Which religion is grabbing the most Catholics?

[ichabod]

Has anyone considered a combination of secularism/nationalism?

While there are many aspects of religion, two that stick out to me at the moment are long-term goals (e.g., salvation), and behavioral guidelines (e.g., morality).
I can see secularism/materialism providing the long-term goals, but when relativism sets in, the only set of guidelines that is left is the laws of the nation, inasmuch as one feels obligated to follow them, and expects others to follow them, and even only when one gets caught.

Hmm, seems like a couple more -isms snuck in

In my meager experience with youth of today that are getting no real religious formation, I see a combination of greed, “self-esteem”, sexual promiscuity, ridicule of tradition (the “not invented here” syndrome) and materialism (in differing degrees).

What really frightens me is the lack of a true sense of justice and mercy.

 

[SpiritualSon]

c0achmcguirk:

Harry, you are aware that the Trinity says that there are three persons co-equal and co-eternal in one Godhead, correct? We assert and affirm that there is no other God than God Himself.

Where do you get your information? I’m a Protestant and I believe that Jesus is divine. Evangelicals have always believed in the Trinity–regardless of the small splinter wacko groups that would deny such a clear Biblical truth.

So, let me get this straight, Jehovah God is God, and Jesus is God…so they’re the same person? Are you saying that Jesus didn’t exist until He was born in the manger?

I’m all confused,
c0ach

There are some Protestant Church that deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

**The Father,Son and Holy Spirit are meant by the three attributes which proceed from one God, Creation, Redemption and Regeneration, and that these are the three attributes of the one God.

Why does the church deny the writings of the Prophets? They contradict the trinity before creation.
**I am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no Savior (Isa. 43:11).
**Before the world was created this trinity was not,but after creation, when Jehovah God became incarnated,which means He became a Human Being under the Holy Name of Jesus Christ,as in John 14,“He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” “The Father and I are one.”

Harry
The first thing of charity is look to the Lord and shun evil,because they are sins.

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[Kaitlyn_Meghan]

I’d definitely say Evangelical and Fundamentalist Protestantism. Mormons and Jehovah’s follow those two.

 

[Peter_Hilger]

I heard recently that the largest religious organization in the US is Catholic and the second largest is fallaway Catholics. If given the option, I would say that no other religion is grabbing Catholics as much as just agnostic attitudes.

 

[c0achmcguirk]

SpiritualSon:

There are some Protestant Church that deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, but they are few and regarded as heretics by evangelicals (traditional Protestants). You can’t make a blanket statement saying that Protestants don’t believe Jesus was divine without some clarification, it’s misleading and out of touch with reality.

The Father,Son and Holy Spirit are meant by the three attributes which proceed from one God, Creation, Redemption and Regeneration, and that these are the three attributes of the one God.

So when we see a clear distinction in Scripture between the persons of the Trinity, you are saying they are the same person? For example, when Jesus prays to the Father, you are saying he’s talking to Himself?

Also, is it your interpretation that John 1, when speaking of the “Word” it is speaking of Jehovah God, then?

God bless,
c0ach

 

[AaronL]

What is the difference between fundamentalists and Evangelical? I go to a “Church of Christ” that regularly beats up other religions, but actually says very little about the Catholics because Catholics are so very far removed and foreign. Catholics are easy prey to them, because they don’t now how to defend their faith or read the Bible.

 

[cnelms]

Wouldn’t Baptists be considered mainline protestants?

 

[dalonia]

SpiritualSon:

The Father,Son and Holy Spirit are meant by the three attributes which proceed from one God, Creation, Redemption and Regeneration, and that these are the three attributes of the one God.

Thanks for sharing that bit of info-
I am just starting to embrace Catholicism,
and- being raised in a Jehovah’s Witness/
atheist home,
the “Trinity” part has been difficult for me to
comprehend, but not difficult to embrace now…
Peace be unto all

 

[c0achmcguirk]

dalonia:

the “Trinity” part has been difficult for me to
comprehend, but not difficult to embrace now…
Peace be unto all

You’re quoting a guy that denies the Trinity…but you used the rolleyes smiley, so maybe you were being sarcastic. Anyway, in case you didn’t know that.

God bless,
c0ach

 

[jaralenio]

I would say selfish Catholics just chasing the almighty dollar and falling away from their faith by just being stagnant but since that is not on your poll I would say distant second is Evangelicals and then Mormons.

 

[Catechist]

For our youth I would say . .

chruch of the blessed basketball
or
church of the sacred soccerball.

 

[bamark]

CD, that’s not evangelizing, that’s prosletyzing. Telling a non-believer about the Good News is one thing. Trying to make a Catholic Christian into a “Real Christian” is another. That’s one thing that completely turns me off to the whole evangelical movement. Assuming that I’m not a Christian like you is very presumptous on your part. It’s also very rude. Of course, to the evangelical or fundy, that’s the whole idea. The weaker a Catholic is in the Faith, the easier it is to “steal” him or her.

What I find is that sooner or later, these same folks run into a Catholic who understands the history of the Church, reads the Bible and knows how to refute most, if not all the arguments posed by them.

Mark

Mark

 

[CD4]

bamark:

CD, that’s not evangelizing, that’s prosletyzing. Telling a non-believer about the Good News is one thing. Trying to make a Catholic Christian into a “Real Christian” is another. That’s one thing that completely turns me off to the whole evangelical movement. Assuming that I’m not a Christian like you is very presumptous on your part. It’s also very rude. Of course, to the evangelical or fundy, that’s the whole idea. The weaker a Catholic is in the Faith, the easier it is to “steal” him or her.

What I find is that sooner or later, these same folks run into a Catholic who understands the history of the Church, reads the Bible and knows how to refute most, if not all the arguments posed by them.

Mark

Mark

**Mark…I agree with you. I do realize that many Central Americans are what is called “cultural Catholics”, but still…It is arrogant of anyone to assume that these people are not “real Christians”. **

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Evangelicals often make the assumption that while some Catholics may well be “real Christians”, most are not. We are, according to them, blinded and bound by senseless man made rules and doctrines…not to mention the fact that our liturgy is nothing but a cold ritual…

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[CD4]

Bonafede:

I am sitting here, almost in tears, I’m home.
I voted fundamental protestantism, because that is what pulled me away 15 years ago, because of the emptiness I thought was in the Catholic Churches I grew up in. I was ripe for the pickings because of my lack of diligence in knowing the Truth. I live in So Cal.

**It is my hope and prayer that you have found your way “home”…It is never too late, you know. **

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[CD4]

AaronL:

What is the difference between fundamentalists and Evangelical? IQUOTE]
That’s a good question. Although the two do have some things in common, they are NOT the same.

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Fundametalists can be very separatist…They often do not participate in ecumenical services or activities…I was not, for instance, allowed to sing with my relative in his fundalmelist independent Baptist church…

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Fundamentalists do not believe that Catholics are true Christians…They are the ones who put out those horrible anti-Catholic tracts.

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I was fortunate enough to help my friend open a very good Cathoic bookstore… The first week or so, we found anti-Catholic tracts affixed to the door of the store every morning. They were from a nearby independent Baptist church.

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For a more in depth look at how Fundamentalists view Catholics, read Karl’s “Fundamentalism and Catholicism”…

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**Evangelicals, I believe, are not as hard line as fundamentalists. They will often concede that SOME Catholics may actually be “real Christians”, and are generally more ecumenical in their approach to other religions. **

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**Both believe in sola scriptura and faith alone…But, evangelicals may not believe in "once saved, always saved’, while I would say nearly all fundmetalists do. **

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**Actually, Evangelicism is a form of fundamentalism. Of the two, it is the most attractive, and the one that many Catholics will turn to. **

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**As I have mentioned before, the two large Evangelical churches in our community are growing by leaps and bounds…My husband belongs to one, and he often points out people who are from my own parish (in same town). **

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**A very interesting aspect to this church is that it is home to so many who have come from other denominations. When the pastor asks for a show of hands to indicate what tradition you came from, there is a definitel minority of people who are from Churches of Christ or the Christian churches… Many are Catholic…Many. **

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There are many more differences and similarities between fundamentalist and evangelical churches…

 

[MichelleTherese]

“In your estimation, which religion has been most successful in inducing one-time Catholics to join it?”

I’ve noticed a lot of ex-Catholics in Evangelical or “Bible” churches. I have no idea why they leave the Church but I suspect it has to do with two things: either they didn’t understand their faith and got enticed out of the Church or they didn’t want to obey a certain Church teaching and left to find an easier path.

 

[SarahR]

My husband belongs to the Church of Christ. In his church of 250 people. I’d say about 40 used to be catholic. They are very interested in fellowshipping with catholics, and actively trying to convert them.

Without reading the other posts, I’ve always wondered why converts TO catholicism usually look back at their former churches with affection, thanking God for that part of their journey & it’s experiences, whereas people LEAVING the catholic church almost always, in my experience, have bitterness towards it, and see themselves as being “saved from” catholicism.

 

[Sir_Hubert]

A good question, and where I live, and work, I think it would be the Evangelicals. I will say however, that someone who was *Truly *Catholic, Truly believed in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, could never leave the Catholic Church.

Simon Peter ansewered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed , and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God" John 6:68-69 (RSVCE)

That said, I think it’s not a “religion” that pulls catholics away, but rather pride. Like politics, people tend to follow folks who say what they want to hear, even though it may not be the Truth. All have a desire for a spiritual life, it’s just to many want it on their terms, not Gods.

 

[Lonevoice]

Richard Lamb:

They are all going willingly…We should not blame other non-catholic religions for taking Catholics away,we should look to ourselves for the lack of cathechesis that is allowing this to happen…No one is snatched away, they go because we have failed them…

You hit it right on the proverbial head!!!

I spent 35 years as a SB, and thru the grace of God(and the Bud McFarlane books and website, www.Catholicity.com and of course, Catholic Answers) I have now come to the True Church as of two years ago(after a few years of study and prayer[and the shredding of my old, formerly comfy life]).

I guess the ‘conversion’ process works both ways, people leave what they knew on their own.

TRUE conversion, though, only leads ONE WAY, back to the Truth.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Binky_Brown]

**Why are these inquiries always couched in terms such as “inducing”, “seducing”, “grabbing”,and “pressuring”? Has it ever dawned upon some individuals that a change of religious affiliation *out of *the Roman Catholic Church may be motivated by the same desire for truth and to be obedient to God as those who change their affiliation into the Roman Catholic Church are accorded? **

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As a former Roman Catholic myself, I often wonder if the most persuasive argument for not becoming a Roman Catholic, or not returning to the Roman Catholic Church, is the triumphalist, sophmoric, and arrogant attitute of particular individuals who advocate such action. I can assure you that when I left the Roman Catholic Church myself, no one “grabbed” or “seduced” me: if my education at the hands of Jesuits, Paulists, Franciscans, and other Catholic religious taught me anything, it was to weigh such considerations seriously, and not allow myself to be “grabbed” by anyone.

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Sadly, the rhetoric of conversion is dependant upon who tells the story: not only is there an abysmal lack of empirical data on the subject of why people embrace another faith, but each “testimony” has to be weighed in the face of the motives, biases, and interests of the particular individual in question.