Where did you learn what you know about Catholicism?

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I’m a product of Catholic schools, where I learned the basics of the faith. After that, I did a lot of self-study, especially after I began to notice the growth of evangelical fellowships which always seemed to target the timid and impressionable youth for proselytization, and in all honesty, the noticeable lack of a sustained response, or frustrating indifference on the part of many Catholics here in the Philippines.

Gerry 🙂
 
At a Jesuit University: a couple of great Theology classes, a couple of great Ethics classes, and a solid RCIA program.

Self Study. (conversion really sets off a voracious appetite)

EWTN. (God Love You All)

Peace.
 
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theMutant:
This is an offshoot of the poll, “Why are Catholics so reserved, generally speaking, about sharing their faith?” (forum.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=16057). It struck me that the overwhelming vote was that Catholics are poorly catechized. I wish the bishops would see that poll and take it as a wake-up call regarding Catholic education and catechesis.

However, if the average Catholic is poorly catechized, from where did you learn what you know about the Catholic Faith?
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In my case, I’m “all of the above.” I went to Catholic school for 12 yrs. For the most part, what I was taught was good, but by about 6th grade a lot of devotional traditions vanished (Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction, Marian processions/celebrations in May) along with the beautiful artwork inside the Church, all for “modernization.” The main things that saved me was that my mother was a convert, and had a great hunger for Jesus; and that she taught me how to read and write when I was 3 years old. I still remember her reading from a Bible Story book and explaining who God and Jesus are. I remember utterly believing it, and the thought that it was something I almost remembered. So, when I went to Mass some mornings before school in first grade, I read and understood what was happening. I don’t remember anyone ever telling me about the Real Presence, I just knew by seeing and reading the words of consecration. And my 1st grade teacher was the most wonderful Sister/Nun ever! Her love sustained me through many unhappy years, even though she was with us for only a few years… It is true that the Religion books weren’t the best, not to mention the stupid songs we had to sing ( remember “Hi God, How Do You Feel Today?” ). But I came away with some key ideas which always stayed with me. One was that God doesn’t like lukewarmness, or apathy. The other was about covenant. About all of the covenants between God and Man, because God loves us so and wants us to be in His family, how Jesus IS the New Covenant, and how marriage is a covenant. Religion class in high school was pretty bogus, there were lots of psychobabble theories on the development of religion and stuff, and the Church History was so bad I actually sided w/ Luther! I also stopped going to confession, because I there were sins I didn’t want to give up, though I never would have admitted it then. After graduation, I joined the military and drifted away from the Church. I lived through something terrible right after my discharge, and Jesus saved my life. I recomitted my life to Him. And this is where the “other” comes in…The “other” way I’ve learned, along with self- study, is through the Holy Spirit. He has always shown me the right people to help me learn my faith, what books to read, what music to listen to, what shows to watch, and so forth. He really IS the Spirit of Truth!

❤️,

:angel1: Angelina
 
As a convert, I would love to say that I learned most of my Catholic faith from RCIA, but that is not true. Although RCIA was a great help, I learned most of what I know (never enough though) through reading on my own. I would ask cradle Catholics questions, only to hear the same response…“Thats just how we did things”. Beautiful faith filled people, but little help in answering the hard questions of what the church teaches.

This is NOT a slam against RCIA, I am blessed to be apart of the team this year and find it a great program. Just wish there was more time to get into the “meat” of the faith a bit more.
 
For Angelina, post 23–The Holy Spirit is my guide as well. He has led me both to daily mass and to what I shall read and who I should associate with. I feel certain that he is responsible for my getting a Franciscan spiritual advisor.

As for MKW, post 24, I teach RCIA. We know that we cannot teach everything, but we try to cover at least the most important elements of our faith. Then, it is really up to us to do our own homework. Read orthodox Catholic books–especially the Catechism, Church History (including the history of the reformation) and writtings of the early Fathers of the Church. How many cradle Catholics actually DO that. I believe that is the largest reason we lose so many Catholics to other faiths–they mistakenly believe that it doesn’t matter which church you belong to.

Thank God for EWTN, Catholic Answers and the many fine Catholic appologists out there.

God bless you all, and may the Holy Spirit be with you.

Lindalou :love:
 
I’m ‘other’.

Got mine from catholic school 1-9 and university undergrad.

Whether it was ‘good’ or not seems to be in question.
Many people here tell me I was poorly catechised because I lived in a progressive diocese so my understanding of catholicism is not ‘orthodox’ therefore, I’m told, it is wrong.

Do I believe it’s wrong?

Not yet. But it’s my foundation. It’s a large part of who I am. From there I’ve read the Catechism and I like to visit the Vatican site as well as the USCCB site.
 
I voted “Other” for I learned the Catholic Faith by reading the bible. For 15 years I was an Evangelical and during that time I studied the Scriptures extensively and came to the conclusion that what our Pastor was teaching was not biblical but contrary in many ways to biblical Christianity. I was anti-Catholic and had NO IDEA that the Doctrines I now held concerning Justification and Salvation were Catholic. I was labled “Contentious” and a “Bringer of Division” for my defense of my Fiath . It was not until I attended a Debate between a Reformed Theologian and a Catholic Apologist that I realized that the Doctrines I had learned through study of the Scriptures were Catholics ones and found that the Catholic Apologist was using MY arguments to show how Evangelical theology was unbiblical. That very night, after the debate, I went to a Catholic Parish and woke up the Priest and told him I wished to join.
 
i went to catholic school for 12 years in puerto rico. but now i think i know more than then, an this is because a past bible study with fundamentals. it created a lot of controversy an this make me go back an read more about been catholic specially apologetics. :blessyou:
 
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mercygate:
Where did I learn what I know about Catholicism? In the Episcopal Church. When I approached the Catholic Church and read the Catechism I realized that the faith I knew, learned, loved and practiced as an Episcopalian IS the Catholic faith. The parts I had not fully accepted as an Episcopalian, I nevertheless understood according to the Catholic teaching.
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I learnt a lot from reading C. S. Lewis, Dorothy Sayers, and other Anglicans.​

And also, from Catholic pamphlets and books ##
 
Though drawn to the Catholic Faith by the example of others, I learned the most about the Faith
From self-study and other educated Catholics (including forums such as this one)
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Ironically, in HELL!

I started my conversion, but a little to late apparently - I got myself into a nice bed and breakfast for 96 months(8 yrs) and was realeased after just under 7 years. Yes, ladies and gentlemen I was confirmed in County Jail :eek: and learned most of my faith while in prison! And who said God doesn’t have a sense of humor! :rotfl: Anyways, just proof positive that good can come out of evil! As if the Crucifixion wasn’t enough right! Thanks Jesus 😃

the way I look at it, I was in a reiligious order!:o The Brothers in Blue.
 
I prayed from the heart 18 years ago on Easter at Eucharistic celebration (after a 17 year absence from the Church)and the Holy Spirit led and taught me since then . I do have a spiritual advisor and prayerful friends with whom to discern.But for the charismatic renewal, I would have never stayed in the Church til the present. I still struggle with my spirituality to this day, but what do I have to lose for trying? A Benedictine monk at the U. said: “Do your best and to hell with the rest.” With God all things are possible"…with man they are probable.
 
I prayed from the heart 18 years ago on Easter at Eucharistic celebration (after a 17 year absence from the Church)and the Holy Spirit led and taught me since then . I do have a spiritual advisor and prayerful friends with whom to discern.But for the charismatic renewal, I would have never stayed in the Church til the present. I still struggle with my spirituality to this day, but what do I have to lose for trying? A Benedictine monk at the U. said: “Do your best and to hell with the rest.” With God all things are possible"…with man they are probable.
 
dad and mom mostly, and a bit from fr antekeiers homilies at Mass when I was in my impressionable years. then later on reading on my own. I was lucky to have “super catholic” parents. education begins at home.
 
I learned how to be Catholic they way you are supposed to, from my family. I learned how to pray, how to trust God, how to make decisions in the light of Christ at home. I learned to subordinate my will to God’s authority, and I learned that it profits me nothing to gain the whole world if I lose my soul. I learned that deciding to follow Jesus has a cost in this world, I learned that no matter how poor you are if you accept all the children God sends, and all that he allows to happen to you, with trust and love, He will guide you, help you and give you everything you need. I learned how to live, and how to die well, and how to suffer in with and through Jesus.

I learned doctrine and scripture–and also an excellent academic education-from the Adrian Dominicans in 12 years of Catholic school. But I pretty much stopped formal learning except for my kids’ sacramental prep classes until I became a catechist in 1986. Then in my hunger for the truth I went down a lot of blind alleys and waded through a lot of garbage until I found Franciscan University of Steubenville. Thank you, St. John Bosco. My spiritual growth, and ability to put my knowledge to work in service to the Lord really happened when I surrendered to the Holy Spirit and allowed Him to guide and counsel me. When I follow him, great things happen, when I ignore him, ignore my prayer life, everthing grinds to a halt.
 
Recent Convert and learned most in RCIA, but as others have said, it left me wanting for more. I belong to a men’s study group and have spent an awful lot of time on the Internet forums. I have read many books (most boring) and have listened to some good tapes. Honestly, I have been very disappointed on the continuing education that is offered by the Church. We have very little offered in our dioceses in the way of classes. My wife learned most of hers from her dad and I can tell you, there may not be enough years to undo what he has taught. I constantly hear from her that she is going to heaven because she is basically a good person. Not to mention that she doesn’t go to reconciliation because it hasn’t been necessary since Vatican II (her words, not mine). I would like to see ongoing CCD offered for adults that just didn’t quite get it the first time through. Heck, I 'd go.
 
As a child, I learned through good catechism classes as well as through my mom’s example. She always explained why we were doing what we were doing. And the answers weren’t restricted to a “because I said so” or even “because the church says so”.

Now as an adult, I continue to learn through EWTN, this forum and personal study.
 
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