RCIA whining

[revert_jen]

Most cradle Catholics don’t know these things.

This is a completely different, much more serious, problem.

(Which is not to say that I disagree with you, because I agree. I didn’t learn that stuff growing up, which is why I’m now “revert_jen” and not “stayed_in_the_Church_the_whole_time_jen.” )

To the OP: Welcome! I am glad you will be adding your knowledge and drive to the Church. But one thing most cradle Catholics leared from our grandmothers is “Offer it up!” which is the Catholic world’s response to situations where secular people tend to say things like, “It is what it is.”

–Jen

 

[number2wilkins]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA director yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

I’ve read your post and i’ve read the replies and i don’t quite hear the same level of proud, know it all tone some have made reference to…i do hear a bit of frustration and there have been some good replies already…

I would simply add that i am also beginning RCIA and feel a bit let down as well with the format and content of the class to date and for what has been revealed for the future sessions… I have been in church my entire life, albeit not the Catholic Church, and was really looking for more theology and how Catholic theology differs from the various protestant churches i am familiar with…We really haven’t covered any theology in the past 4 weeks…

I guess my biggest disappointment is that we won’t even see a Priest during RCIA… Monday is his off day, our class meets on Mondays, and we’ve already been told he won’t be a part of the class since that’s his only off day.

I know i will learn something, and for that i am always thankful… i pray you too will grow in ways you never even considered during RCIA!

peace,

 

[Marie5890]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA director yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

I know exactly what you are talking about. That was my experience with RCIA as well. I even knew more about the faith then those teaching to be honest.

I just decided to continue on my own personal research and study while I jumped thru the hoops of the RCIA program.

I did feel free however to bring up the deep questions I have and if anything, it challenged the teachers to be better prepared, which was a good thing for them.

 

[sw85]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA director yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

This is pretty standard everywhere from what I hear. It seems the program has been badly dumbed-down in the present age. My experience with it was no exception. I once complained to the deacon running our RCIA program about the pedestrian character of it and he told me, basically, that we can’t all be theologians like me. (My knowledge up to that point came from reading exactly three books: the Bible, the Catechism, and Ed Feser’s The Last Superstition.)

I don’t know why they do this. A year is more than enough time to equip even the totally ignorant with all the knowledge necessary to lead good, holy, sacramental lives. Instead we get kids’ songs, made-up-on-the-fly “Scripture sessions” with no guidance, ramblings about “making good choices” utterly bereft of substantive lessons in moral theology, etc.

 

[sw85]

Consider it your penance, maybe?

Bingo. Offer it up.

 

[Contarini]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA director yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

I had been told four years ago that if I finally decided God was leading me to become Catholic I would not have to go through RCIA. But in the meantime the folks who were running RCIA at that particular parish have left, and the pastor of the parish seems to think that I should go through it. It’s a good exercise in humility, as someone else said, and it does give me time to back out–which I’ve done before.

The program in this parish uses a book based on the Catechism (*Essentials of the Faith *by Fr. Alfred McBride), and they give everyone a copy of the Catechism. I’ve also started reading Gaudium et Spes, since that is the basis for much of the material in the opening sections of the Catechism and I’ve never read it. So you can do your own reading to deepen what you’re getting in the class. But I know it can be frustrating–the program I went through in the 90s (actually two of them) was quite shallow to my way of thinking and that helped put me off becoming Catholic (since the local Episcopal church was much more nourishing in many respects).

Edwin

 

[pablope]

I guess…I always thought of RCIA as something you’d start after you had decided (or at least mostly decided) that the Catholic Church was right. Making that decision in the first place requires serious study, knowledge of how the Catholic church views tradition as opposed to the various Protestant denominations, a basic understanding of sacramental theology as opposed to primary symbolism theology, the justification for the primacy of Rome, etc. If I didn’t know all that I’d wait another year instead of starting now.

As others have said, RCIA is a journey of faith, perseverance, love, humility, patience, and especially…obedience…it is not just a learning process. I

Let me cite a passage:

22 And Samuel said,

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”

Just as St. Paul, even though he was called directly by Christ…yet, as he recounts in Gal 2…2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain…he still had to submit to the leaders in Jerusalem.

I would advise that you be patient…join in the program…and meditate on what God intends you to do in RCIA…He may have something He wants you to do…as someone said…for you to help other candidates.

Or it is His way of purifying you as you enter His Church.

 

[pablope]

I’ve read your post and i’ve read the replies and i don’t quite hear the same level of proud, know it all tone some have made reference to…i do hear a bit of frustration and there have been some good replies already…

I would simply add that i am also beginning RCIA and feel a bit let down as well with the format and content of the class to date and for what has been revealed for the future sessions… I have been in church my entire life, albeit not the Catholic Church, and was really looking for more theology and how Catholic theology differs from the various protestant churches i am familiar with…We really haven’t covered any theology in the past 4 weeks…

This may help…chnetwork.org/resources/coming-home-journals/

These were written by former protestants, now catholics. I think you may find the one on Justification very informative, as it contrasts and examines the Prot and Cath positions and understanding.

 

[banjo]

This is pretty standard everywhere from what I hear. It seems the program has been badly dumbed-down in the present age. My experience with it was no exception. I once complained to the deacon running our RCIA program about the pedestrian character of it and he told me, basically, that we can’t all be theologians like me.

I hope you’re incorrect about this being pretty standard everywhere. As a member of our parish RCIA team I’m usually trying to “push the envelope”.

 

[IneedGod]

I too studied for months before RCIA started.
It is a bit frustrating when you want to learn MORE but it seems less is being taught.
However, I try to remember that there is one person in class that had no idea about christianity at all!
I listen and read the material then I do my own study.
One week I wrote a short paper on St Justin the Marter.
I try to find something in the lesson as a starting point for a study.
Sometimes I wish I could take a sister or Father home with me and learn that way but thats not how it works.

I say, continue in RCIA, study on our own and be thankful for what we have found…

 

[Don_Jackson]

God will work it out.

I had been attending mass for a couple years with my cradle catholic wife, and was well catechized when I started RCIA the week after thanksgiving…I received sacraments the last Saturday before Ash Wednesday so I could experience Lent as a Catholic with my wife…and I still attended classes through Pentacost…and because God had a plan, I immediately became and continue to be a member of my parish RCIA team…so just settle in and enjoy the ride!

 

[Rainaldo]

I feel your pain.

Grit your teeth, play along, but when you get home, curl up with a chai latte and a copy of this: amazon.com/Fundamentals-Catholic-Dogma-Dr-Ludwig/dp/0895550091

or this: amazon.com/Moral-Theology-Heribert-Jone/dp/1258136406/ (ignore the “new” price, get a used copy for 1¢)

or this: amazon.com/Radio-Replies-Volumes-1-3-ebook/dp/B008NJEAZ6/ (that’s the kindle edition for 99¢, otherwise it’s a 3-volume paperback totalling over a thousand pages of questions you never even thought to ask)

Back when I was where you’re at now, these got me through. I devoured them like a dog with stolen sausages.

 

[DarkLight]

Here’s an example of the kind of question I’d be discussing with my friends:
“Why do Catholics believe that ordination in the line of apostolic succession is necessary to celebrate Mass, as opposed to a system where belief and intention are primary?”

Here’s what RCIA seems to be doing:
“Can baptism be done more than once?”

Just…:banghead:

 

[iloveangels]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA director yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

RCIA is a rite of passage. It’s a sort of initiation thing. Just get through it and get into the Church and then you can read as much as you want and know as much as you want. Once you’re in, you’re in.

I’m a convert. I had to go through this too. Sorry I can’t be more cheery about this. But it’s only once a week til Easter.

 

[iloveangels]

Most cradle Catholics don’t know these things.

True. The average level of religious knowledge among cradle Catholics is astonishingly low.

And some of them know all kinds of arcane rules, but understanding of Christianity as a religion? Ouch.

 

[TEPO]

So I had my first talk with the RCIA Ydirector yesterday. I don’t so far have any major issues, just…the program seems so stupid!

(1) We’re using the YouCat book as the primary text. I mean, it’s a nice little book and all, but it’s still a kid’s catechism. I read through it already, it’s got a lot of basic points but doesn’t really do any work to explain them.

(2) The director seems to assume that people coming in had absolutely no grasp of the sacraments or what was going on. I find this odd - why would I start RCIA if I didn’t know the theology already?

(3) The few times I did try to ask a question, I got the baby “well we think baptism is very important” type of answers. I know it’s important, that’s why I was asking!

I know I have to go through it, but…ugh. I’d like somewhere to go where I can get real answers, not stuff that’s suitable for 12 year old children.

Good thread! This is why I think RCIA needs to be destroyed and rebuilt. I totally agree.

 

[iloveangels]

Quick! Grab a copy of Catholicism for Dummies. It will answer probably 99% of your questions, and is a resource that you can rely upon for years to come. Many RCIA programs use it (hint, hint). Show it to the RCIA program director. If they balk for some reason, I would advise you to endure the rest of the program, rely on the accuracy of the book, and rest in the fact that that the reward is worth the sometimes painful journey.

Good comment.

 

[Rainaldo]

Here’s what RCIA seems to be doing:
“Can baptism be done more than once?”

Just…:banghead:

Ooh … I feel a back fence thread about “Things Overheard in RCIA” coming on.:hypno:

 

[iloveangels]

I can’t attend classes because of a schedule conflict. The director was giving me a bit of a hard time because she wasn’t sure I could learn the basics without being in classes. I felt like I couldn’t even get across what I understand - I tried to ask a serious question and got jumped back to the baby answer, it really felt very condescending. I’m just sort of shocked that this is the kind of teaching material they’d use for adults, or that someone would even want to join a church without knowing their basic theology.

Wait. You can’t attend classes? This is a problem. What will happen when you have a schedule conflict on a holy day?



This is why they put you through some of this, you know. Yes, part of being Catholic is knowing things, but not all of being Catholic is knowing things. A huge part of it is about showing up and doing the Catholic thing.

 

[iloveangels]

ooh … I feel a back fence thread about “things overheard in rcia” coming on.:hypno: