The "right" religion?

[ANewDay]

I apologize if this question is in the wrong area of the forums.

My husband and I are recent Catholic converts. We were discussing our first RCIA class last night and that led to us discussing all different aspects of religion and the questions posed to us by friends who know we have recently converted. I am a full believer that Catholicism is the religion I am meant to follow. I have been asked by a few people who don’t follow religion “what if when Jesus comes, you were following the wrong religion the whole time?” My father made it clear throughout my life he believe the Catholic church was a money scheme and he was raised catholic. Many people have commented to me on the scandals that have passed in the catholic church. A Christian friend has also said to me "God doesn’t care how you pray, you don’t need special prayers’. Is it being implied that I won’t be saved because I chose to follow the wrong religion? Many people have said to me it doesn’t matter what religion you follow as long as you are following Jesus and living your life the way Jesus would. How does one know their religion is “the right” religion and not just the right religion for them? I have been questioned on many aspects of Catholic teaching from Penance (Why do we confess to the priest and how can our sins possibly be forgiven just by confessing to the priest), Why do we pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary…the list goes on and on. The scripture of “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” was quoted to me and I was asked- if this is true then why are there gold toilets in the Vatican? As a recent convert it is overwhelming to be stampeded with these things. I am in no way being ground down but it’s hurtful that I believe I am making the right choice and there are so many people that question and oppose my decision. So is it possible a certain religion or denomination of a religion is the right one or the only one that will be saved? Thank you for your help.

 

[JackVk]

How does he know the Vatican has “golden toilets”? That’s one of the most outlandish lies I’ve ever heard!

I’ve heard to “money scam” argument. You respond to this by saying that nobody forces donations to the Church. Some of the most faithful Catholics in the world are the ones in Third-world countries. I have heard missionaries who have gone to Mexico and Latin America say that they learn something from the poor and downtrodden in those countries. Also, Catholicism is on the rise in Africa. How can you swindle people who have nothing? You can’t. The Church is the most charitable organization in the world, contrary to popular belief.

Since you and your husband are recent converts, people are going to question you. All those questions you are asked can be answered here. For example, we don’t worship Mary or the Saints. We ask them to pray for us.

To answer the big question: Jesus said that you will know the true Apostles from the false ones by the fruit of their works. After all the good the Church does, Her enemies slander Her. It should also be noted that, while ideologies come and go, the Church has been around for 2000 years and isn’t going anywhere soon. And we have taught the same message that Jesus preached, unadulterated, for all 2000 of those years.

 

[Trishie]

Welcome, and God bless you.

Perhaps some of the recent converts haven’t really familiarized themselves with the truths of the Church.
It would be helpful and most if not all of the questions can be answered by a careful study of The Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The Catechism would explain for instance that Jesus instituted the Eucharist and Confession as Sacraments of grace.
It was Jesus Himself who is ‘cornerstone’ of the Church, so we cannot reject it as merely a Christian philosophy to live by, disregarding what He established, making Peter the first of popes by entrusting the keys of the kingdom to him.

It is a good idea to have your own copy,
but the Catechism is also available on the internet in full.

As for gold toilets…this is probably a myth. The Pope’s apartment for instance is spartan.

And yes there are some traitors amongst the clergy but there are numerous good and faithful priests. Remember that even Jesus didn’t escape a presence of a traitor amongst His chosen apostles who were to become the first priests of the Church.

We ask Mary’s intercession remembering for instance that Jesus performed His first miracle before His “time” for miracles had come, he said, simply because His loved Mother asked Him, at the Wedding Feast at Cana, and because of the faith she demonstrated that He would answer her prayer.

I’m sorry you feel bombarded, but it does require a sound understanding of the Church and its teachings and scripture that underpins that, in order to be able to answer others’ objections.

May God grant you and your fellow converts deep peace and true understanding and knowledge of the faith you have entered,

God’s kindest blessings to you,
Trishie

 

[taylor2]

Hi ANewDay and welcome to the Catholic Faith.

You first need to realise and understand that the Catholic Church is THE church that Jesus established (he said to Simon, you are Peter - meaning rock - and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it). The successor of Peter today is the Pope - the bishop of Rome.

Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide his church. So, the church is holy. It is Jesus’ bride. The people who make up the body of the church can still fall into sin and unfortunately we do. That is why Jesus gave the ability to forgive sins to the apostles (when he breathed on the apostles and said “receive the Holy Spirit. Who’s sins you forgive are forgiven them, who’s sins you retain are retained”). The successors to the apostles today, are the bishops. Priests are the bishops helpers and do their work under the church’s authority. So when the priest absolves a penitent of their sin, they don’t do so under their own authority, but by the authority given to them by the church, which was given to the church by Jesus himself.

As for praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary, this is intercessory prayer which is scriptural as Jesus prayed for the apostles, and also when Mary asked Jesus concerning the wine at the wedding at Cana, she said to waiters, do whatever he tells you (thus directing people to her son). The virgin Mary is the ark of the new covenant (who Jesus is) and our mother (when Jesus gave her to John to be his mother, he also gives her to us as our mother).

To know that the Catholic faith is “the right” religion, you need to research the history of the church. You can read “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth” by Karl Keating which is a brief explanation of the truth of the Catholic church.

The “gold toilets” in the Vatican is news to me. I haven’t heard that one before. One thing you should know though as fact is that the Catholic church feeds more people in the whole world than any other organisation. It runs so many humanitarian projects that helps so many of the poor and afflicted in the world. Have a look at Mother Theresa’s Sisters of Mercy. “You will know them by their works”. Notice one thing though, you always get people criticising the Catholic church just so they can feel self-righteous. They will always try to find fault but never go looking for the good.

You and your husband are at a very fragile stage of your faith and it is easy to be knocked about when you don’t have a firm knowledge the church. There are excellent resources available, such as this website, lighthouse media. You should also read the catechism of the catholic church which will tell you everything that the church teaches.

I hope I have helped. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

 

[ANewDay]

Thank you so much for your kind and informative responses! I am reading Life In Christ which was given to me at our first RCIA class so I am thankfully, on the right track. [SIGN]Thank You![/SIGN]

 

[clmowry]

Frankly I came to the conclusion that either Catholicism is the one true religion or believe what ya want cause it just don’t matter.

Though I think many other religions contain some elements of truth [some nearly all] they also seem, at least to me, to contain some gapping holes either theologically or historically.

If I wasn’t Catholic, I’d be agnostic.

I just don’t see a viable alternative.

Chuck

 

[rben20]

ANewDay,

People will always tell you you’re wrong, the Church is wrong, why this, why that…it will never end. How many times was Our Lord questioned and persecuted? It never stopped until He was ultimately crucified…till His death. But there is a lesson learned. He rose from the dead and was triumphant.

There is a reason why we are called the Church Militant. While we are on earth we share Christ’s persecution and constant sneering from others. We are called to defend it just as Jesus defended His disciples and His teachings because they were from God as He was God Himself. In the same way the Church’s teachings are from God and are to be defended. Remember that Jesus said He would be with us always and guide us into all Truth by the Holy Spirit…these are Christ’s words and if you believe He is God then surely He means it. Be confident and know that this is not our personal feelings or preferences. God’s Church is right because well it’s HIS Church. We have all the reason to feel good and full

I’m not sure if you know who Bishop Fulton Sheen is as a recent convert to the Faith but Bishop Sheen said that if he were looking for the Church established by Christ, he would look at the Church most hated and persecuted in today’s world just as Jesus was hated and persecuted in the world. The Catholic Church is attacked from the inside by lukewarm Catholics and in some cases by its own leadership…from the outside by fellow christians, non-christian religious and especially by the secular and non-believers. The Church can barely breath!! This is the Church that Bishop Sheen would look for as the divinity of Christ was hated by the world so to would His Church be hated as a divine institution in the world.

For now we are the Church Militant but when we are in Heaven with our Father we will be the Church Triumphant just as Our Lord conquered. With Christ we can do all things. Until that hopeful day we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and PRESERVE unto the end. Fortunately for us we can defend the faith with all the wisdom and knowledge that it has…well its God’s Church anyway so need I say more Just know that you may not have all the answers right now but slowly you will learn and be able to defend the faith. Children do not start with solid foods as St. Paul says. Catholicism is much the same way. Do not get down but go on with the strength of God. This is a process…a sanctifying process and one day hopefully we will all be a part of the Church Triumphant forever with God in complete happiness.

 

[JM3]

I apologize if this question is in the wrong area of the forums.

My husband and I are recent Catholic converts. We were discussing our first RCIA class last night and that led to us discussing all different aspects of religion and the questions posed to us by friends who know we have recently converted. I am a full believer that Catholicism is the religion I am meant to follow. I have been asked by a few people who don’t follow religion “what if when Jesus comes, you were following the wrong religion the whole time?” My father made it clear throughout my life he believe the Catholic church was a money scheme and he was raised catholic. Many people have commented to me on the scandals that have passed in the catholic church. A Christian friend has also said to me "God doesn’t care how you pray, you don’t need special prayers’. Is it being implied that I won’t be saved because I chose to follow the wrong religion? Many people have said to me it doesn’t matter what religion you follow as long as you are following Jesus and living your life the way Jesus would. How does one know their religion is “the right” religion and not just the right religion for them? I have been questioned on many aspects of Catholic teaching from Penance (Why do we confess to the priest and how can our sins possibly be forgiven just by confessing to the priest), Why do we pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary…the list goes on and on. The scripture of “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” was quoted to me and I was asked- if this is true then why are there gold toilets in the Vatican? As a recent convert it is overwhelming to be stampeded with these things. I am in no way being ground down but it’s hurtful that I believe I am making the right choice and there are so many people that question and oppose my decision. So is it possible a certain religion or denomination of a religion is the right one or the only one that will be saved? Thank you for your help.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18

You’re in the right Church.

 

[Third_Day]

=ANewDay;7114884]
A Christian friend has also said to me "God doesn’t care how you pray, you don’t need special prayers’.

Jesus gave us a special prayer in Matt. 6:9 and He said “pray like this: Our Father who are in heaven…” I know Protestants that will not say this prayer because it conflicts with their belief that all sins past, present and future are already forgiven yet Jesus says to pray “Our Father…forgive us our trespasses…”

Many people have said to me it doesn’t matter what religion you follow as long as you are following Jesus and living your life the way Jesus would

.Jesus established a visible Church and to that Church He gave the authority to teach the truth. Without that infallible interpreter a person will wander into myths and false teachings.

I have been questioned on many aspects of Catholic teaching from Penance (Why do we confess to the priest and how can our sins possibly be forgiven just by confessing to the priest),

According to scripture and tradition that is how Christ wants us to be forgiven. John 20:22 and Matt 9:8

Why do we pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary…the list goes on and on

. I’m sure you know the answer. She is our mother. She is alive in heaven. She intercedes, by the grace of God, for us just as any loving mother would.

The scripture of “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” was quoted to me and I was asked- if this is true then why are there gold toilets in the Vatican?

That’s a new one. The Catholic Church isn’t as wealthy as some think. The artwork in the Vatican is for the world to see because it belongs to the world. The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization in the world.The Catholic Church is the mustard seed that has grown into the largest of plants.

As a recent convert it is overwhelming to be stampeded with these things. I am in no way being ground down but it’s hurtful that I believe I am making the right choice and there are so many people that question and oppose my decision. So is it possible a certain religion or denomination of a religion is the right one or the only one that will be saved? Thank you for your help.

As Jesus said “as they persecuted me they will persecute you.” Your best chance for salvation is in the Catholic Church because it is the pillar and foundation of the truth. The Church has all the saints praying for you and the Church has all the sacraments that are means of grace.

 

[Windfish]

It looks like you have already received good responses. I want to add that if you have a particular question or concern, feel free to PM any of us. I think we’ve all fielded the same questions and concerns before, and we’ll be glad to help.

 

[Prieldedi]

ANewDay, I’d ike to share this with you:

*There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church – which is, of course, quite a different thing. These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues”; because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God”; because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin”; because the Pope “is a Fascist”; because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.”

If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.

If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates. My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world. Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned. Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth.

Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself… The Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness… -*

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, from the Preface to ‘Radio Replies,’ by Rumble & Carty, published by TAN Books, Rockford, Ill.

 

[mark_a]

I am in no way being ground down but it’s hurtful that I believe I am making the right choice and there are so many people that question and oppose my decision.

This pretty much somes up the fact that the Catholic Church is the big dog on the porch and that you are on the right path.

In our culture, Christians have a big bullseye on their backs. Among Christians, Catholics have the big bullseye on their backs.

 

[Axion]

“what if when Jesus comes, you were following the wrong religion the whole time?”

Well, if you abide with the Church Jesus founded on Peter and the apostles, you are on the right track. Protestant churches, on the other hand were founded at the earliest 1500 years after Christ, and teach doctrines never taught anywhere before 1520 AD, such as Faith Alone, once saved always saved, and that the eucharist is not truly Jesus. Surely if these were true teachings, why did no Christian follow them from 30 AD to 1520 AD?

My father made it clear throughout my life he believe the Catholic church was a money scheme

And WHO gets all this money? The pope? Yes. You see him on TV every day, basking on his yacht, holding wild parties on his private island, flying his private jets and gambling in Vegas… Not to mention the golden toilets…

Many people have commented to me on the scandals that have passed in the catholic church.

Other faiths, and the secular world have equal and greater scandals. The thing is that the media are far less interested in pointing these out. Catholics are attacked because they stand against key objectives of secularists: abortion, sexual promiscuity, euthanasia. “mercy”-killing and moral relativism.

A Christian friend has also said to me "God doesn’t care how you pray, you don’t need special prayers’.

So why did Jesus set out the words of the Lord’s prayer for us? Why did He tell us to do what He did and said when he performed the first Eucharist? Some Catholic prayers like the Hail Mary are direct quotes from scripture. Others are simply great prayers that people remembered and repeated. Catholics can pray freely AND use the great historic prayers of scripture and the Saints. What;s wrong with that?