Why are you a ____________?

[Matthew_Light]

One of my friends told me what he liked about Buddhism was that it wasn’t sort of just esoteric reading or theory or talk but an actual practice which he found very appealing. In some ways Catholicism has that same quality. Perhaps not all like this aspect of any faith but for some it very much helps them in their daily lives.

FWIW two very influential people in my faith life are former Buddhists, one a woman I met at a retreat who had been raised a PK, daughter of a Lutheran minister, rejected Christianity in college, became a practicing Buddhist and after about 15 years converted to Catholicism. She was very influential in my conversion in that she told me the “nuts and bolts” of how to go through the process. The other one was raised a Buddhist but was educated at a Catholic school, wanted to convert as a child but was stopped by his mother. Later he went around her, got his father’s permission and became Catholic. He has been a priest for over 50 years now and is my Spiritual Director. Again I think the practice aspect of Catholicism is part of the reason for their conversion.

I think this sort of “cross pollination” between people of different beliefs, practices and religions has been of tremendous benefit to the world. Thank you for sharing this Lisa!

 

[gnosisofthomas]

I’m a Gnostic, and while I’d always loved reading the Gnostic scriptures, it never occurred to me that there might be practicing Gnostic churches out there. Then the summer after graduating from university, I had a mystical experience involving the Holy Sophia, and after doing some research, I found that there was a parish of the Ecclesia Gnostica in my city called Hagia Sophia. I nervously attended Mass there for the first time the following week, after having stayed away from Mass at the Catholic Church for several years, and I immediately felt at home.

The liturgy was beautiful and traditional, the people were warm and welcoming, and it was great to be able to talk with other like-minded people who have had similar experiences. That kept me going, along with the fact that the Church is also open and affirming of LGBT people – one of the issues that had caused me to leave the Catholic Church. I eventually joined the clergy, and was ordained a deacon in 2013… I really feel this Church has helped me grow in Gnosis, in my love of Christ, my love of my fellow man, and has given me a sense of peace with God that I hadn’t experienced in such a long time. I’m really fortunate to have found my home in this Church.

 

[rossum]

I’d be interested to hear more about “no soul” and what it means to you, here or in another thread, if you feel like it.

Everything changes. That worries some people, so they like to hold on to something that they think does not change. That is a mistake, which only leads to suffering. Since everything changes, then trying to look for stasis is a fruitless quest. Looking for what you cannot find will only lead to frustration.

Since you change, then there is no unchanging soul to be found. You change from second to second. That is the reality, and trying to oppose that reality won’t do any good.

To paraphrase Heraclitus: “You cannot step in the same river twice, because the river is not the same river and you are not the same you.”

rossum

 

[Matthew_Light]

Thanks rossum!

I think that would be an interesting subject for a discussion but it might digress too much for this thread.

Do you mind if I start another thread just to discuss this, "Everything Changes and the Buddist notion of anatta and start by quoting your post?

 

[Matthew_Light]

Hi gnosisofthomas!

I have read and appreciated the Gospel of Thomas. I don’t know much about gnostic Christianity but the subject is very interesting. I am very glad you are finding Christ and love through your faith! Perhaps you could share more about the basics of it, I feel sadly ignorant of your religion.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Baptised Presbyterian, but only because my father lost his Catholic faith and decided to rebel, which was a (typically) stupid move on his part. Went to Sunday School as a kid, but dropped out when I could. Neither parent went to Church, although I think my mother had a sort of faith. She was the one who held the family together.

Became atheist for a while, but at the end of the worst part of my life, I felt this consistent spiritual nudge to go back to the same Presbyterian Church where I’d had my Sunday School teaching (Newmarket - Brisbane).

Side note - about six months before this happened, I’d been sleeping on the floor of a friend’s house in Perth, on the other side of the continent. One night I had this dream (vision?) of someone walking past wearing a gown with tassels on the bottom. In the dream (vision?) I reached out and touched one of the tassels. I couldn’t see him, just his feet in sandals and the bottom of the gown.

Significance?

By going back to this particular Presbyterian Church at this time I met the resident pastor and his family. He had a deep influence, although he discouraged me (which he admitted and apologised for towards the end of his life), yet I learnt a lot from him.

He was also prophetic, and thought I’d become Catholic, saying “I think the Lord might want you to go back there…” (after my father had taken me out so to speak).

Anyway a few years after he died, I started getting a similar spiritual push to go Catholic, as I had previously to go back to my old Sunday School Church. I resisted for a while, but push became shove, and so I went.

I’m still here, and I think the Catholic Church is “closest to the truth.” That’s not my wording - the old pastor turned up one night in a vision, and that’s precisely what he said. We had discussed the Catholic-Protestant divide before he died, and he was having doubts about the Protestant position even then.

Anyway I’ll stay here, because to quote the disciples, “Where else would (I) go?”.

Right now my impression of the Catholic Church is that it’s trying to catch an evangelical wave, but hasn’t got the experience to pick the right time and place to launch. But as it flounders around trying to get into the right position, it is slowly gaining confidence and ability.

And when it’s ready, you’ll see it go.

 

[rossum]

I think that would be an interesting subject for a discussion but it might digress too much for this thread.

Do you mind if I start another thread just to discuss this, "Everything Changes and the Buddist notion of anatta and start by quoting your post?

Be my guest.

rossum

 

[seanman611]

As an Anglican in the Episcopal Church, several things come to mind:

1. The Prayer Book is a liturgical and spiritual resource that has no equals.
2. Classic Anglican liturgy has few equals.
3. The hymns and chants are absolutely beautiful.
4. Anglicans haven’t thrown the baby out with the water, retaining Apostolic Succession and the Sacraments.
5. The Archbishop of Canterbury as a spiritual leader and not an all-powerful bishop. (To be sure, the ABC has power, but it is limited).
6. The Anglican Communion structure being representative of how the early church operated.
7. A theology that tends to shy away from the extremes. One can certainly see Catholic, Calvinist, and Lutheran influence in Anglicanism, however, Anglicanism is unique and not totally in any one camp. At the end of the day, Anglicanism is Anglicanism. I think that the Anglican way of wrestling with these tough theological issues is very similar to how the church always wrestled with tough issues.
8. Anglicanism stands on Scripture, Tradition, and Reason, with Scripture being primary.

Sadly, much of what drew me to Anglicanism is what Anglicanism is on paper is not necessarily the reality of modern American Anglicanism (at least in TEC). TEC, in my opinion, is a church with an Anglican liturgy, but with a progressive mainline protestant theology. The theologies of people like Spong, Crossan, and Borg are much more prevalent among some of the clergy and leaders than many of us would like to admit. Sure, we have a beautiful liturgy, but if it is divorced from sound theology, than of what use is it? It’s hard to feel connected with fellow Episcopalians, whose theological beliefs can be wildly different from one another to the point to where it’s hard to believe such divergent views can live in the same church. I think that Episcopalians have been and are at the point to where such divergent views just can’t be reconciled and the church is tearing itself apart. At the end of the day, I’m very thankful for my traditional Episcopal parish for introducing me and teaching me what Anglicanism is, however, the national church and a majority of parishes are nothing more than an wildly inefficient political social club/charity. Furthermore, despite its very reasonable and moderate official stance on abortion, the Episcopal Church is positively pro-choice in almost all situations. I just can’t reconcile this with Jesus Christ or with any basic moral code.

I’m remaining Episcopalian through the rest of this year, then I will sadly be searching. I just wish Anglicanism could be Anglicanism!

 

[Matthew_Light]

Thank you for telling your story Bob.

I love hearing about spiritual journeys that bring people to God and Christ. Very glad you found a home in the Catholic Church.

 

[Matthew_Light]

Hi Seanman!

I appreciate your sharing of all the positive aspects of Anglicanism as you understand it. I have a good friend, a former Anglican, who helped me to return to God a few years ago. He swore by the book of common prayer - that it was the best aspect of the Anglican church.

I am sorry that you are finding issues in your continued membership and wish you all the best in finding the a Church where you can meet and relate with Christ.

 

[Stilldreamn]

I was born into a Lutheran family, with baptismal records for ancestors going back 200+ years. I could hardly have been raised as anything else!

I continue to consider Catholicism and Orthodoxy, but feel unable to convert without fully understanding what I would be affirming and it seems this may just take the rest of my earthly life.

So I receive God’s grace and hear His Word, rejoice in the Gospel and weep over my sins at Jesus feet, and trust in His love and mercy. I strive to be a mirror for God’s love to my family and dear neighbors. In the end, I am a Christian, a member of a Lutheran church, and with an especially deep love for my Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters.

 

[Vanny]

Stilldreamin you are exactly where I am now. I could have written that post.
I have been studying both Catholocism and Orthodoxy.
Confessional Lutheran for now.

 

[Vanez]

I have been attending Orthodox church for quite a while, but it makes me miss the Catholic Church.

I am attending RCIA, converting to Catholicism. I am a Protestant who since childhood has received Catholic education.

I too, have reason why i have chosen Catholicism over Orthodoxy.

I have friends who tried to scare me out about Catholicism and who judged. But it’s okay, Jesus has told us to pray for those who persecute us, right?

And dogs do bark louder at strangers.

 

[Techno2000]

I thought it would be educational for people to share why you are a Catholic, Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist, Zoroastrian, Pagan, Presbyterian, Lutheran or any other faith or belief system.

If you can talk about what draws you to your community, some positive things about it, differences it has made in your life, and why you feel it is important to the world, that would be great. I’d truly appreciate personal sharing about what your community of belief means to you if you feel like elaborating on that.

I would please request that this particular thread remain free of criticism for anyone else’s faith or beliefs. Please just talk about your own journey instead of attacking anyone else’s. If someone wants to challenge anyone else’s faith because of something in this thread, please start another thread for that purpose and don’t use this thread.

Thank you.

When I was about 15, I told my Dad that no one should be forced to go to Church (Catholic) it should be ones free will, plus I made a big scene in front my house about this, and he reluctantly agreed. From that point until I was about 27 I didn’t believe in anything. Then one day while bored and kinda depressed I was laying on my bed flipping the TV channels and happen upon a TV preacher who was talking about Jesus.

For some reason I liked what he was saying, and agree in my mind at it was True, then it …“Happen” its hard to describe the feeling. It was like an incredible power pin me to the bed, and at the same time my spirit levitated a few feet above it, and instantly Love and Holiness rush into my spirit.

It felt like my spirit exploded into particles of love and Holiness and every little particle was saturated with Love and Holiness too, I was incinerated in God’s Love ! This feeling slowly subsided, and I came back to my senses and the absolute knowledge that there is a God, and he love sinners like me.

To make a long story short a few month later after this experience stumble upon my Dad’s Pieta Book…brizek.com/prayer/pieta.htm I took to it like a fish to water, this experience happen twenty years ago.

 

[KidCatholic1]

I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I used to not believe in many Christian beliefs (despite being baptized Catholic) like Heaven, Hell, demons, Satan, Biblical miracles, etc… I believe in my Catholic faith because I have read about what and why I practice my faith (a part of the reason why I am here ) and I hold them to be true. †

I also came back to the Catholic Church when I felt lost in a time of my life that seemed rather empty, sinful, and dark. There were other reasons why I began practicing again, but that would make this a very long post. I participated in the Sacraments (namely Reconciliation) for repentance and I knew I had returned home. Today I experience certain doubts whether or not God exists, but I dismiss them when I remember why I believe in God.

I mean absolutely no offense to anyone, by the way.

 

[Techno2000]

I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I used to not believe in many Christian beliefs (despite being baptized Catholic) like Heaven, Hell, demons, Satan, Biblical miracles, etc… I believe in my Catholic faith because I have read about what and why I practice my faith (a part of the reason why I am here ) and I hold them to be true. †

I also came back to the Catholic Church when I felt lost in a time of my life that seemed rather empty, sinful, and dark. There were other reasons why I began practicing again, but that would make this a very long post. I participated in the Sacraments (namely Reconciliation) for repentance and I knew I had returned home. Today I experience certain doubts whether or not God exists, but I dismiss them when I remember why I believe in God.

I mean absolutely no offense to anyone, by the way.

no offense KidCatholic :hug3:

 

[Sy_Noe]

Non practicing Roman Catholic with mainline Christian faith…

Because I was baptized in the Roman rite, later confirmed, and haven’t written the diocese to formally defect. I haven’t officially joined another. Though I’m uncertain the latter even matters under the teaching of OCAC. I don’t attend Mass regularly nor necessarily believe in or follow other matters of the faith, thus an adjective non practicing to keep the faithful on CAF happy.

On one hand mine is a simple faith. Belief in a Creator and Savior Jesus as I strive to love my neighbor, stand with the marginalized, be humble, not cast stones, and do what I can within my own limited means for the less fortunate. While recognizing my human failing at times to do so.

OTOH I am complex. I don’t take every word in Scripture or other early writings literally. I do take into consideration the times in which they were written. I don’t reject the possibility of human error. I don’t fit neatly into a box, I don’t see everything as black and white. I see and prefer gray in matters of faith. And I’m fine with that.

Not because I don’t believe in one truth. Because I don’t believe finite human beings can know for certain the ultimate truth of such an infinite being as God. Not without leaps of faith and belief measured in. So I can only walk by faith without sight.

In the end all I can truly do is in faith to trust in God’s infinite ability to know and understand my heart, my mind, my soul. And to leave my fate in my Creator’s all knowing and merciful, loving hands.

Mine has been a lifelong struggle. When I’ve tried to force myself into a black and white box, I’ve only ended up feeling smothered, feeling a need for air to breath. So I don’t do that as much now since I’m coming more to believe God does not want my walk to be such a struggle. I believe a cross has already been carried for me. So when I feel the yoke tightening or the burden too heavy, I seek shelter in the one sanctuary where I am alone with God. Deep within my conscience.

I once had a clergywoman in one of the mainline denominations tell me if we believe in Jesus and in 1 God, we can be part of the same worshiping family even if we disagree on other matters. I loved that!

I know such an approach to faith doesn’t work for everyone. Many need things more spelled out in black and white than I and perhaps some others do.

But anyway… so this is just why the mainline-liberal Christian faiths that allow for more diversity work for me, in bringing me a greater peace than trying to walk in lockstep with a more rigid faith where less diversity in belief is allowed.

 

[thetazlord]

Tazlord,

I agree with you that the early Christians would never have had the faith and strength they did without seeing Christ, resurrected.

Thank you for sharing the importance and meaning of your Christian faith to you!

You’re welcome & God bless! I also hope that the reason “why” I believe that Christ bodily resurrected from the dead - the eyewitness testimony of His disciples, who suffered torture & death without recanting their faith - something a person will not do if they “knew” it didn’t happen - will help you consider the validity & Truth of the exclusivity of the Christian faith, when Jesus Himself stated “I am the way the TRUTH, & the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6), which Jesus was able to back up by rising bodily from the dead - something NO other religious leader has ever been able to do to back up his or her religious claims. Christ ALONE did this. Blessings to you & prayers for you!

 

[cheese_sdc]

I’m a Unitarian Universalist because I found a place here that allows me to be part of a community and that doesn’t require a doctrinal assertion to be here. After I de-converted from Catholicism, I looked for a community to call home and found one here.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I’m a Unitarian Universalist because I found a place here that allows me to be part of a community and that doesn’t require a doctrinal assertion to be here. After I de-converted from Catholicism, I looked for a community to call home and found one here.

You sound sorta similar to me. Less required to assent to. Allowance for more diversity in matters of faith. One thing keeping me from UU is I am more in the Christian camp in terms of a Savior. But peace in your home!