J
jmoburg
Guest
So a couple years ago, I considered myself very accepting of other people’s points of view. 5-6 years ago, I dated a Lutheran girl. A girl being Catholic was never my criteria.
At work, I met a girl who I could see from a distance was a great woman. It was through her acts, that I could see, she was strong in her faith. (getting personal, but hey, no time to give a false image of what I’m involved in). It was known she is a virgin. At 25 years of age… this term is nearly unheard of (and I was almost embarrassed to tell her, even though I did, that I wasn’t
) She was friendly to me, a few dates…before you know it, we were dating. As many relationships go, you talk about things, but may not express your exact feelings on issues.
A couple months go by, and I visit her family. Her dad is a pastor, and her other 4 siblings are all equally wonderful. Her parents did an amazing job raising kids. At that point in time, I could only imagine how proud they were of their kids, successful, happy, good Christians etc.
Well back to my relationship… I visited her church. I didn’t like it at all I went back again… didn’t like it at all. I’ll admit, I’ve made fun of services like this from a distance, to other close friends of mine. She is Non-Denominational , but was attending a Evangelical church near her home. Jumbo screens, enormous audience seating (could see 3,000 etc) and the choir was 100+ people accompanied by a symphony. The music was professional, but the songs themselves reminded me of (and I’m sorry, don’t want to offend anyone) “happy happy Christian” songs. I’ve now realized that I’m much more meditative than her, and that I wasn’t even into the youth group style Catholic Masses I was eligible to go to when I was a teen. I’m a more traditional kind of person. Her church didn’t have a cross in it, let alone a crucifix. She could tell I was uncomfortable at her church. Her at home church, where her dad is a Pastor, is even a few more steps into the uncomfortable direction, a truly non-denom church, with people standing up in the middle of the service just yelling “Amen” and wearing t-shirt and jeans, text messaging on their phones… crying…screaming… I mean, there was soooo much going on I just felt uncomfortable.
Granted… she is a great person. We love each other in so many ways. But the time has come (and shes said it too) that we are unevenly yoked. When it comes to kids… we need to, HAVE TO, have a better way. I fear as we’ve both stated, there isn’t much room for compromise. I felt her family had a mission…convert me. Instead, I became a stronger Catholic. I’ve never tried to convert anyone, I let them be…but now… I feel I want to convert her.
She reads the Bible…and knows it better than I…and often asks "But where in the Bible does it say to do “that.” " I haven’t had good answers before, but I’m starting to get some. I’ve realized that I love tradition, and I love having the Catholic Church have a unified opinion on the Bible…rather than random interpretations.
We need help… I’ve been gathering up info, word docs… lots of stuff (some through yahoo answers, others through local priests etc). I love my girlfriend, but I fear the end of our relationship is near. I don’t want to convert her, unless she wants to be Catholic. She once said she never would be Catholic…but shes a smart girl. I want to show her why… I want to get to the bottom of this… I want to be able to share a Mass together, rather than her be uncomfortable. (I even told her I once considered the priesthood at once in my life… I really am going to stay Catholic).
Thanks so much in advance, I’ve found myself researching even during work…as I can’t get over this topic of division. We do have similar feelings…similar beliefs… but we truly are far apart from each other …I talk about Religion…and she says “thats why I don’t belong to a religion” …and I say “But that’s why I’m Catholic…not anything else” (wow…anyone want to be in my shoes? hahah)
At work, I met a girl who I could see from a distance was a great woman. It was through her acts, that I could see, she was strong in her faith. (getting personal, but hey, no time to give a false image of what I’m involved in). It was known she is a virgin. At 25 years of age… this term is nearly unheard of (and I was almost embarrassed to tell her, even though I did, that I wasn’t
) She was friendly to me, a few dates…before you know it, we were dating. As many relationships go, you talk about things, but may not express your exact feelings on issues.A couple months go by, and I visit her family. Her dad is a pastor, and her other 4 siblings are all equally wonderful. Her parents did an amazing job raising kids. At that point in time, I could only imagine how proud they were of their kids, successful, happy, good Christians etc.
Well back to my relationship… I visited her church. I didn’t like it at all
I went back again… didn’t like it at all. I’ll admit, I’ve made fun of services like this from a distance, to other close friends of mine. She is Non-Denominational , but was attending a Evangelical church near her home. Jumbo screens, enormous audience seating (could see 3,000 etc) and the choir was 100+ people accompanied by a symphony. The music was professional, but the songs themselves reminded me of (and I’m sorry, don’t want to offend anyone) “happy happy Christian” songs. I’ve now realized that I’m much more meditative than her, and that I wasn’t even into the youth group style Catholic Masses I was eligible to go to when I was a teen. I’m a more traditional kind of person. Her church didn’t have a cross in it, let alone a crucifix. She could tell I was uncomfortable at her church. Her at home church, where her dad is a Pastor, is even a few more steps into the uncomfortable direction, a truly non-denom church, with people standing up in the middle of the service just yelling “Amen” and wearing t-shirt and jeans, text messaging on their phones… crying…screaming… I mean, there was soooo much going on I just felt uncomfortable.Granted… she is a great person. We love each other in so many ways. But the time has come (and shes said it too) that we are unevenly yoked. When it comes to kids… we need to, HAVE TO, have a better way. I fear as we’ve both stated, there isn’t much room for compromise. I felt her family had a mission…convert me. Instead, I became a stronger Catholic. I’ve never tried to convert anyone, I let them be…but now… I feel I want to convert her.
She reads the Bible…and knows it better than I…and often asks "But where in the Bible does it say to do “that.” " I haven’t had good answers before, but I’m starting to get some. I’ve realized that I love tradition, and I love having the Catholic Church have a unified opinion on the Bible…rather than random interpretations.
We need help… I’ve been gathering up info, word docs… lots of stuff (some through yahoo answers, others through local priests etc). I love my girlfriend, but I fear the end of our relationship is near. I don’t want to convert her, unless she wants to be Catholic. She once said she never would be Catholic…but shes a smart girl. I want to show her why… I want to get to the bottom of this… I want to be able to share a Mass together, rather than her be uncomfortable. (I even told her I once considered the priesthood at once in my life… I really am going to stay Catholic).
Thanks so much in advance, I’ve found myself researching even during work…as I can’t get over this topic of division. We do have similar feelings…similar beliefs… but we truly are far apart from each other …I talk about Religion…and she says “thats why I don’t belong to a religion” …and I say “But that’s why I’m Catholic…not anything else” (wow…anyone want to be in my shoes? hahah)
