Investigating Catholicism

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I was brought up in a protestant household. was baptised. and went to church regularly as a youngster but later rejected religion and became an atheist.

In my advanced years I have begun to have doubts about my atheism and am now searching to see if there is something beyond which gives meaning to our lives.

Is Catholicism the answer ? I am investigating various religions.

I would like to know the forum’s thoughts on this.

Regards
 
As an investigator, what is it you would hope to find in a perfect religion?

(Welcome to the forum, hope you find it interesting.)
 
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I don’t know if you have ever read “Mere Christianity”? I think that’s a very good intro to religion and Christianity.
 
I guess the thing that I personally don’t understand about atheists, is how do they feel such certainty about the lack of a Divine Being? How do you know for sure?
 
Same boat OP. I was additionally brought up around some anti-Catholic beliefs. I am putting my faith in the Catholic Church as I don’t see anywhere else to go. They have the Eucharist, and in a way the buck stops there.
 
There is no way to scientifically prove that any religion is true or that it is better than other religions. However, I personally love the Catholic faith because it’s not just a set of rules, it’s a life centered around the Eucharist. The miracle that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to die on the Cross for our sins, and that this Paschal Mystery is recreated at every Mass when Jesus again sacrifices himself and enters into communion with us, is so beautiful and unique to Catholicism. No other religion has anything like it.
 
dah48 said:
Is Catholicism the answer ?
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You’re the only one who can answer that.
I can’t think of any way to help explain it other than to say that Catholicism has everything there is to have in Christianity. The others have parts and pieces, but none are as comprehensive.
 
dah48 said:
In my advanced years I have begun to have doubts about my atheism
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I think you recognize that atheism naturally leads to an absence of values, and life becomes meaningless. That is a good start. There are good books out there about the topic, such as The Godless Delusion by Patrick Madrid.
 
My recommendation would be to attend a Mass. Do not go up for the Eucharist and standing and kneeling are optional for you. Sit near the front so you have a good view but can also see what others are doing.

You can read up on the Mass before hand if you’d like or afterwards. Come here with questions if anything is confusing. One thing I like about the Catholic Mass is there isn’t the “love bombing” one gets at Protestant churches (not all do this but my experience is about 3 out of 4 do)!

There are many books that explain Catholicism. Depending on your knowledge of Christianity in general, many here can make recommendations. Questions are encouraged! Some Protestant churches don’t like too many questions and some are glad to answer even the tough ones.

At some point, if you decide you want to enter the Catholic Church, there is a process you go through called RCIA. The classes require no commitment but they go much further into faith formation. Enjoy your explorations. One of these churches will feel like home. Give it time then Go with that one!
 
“They” who? The OP? He specifically called himself an atheist, not an agnostic atheist. I was kinda hoping the OP might answer.
 
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DO NOT put your faith in anything but the saving graces of God through Jesus Christ. The Bible says over and over that Jesus is THE WAY back to God. Your church and priest will support you in your walk with our Lord but they cannot take His place. I have asked God for help with my struggles when I haven’t known what to do or where to turn. He reminded me that “ When you do not know what to pray the Spirit intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.” Take comfort that God steps in for you when you don’t know what to pray. He only needs know that you’re yearning for Him. Whisper Jesus over and over to yourself if you can’t sleep. Blessings on you!
 
I encourage you to keep investigating. For me, that involved internet searches, listening to Catholic radio, EWTN television, reading, reading and more reading! Finally, I attended a Mass and knew I had found what I was searching for. (I had been Baptist, so I had that starting point.) Keep searching!
 
Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Do your own research and go where you feel the Spirit leading you. As Jesus says, the Truth will set you free.

RCIA is a pressure free environment that can answer your questions and help you make an informed decision.
 
Yes, I second the recommendation to listen to Catholic radio. That’s really how I understood the faith.
 
It’s a good book, but I would recommend Fr Knox’s The Belief of Catholics over it.
 
No doubt, they are both good. They do serve different purposes, as the names themselves suggest. Mere Christianity is a good explanation of Christianity, what should be common to all sects. Knox’s book covers much of the same ground, in a little less detail, with a decidedly Catholic way if thinking, and then gives a lot that defends Catholicism in particular. It is a little tinted to early 20th century England, but that just adds to it’s flavor IMO.

ETA, Lewis’s proof of Funds existence at the beginning is outstanding.

It’s not clear at what state the OP is at. So perhaps I was a little too quick to suggest Knox’s book over Lewis’s. I hope this post gives him a little more info.
 
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