I don't get it...if you are a non-Catholic Christian, then why aren't you a Catholic Christian?

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I use to ask myself, Why wouldn’t EVERYONE want to be Catholic? It’s such a wonderful, beautiful way of worship and believing! But through the years, I started to realize, the reason I felt this way was because I felt such a perfect connection to the Church. I feel so close to God during Mass, and can easily apply to Church’s teachings to what I already held in my heart to be true. I started to realize the question I SHOULD have been asking all along is, Why wouldn’t EVERYONE want this kind of joy? The Catholic Church brings me this joy, and I just want EVERYONE to feel that close to God when they worship. If you feel that in a Lutheran pew rather than a Catholic pew, then so be it 🙂
 
First post! 🙂

Well, first of i’m born and raised in Sweden, and Catholism is not very common there.
Second, even though i admit that my faith have in a great deal been influenced by Catholism, i do not agree with some of the Catholic views on Christianity (but i do agree on most of them though 🙂 ).

That’s my two main reasons!
Have a nice day!

P.s Please excuse my english. It’s not my native language 🙂 D.s
 
desertPavel said:
I am the only Roman Catholic in my family. One of the biggest stumbling blocks for them is Church tradition: (1) they don’t understand the seeming complexities of the Mass; they think that the use of incense is pagan in spite of its Jewish roots,(2) they don’t understand Marian theology, (3) they don’t understand transubstantiation in spite of its strong Biblical basis and (4) they don’t understand the necessity of confessing one’s sins to a priest.

Fortunately, the issues don’t come up very often but when they do I am usually ready for their cliched questions.
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Likewise, I am the only Catholic in my family. My son respects it and goes with me to Mass from time to time. I have already planned my funeral Mass, and have made known other wishes, so he doesn’t have to deal with things he does not fully understand. He attends a Methodist church, though he was confirmed Lutheran(long story). We have a Baptist youth pastor who lives across the road. My son went with him to youth group and some summer Bible school programs when he was younger.

As for the rest of my family. Let’s just say that if I die in the near future, it is highly possible my brothers would not attend my funeral Mass. My father probably would.

It all makes for some interesting theological discussions!! Sometimes, it is best to hold your tongue. But, I, too, am ready to answer questions. The ‘digs’ can be a little hard to take at times.
 
AmateurPianist said:
Yeah, I intentionally was being ambiguous.

Well first there was no Lutheran church in the town where I grew up.

Second the group that was responsible for evangelizing me and leading me to Jesus Christ was primarily a Charismatic church in my community. So I guess you might say it is because the Lord started me down this path and I have seen no need to deviate from it.

No offense to either the Lutherans or Catholics here.
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Thanks for not being offended. And thanks for the frank answer. Fit’s nicely with what I had said in my earlier post. That it’s the Church you came to the faith in and you see no reason to change at this time.

I think Jimmy has started a very interesting thread. I hope it stays on target.👍

Peace
James
 
Roq12 said:
First post! 🙂

Well, first of i’m born and raised in Sweden, and Catholism is not very common there.
Second, even though i admit that my faith have in a great deal been influenced by Catholism, i do not agree with some of the Catholic views on Christianity (but i do agree on most of them though 🙂 ).

That’s my two main reasons!
Have a nice day!

P.s Please excuse my english. It’s not my native language 🙂 D.s
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Just curious - what church/churches do you attend? Your English is better than my French (college major)!!
 
Jimmy_B said:
http://fratres.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pope-benedict-xvi-blessing-of-the-host.jpg
I don’t get it…if you are a non-Catholic Christian, then why aren’t you a Catholic Christian?
This is a serious question, so please post your reason here… Please, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and to defend your own particular denomination.
I am not the only Catholic here at CAF, or elsewhere, who wonders and wants to know the answer to this question.
If any Catholics, or any converts to Catholicism here, have any insight to the answer, or possible answer(s) to this question, then please post a response here.
Your thoughts?
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Upbringing,

Familiarity,

Inertia.

(referring to others, not myself)

Most people do not examine their own faith, much less the alternatives. They just “belong”. It is where they feel at home.
 
BrianH said:
michaeldaniels is perfect proof of why these threads do not work. SOME Catholics simply cannot stand to have people give their opinions, when asked, and want, the ten thousandth thread on the same old same old questions.
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Agreed!

To michaeldaniels,
PLAY NICE - please!

Peace,
Linda
 
loneviking said:
Why? Because I believe that the RCC takes basic Biblical beliefs much farther than is warrented by the Scriptures. As a Lutheran, we share much in common with you folks. But, although (for example) we acknowledge, respect and learn from the ‘communion of saints’, we do not ask them to intercede for us as that something we do not find in the Bible. I find the Lutheran confessions and approach to Scripture to be correct, and so I’m not RCC.
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As an ex-Lutheran, I can say that we had no problem asking friends, neighbors, relatives, others in our congregation… just about anybody, to pray for us or someone else.

That is intercession and that form is not in the bible either. Asking for prayers from those who are not among us is no different. It is the power of prayer - magnified.
 
I “get” where the OP is coming from and made a list of reasons. FWIW - pride, prejudice, misinformation, culture, family, friends and interest.
 
And you and other people on this thread are classic examples of people, when faced with a difficult question, side step the question completely and your response is to attack the inquirer and try to discredit them…all the meanwhile, the answer remains a mystery. Maybe that is because there is no answer. You people remind me of the liberals on FOX news when asked a question they can not answer…they tell you anything but the answer to the question, and when you call them out on that, they resort to name calling and character assassination.
BrianH said:
michaeldaniels is perfect proof of why these threads do not work. SOME Catholics simply cannot stand to have people give their opinions, when asked, and want, the ten thousandth thread on the same old same old questions.
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michaeldaniels said:
And you and other people on this thread are classic examples of people, when faced with a difficult question, side step the question completely and your response is to attack the inquirer and try to discredit them…all the meanwhile, the answer remains a mystery. Maybe that is because there is no answer. You people remind me of the liberals on FOX news when asked a question they can not answer…they tell you anything but the answer to the question, and when you call them out on that, they resort to name calling and character assassination.
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Fox News has liberals…:eek:😃
 
shondrea said:
I use to ask myself, Why wouldn’t EVERYONE want to be Catholic? It’s such a wonderful, beautiful way of worship and believing! But through the years, I started to realize, the reason I felt this way was because I felt such a perfect connection to the Church. I feel so close to God during Mass, and can easily apply to Church’s teachings to what I already held in my heart to be true. I started to realize the question I SHOULD have been asking all along is, Why wouldn’t EVERYONE want this kind of joy? The Catholic Church brings me this joy, and I just want EVERYONE to feel that close to God when they worship. If you feel that in a Lutheran pew rather than a Catholic pew, then so be it 🙂
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I dare say that most of us who post on this board for any lengtj of time asks the same question…I often wonder how anyone would not want to be a Quaker? To sit in the Living Silence at meetiing and experience the Living Presence in our midst is an amazing experience…the simplicity of Friends worship to me is astounding…when I have attended a “liturgical” worship service…it is distracting to me and I have a difficult time staying “Centered”.

God meets us where we find ourselves.
 
Isn’t it amazing how two people with such different beliefs can agree on something so simple, Publisher? I suppose my view on this is, if you feel no sense of God in a particular church or worship, if you can’t make yourself believe with all your heart what is being said, I don’t think you can find God there, even if he’s right beside you. I have no doubt that, say, Methodists for example have found their undying love of God in their pews, and it is that church through which they feel they KNOW Jesus, not just KNOW OF. And I’m sure it’s the same for you! I know it is for me; I was raised a VERY poorly taught cradle Catholic, and knew NOTHING of the Mass or why we do what we do. But once I learned, I was amazed at just how much each movement and word I made meant to me. It felt so natural, so RIGHT :eek: But another person, perhaps, wouldn’t have that feeling of wholeness. I mean, i believe the Catholic church has fullness to offer, but the offer means nothing if you can’t find it.

Now when i go to Mass and genufelct to the tabernacle, I feel so humbled and awed, instead of just doing it cause Dad said so. Now when I kneel for prayer, I actually feel the desire to pray, and not just let my mind wander off because I’m bored.

I’m a firm believer that God uses all KINDS of ways to bring us to him! He just happened to bump into me in front of a crucifix!
 
michaeldaniels said:
And you and other people on this thread are classic examples of people, when faced with a difficult question, side step the question completely and your response is to attack the inquirer and try to discredit them…all the meanwhile, the answer remains a mystery. Maybe that is because there is no answer. You people remind me of the liberals on FOX news when asked a question they can not answer…they tell you anything but the answer to the question, and when you call them out on that, they resort to name calling and character assassination.
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Hi, Michael.

I think that others in the thread would like to allow others to answer the OP’s question without opposition to their answers. Since there cannot be any right answer for the purposes of the thread (many personal reasons come up in discerning a faith), it does not follow that we as Catholics should get argumentative about any belief or practice brought up in the thread. That’s not to say you don’t have valid points. They’re just derailing the purpose of the thread.
 
Jimmy_B said:
http://fratres.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/pope-benedict-xvi-blessing-of-the-host.jpg
I don’t get it…if you are a non-Catholic Christian, then why aren’t you a Catholic Christian?
This is a serious question, so please post your reason here… Please, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and to defend your own particular denomination.
I am not the only Catholic here at CAF, or elsewhere, who wonders and wants to know the answer to this question.
If any Catholics, or any converts to Catholicism here, have any insight to the answer, or possible answer(s) to this question, then please post a response here.
Your thoughts?
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Hi Jimmy,
I cannot add much to what my Lutheran siblings have already well spoken. I particularly want to second what Paster Gary said.
Just one thing estra: I consider myself a catholic - evangelical catholic - not currently in communion with the Bishop of Rome. I pray for the day when reconciliation between our communions makes that possible.

Jon
 
Because ever since they translated the Holy Bible into the common languages and have it in our hands to reflect on the need for any sort of denomination Roman Catholic or otherwise is extinct.

I have my Bible, I have God there is no need for anything or anyone else.
 
Jimmy_B said:
I don’t get it…if you are a non-Catholic Christian, then why aren’t you a Catholic Christian?
This is a serious question, so please post your reason here… Please, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and to defend your own particular denomination.
I am not the only Catholic here at CAF, or elsewhere, who wonders and wants to know the answer to this question.
If any Catholics, or any converts to Catholicism here, have any insight to the answer, or possible answer(s) to this question, then please post a response here.
Your thoughts?

I liked being a heretic.
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To answer the thread starter, there are lots of reasons why one would not be a Catholic. One would be that if you think the Bible has more authority than the Church. Also, if you believe the church has been corrupted over the past 2,000 years. Also, if you don’t believe that anyone should be able to make infallible decrees. There are LOTS of reasons NOT to be a Catholic.
 
michaeldaniels said:
How does one follow a church that was born out of a disobedient Catholic priest? He was a member of the One, True, Church…then became a heretic…and a new, entirely separate, false religion was founded based on him…how can one honestly and intellectually buy into this fake religion and his distortions on God? I am not trying to be inflammatory, I honestly want to know…because logically and intellectually, it doesn’t add up or make sense. How do you explain away his ordination and Catholic priesthood? Was he once a heretic in your opinion and then saw the light? How exactly does that work?
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Because all of us Protestants are obviously stupid and make absolutely no sense, that is why of course (see I am not evading the question).
 
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