I understand a little better now.
What do you find or suspect is untrue about Catholicism?
011:023 Cor 11: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Hi Drifting,
Drifting, there you have it, straight from the devil’s mouth!Hi Drifting,
It certainly doesn’t seem to me that a loving God takes an interest in the world either. I saw a little baby girl on TV born without a rectum. Her whole life she will use a bag to go to the tiolet. The bag is piped into her. She can’t eat solid food either. This is just one tiny example of what is supposedly God’s will.
Maybe she will grow up and decide not to believe in the ‘truth’ as taught by the Christian religion. In this case some christians say she will then go to hell for all eternity.
I think religion is ok if it gives you comfort, but if it torments you (and it is tormenting you, just like it tormented me) then it is time to leave it. This is never easy mostly due to childhood fears (intentionally placed there by well meaning people with the same fears they’re on this board en masse)
Most people adopt the religion of their parents, I certainly did.
Think about the sort of being who could create a universe like this, in terms of intelligence and power. Then ask why would such a creatue be so interested in whether I believe in him or not? Is he that insecure, that he would punish you in hell for all eternity for making a decision your brain predisposed you to make?
Why would this be so important to such a being?
I think the explanation is that without this belief as the overriding factor, the religion would die off this is why it is drummed into us. Like a virus it must be passed from one to another and this is how it works.
You need to look at the current scientific state of brain research, consousness is in the brian 100%. It is hard to accept, but you will not survive your death. If you can accept that the world is unfair (that’s evident) and that you will die, then you can move beyond daydreams and live life as it really is.
These fears are very strong, statistically it’s unlikely that you make it, but I promise if you do, it will be such a relief, it was for me!
You’re asking the right questions. Keep trying.
Now the idea that I am the devil himself, I’m sure you know that’s utter rubbish.
Gareth, of course I don’t mean you’re the devil but leading someone away from God is most certainly devilish. You may not believe in God but neither can prove that He doesn’t exist.
It takes Faith to believe in God. Even pagans who believed in a sun god, moon god or whatever, had some sort of faith. They didn’t know how their gods did the things they said they did but they definitely believed that there was a power greater than themselves. Don’t try to attached human aspects to God. It doesn’t work. Our feeble human minds can not comprehend such awesome might and the infinity of God.My doubts are:
My Dear Friend,
First of all I will pray for you as you as you struggle with your doubts. Believe me, you aren’t the first and won’t be the last to have such questions. It was either C.S. Lewis or G.K. Chesterton who described Catholicism as “too good to be true” but not in a negative way. He was saying that is why some people won’t convert.
As was mentioned, start with chapter 6 of Saint John’s gospel but also read Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, I think the first one somewhere in chapter 10. Remember as you read it that Paul only knew the risen Christ, he never saw Him when He was alive. Also read Revelation as was mentioned and the writings of the early church fathers. When you put it all together you will see that the Apostles knew exactly what Jesus meant when He told them that we must eat His Flesh and drink His blood.
- Is the Catholic belief in the literal flesh and blood of Jesus in the communion wafer real, or is it made up by someone? Where is the proof of this? And what is the point of consuming Christ’s body in the form of a wafer?
History shows that all other branches of Christianity came from the Catholic Church. The bible was protected and written by the Church and handed down through the ages. You can even read some history such as that of the early Roman empire to see that the Catholic Church is the original Christian church. It was called Catholic as early as 107 AD, more as a description than as a name. I would suggest listening to Tim Staples’ tape on the four marks of the Church. He does a great job of tying the history together with faith and tradition.
- Is the Catholic Communion of believers really the true Body of Christ? Where is the evidence to distinguish Catholic believers from other people to prove this claim?
Again, read the bible especially Acts. The same power and authority that Jesus gave His apostles was handed down by them to their successors. Jesus did not say His church would end with the death of the last Apostle but that He would be with His Church all days until the consumation of the earth. Remember, though, priests are men. They should be respected for the vocation they have been chosen for but should not be worshiped. Christ’s Church is both human and divine, with sheep and goats, saints and sinners. All of us must continually strive for that holiness that will bring us to salvation some day and that includes the priests.
- Is the Catholic Clergy particularly holy, or is it a sort of secret society of unusual people who don’t fit into the mainstream of ordinary life. Sometimes it seems like a good old boys club. How can I have faith that these men have special gifts from God to turn wine into blood when they seem so flawed?
These are my 3 most main doubts.
Then there is the general doubt about the very existance of God, and if there is no God, why is there matter, how did matter get made, meaning how did all the atoms get started? Then again, how did God get started, since how could there not be a God? How could there, how could there not?
Now, if the Catholic religion is just one of many, and not the most true, then is there a truer religion? Or is religion just a cultural expression of Man’s need to explain the unexplainable?
And run fast!One final piece of advice, stop drifting and start running.
Yes that is very true.
That is actually a good question. George B. Shaw said something similar; If I ever meet God, the first thing I shall ask is " why didn’t you make Yourself more obvious "? ( paraphase)
What makes you think it was God’s will for her to be born that way? The Devil also lives here, and the Devil is always breaking things and wrecking things that God has created.
It’s true that she might come to think like that. It’s also possible that she will realize that she has survived an attack from the Devil, and that, because of God’s grace in her, she is the winner, and has victory over the Devil even though he damaged her body quite badly.
That is our faithcan you please tell me where in the bible is this prayer? Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
