Non catholic becoming catholic

  • Thread starter Thread starter ccampbell1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Sunday Mass is an obligation for Catholics. But don’t make that work sound negative. It is not negative whatsoever for truly believing Catholics. To use my own analogy that helped me understand it: God is like an excellent parent who knows that certain things are good and healthy for his children. As a parent you impose good discipline, good habits, healthy living on your children. They don’t often like it but you know that, once imbibed, such discipline will lead them to happiness and health. Same with God. He obliges us to make sure, without fail, that we set aside one hour on Sunday to adore him, love him, receive him sacramentally. His Body and Blood are our true food and drink, and we will weaken and grow ill without it. Thus God behaves like an excellent parent in imposing this obligation on us. The Church does not waver in telling us that to miss Mass on Sunday is a deeply serious sin.
 
So… I did it. I took the kids to Mass this morning -no husband. My daughter and I blessed ourselves on arrival. Very hard with a 2 year old boy though! I took snacks and a colouring book but he was keen to stick his hand in the holy water! Good for half an hour and then just a rascal!
I was interested in the Candle of Prophecy being first Sunday of Advent and had been researching it this week. It was helpful to be able to explain it to my daughter and the reason for the purple and what it signifies.
 
Why would you think your science degree is a bar to being a Catholic? While there are people in many religions and denominations who reject science, that doesn’t mean the Church does. There is no conflict between God – Who is ultimate Truth – and science.
 
From a biological and microbiological perspective, we are taught cells, DNA, genetics etc. As far as evolution, we are evolving and every microbe is evolving at a cellular level. My daughter asked me this morning if we were all related to Adam & Eve and I couldn’t answer it because I don’t believe we came from them. I have been teaching her the Phylogenetic tree and how we are all related that way so it’s conflicting with Adam & Eve.
 
There’s no conflict between science and the Catholic faith (my Ph.D. Is in astrophysics). That should not be a barrier for you.

Start with RCIA. That will give you a gentle introduction to the faith. Your husband may even change his mind if you encourage him to go with you.

Pray always.
 
So you don’t think there’s a conflict between the Phylogenetic tree and Adam & Eve?
 
From what I understand (and I’m no biological person here), as long as you agree that Adam and Eve were the first human beings (AKA the first homo sapiens with human souls) then you are good. They were the first infused by God with a soul. Whether Adam and Eve were created from nothing or whether they evolved and were infused with a soul. Both can be believed with good faith by Catholics.

Personally, I have some problems with evolution but I don’t think everything about it is bogus. I should do some more research.
 
The first modern human or anatomically modern human came from Ethiopia approx 300 million years ago. Adam & Eve were supposedly ‘created’ 6,000 years ago. I have a problem here.
I like the interpretation though. I agree there was rapid growth in intelligence as a result of unexplained genetic mutation but I still believe it natural selection in an evolutionary sense. A lot to think about.
 
Well there is more to it of course. One has to come to give assent to, if not fully understand, all the teachings of Jesus and His Church which is the reason for RCIA.
 
No, the Bible does not say how long ago Adam and Eve came about, but the 6-10 thousand year thing is mightily close to when civilization started about.

I do think you’re buying into some stuff as being in the faith that are not. Like others, I reccomend rcia and perhaps speaking with the local priest. God bless
 
Last edited:
Yes I became familiar with the process at Sunday Mass as they had 5 Inquiries with their sponsors being introduced.They received a bible each, were blessed and explained that they would be accepted at Easter. Good to know how it all works. Thank you.
 
Start with the “out of Africa” scenario (which seems most plausible). As groups resembling the “missing link” continue moving north, eventually, an evolved mated pair breaks off to form a new group somewhere near the intersection of the Tigris and the Euphrates…

The other thing to consider is this: do you believe that Christ died and rose again? Do you believe in the miracles Christ performed? What about the miracles of the Old Testament?

If you believe those, why must the events surrounding creation be “ordinary”? Isn’t it possible for God to have taken a pair of hominids and performed a miracle - making them Adam and Eve?

Some things are really matters of faith, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t examine them with a scientific mind. Sometimes, however, we have to be prepared to accept a miracle (e.g., St. Juan Diego’s tunic).
 
ccampbell1 said:
Please no judgements.
I’m thinking about receiving the sacrament of baptism in the future. I’m a non catholic and my husband is also. My immediate family are all atheist, however my parents insisted on a catholic education for my sister. I have cousins and many close friends who belong to our local catholic parish and I have also attended their baptisms.
I decided that I wanted a catholic upbringing for my children and they are both baptised. My husband didn’t agree initially but agreed that it would be best for our kids.
I’m supportive and attend mass with them as much as I can but am starting to realise that there may be a day that I can’t participate fully with them in terms of receiving the bread. I’m also realising that there’s many things the church can change in my everyday life. My kids are being taught to be respectful and responsible and insist on giving thanks before meals and blessing each other which is lovely.
The personal struggles I have are that I feel like a fraud, I want to embrace it but my husband wouldn’t support me attending mass as a family, and I’m having a hard time reconciling my beliefs. I have a science degree and believe in evolution through what I’ve been taught on a biological level.
What I’m asking is, can I reconcile? and do you think I can be baptised? Or should I just continue to enjoy mass as a non-Catholic despite not being able to participate with my kids in communion?
Click to expand...
Faith and reason shouldn’t conflict where truth is concerned.

For Example

Peter used this example

2 Peter 3:8
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

“is as” is an example.

Could one in that example, change 1000 yrs to a million, or a billion yrs? Why not? God is outside of time. There is no clock in eternity. Peter says a ton in that one statement.

If NASA says the age of the universe is 13.7B yrs +/- 2% old, does that cause a problem for people of faith? No. To God that could be as 13 days.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top