"I'm only Catholic because I was raised Catholic"

[elgnosis]

You’re right about that, but those 2 commandments pretty much wrap up those 10.

 

[Vico]

I grew up in a wonderful Protestant Church. When I became a Catholic it was with the realization that my Protestant Church was not wrong. It was just incomplete.

I’ll try to explain. I was taught “Faith” saves. This is correct as far as it goes.

The Catholic Church teach both Faith and Works are necessary for salvation. Works come from Faith.

I have lost nothing of the beauty of my previous faith and have gained “the fullness” of faith in the Catholic Church.

If rules bother you, think about what it takes to be an artist, a musician, an athete or how to accomplish anything worthwhile in this world. For instance, a successful musician, spents many many hours studying chords, scales - all the rules of good musicianship.

Before you cast away “the rules” learn what they are, what they mean, and how they are applied to your life. I look at the rules like telling a child “do not touch that stove” A child does not understand why the rule exists but if he disobeys that rule, he will be burned.

Have you read the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, which is a essential agreement between Catholic and Lutheran on justification?

Second paragraph of 4.7:38.According to Catholic understanding, good works, made possible by grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, contribute to growth in grace, so that the righteousness that comes from God is preserved and communion with Christ is deepened. When Catholics affirm the “meritorious” character of good works, they wish to say that, according to the biblical witness, a reward in heaven is promised to these works. Their intention is to emphasize the responsibility of persons for their actions, not to contest the character of those works as gifts, or far less to deny that justification always remains the unmerited gift of grace.
APPENDIXFor 4.7:The Good Works of the Justified (paras.37-39) (LV:E 66ff, VELKD 90ff)

• “But the Council excludes the possibility of earning grace - that is, justification - (can. 2; DS 1552) and bases the earning or merit of eternal life on the gift of grace itself, through membership in Christ (can. 32: DS 1582). Good works are ‘merits’ as a gift. Although the Reformers attack ‘Godless trust’ in one’s own works, the Council explicitly excludes any notion of a claim or any false security (cap. 16: DS 1548f). It is evident …that the Council wishes to establish a link with Augustine, who introduced the concept of merit, in order to express the responsibility of human beings, in spite of the ‘bestowed’ character of good works” (LV:E 66).
• If we understand the language of “cause” in Canon 24 in more personal terms, as it is done in chapter 16 of the Decree on Justification, where the idea of communion with Christ is foundational, then we can describe the Catholic doctrine on merit as it is done in the first sentence of the second paragraph of 4.7: growth in grace, perseverance in righteousness received from God and a deeper communion with Christ.

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

 

[aschaefer]

Learning about our Catholic religion is great adventure. There are many good programs on EWTN and on Relevant Radio. Take some classes at your parish. Join a prayer group. Visit a Catholic bookstore and read about the saints and Church history. It’s very exciting. Enjoy!!

 

[thistle]

So as an adult I am finally questioning Catholicism since as a child that was all I knew.
Sometimes I look at it as so complicated, so many rules, so many doctrines. so many details, so much “stuff” when all I want to do is have a relationship with God.
Where do I start when researching the history of the Church? I am not against it. I just want to justify why I believe it. I want a reason other than “because I grew up with it” as my reason for being Catholic. I want to embrace the “rules” and doctrines and all the “stuff” because I know it is right instead of begrudgingly “doing” them because I feel like I “have to” follow them. I don’t want to feel like yelling, “Gosh, let me just live my life!” when I learn of another “rule” I’m supposed to follow or another procedure I’m supposed to follow.

Where do I begin?

I recommend a book called We Believe…A Survey Of The Catholic Faith by Father Oscar Lukefahr who is a Catholic educator.

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Being a Catholic is not easy. It is a lifestyle. You never can stop learning the faith. The Church with its Dogma and Doctrine are there for 1 reason only. To get as many souls to heaven as possible. By abiding with the teachings the Church provides us, we can rest assured that we will end up in heaven. Take the time and extend the effort to grow in your faith.

 

[fred_conty]

So as an adult I am finally questioning Catholicism since as a child that was all I knew.
Sometimes I look at it as so complicated, so many rules, so many doctrines. so many details, so much “stuff” when all I want to do is have a relationship with God.
Where do I start when researching the history of the Church? I am not against it. I just want to justify why I believe it. I want a reason other than “because I grew up with it” as my reason for being Catholic. I want to embrace the “rules” and doctrines and all the “stuff” because I know it is right instead of begrudgingly “doing” them because I feel like I “have to” follow them. I don’t want to feel like yelling, “Gosh, let me just live my life!” when I learn of another “rule” I’m supposed to follow or another procedure I’m supposed to follow.

Where do I begin?

The more good books you can read, the better.
Don’t bite off more than you can handle.
If a book isn’t helping, then go to another.
One book at a time.

That is what it takes,…time.

Follow some threads here and you will get some good ideas and info which will tell you where to look.

Some of your really nagging questions can be answered by the Catholic Church’s Catechism.
Look in the rear index for subjects and read.

After a while, it becomes a habit that you like.

By the way I just want to tell you how lucky you are to be raised a Catholic.
You don’t have to get rid of any bad info before the good info. Quite a break.

Just a few ideas.

 

[fred_conty]

You can begin with this.
Bible History by Henry G Graham
Where we got the Bible
catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/wbible.htm

 

[Lord_Simpson]

If your after a “simple” way with God catholicism is definitely not for you! It’s got to be the most elaborate, complicated and generally unnecessary church on the planet, if your after simple I’d recommend something quite reformed like the Lutheran (is that what you say? ) church, Methodist church or my church the church of England, my church

 

[thebookofesther]

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
(1 John 5:1-4)

If you want a relationship with God you He’s right there in the Catholic Church waiting for you. Learn theology and your the more you know about Him the closer you will grow.

 

[Rhuarc]

The first thing that you have to accept is that no doctrine or dogma is arbitrary, and that disciplines (policies that “can” be changed) are usually one way rather than another because one way is simply better in practice than another.

Get a catechism, that will help.

Not to add that doctrine for the most part are things that are obvious and must be believed in to be Catholic. Like the Trinity and the Incarnation, those are blatant you must believe it. I like to think of doctrines like gravity. You can say you don’t like gravity because it causes you to fall, but you can’t say it doesn’t exist or you don’t believe in it because it is always there and is obvious.

I think most people think dogma and doctrine are things that are said that go out on a limb when in truth it is usually just basic things, again like the Trinity.

 

[Nicea325]

So as an adult I am finally questioning Catholicism since as a child that was all I knew.
Sometimes I look at it as so complicated, so many rules, so many doctrines. so many details, so much “stuff” when all I want to do is have a relationship with God.
Where do I start when researching the history of the Church? I am not against it. I just want to justify why I believe it. I want a reason other than “because I grew up with it” as my reason for being Catholic. I want to embrace the “rules” and doctrines and all the “stuff” because I know it is right instead of begrudgingly “doing” them because I feel like I “have to” follow them. I don’t want to feel like yelling, “Gosh, let me just live my life!” when I learn of another “rule” I’m supposed to follow or another procedure I’m supposed to follow.

Where do I begin?

Easily. Ask yourself this: Did Jesus express the same feelings?

Did Jesus’ say: I’m only Jewish because I was raised Jewish.

 

[aschaefer]

If your after a “simple” way with God catholicism is definitely not for you! It’s got to be the most elaborate, complicated and generally unnecessary church on the planet, if your after simple I’d recommend something quite reformed like the Lutheran (is that what you say? ) church, Methodist church or my church the church of England, my church

Why are you on this website if it’s a “generally unnecessary church on the planet.” Remember who started the one true Church and who started the Church of England!