If you weren't raised Catholic, but still Christian, how open to Catholicism would you be?

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There are far too many branches of Christianity and family dynamics to really answer this. An Episcopal might be very open … An Evangelical, totally resistant. Plenty of in between.
 
It’s probable that I wouldn’t be Catholic today if I hadn’t been raised in the Faith. I was heavily influenced by popular protestant talking points (“man can’t forgive sins”) that I doubt I would have heard the Church out if I hadn’t already been exposed to it.
 
I would rather not try to change this thread into a Catholic teaching “what I think and what you think” kind of thing. But rest assured, it is not a singe “I do not like that” thing but a series of things through a few years that made me come to that conclusion. And with the numerous “self appointed apologists” on CAF (which I for some reason constantly read), they are still not there yet. Start a thread on it and I will add my experience/opinion.
 
The specific words I used “does not add up” can be altered to something more universal. And it is not just me. That is for sure.

Now that I think about it, maybe you are right. Threads are normally on one topic. People would ask a specific question that “would not add up for me” and after 200 posts I am thinking okay let us assume that and go to nr 2 of 200.

Yes probably not that easy. But already this is of topic.

Regards
 
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SunshineGrandma said:
I was born Catholic
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Technically speaking, this is not possible. People are not incorporated into the CC until they are baptized, which is why many of us are referred to as “cradle Catholics”. We became Catholic infancy at our baptism.

There are some infants born to Catholic parents that, for whatever reason, are not baptized.
 
Yes. That’s one of the reasons I joined the Catholic church. I know how I am. I need the rigor. “You WILL be in church on Dec. 8 or you’re going to hell.” Geez…well, ok.
 
You are correct. Hopefully, other posters understood what I meant.
 
My soul has been a Catholic all my life but my body and mind took sixty years to be baptised.

I personally couldn’t have been a Catholic any sooner and it’s fine.
 
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I’ve gone with her and have observed her uncle “ushering” usually talking in the back about the up coming Vikings game. Or how the twins did the night before.
 
RealisticCatholic said:
[…] most of us have at least some religious traditions in mind that we don’t feel the need to explore because it’s just “obviously too out there.” Would Catholicism be like this for you, too?
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I think if I was raised protestant but was otherwise me – which is an impossible hypothetical, but never mind that – that over time I would recognize my protestant version of Christianity as a stripped-down, bare-bones, and twisted version of Catholicism. As I see it, when you convert from protestantism to Catholicism, you gain a tremendous amount while you lose very little. And the few things that you do lose are things that don’t make much sense anyway. Mostly you lose some “rights”: to decide for yourself what scripture means, to decide for yourself that divorce, contraception, etc. are okay., to be against authority; such things. And you lose that rally-like atmosphere that you get at evangelical services. If that’s your thing, I guess Catholicism won’t be.

Anyway, the way you phrased your opening post gives me the impression that for you the underlying question is: What can the RCC do to be more attractive to convert to for protestants. But the RCC isn’t meant to be attractive for potential converts; She’s meant to represent the Truth. She’ll be attractive anyway to those who recognize the Truth, and such people will convert. The RCC need not (and should not) make any adjustments to accomodate those who are skeptical. The point is not to be harsh; the point is that we cannot make the Truth subject to whether or not it is easy on modern sensibilities.
 
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Dhc8_Type said:
have observed her uncle “ushering” usually talking in the back about the up coming Vikings game. Or how the twins did the night before.
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So? Granted, it might be better to pay attention to the Mass, but decades ago when I was in choir I remember going out in the hall with my friend and quietly chatting till it was time to sing the next response or hymn.

It’s normal to be a little social, and when the person is going out of their way to volunteer for the Church, it’s petty to complain about them talking a little about sports during their “break time”.
 
Personally I have converted to Catholicism from Protestantism. I would consider myself quite open towards Catholicism. I were, as well as someone else I know, at the time seeking something more conservative and traditional than Protestantism. We wanted to find the Church that have existed all the way since Jesus established His Church. The Church also offers so much more for those who are faithful through sacraments and the holy mass. As a Protestant I could talk to the priest if I needed to, but as an example there weren´t in such a way practiced a ritual like confession. I could probably have gotten one if I asked for it, but for me, it seemed like most people didn´t. I know for sure that I, in all of my sin is in need for sacraments like confession. It´s worth mentioning that there are also a lot of other beauties of Catholicism as well that attracted me or any other convert.

I think a lot of people today are affected by secularism would might be more sceptical towards the Church and others who claim to know the Truth. I, myself believe that there is a Truth, in difference to the relativism that some people refers to.

Another issue of today´s society is that, as Bishop Robert Barron once said something that sounded not very different from this; that people try to replace God with other things to fullfill their need for God.

Scandal is something that affects what people think of the Church. That´s why we have to make sure these things won´t not happen in such a way that we have seen until now.

Anyhow, we should never stop evangelizing even though we are met with doubts. If we give them the truthfull answer well explained, then that might help someone know what the Church really stands for.
 
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Well, I’m a convert, so I was obviously open to it.

I’m opposite of you. Irreverence and lax moral teaching is exactly why I’m becoming Catholic. My Baptist upbringing was far too focused on good feelings. Good feelings don’t help us navigate the moral challenges of everyday life.

The road has been challenging. Accepting Catholic moral teaching has had a tremendous impact on my life and the life of my family, but it has been worth it.
 
Speaking just for myself - as I was in this situation. It took until I was away from the Protestant church before I could be open to Catholicism. Similarly to you cradle Catholics you wouldnt dream of going elsewhere as that’s all you know and (hopefully) it’s been a good experience thus Far. I had been told nothing but negative things about RCC by my mother whose own,catholic, mother had been basically shunned by the family for marrying a Protestant. Then when I became a Christian I joined a Methodist church and that obviously just is involved with worship within that church and reaching out to other it doesn’t invite you to explore other denominations although it is open to shared worship and ecumenical fellowship (for example we had a joint good Friday service with catholic and church of England churches in our village. When I went to uni I fell into the free church and evangelical movement which tells you straight up that sola scriptura is the only way. I also encountered young calvinists on a weekend retreat who believe in pre destination which I found monstrous. I know many other Protestants who are in a sliding spectrum between Catholics are lost, and Catholics are fellow Christians. What is common to all of them is that they are unaware of real catholic teaching. When I fell away from church altogether I felt I had come home when I started working at a catholic school and I began conversion in less than a year. It was an absolute no brainer.
 
I converted to Catholicism after being raised Episcopalian and then Lutheran, so I guess that’s as open as it gets…

OTOH, there are people raised in devoutly Catholic homes who choose to leave the Faith for another. So, I don’t think there is really a reliable predictor of these things…conversion or the active decision to remain in your faith is so unique and individual; influenced by perhaps an almost infinite number of things…
 
I’m sad to say that if I had to do it over again, I would not have converted to Catholicism. I count it as one of the greatest mistakes of my life. I love Jesus, but I no longer believe that Catholicism is where I can truly grow spiritually or develop a fulfilling relationship with Christ. I didn’t fully appreciate Catholicism, as a culture in the beginning. My spirit has been restless for about five years. In the new year, I have a tough decision to make about my faith and whether I will remain Roman Catholic.
 
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I wasn’t raised Catholic but became one last year. If I had took the time to research the child abuse scandals or if things like the Pennsylvania coverup had hit the media like it did this year- - - I definitely would’ve never joined the Catholic Church.
 
That is sad to hear. I would want you to read some good literature on Catholicism, talk to a priest about your situation and pray, pray a lot! I hope you will discover the good sides of Catholicism as it is the Church closest to the divine truth. I am going to pray for you tonight. May God bless you and enlighten your heart and mind.
 
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