Not understanding Catholicism

[MichaelP3]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

 

[Wesrock]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

I think many never give the Church a chance or reject it because they don’t understand it. I think many are converted by understanding. But I don’t think understanding it de facto means you end up accepting it. You can still reject it, even if you have a sound understanding of it Seems like we’d otherwise have to say every non-Catholic has invincible ignorance, or apply invincible ignorance to every sinner (including Catholics).

 

[phil19034]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

Just because someone understands something doesn’t mean they believe it to be true, So, just because someone understands Catholicism doesn’t mean you would automatically become Catholic.

Therefore, yes, it is possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” to Protestantism or another religion.

HOWEVER, this does not negate the fact that most people who leave the Catholic Church or who are against the Catholic Church do not truly understand the Church and her teachings.

 

[Lenten_ashes]

Who really ’ understands’ the Holy Trinity or Transubstantiation? Is it really possible for the human mind to fully grasp this stuff?

I think it’s possible to be a informed person and not convert. Look at James White.

I guess only God knows who is sincere and who has their axe to grind among the informed.

 

[joeybaggz]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Convert to what? Non-catholic denominations?

Coming to and living in the fullness of the Catholic church and her teaching is a matter of faith, not necessarily understanding. One can understand something and still not believe in it. As Mr.Spock explained to a fellow Vulcan, “logic is only the beginning of wisdom.” I think he had it right. I believe in the Church, I don’t pretend to say I understand all that she teaches. I take that on faith.

Shalom.

 

[Padres1969]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

As someone who understood the Catholic faith pretty thoroughly, and in fact learned to understand it better before I left… yes it’s very much possible to understand and then repudiate the RCC.

A question for you OP. You keep asking variants of this question over and over. Is there a specific reason why you’re doing so?

 

[Thom18]

I saw you posed this question yesterday. Someone posed you a similar question: is it possible for one to understand
Protestantism and convert?

Understanding is one thing, and believing is another.

 

[on_the_hill]

As Homer Simpson once said to his daughter Lisa, “Just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”

 

[Padres1969]

As Homer Simpson once said to his daughter Lisa, “Just because I don’t care doesn’t mean I don’t understand.”

You know, say what you will about the Simpsons, they can be very self aware and have some very meaningful takes for relatively crude cartoons.

 

[Tax_Collector14]

As someone who understood the Catholic faith pretty thoroughly, and in fact learned to understand it better before I left… yes it’s very much possible to understand and then repudiate the RCC.

A question for you OP. You keep asking variants of this question over and over. Is there a specific reason why you’re doing so?

With all due respect, Padres, why be episcopal if you understand the Catholic faith? No matter what you think theologically, of all denominationes, the Catholic church is the best model of VISIBLE unity of Christians…and given Vatican II, has made the most concessions to foster unity among all Christians…no?

 

[MichaelP3]

As someone who understood the Catholic faith pretty thoroughly, and in fact learned to understand it better before I left… yes it’s very much possible to understand and then repudiate the RCC.

A question for you OP. You keep asking variants of this question over and over. Is there a specific reason why you’re doing so?

I keep seeing variants of statements concluding that only the uninformed or ignorant will leave Catholicism or not accept it.

In the latest case the thread just went “missing”.

 

[Marie5890]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

There are those who were Catholic, and understood it, and became Orthodox

 

[Padres1969]

With all due respect, Padres, why be episcopal if you understand the Catholic faith? No matter what you think theologically, of all denominationes, the Catholic church is the best model of VISIBLE unity of Christians…and given Vatican II, has made the most concessions to foster unity among all Christians…no?

That’s a pretty big thing to ignore there…

As for the RCC being the best model of visible unity of Christians, perhaps. By virtue of being the largest group within Christianity maybe. And if you ignore that within Catholicism there are some very big divisions (and I’m not talking Roman and Eastern Catholics). And while Vatican II may have softened the RCC’s approach to non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians… I’d hardly say it has put the RCC in a position of fostering unity more than any other Christian group.

 

[Padres1969]

**I keep seeing variants of statements concluding that only the uninformed or ignorant will leave Catholicism or not accept it. **

In the latest case the thread just went “missing”.

And you’ll keep seeing those statements. That’s many on CA’s standard position. That anyone who truly understands Catholicism would never leave it.

Doesn’t mean it’s true

But it is a commonly held position on this board.

 

[rinnie]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

Well as St Peter said to Jesus where would I go. Once you understand that the CC was started by Christ and continued by his Apostles its hard to leave.

 

[MichaelP3]

And you’ll keep seeing those statements. That’s many on CA’s standard position. That anyone who truly understands Catholicism would never leave it.

Doesn’t mean it’s true

But it is a commonly held position on this board.

Yes that is true I guess. I just wanted to get a feel for this question with this thread. Many times I get the idea my statements and opinions are automatically considered “lacking” even before it is read by the mere fact that my religion doesn’t say Catholic.

 

[PJM]

Is it possible for a Catholic to understand Catholicism and still “convert” ?

Why I am asking. Is because it seems it is pretty clear that many believe "If you understood Catholicism, you would be a Catholic "?

Your final point is absolutely correct

WHY?

Because logically, morally and biblically in TRUTH there can be only:

One True God [the 1st Commandment]

One True Church [My People in the OT Exo 6:7 and “MY Church” Mt 16:18 [singular] in the NT

One set of faith beliefs as even God can do nothing more

Eph.4 Verses 1 to 7
[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[4] There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all.
[7] But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift"

Further evidence of this lies in the indisputable FACT that any and all “churches” are defacto defined by their freely chosen set of faith beliefs, which identify THEM

After 2,000 years Catholicism still retains ONLY One set of TRUE faith beliefs.

GBY

 

[reggieM]

Yes that is true I guess. I just wanted to get a feel for this question with this thread. Many times I get the idea my statements and opinions are automatically considered “lacking” even before it is read by the mere fact that my religion doesn’t say Catholic.

I hope that’s not the case, but (I’m probably biased) I do see many good non-Catholics who say things that show a profound lack of understanding of the Catholic Faith.
So, if a person sees enough of that it’s easy to just draw a general conclusion.

There are always exceptions. And some may say also that the only way to understand Catholicism is to be a Catholic. Obviously, that’s a circular affair.

But I think another thing is important and that is to have a good understanding of one’s own non-Catholic denomination. Sometimes that is lacking also. For example, if we find a Calvinist who really knows nothing about the founding of their church, that’s a problem.
It doesn’t mean that an understanding of the Reformation necessarily leads to Catholicism, but we would see it as a step in that direction.

Let’s put it this way, in our view, understanding Catholicism (as it is intended from a Catholic perspective) is a benefit. We have a long history of writing about the Church and her origin, development, governance.

 

[upant]

After 2,000 years Catholicism still retains ONLY One set of TRUE faith beliefs.

GBY

it is not what it retains but what it has added to the beliefs that may cause some to have concerns.

 

[Ontheway]

That’s a pretty big thing to ignore there…

As for the RCC being the best model of visible unity of Christians, perhaps. By virtue of being the largest group within Christianity maybe. And if you ignore that within Catholicism there are some very big divisions (and I’m not talking Roman and Eastern Catholics). And while Vatican II may have softened the RCC’s approach to non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians… I’d hardly say it has put the RCC in a position of fostering unity more than any other Christian group.

But it is not about the model or the size of the church. Not even about unity. It is about the TRUTH. Either the message of RC church is THE TRUTH or it is not.

If you claim to have understood Catholicism and decided to be a druid, then either you did not find the truth in Catholicism or you are not seeking it.