Non-Catholics: Why are you here?

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mathematoons

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I’ve noticed that there are a lot of non-Catholics here, and many of them seem to just want to argue with Church teachings. I can’t help but think they’re here to convert us.

However, I know that not all the non-Catholics are like that–I just can’t figure out why else they spend their time on a Catholic message board. So I thought I’d ask.

What brings you, as a non-Catholic, to Catholic Answers Forums?
 
To fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ (and of non-Christian faiths), to learn more about my faith, and to investigate the claims the Catholic Church makes of itself and what other Christian groups claim.
 
I am a Reformed believer that has been forced to question a lot of beliefs recently. I would classify myself as a former anti-Catholic. I am now honestly seeking answers to my questions. I may engage in arguments, but it’s for my benefit, not the conversion of anyone here. In short, I am a potential convert ironing out my own concerns and misconceptions. Thanks for asking 🙂
 
I came here because I was seriously considering converting, but since joining this forum have reconsidered. Despite that, I still really enjoy the forum and like how it challenges me to really consider and define my beliefs.
 
I am at least open to becoming an Anglican-Use Catholic. I have a long way to go, but I am interested.

Also, frankly, I have much more in common with Catholics than most Protestants, be they “main stream” or “evangelical”.

Catholics are usually more tolerant and they value reason.
 
Conor7 said:
I came here because I was seriously considering converting, but since joining this forum have reconsidered. Despite that, I still really enjoy the forum and like how it challenges me to really consider and define my beliefs.
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That makes me sad. What made you reconsider, if you don’t mind telling us?
 
Michael1978 said:
That makes me sad. What made you reconsider, if you don’t mind telling us?
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I’m not sure if I can answer this without becoming overly emotional in my reply or making broad sweeping statements. So, forgive me, but I feel it’s best not to say anything. Plus, I have yet to sift completely through my own thoughts and feelings on the matter and am afraid I couldn’t express myself coherently.
 
FabiusMaximus said:
To fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ (and of non-Christian faiths), to learn more about my faith, and to investigate the claims the Catholic Church makes of itself and what other Christian groups claim.
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Couldn’t have said it better. 👍

Jon
 
I first came here as a Methodist feeling a call into the Catholic Church so I came to learn. I start RCIA in September so I must have learned something-LOL!

Blessings,

Val
 
A lot of what I knew/know about Catholicism is like the opposite of my opinions so for some reason it is interesting to me to hear other people explain themselves. While it would be kind of cool to “convert” someone (one guy said in a PM, “feel free to convert me!”) I have no expectations nor intentions of doing that.

I guess the main reason I joined this forum can be summed up like this: I would hate being Catholic, so I wanted to know why other people choose to be.

…and so far I still don’t get it.
 
Unlike the individual above, I am seriously considering a Catholic conversion, having been left spiritually empty by Protestantism which was born some 1,500 years after Christ gave authority to Peter to found His Church.
 
To learn more about Catholicism, to see what beliefs I have in common with Catholics, to see if there are any misconceptions about Protestants out there, to bring greater understanding to Catholic/Protestant relationships (on a small scale), and not to argue but discuss differences. A side effect of this is that I have dug into Scriptures like never before.
 
mathematoons said:
I’ve noticed that there are a lot of non-Catholics here, and many of them seem to just want to argue with Church teachings. I can’t help but think they’re here to convert us.

However, I know that not all the non-Catholics are like that–I just can’t figure out why else they spend their time on a Catholic message board. So I thought I’d ask.

What brings you, as a non-Catholic, to Catholic Answers Forums?
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Thank you for starting this thread. I have wondered the same and it is apparent from the Charity in the answers that we have more in common than many would like to believe. Good forum topic.
 
mathematoons said:
I’ve noticed that there are a lot of non-Catholics here, and many of them seem to just want to argue with Church teachings. I can’t help but think they’re here to convert us.

However, I know that not all the non-Catholics are like that–I just can’t figure out why else they spend their time on a Catholic message board. So I thought I’d ask.

What brings you, as a non-Catholic, to Catholic Answers Forums?
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I’m glad they are here, they should be here and the Lord is calling them here. The ball is in our park, we need to do our job properly and win them over.

God Bles
 
JonNC said:
For the Reformation to be resolved, this is an itch all of us Lutherans ought to have. 😉

Jon
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And by reading your posts, you have given me hope that this is possible. I haven’t interacted with you a lot, Jon, but I always take the time to read what you have written and am never disappointed. 👍
 
Conor7 said:
I’m not sure if I can answer this without becoming overly emotional in my reply or making broad sweeping statements. So, forgive me, but I feel it’s best not to say anything. Plus, I have yet to sift completely through my own thoughts and feelings on the matter and am afraid I couldn’t express myself coherently.
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If it helps, I left the Catholic Church after growing up in a mixed faith, mostly anti-Catholic family, where even the Catholics sounded anti-Catholic. I converted to the Church of Christ because out of all the Bible only churches this one made much more sense and appeared to use scripture more accurately than any other Protestant faith, fundamentalist. I truly believed Catholics would parish in the end, but also so would other “so called Christians” of other denominations. I believe there was one true Church and that it was the Church of Christ, as written in scripture. It took me about 18 years to come to realize things I never understood, most of which narrowed down to Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity. I started reading the ancient church fathers and it change my mind about life as an early Christian. I learned many things in my Protestant faith, but most of which lead me to the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The truth is that either the Orthodox Church broke from the Catholic Church or the Catholic Church broke from the Orthodox (Catholic) Church. A plausible option is that they broke from each other and were only partially right on the issue of papal authority. This third theory could easily be explained in light of if the were both wrong or if the Catholic Church was out of line then infallibility was declared invalidly. However, I still accept the bishop of Rome as Prime and therefor assume that it is truth. But there are days, such as the experiences you’ve had on this forum, where I seriously have doubts, but dismiss them anyway. The truth is that I’d be Orthodox or at least Eastern Catholic had it not been for my wife’s choice. I’m trusting in God and hoping for the best with what i know and believe to be true. I do apologize for all of the rudeness we exhibit.
 
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