Have you lived in "cosmopolitan" places yet been able to retain your Catholic Faith?

[3DOCTORS]

I’m curious about this because it seems like most people I know who either have lived in large cities, or perhaps traveled around with the military or for their work, tend to regard me as a sheltered, provincial type of person. Then the insinuation is made that because I haven’t really “seen the world,” my strong adherence to Catholicism is a product of a sheltered life. That if I really knew the realities of the big world out there, I would become more like the people who say these things.

Also there is the intelligentsia, people I met in the secular university in the liberal arts departments - the ones who boasted of having “outgrown” their Catholicism.

I’d love to hear from those who are able to “hold their own” in environments and locales and groups of people who look down on obedient and faithful Catholics as somehow unsophisticated or even brainwashed. How have you coped, both within your own mind keeping your spirits up and not feeling beaten down - and in defending the Faith openly to the pooh-pooh-ers? Thanks!

 

[Holly3278]

I’m curious about this because it seems like most people I know who either have lived in large cities, or perhaps traveled around with the military or for their work, tend to regard me as a sheltered, provincial type of person. Then the insinuation is made that because I haven’t really “seen the world,” my strong adherence to Catholicism is a product of a sheltered life. That if I really knew the realities of the big world out there, I would become more like the people who say these things.

Also there is the intelligentsia, people I met in the secular university in the liberal arts departments - the ones who boasted of having “outgrown” their Catholicism.

I’d love to hear from those who are able to “hold their own” in environments and locales and groups of people who look down on obedient and faithful Catholics as somehow unsophisticated or even brainwashed. How have you coped, both within your own mind keeping your spirits up and not feeling beaten down - and in defending the Faith openly to the pooh-pooh-ers? Thanks!

Tell them to tell that to Saint Paul who traveled all over the Roman Empire or to Saint Timothy who traveled all the way to India.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

My husband is in the military. Christmas Mass at Boot Camp was what made him want to learn more about Catholicism. We started RCIA together this past September. He was confirmed early, before he deployed. He has traveled a lot for his job. He went to a few cities for his training. He has been deployed to the Middle East (this is his 2nd deployment) He has traveled to several countries on vacations while growing up.
One of the things that he liked so much about Catholicism is that it is universal.

 

[Thomas_Casey]

Good subject for Back Fence