What are the reasons I should (or shouldn't) become Catholic?

[jimmy85]

Its just that other sects and faiths offer a very similar spiritual satisfaction. If only those who left experienced it in the CC sooner.

The satisfaction of the sects have to do with feelings and sensations.
The satisfaction of the CC has to do with the fullness of the truth. In my opinion, it has to do with knowing the answers for all the answers that our human reason is not properly able to explain.

I almost took Christines’s challenge, to the point that I told my wife of trying out a CC religious service again. Until Christine told me that the holy hour happens at 3 A.M.! err, no thanks.

hmm That is weird, the holy hour over here is just before the mass on thursdays

 

[AgnosTheist]

The satisfaction of the sects have to do with feelings and sensations.
The satisfaction of the CC has to do with the fullness of the truth. In my opinion, it has to do with knowing the answers for all the answers that our human reason is not properly able to explain.

those who left found the fulfillness of the truth elsewhere. dont underestimate them. its not just about the feelings and sensations.

 

[qui_est_ce]

she was fine with it. she did miss going to church.

And you thought she would thinkg you’re nuts

sounds very much like a believer thingie. i mean each 15 minutes segment requires believing that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. How will a non-believer fit in there? Is it enough for a guy like me to just to sit in there and listen and remain silent for one full hour?

True, it could make a believer out of you. (I know that’ s not what you meant, but I do mean it). You could go to Mass. But I think going HH and sitting might be easier for someone who’s been away. Going to Mass might make you feel conspicious, not knowing when to kneel, etc. It’s more social. Holy Hour-people come from all over and don’t talk to each other. It’s a silence thing. Just sit and meditate. You could print out some of the prayers on the link I sent you. You could read your Bible, but I don’t think the Bible will help you. OOO did I say that?

Try any of those suggestions.

 

[qui_est_ce]

those who left found the fulfillness of the truth elsewhere. dont underestimate them. its not just about the feelings and sensations.

Truly, I don’t think you’ll find both intellectual satisfaction and spiritual satisfaction outside the Catholic Church.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Truly, I don’t think you’ll find both intellectual satisfaction and spiritual satisfaction outside the Catholic Church.

dont be too sure. else why on earth would some catholic priests convert to other faiths?

everything in religion is completely subjective. its all about personal points of view.

 

[mgrfin]

dont be too sure. else why on earth would some catholic priests convert to other faiths?

everything in religion is completely subjective. its all about personal points of view.

I don’t get that. Why would Catholic priests convert to other faiths?

peace

 

[AgnosTheist]

I don’t get that. Why would Catholic priests convert to other faiths?

this is something you guys would have to ponder upon. there are many reasons, and its not just the common excuse that ‘priests make mistakes too’.

 

[mgrfin]

this is something you guys would have to ponder upon. there are many reasons, and its not just the common excuse that ‘priests make mistakes too’.

What kind of answer is that?

I know 1,000 priests from my home diocese, and none apostasize or defected to another faith.

peace

 

[Contarini]

this is something you guys would have to ponder upon. there are many reasons, and its not just the common excuse that ‘priests make mistakes too’.

Do you want to talk about some specific examples? Because I think the Catholics have a point when they argue that these people usually seem full of bitterness and anger–they seem to have seen through a hoax rather than discovered a fuller truth. Whether or not Catholicism is true is not the point here–the point is that I don’t get a sense that most ex-priests or ex-Catholics generally have discovered something that completes and fulfills what they believed as Catholics. Ex-Protestants who have become Catholic also show this attitude of anger and bitterness on occasion, but it isn’t as universal. One can see Catholicism as the fulfillment of Protestantism. It’s pretty hard to see it the other way round.

Perhaps a convert to Hinduism or Buddhism might see it differently, and of course Muslims do claim to be the fulfillment of Christianity (though it seems to me that it’s more of a simplification). Which is why I’d like to know what examples you are thinking of.

Edwin

 

[jmcrae]

Is it enough for a guy like me to just to sit in there and listen and remain silent for one full hour?

Yes.

One of the Saints said that the most important thing he ever learned was from an elderly man who used to make a Holy Hour regularly, once a week, without fail. The Saint (who was wanting to improve his prayer life at the time) asked the man, “So, what do you do for a whole hour, every single week?” and he said, “I look at Him, and He looks at me.” “That’s all??” “Yep. That’s all.”

 

[qui_est_ce]

Because I think the Catholics have a point when they argue that these people usually seem full of bitterness and anger–they seem to have seen through a hoax rather than discovered a fuller truth.

Yes, look at Nella, popping in here and there, making vitriolic comments, and never coming back to actually listen and discuss.

Whether or not Catholicism is true is not the point here–the point is that I don’t get a sense that most ex-priests or ex-Catholics generally have discovered something that completes and fulfills what they believed as Catholics. Ex-Protestants who have become Catholic also show this attitude of anger and bitterness on occasion, but it isn’t as universal. One can see Catholicism as the fulfillment of Protestantism. It’s pretty hard to see it the other way round.

I work with RCIA, most converts to Catholicism view their conversion as a journey. They express an attitude of thankfulness to the various Protestant denominations in which they were involved. Many of the conversion stories tell of their search for truth; they tell of the pain of split after split in their own lifetimes in their denomination.

Edwin

Glad to see you back

 

[AgnosTheist]

Do you want to talk about some specific examples? Because I think the Catholics have a point when they argue that these people usually seem full of bitterness and anger–they seem to have seen through a hoax rather than discovered a fuller truth.

that is a valid point. but its not the only one. but now that you mentioned it, those seemingly bitter and angry ex-catholics many of them developed their angry anti-catholic behavior after they converted. and of course, all the reasons are true for every converts out there. did a protestant join CC because he was full of anger and bitterness to what he was raised to be? its a complicated world and many are not what they appear to be. CC just does not have a monopoly to fulfilling truth.

ack…my wife is calling me to bed…

 

[silentdeb]

I’m curious as to what are the reasons that I should or shouldn’t become Catholic in your opinions.

Simple Theist, I can only give you the reason why I think I should become Catholic, and you can mull it over as you see fit … I think of it as the one full and true Christianity, without various bits stripped out or changed because it didn’t suit some people the way it was.

Your mileage may vary, as the saying goes, but that’s how I feel.

 

[jimmy85]

those who left found the fulfillness of the truth elsewhere. dont underestimate them. its not just about the feelings and sensations.

That will bring us to discuss all over again what is the meaning of truth and how it differs from opinions.

“Truth cannot contradict itself” you say the truth is everywhere and it is personal thing. However this truths could even contradict with other truths of other people.
So is the truth contradictory?

The stuffs that you are calling truths are call opinions.
There is only one universal truth.

 

[Contarini]

tCC just does not have a monopoly to fulfilling truth.

That may be true, but let’s talk about specific examples. About the only serious alternative I can see is Buddhism–maybe Hinduism but that’s harder for outsiders to convert to. (To the Catholics: No, don’t get all worried–I’m not about to convert to Buddhism!)

Edwin

 

[po18guy]

sounds very much like a believer thingie. i mean each 15 minutes segment requires believing that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. How will a non-believer fit in there? Is it enough for a guy like me to just to sit in there and listen and remain silent for one full hour?

All who went before Jesus were originally non-believers. You are in excellent company. Even spending 5 minutes with Him is a blessing. I suggest taking a bible and just reading in His presence. Miracles have happened.

Christ’s peace be with you.

 

[po18guy]

I don’t get that. Why would Catholic priests convert to other faiths?

peace

I suggest that it is for the same reason that Judas accepted the thirty coins. At the very least, it is a tremendous loss of faith. The parable of the sower also applies to some Priests, it seems.

 

[AgnosTheist]

That will bring us to discuss all over again what is the meaning of truth and how it differs from opinions.

may i remind you again that truths are not necessarily facts. sometimes ‘truths’ are just as substantial as opinions. this is certainly the case when you compare different religious truths side by side.

catholics have their truths. evangelicals have their truths. jews have their truths. and muslims have theirs.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Whether or not Catholicism is true is not the point here–the point is that I don’t get a sense that most ex-priests or ex-Catholics generally have discovered something that completes and fulfills what they believed as Catholics.

What happens are not really a case that “fulfills what they believed as Catholics”, rather they often get to keep some very basic CC beliefs, trash the rest and adopt a different point of view.

That may be true, but let’s talk about specific examples. About the only serious alternative I can see is Buddhism–

We can invite notself into this, she was a catholic turned buddhist. What exactly do you want to know? How buddhist truths fulfilled her? Or how their old CC beliefs were fulfilled through buddhism?

 

[jmcrae]

I suggest that it is for the same reason that Judas accepted the thirty coins. At the very least, it is a tremendous loss of faith. The parable of the sower also applies to some Priests, it seems.

So it would seem. There are also some priests I’ve encountered (rarely, but they are out there) who have brilliant minds, but don’t seem to have “heart faith” - they know all the right Catechism answers, but don’t seem to apply them to real life - they don’t seem to have very strong prayer lives.

One moment of crisis would be enough to convert these guys to whatever came along and filled the emotional void for them. What I pray for, on their behalf, is that when that moment of crisis comes (because they always do), it will be either the Charismatic Catholics, or the Rosary ladies, who take him in hand and get him through it.