I would like to know your "Spiritual background"

[RWMorris]

What religion were you raised in? Assembly of God

Are you now Catholic? Yes, since Easter 2006

Why or why not? I found the Church Jesus founded, and I just had to join!

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)? I’m not sure what “goat” means, but I was basically an atheist in my 20s.

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence? It was the first Catholic belief that I found easy to believe. Reading John 6, and with Scott Hahn’s help, it was like the Holy Spirit hit be with a hammer and asked, "There, are your eye’s open now?"

And anything else you would like to add… Thanks…

I’ve found that most Catholic beliefs are based just as much on reason as on faith. The latest barrier to fall for me was ABC, and the proper role of sex in marriage. That one was tough for me. I guess I read too much B.F. Skinner, Hugh Hefner, and watched too much Hollywood garbage in my youth. Reading these forums really help, as does prayer and study.

 

[strngrnrth]

I would like to better know the people who come to these forums…

What religion were you raised in?
No religion; my elders thought of it as a bad subject and lectured me against it very bitterly all the time.
Are you now Catholic?
yes.
Why or why not?
Because my journey slowly led me here.
Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?
I was even starting to get interested in satanism briefly long ago before I became a Christian.
What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?It’s true.

And anything else you would like to add… Thanks…

 

[RebeccaJ]

What religion were you raised in? Mormon

Are you now Catholic? Yes

Why or why not? God somehow got me here.

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)? Yes, I was an atheist for many years.

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

 

[Curious]

What religion were you raised in? Not really anything - sort of vaguely Christian with no church affiliation. I started going to a Baptist church on my own at about 14.

Are you now Catholic? No

Why or why not? Because it’s not Easter yet. :banghead:

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)? Yes

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence? Well I think it’s just fine. I like it.

 

[Pug]

What religion were you raised in?

My mother was mostly United Methodist and my father seemed to have no religion, but now I know that he had some Christian background in his childhood. As a child, I also attended a Congregational style church.

• Are you now Catholic?*

Yes.

• Why or why not?*

God directly lead me here. I’m very grateful for that.

• Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?*

A “goat” to me is someone who omits to do certain things, who omits to give a glass of water to someone, who omits to visit those imprisoned, etc. I omit things all the time. That is a hard saying, because I could do more. Sometimes I omit more, sometimes less in my life. Rarely have I omitted every form of service or kindness. But I did little of it in high school. I was angry and all I wanted to do was escape.

• What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?*

I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

 

[Syele]

I would like to better know the people who come to these forums…

awesome thread

What religion were you raised in?

I was raised in a church that called itself “inter-denominational.” By High School we moved to a new state and in the new place, there was no church that called itself that… so I went to a non-denominational church,

Are you now Catholic?

No

Why or why not?

I don’t agree with all Doctrines of the Catholic Church. There was a time I considered converting, but it was for the wrong reasons.

Did you ever go away from Jesus…

Yes, God once told me audibly to go to India. I didn’t want to go. I freaked out. (I think I kinda know how Jonah felt!) When God spoke to me I went to the nearest church (failed to check what sort of church till later ) They said God doesn’t speak to people anymore and I Should see a doctor. they prayed with me that Id stop hearing voices. I didn’t doubt my sanity or even that it was God but I had no intention of going to India! I found that every sermon at every church I went to after that appeared to be about people not doing what God wanted them to do… (Can we say feeling guilt?) SO I quit church.

One day the most annoying pentecostal woman I ever met started working at my job. She was always nagging me to become a Christian. I just ignored her… I still considered myself Christian and I wasn’t gonna tell her anything about me. Then one day she showed up to my house. She said “I was praying for you today and God told me you are His daughter and not a non-Christian but you are running away, and He says its time to come home.” Then she turned around and left. It didn’t take long from then for me to repent, I told God Id go if he made it “fall into my lap.” 3 days passed and I got a phone call from my aunt ( I never told her any of this) she was demanding to know why I was going to India and when… she said God had told her to pay for my trip. Nothing in my life has built my faith and been more wonderful than that trip. Hard to believe now I ran from it!

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

I think God is all-powerful and can do anything He wants. I believe we are commanded to eat the bread and drink the cup just as Jesus did at the last supper and we are to take it all very seriously. What I think actually happens or doesn’t happen is irrelevant. My part is to obey and take it seriously and it’s God’s part to do whatever He wills to do with it.

 

[emeraldcoast]

I would like to better know the people who come to these forums…
Great idea, distracted!

What religion were you raised in? Episcopal Church

Are you now Catholic? No

Why or why not? For starters, I have no reason to leave my church. I would be a fantastic Cafeteria Catholic if I joined the Catholic Church.

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)? Did someone say “goat”???
The Goat is Old & Gnarly

The Goat is old & gnarly & he’s never been to school,
But He can take the bacon from the worn out Army mule;
He’s got no education, but he’s brimmin full O’fight,
& Bill will feed on Army mule tonight!
Army, Army, call the doctor (x3)
You’re all in down and . . .
Whoa Ensign had a break today, no??
Take one!!
Army, Army call the doctor,
You’re all in, down & out!

Go Navy! Beat Army!

Sorry but the Navy wife in me of an USNA alumni came out…
Back to the question-- No, I have never lost my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior.

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence? I believe this as well.
The following is from the Episcopal Church website-- episcopalchurch.org/19625_15164_ENG_HTM.htm
The 1991 statement of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission notes, “The elements are not mere signs; Christ’s body and blood become really present and are really given. But they are really present and given in order that, receiving them, believers may be united in communion with Christ the Lord.”

God Bless!

 

[Denae]

What religion were you raised in?
Catholic. My mother is a Roman Catholic and my father is a Baptist. He didn’t want my sisters and I to be baptised, but my mother firmly put her foot down.

Are you now Catholic?
Yes I am!

Why or why not?
Because it’s the Church that Jesus Himself started.

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?
Yes I have. And God led me back to Him.

**What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence? **
Completely, 1,000,000% true.

 

[thirdn6]

Another profiling,

What religion were you raised in?
Roman Catholic. Father and mother were both catholics.

Are you now Catholic?
Absoluuuutely!

Why or why not?
Jesus, the Lamb of God, in the Eucharist.

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?
Yes. And oftentimes I grabbed my forehead feeling if I was beginning to grow some horns. But the HS had always a rasp in His toolbox.

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?
Brings me back to His time every Sunday, 2000 years ago!

God bless, everyone!

 

[swariffin]

I would like to better know the people who come to these forums…

What religion were you raised in?

Are you now Catholic?

Why or why not?

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

And anything else you would like to add… Thanks…

What religion I was raised in?
For the first 9 years, in confucianism. Being baptised Catholic just because I enter the Catholic School. My Mom was also baptised with me, but did not know much about Catholicism in term of knowledge. My Dad continued to be an Atheist and following a cult such as a “medicine man” of the American Indian until 1984. My Dad had some sort of magic power which made him “immune” to sharp weapon under a certain magic spell.

Am I a Catholic now?
Yes, after being a cradle catholic from 1975 until 1990’s.

Why?
Because I did not care about God, did not even bother to think about God.

Did I ever go away from Jesus?
Yes indeed. My life as a cradle catholic was a shame to the Catholic church. Even after I learned much about Catholicism, I was still fall into the “night life” of the big city. But, Jesus called me back to where I am now.

The real presence?
Yes, I do believe that, because Jesus said it himself. Transubtantiation is just a matter of explanation.

Addition?
During my empty years being a craddle catholic, I joined the JW for about a year, but finally found it to be unacceptable to me.

BTW, are you running a research? Let me know if you need more info.

 

[cheese_sdc]

Interesting answers, everyone! Here’s my addition.

What religion were you raised in?

Catholic.

Are you now Catholic?

Nope. Stopped attending mass February of this year.

Why or why not?

I struggled with Catholicism for years after I left the seminary. Seminary was really an eye opening experience - I saw that priests really only cared about power (see this post for more information). Finally I could not muster the faith to say the creed and communion was like eating ashes. So I stopped. I’ve been going to the local Unitarian Universalist Church since then.

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?

I don’t think that way. Do I do my best to honor the Divine Spark in every person? Yes. If I fail, is there a judgmental God taking notes so I can be punished? No.

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

You know, I honestly don’t have a problem with it. If you consider the gospels to be historically true, then it seems to follow Jesus’ teaching. Besides, there is something wholesome about Divinity becoming our very food.

 

[cheddarsox]

I would like to better know the people who come to these forums…

What religion were you raised in?

Are you now Catholic?

Why or why not?

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

And anything else you would like to add… Thanks…

I was raised Catholic by very dedicated practicing Catholic parents.

I stopped attending regularly at age 20, over 20 years ago.

I am no longer a Catholic because I do not believe that what the church teaches is the literal truth about the Divine. While I think it is a great spirituality, I do not believe it to be Ultimate Truth, and cannot profess it as such.

Goat? Not sure what YOU mean by that. Since I don’t accept that Jesus was/is the ONLY Divine incarnation…etc, I guess that automatically puts me in the goat pen. I never pursued a lifestyle of debauchery, or mocked Christ, or purposefully went against his teachings, so you decide.

I accept and always have the teaching of Real Presence. I don’t think it is limited to the Catholic church however. (I guess my horns and beard are showing)

I am a practicing pantheist, so my concept of the Divine are very different from Catholicism, and my relationship to it, is very different than what I was taught (but never quite believed) while growing up.

I enjoyed growing up Catholic, I like the ritual, and the spiritual and moral teachings of the faith, it was very interesting and set a good spiritual foundation, but I do think the mysterious/magical aspects end up smothering much of the good.

 

[b_justb]

distracted:

What religion were you raised in?

I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness.

distracted:

Are you now Catholic?

Yes.

distracted:

Why or why not?

Because I listened to God’s call. Intellectually I pursued studies in historic Christianity which left me with 2 choices. I chose to be in full communion with the Roman See.

distracted:

Did you ever go away from Jesus… (in other words, were you ever a “goat”)?

Yes. I was baptized into the when I was 19 or 20. It was within a year I was an Olympic Gold Medalist Sinner. I stayed away swimming in the muck and mire until I was 35. And then came home when I was 38.

distracted:

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence?

I think it is spot on. Every single Christian for over 1500 years believed and taught this simple Truth. It was only with Zwingli ideas that it was altered. Lord have mercy.

 

[distracted]

I’m Jewish.

My husband was raised Baptist, then became 7th Day Adventist before I met him, and a few years before we met, he converted to Orthodox Judaism.

so what is your main interest at Catholic Forums?? I mean, if you are Jewish, why the interest in a Catholic forum??

 

[distracted]

You know, I honestly don’t have a problem with it. If you consider the gospels to be historically true, then it seems to follow Jesus’ teaching. Besides, there is something wholesome about Divinity becoming our very food.

I believe that if you had ever spent much time with Jesus at the Blessed Sacrament, you would not have left the Church…

I wanted to leave several times (though never in the beginning… some things happened recently… Long story)… and it was the Real Presence, primarily, that (who) kept me from thinking about leaving… I would never ever leave Jesus in the Real Presence… His presence is more real than the presence of human beings… and He changes “things” for me there… (Long story) … well, i cna’t describe the Real Presence… :whacky: something you just know or don’t know from experience…

I pray you (andeveryone) find your way to Him There… God bless…

 

[teancum79]

I was raised LDS

I am not catholic

I believe that God can speak to man and does through his current prophet.

I’m far from perfect, but I have tried to stay close to the Lord.

I’m still learning more about the “real presence” so I can’t really answer that question.

 

[distracted]

I was raised Catholic by very dedicated practicing Catholic parents.

I stopped attending regularly at age 20, over 20 years ago.

I am no longer a Catholic because I do not believe that what the church teaches is the literal truth about the Divine. .

Hmm… i just wonder what caused you to come to this… place… of disbelief?? I’ve had my problems with the Church, but never left… It always fascinates me why one person will leave and another stay…

just wondering…

 

[distracted]

emeraldisle:
have you ever spent time at the Real Presence?? If you haven’t, you should not say that it is un-bibilical… or whatever…

As stated elsewhere, the Real Presence is more real to me than the presence of human beings…

Only one who has spent time there (not just a minute or two)… would understand that…

 

[distracted]

.), so I took it for granted. Now, however, I better understand my faith. I now appreciate the richness of the Catholic Church. I’m trying to learn a little Latin as well!

i could say the same thing… and probably many others here…

Thanks… your post was very uplifting… esp after reading about so mnay who reject the faith… I can’t help but think they don’t know what they are doing… just being honest…

 

[distracted]

What do you think about the Catholics’ belief of the Real Presence? It was the first Catholic belief that I found easy to believe. Reading John 6, and with Scott Hahn’s help, it was like the Holy Spirit hit be with a hammer and asked, "There, are your eye’s open now?"
]

Out of time but thought i would say:



thanks…