How many people here at Catholic Answers Forums...

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You didn’t give enough options, none of them fit me.

I came here as an ecumenically-minded person who defends all religions if I see them being unfairly attacked, including Catholicism. In some ways I felt more likely to defend Catholicism, since half my family is Catholic, and I am especially close to an aunt, who is a nun.

But after being here, and running into the “Deus vult” types of Catholics (which I’d never run into before), I tend to feel differently…though I would still defend Catholicism or any religion if I felt they were truly being unfairly maligned.

I do know one thing: while I would never have considered becoming a Catholic before (or any other religion), since having been here and read much more of what Catholicism believes, I know for certain now that it is a religion I could never accept, even if I were not already a religious person.

BUT I think it is a beautiful religion, with much spirituality in it, for those who are able to accept it.
 
Jimmy_B said:
How many people here at Catholic Answers Forums (CAF), started off by arguing against Catholicism and now defend Catholicism?

How many here at CAF, came looking as a non-Catholic and are now Catholic or considering Catholicism?

How many Catholics have returned to being more active as a Catholic, after visiting CAF?
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I know you really only like your choices:) but how about?

How many Catholics came because of attacks on their faith and are now better able to defend their faith after being here at CAF?
 
How about one that says, “How many Catholics came here already loving their faith and just wanted a place to gab, meet some new friends, and hang out ?”
 
Jimmy_B said:
I like that one too! 👍
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I thought you might:D

Can I use it as my answer to your poll?
:gopray2: (I know this a praying smiley but it reminds me of my kids, hands clasped saying please mommy pluuleese)
 
Jimmy_B said:
How many people here at Catholic Answers Forums (CAF), started off by arguing against Catholicism and now defend Catholicism?

How many here at CAF, came looking as a non-Catholic and are now Catholic or considering Catholicism?

How many Catholics have returned to being more active as a Catholic, after visiting CAF?
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Number 1 doesn’t apply since I didn’t come to CAF to argue against Catholicism. In fact, in other venues, I have had occasion to defend Catholicism even though I am a Lutheran.

Number 2 doesn’t apply either, since I am not considering converting to Catholicism.

Number 3 doesn’t apply to me since I’m not Catholic.

After that “nothing applies to me” response, I will say that I consider CAF to be one of the best religious forums that I have seen. God’s blessings to all who post here.
 
cheese_sdc said:
Need another poll option:

I came here as a catholic, and now I’m not.
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Me, too. I converted back in 1990, though I have not returned to the Prot. faith I was raised in (Baptist). I was a liberal Catholic and I have been convinced by the more conservative Catholics on this forum that (a) they don’t want me, and (b) I don’t belong there anyway. Benedict played a part in that too. I can see the RC becoming more rigid and entrenched in some ideas that I find contrary to my understanding of God. Indeed, I 've learned quite a bit here about the history of the Bible as well which has led me to futher research and to the conclusion that I can no longer say I believe it to be, in whole, divinely inspired. So I’ve changed a great deal though many would say it was for the worst. 😉
 
Swan said:
… I was a liberal Catholic and I have been convinced by the more conservative Catholics on this forum that (a) they don’t want me, and (b) I don’t belong there anyway. Benedict played a part in that too. I can see the RC becoming more rigid and entrenched in some ideas that I find contrary to my understanding of God. Indeed, I 've learned quite a bit here about the history of the Bible as well which has led me to futher research and to the conclusion that I can no longer say I believe it to be,… 😉
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Hello Swan,

Could you please share with us, some examples of what you are talking. For instance, what do you mean by “more rigid”.

Thanks 🙂
 
Swan said:
Me, too. I converted back in 1990, though I have not returned to the Prot. faith I was raised in (Baptist). I was a liberal Catholic and I have been convinced by the more conservative Catholics on this forum that (a) they don’t want me, and (b) I don’t belong there anyway. Benedict played a part in that too. I can see the RC becoming more rigid and entrenched in some ideas that I find contrary to my understanding of God. Indeed, I 've learned quite a bit here about the history of the Bible as well which has led me to futher research and to the conclusion that I can no longer say I believe it to be, in whole, divinely inspired. So I’ve changed a great deal though many would say it was for the worst. 😉
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You should not let rigid thinkers drive you from a forum or a church that rightfully belongs to you too, if you still regard yourself as a Catholic.

I never let people in Judaism drive me from the religion itself; if necessary, I just find another avenue within my faith in which I feel more at home.

There are MANY liberal Catholics and Catholic organizations, I have friends in some of them. If you’d like, I can put you in touch!
 
I came here contemplating RCIA and have decided based on the information I am reading on CAF that the Catholic religion is not for me. I will not bash it though. I respect other peoples belief. I never agreed when I heard other churches bashing the Catholic religion.
 
Carjack1 said:
I came here contemplating RCIA and have decided based on the information I am reading on CAF that the Catholic religion is not for me. I will not bash it though. I respect other peoples belief. I never agreed when I heard other churches bashing the Catholic religion.
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Hello Carjack,

I appreciate what you are saying but CAF, is not RCIA and it is not the Catholic Church. Could you please provide specific reasons for your decision?

Additionally, if you haven’t already, maybe you should set up an appointment and talk with a Catholic Priest. Also, of you haven’t already, go and attend a Catholic Mass. Moreover, reading the Catechism (it is available on-line) and also, reading what “real” Catholic Apologists write, like those found on the main page here at Catholic Answers, might help you better understand Catholicism.

I would like to, also suggest reading Thomas a Kempis’ book, the “Imitation of Christ” (which is also available on-line).

Good luck and may God bless you!

Peace 🙂
 
I came here as a non-Christian dating a Catholic, trying to figure out what his religion was all about. I found CAF to be a great source of information about Catholicism. Certain areas of the forum are much too intense for me, but the areas I hang out in (Catholic Living and the Water Cooler) are supportive and pleasant.

Since I started hanging out here last year, I’ve decided to convert. I started attending Mass this month. In case you’re curious about how I decided to convert, here’s my thought process:

First, my boyfriend is Catholic and he’s a good person. I must have been wrong about Christians being too conservative for me. Maybe they’re not all bad.

Then my boyfriend informed me that we’d have to get married in the Church and our kids would have to be raised Catholic, preferably going to Catholic schools. I came to CAF and looked around to learn more about what the kids would be learning, and decided I could agree to that.

I continued hanging around CAF because it’s addictive. People were so nice - much more supportive than my agnostic / atheist real life friends. Maybe this Christianity thing isn’t so bad after all.

Then I came to the realization that if Catholicism is good enough for my future children, it had ought to be good enough for me, after all. I figured I’d convert sometime after marriage, before having kids.

Then my life became really stressful, and I felt the need to pray more. I became worried about whether I’d have a future with my boyfriend and whether we’d ever get married. I realized that whether or not we got married, I’d want to become Catholic. I started attending Church. By the end of the summer, I’ll figure out my options for RCIA, and hopefully join the Church by next Easter.

Thanks for asking!
 
Just_wondering said:
I came here as a non-Christian dating a Catholic, trying to figure out what his religion was all about. I found CAF to be a great source of information about Catholicism. Certain areas of the forum are much too intense for me, but the areas I hang out in (Catholic Living and the Water Cooler) are supportive and pleasant.

Since I started hanging out here last year, I’ve decided to convert. I started attending Mass this month. In case you’re curious about how I decided to convert, here’s my thought process:

First, my boyfriend is Catholic and he’s a good person. I must have been wrong about Christians being too conservative for me. Maybe they’re not all bad.

Then my boyfriend informed me that we’d have to get married in the Church and our kids would have to be raised Catholic, preferably going to Catholic schools. I came to CAF and looked around to learn more about what the kids would be learning, and decided I could agree to that.

I continued hanging around CAF because it’s addictive. People were so nice - much more supportive than my agnostic / atheist real life friends. Maybe this Christianity thing isn’t so bad after all.

Then I came to the realization that if Catholicism is good enough for my future children, it had ought to be good enough for me, after all. I figured I’d convert sometime after marriage, before having kids.

Then my life became really stressful, and I felt the need to pray more. I became worried about whether I’d have a future with my boyfriend and whether we’d ever get married. I realized that whether or not we got married, I’d want to become Catholic. I started attending Church. By the end of the summer, I’ll figure out my options for RCIA, and hopefully join the Church by next Easter.

Thanks for asking!
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Best wishes and prayers for you on your journey.
 
None of the above for me! LOL

I was just curious as my mother was Catholic (died young) and I was baptized as infant. I did not know that much about the religion. However I am not comfortable with organized religion.

I have always been uncomfortable too with the way Mary is regarded by most of my non catholic religious friends, so I discovered a few things in that area, one of the reasons I checked it out. .

I must say though, I have learned some cool new words (in Latin too!), and I now know that the Tiber members are not a college swim team! :rotfl:
 
I’m another who couldn’t vote because none of choices applied to me.

I joined this site because one of my great grandfathers was Catholic and I wanted to learn more about the Church he belonged to and what he would have believed (great grandmother returned to the Church of England following his early death). And yes, I have learned. Thanks.

However, I have been surprised and saddened at the anger and animosity (on all sides) on some of the forums and threads. I thought this was in the past – but clearly it isn’t. This includes people telling others they have to believe certain things because that is what the Catholic Church teaches and that if they would study something they would come to the same view. Don’t think it does any good and certainly doesn’t change people’s views.

I enjoy participating in threads on the Catholic Living Forum where I find posters to be more supportive of a diversity of views and less likely to be directive, though often being very clear what their views are.
 
None of the above 🙂

I left the Church before I started posting, and if anything a sizable majority of posters here have done an excellent job of keeping me from wanting to have even the capacity to believe. Others, I can see they get a lot out of what they got and I’m glad for them, but it doesn’t seem to be my lot.
 
Auriel said:
…I now know that the Tiber members are not a college swim team! :rotfl:
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Hello Auriel,

Yeah, that’s not real clear here and for the longest time, I didn’t know what it meant either…I thought it was some sort of secret club…😃 .

Maybe you’ll join the Tiber Swin Team one day…

Peace 🙂
 
Jimmy_B said:
Hello Auriel,

Yeah, that’s not real clear here and for the longest time, I didn’t know what it meant either…I thought it was some sort of secret club…😃 .

Maybe you’ll join the Tiber Swin Team one day…

Peace 🙂
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What is Tiber Swim Team then?🙂
 
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