(Methodist Protestant) This is my "protest" against the Catholic chruch!!!

[Zundrah]

*
O God, you are my God-- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water. (Psalms 63:2)*

I think, where the Holy Spirit guides you, is neither too soon, or too late. Follow God, and you’ll do alright.

Romans 8

22 We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; 23 and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. 26 In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. 27 And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. 28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

…heart warming words! :blushing:

xxx jennifer xxx

 

[qui_est_ce]

…you obviously haven’t lived here long enough…

I was in London in a pub talking to my friends about the “Castle” we had just visited. The people at the next table were make fun of my American pronounciation of “Castle.” They were rude. But the people I was with, British, were very kind. I do not judge all Britons by the group at that neighboring table.

New Yorkers can be rude. Bostonians can be VERY rude. Parisians have a reputation for being rude. I think when one lives in a big city, they need to protect their privacy more than people from smaller cities.

Having said that, Zundrah, some of your posts here are offensive to some of us Catholics. Maybe you don’t realize it. So I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, that you are truly seeking Christ in the Catholic Church.

I would suggest asking someone your age after mass if you could go to mass with them the next time. Then go early, kneel and pray before the Blessed Sacrament (the red lamp on the altar). After your prayer open the missalette and read it. Do not expect to know everything at once. I have been a Catholic my whole life and am still learning! I love it!

 

[Zundrah]

=qui est ce;5426807]

Having said that, Zundrah, some of your posts here are offensive to some of us Catholics. Maybe you don’t realize it.

I offend catholics!? - Maybe I don’t realze it, or than again maybe I do… You will never know! Mwa ha, ha, ha!



xxx zundrah xxx

 

[qui_est_ce]

I offend catholics!? - Maybe I don’t realze it, or than again maybe I do… You will never know! Mwa ha, ha, ha!



xxx zundrah xxx

See what I mean? It seems you latch onto the negative and (mostly) ignore the positive. There was much more in my post than what you are responding to.

 

[Rolltide]

Zundra,
Would you like me to personally walk you through a Mass online and explain everything? I have three other posters that I’m doing this with currently. I have the link to a video of a typical Mass, and if you can download Windows Live Messenger (or register and use MSN Web Messenger), I can chat to you live as you watch it. Then, we can pause it at different places, and I can describe what you’ve just watched, and you can ask me questions. Private message me if you think you’d be interested.

(It’ll have to be next week though, since I’m in the process of moving to a new house this weekend.)

 

[Joyful_Catholic_1]

IWhen you come from atheism, and exposure to religious ceremony is non-existent or minimal, it is exactly like landing in a foreign country, where you don’t speak the language or know the customs. It is bewildering. It takes a while, to get the bearings of this new country, called Catholicism. Patience is needed, all around.

I’ve travelled a bit, and out of respect for those living in the countries I’m visiting, I try to learn a little of the language and customs before I go. I also respect the people who have allowed me to be a guest in their country by not being belligerent, critical or rude. If there are customs I don’t understand, I quietly observe, then perhaps respectfully ask questions or do some research upon my return home. That’s how I learn about other cultures, and it’s a good way to learn about other faiths.
There’s a plethora of excellent, easy-to-understand books about the Catholic faith and the Mass. All one has to do is look for them. There are also many websites that can be a starting point for learning about our Church. Zundrah obviously has access to the internet.
That may be a lot more productive way to learn than throwing a tantrum and offending people.

 

[rinnie]

…I’m sceptical about that, unfortunately… (but I will try)…

I want to try the Church can you guys help me step for step what to expect? …please…

xxx jennifer xxx

I have company for the weekend and I am going to be real busy. But think of everything you are curious about, write them down, and I promise to explain everything to you, to the best of my ability. And I promise to treat you with the most respect possible.

So Start using this thread to ask questions, and I promise to answer early next week. By the end of the month we should make a pretty good Catholic out of you. But seriously we will help you to understand what we do, why we do it. Trust me even if by the end of the month you don’t come to our Church, you will have made alot of friends here, and you will like us.

And anyone else who wants in feel free. Just please be kind, and patient. The same way we would expect any Children of God to be. Thanks.

 

[RebeccaJ]

RebeccaJ;5425367:

IWhen you come from atheism, and exposure to religious ceremony is non-existent or minimal, it is exactly like landing in a foreign country, where you don’t speak the language or know the customs. It is bewildering. It takes a while, to get the bearings of this new country, called Catholicism.

Patience is needed, all around.

I’ve travelled a bit, and out of respect for those living in the countries I’m visiting, I try to learn a little of the language and customs before I go. I also respect the people who have allowed me to be a guest in their country by not being belligerent, critical or rude. If there are customs I don’t understand, I quietly observe, then perhaps respectfully ask questions or do some research upon my return home. That’s how I learn about other cultures, and it’s a good way to learn about other faiths.
There’s a plethora of excellent, easy-to-understand books about the Catholic faith and the Mass. All one has to do is look for them. There are also many websites that can be a starting point for learning about our Church. Zundrah obviously has access to the internet.
That may be a lot more productive way to learn than throwing a tantrum and offending people.

Ah well, that is your approach. Not all people work the same. Trust, sometimes is an issue. I think Jennifer is doing a little bit of “testing”. To determine what is safe. There is also the inner struggle, as the old man dies and the new man is reborn (paraphrasing Paul, not to say Jennifer is a man ). Let the struggle ensue, stand back and let God do His work, and for heavens sake, don’t be offended at this. It is truly a great thing.

 

[jpaul1953]

Where do I start? Hmm… with my experience…

I went to a catholic church once and it was so hostile, no one spoke to me, no one greeted me, no one explained anything to me and they all just kept giving me weird and very mean looks from the side because I was an “out sider”.

When I got a quick word with a woman at the back of the church I mentioned that I was a protestant from a methodist chruch, then suddenly every one seemed on edge and gave me funny looks as if I should be in their church.

You have the cathechism and the book of cannons, communion, loads of different events during the week that aren’t even explained to you. What are they for? Why has your chruch made it so difficult or even impossible for a new commer to grasp!?

I don’t protest against the covenant made to peter, the keys given to him or even the fact that the pope decends from him. But I think that the catholic church just hasn’t done its best with that covenant…

You don’t go out to the lost sheep but instead you call them “outsiders”…
You stay in you church and look after each other but what happened to christ good words such as - “Do you love me? Go and tend to my sheep.” I don’t see the catholic chruch trending to lost sheeps do you?

The chruch is just a museum of saints and a place of religious routine instead of a place of whorship.

Where is the whorship!? When I go there you are just going to one page to another with out even telling me where I should be in this “book” that I’ve never seen before by the way! There is this other book of hymms and even that has no direction… What is this and why does every body else seem to know what pages to go to but I don’t!?

I didn’t feel like I was in a chruch, it felt more like a temple with images and statues that people were kissing and bowing to! Some of the catholics there even got down on their knees to a statue of joseph (Mary’s husband).

Catholics seem to be like muslims - very religious but lacking in love and peace giving emotions!

And when do catholics even bother to go to protestants and try to convert them!? I’ll give you a big clue, never, that’s when!

Why is all the writings on the walls in a strange language!?

Why was jesus spelt as Jesvs? Why was Mary spelt as Maria?

Gasp… :snowing:

…and also I should mention that I’m not entirly bothered that there are books missing from my bible! There must obviously be good reason for that! So start on me about that issue!

Hey Zundrah,

I am sorry for your experience. I am Catholic and I know I’ve been to many Catholic Churches that appear cold to visitors. I do believe some of what you say is just how awkward you felt and not actual mental or visual feedback from the parishioners.

How I see it is that when we go to Church we go as indivduals/families keeping our moral obligation to Sunday Mass. Sometimes we are there in body only, sometimes.

As a Catholic, I do try to teach people what the Church teaches, but I also respect the privacy and individuality of each person there. I, as a Catholic, am not taught that we only go to Heaven, but what Romans 2:12-15 teaches. Pope John Paul II expressed a much broader sense of this by stating that all who live have the ability to go to Heaven. None of us have the same understanding of all things, none of us. So we are judged based on what we do with what we know, not on how much we know. I’m not taught that all non- Christians are hellbound just as all Christians are not Heavenbound. Jesus said the more you know, the more you are responsible.

There are many Catholics that don’t really have much knowledge about their own faith. They don’t know that the Church’s teachings on the seven sacraments are Biblical. They just follow the faith because it’s their faith. That is sad. The Church is trying to remedy this with education classes at different times and levels. Hopefully the Church will be successful in this venture.

But on the other hand, I am used to the way a Catholic Church traditionally handles parishioners and visitors (of course all parishioners see it a little different). I don’t need to be greeted with questions of who, what, when, where, and why I’m at this particular Mass.
Some people would like to be asked and some people like their privacy. The Church does not want to pressure anyone into the faith. The Church wants to attract people into the Church.

Again, I’m sorry you felt negativity during your visit.

May God guide us always.

jpaul1953

 

[Joyful_Catholic_1]

Joyful Catholic;5426900:

Ah well, that is your approach. Not all people work the same. Trust, sometimes is an issue. I think Jennifer is doing a little bit of “testing”. To determine what is safe. There is also the inner struggle, as the old man dies and the new man is reborn (paraphrasing Paul, not to say Jennifer is a man ). Let the struggle ensue, stand back and let God do His work, and for heavens sake, don’t be offended at this. It is truly a great thing.

Ah well, I’m well aware that not all people work the same. Please don’t be condescending. I was simply offering another “approach” that might serve Zundrah better than the approach she was taking, if she truly wants to learn about the Catholic faith. I don’t know whether she is “testing” or what kind of inner struggle, if any, she has, anymore than you do. But I do know that honest curiousity and respect almost always work better than belligerence and criticism.

 

[RedSoxWife]

…we have Gods promise that the church shall never fail. But while the four walls of the church are still standing, the people in it are perhaps maybe not…
I have faith in Christ’s promise, but I have little faith in the people that reprisent him in the church!

You aren’t going to find perfect people in any church… we are all human struggling against our fallen nature. Jesus didn’t mean any four physical walls when he promised that the Church would not fall, so that argument doesn’t work. He meant the Church that he founded with Peter and that succession continues to this day through his representatives in the Church.

If you want to learn about the Church that Jesus founded in Peter there are plenty of ways to go about it. Seek knowledge and you’ll find it. I’ve been reading and learning and praying since I found my way home to the Church a few years ago and I can’t imagine placing the responsibility for learning on anyone else. It’s your relationship with God that we’re talking about. There must be a reason you’re attending a Catholic Church. For me the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist overshadows everything else. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know anyone at Mass. I’m not there to socialize, although that can be a pleasant addition. It’s about receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

 

[SaltySirena]

Re-post, from upthread:

Okay, I don’t know what Zundrah’s real agenda is on these boards, but I think all of us may be wasting a lot of energy responding to her. On another thread about a month ago (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=347849), she claimed to be starting RCIA July 7th, and said this (bolding mine):

Originally Posted by Zundrah

This is true, and this is also why the protestant churches in my area are populating - simply because people like the way it goes about it’s worship, playing christian rock music and stupid youth clubs that always go off of the subject to talk about their boyfriends and other irrelevant rubbish! This is the story of most protestant ministry today…how sad. Thankfully stuff like that doesn’t happen in catholic mass. The church has always kept it’s traditional worship and communion, THANKFULLY

.

Originally Posted by Zundrah
The protestant church is really informal and even plain ridiculous at most times.

Then on this thread, she says this:

Originally Posted by Zundrah

catholics are almost robotic at mass! It’s like a manufactering machine, you go in then you go out, no talking, no mingling, no nothing…

Originally Posted by Zundrah

In catholic chruch mass its is like an act rather then worship…

This, combined with her threads about the “gospel” of Mary Magdalene and the book of Mormon, lead me to believe she is just a pot-stirrer who is having a lot of fun with all of us. I for one am not going to speed my descent into carpal-tunnel syndrome by bothering to type replies to her anymore.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Please don’t be condescending. I was simply offering another “approach” that might serve Zundrah better than the approach she was taking, if she truly wants to learn about the Catholic faith. I don’t know whether she is “testing” or what kind of inner struggle, if any, she has, anymore than you do. But I do know that honest curiousity and respect almost always work better than belligerence and criticism.

Fair enough. It wasn’t my intent to be condescending. Belligerent and critical is just not what I see.

 

[Guyonthestreet]

I filled in a membership form at the church on the first day I went there! What a commitment… maybe too soon, you might ask? I think not!

You are so friendly Rebecca J! :harp::heaven::bible1:

xxx jennifer xxx

What membership form I’ve been to hundreds of catholic churchs and Ive never seen one, let alone been asked to fill one out

I dont get your issue with the people. You go to Catholic Mass to praise God and if in a state of grace, receive his precious body and blood. Who cares what people around you are doing… so what if they don’t talk to you. Mass is not a social drop in. It’s an act of praise and worship and the only focus should be on God.

 

[SaltySirena]

What membership form I’ve been to hundreds of catholic churchs and Ive never seen one, let alone been asked to fill one out

Then you have never been an official, registered member of any parish! In order to receive any Sacrament prep classes, or to get a statement for tax purposes of your donations, etc., you have to be a registered member of the parish. You’ve REALLY never heard of this? I guess you haven’t been that involved in your parishes, then.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Re-post, from upthread:

Okay, I don’t know what Zundrah’s real agenda is on these boards, but I think all of us may be wasting a lot of energy responding to her. On another thread about a month ago (forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=347849), she claimed to be starting RCIA July 7th, and said this (bolding mine):

I don’t see the RCIA claim in that thread. Am I blind. It is possible. Or, is it in another thread?

This, combined with her threads about the “gospel” of Mary Magdalene and the book of Mormon, lead me to believe she is just a pot-stirrer who is having a lot of fun with all of us. I for one am not going to speed my descent into carpal-tunnel syndrome by bothering to type replies to her anymore.

Could be.

Could also just be a person searching.

 

[qui_est_ce]

This, combined with her threads about the “gospel” of Mary Magdalene and the book of Mormon, lead me to believe **she is just a pot-stirrer who is having **a lot of fun with all of us. I for one am not going to speed my descent into carpal-tunnel syndrome by bothering to type replies to her anymore.

I was beginning to think that too. Her story just sounded too contrived. She was on her bike and saw a church and conveniently, there was a mass starting.

She was milking the charity on our part.

 

[Guyonthestreet]

Then you have never been an official, registered member of any parish! In order to receive any Sacrament prep classes, or to get a statement for tax purposes of your donations, etc., you have to be a registered member of the parish. You’ve REALLY never heard of this? I guess you haven’t been that involved in your parishes, then.

I’m not involved in any parish on any level. I like the atmosphere of some catholic churchs and I sometimes pop in to sit at the back and pray.

I like the smell of some other churchs and I sometimes just pop in and pray.

I like other non catholic churchs too and I sometimes just pop in and pray.

I dont belong to any church.

But when Im in the church praying, that’s what I’m doing. Im not too botthered if someone is nice to me or not, or talks to me or not. Thats not why Im there.

 

[jake23]

Where do I start? Hmm… with my experience…

I went to a catholic church once and it was so hostile, no one spoke to me, no one greeted me, no one explained anything to me and they all just kept giving me weird and very mean looks from the side because I was an “out sider”.

When I got a quick word with a woman at the back of the church I mentioned that I was a protestant from a methodist chruch, then suddenly every one seemed on edge and gave me funny looks as if I should be in their church.

You have the cathechism and the book of cannons, communion, loads of different events during the week that aren’t even explained to you. What are they for? Why has your chruch made it so difficult or even impossible for a new commer to grasp!?

I don’t protest against the covenant made to peter, the keys given to him or even the fact that the pope decends from him. But I think that the catholic church just hasn’t done its best with that covenant…

You don’t go out to the lost sheep but instead you call them “outsiders”…
You stay in you church and look after each other but what happened to christ good words such as - “Do you love me? Go and tend to my sheep.” I don’t see the catholic chruch trending to lost sheeps do you?

The chruch is just a museum of saints and a place of religious routine instead of a place of whorship.

Where is the whorship!? When I go there you are just going to one page to another with out even telling me where I should be in this “book” that I’ve never seen before by the way! There is this other book of hymms and even that has no direction… What is this and why does every body else seem to know what pages to go to but I don’t!?

I didn’t feel like I was in a chruch, it felt more like a temple with images and statues that people were kissing and bowing to! Some of the catholics there even got down on their knees to a statue of joseph (Mary’s husband).

Catholics seem to be like muslims - very religious but lacking in love and peace giving emotions!

And when do catholics even bother to go to protestants and try to convert them!? I’ll give you a big clue, never, that’s when!

Why is all the writings on the walls in a strange language!?

Why was jesus spelt as Jesvs? Why was Mary spelt as Maria?

Gasp… :snowing:

…and also I should mention that I’m not entirly bothered that there are books missing from my bible! There must obviously be good reason for that! So start on me about that issue!

I am an ex Methodist who went to college to become a pastor and came out Catholic instead. Everything historical and biblical point to the Catholic church. it has all the books and some in the catholic Bible, so I do not know where you get the whole missing book thing. The faith is complex because it is 2000 years old unlike denominations. You see different languages on the wall becasue Catholic means universal! we are one body in christ with the whole world not just american. The Catholic church provided the Bible and the church existed before the Bible. There are some Catholics that are not very welcoming but it is ignorant to go to A church with such experiences and then assume that it is the same all over the world even though it was probably just you personally feeling that way. The Catholic church isnt out just to gain numbers but to strengthen those who come to her. The dates are set for you to find in the daily missal so that you may keep up with the service. As far as worship, it is sincere and most importantly authentic following after Christ and the apostle.

 

[Scardinoz]

How can anyone be under the impression that Catholics are not evangelists?

By living in accordance to God’s will, Catholics win many converts. Also, Catholics were huge factors in evangelizing the new world - North and South America. Catholics are also actively evangelizing in North Korea, South Korea, China, India, throughout the Middle East including Jerusalem, etc.

Also, St. Anthony of Padua here in the Woodlands has always been very welcoming and tight knit. The services are beautiful with somewhere around 10 musical groups ranging from Gregorian Schola, some other chant choir, bells, adult choir, some several children’s choirs, and more. All meet regularly. And outreach in the community is regular.