along.

HOWEVER, I thought it would be neat to explore some nearby Baptist Churches and stumbled upon a Fundamentalist Baptist Church nearby - OUCH! The people were beautiful in their love of GOD, yet hostile when they found out I was Catholic and the preacher did not limit his anger toward Catholics - he included every religion under the sun INCLUDING OTHER BAPTIST CHURCHES!!!

But I do love everyone who loves GOD - so what can I say?

 

[awantz]

I was raised in a Missionary Church and I tried many others, including Catholic. Although, I found my home in a non-denominational church.

 

[Julia1996]

I was born & raised Catholic and Catholic I will always be - GOD WILLING! However, I love to see how others interact with my GOD so I have explored other religions to a point. A non-denominational Church I do ministries out of ( for the poor, nursing homes, etc.) is a pleasant mix of Catholics & Protestants and we all get along.
That non-denominational Church sounds pretty nice. I went to one that was “non-denominational” but was comprised entirely of Baptists.
HOWEVER, I thought it would be neat to explore some nearby Baptist Churches and stumbled upon a Fundamentalist Baptist Church nearby - OUCH! The people were beautiful in their love of GOD, yet hostile when they found out I was Catholic and the preacher did not limit his anger toward Catholics - he included every religion under the sun INCLUDING OTHER BAPTIST CHURCHES!!!

But I do love everyone who loves GOD - so what can I say?

O.O. Sounds like you stumbled across the wrong Baptist Church. Some are more tolerant than others, although I think that being Catholic isn’t going to go over well in most of them.

 

[utep99]

I explored most of the Evangelical religions and although baptised Catholic I was out of the church for 35 years. I left at 14 and just came back at 49. I did alot of study and investigation and found that the Catholic church is the one true church. Most Evangelical religons were created in the 1800’s here in the US due to the Spiritual awakening. I have found tha the Catholic Church can trace a history to just under 70 years after Cheist’s death and resurection. The worst of it was however and this is no joke. Although I tried various churches I never knew peace in my heart. However on my first confession after 35 years I wept with joy and happiness. I never felt so at peace in my life. This is probly because I was a “cradle Catholic” in my early years. Hope it helps. God bless.

 

[Cinette]

I explored most of the Evangelical religions and although baptised Catholic I was out of the church for 35 years. I left at 14 and just came back at 49. I did alot of study and investigation and found that the Catholic church is the one true church. Most Evangelical religons were created in the 1800’s here in the US due to the Spiritual awakening. I have found tha the Catholic Church can trace a history to just under 70 years after Cheist’s death and resurection. The worst of it was however and this is no joke. Although I tried various churches I never knew peace in my heart. However on my first confession after 35 years I wept with joy and happiness. I never felt so at peace in my life. This is probly because I was a “cradle Catholic” in my early years. Hope it helps. God bless.

*I have not been posting for some weeks as I have been sooooo busy. Today is a public holiday here and I thought I would do some housekeeping on my computer and came across your posting.

Yes it is so exciting to be in the one true church. I had a back problem and had to keep still for a few days and it was precisely during the Pope’s visit to the UK which I taped from Sky News. (do you think my Guardian Angel organised this?) EWTN was slightly blurred and Sky had invited some excellent Catholic commentators. It was magnificent. In fact before the visit someone on Sky had said that the Pope was a PR disaster. Well the whole world witnessed what a “disaster” he really is. To be Catholic is not easy and in today’s world we are constantly under attack and it is important to really KNOW our Faith so that we can defend it.

God b*less all
Cinette