Why Catholicism?

[curious27]

Hi everyone, I’ve been examining various religions to see if any of them have any truth to them. If I think there is good reason to convert to a certain religion, I will do so gladly. I would like to know, why should I become a Catholic as opposed to any other religion? Why do you think Catholicism is true rather than any other religion? Why do you believe other religions are man made and yours is not? Thanks in advance.

 

[judechild]

Excellent question curious.

First of all, I’d like to say congradulations, this is truely the first step in finding God, because everyone who honestly looks for Him **will **find Him.

I’d like to tell you a few points from my personal faith journey, then I’ll give some points that I, as a Catholic, now see as affirming my faith.

I was not born and baptized a catholic as an infant, in fact my parents are atheists. I remember talking to my grandmother - a very devout Catholic - at age 6 and telling her that I don’t believe in God. She asked me why and I responded " 'cause you can’t see Him!" I don’t remember what she said back, but it must have been good, because I ended up silently praying my first prayer: “God, I’m gonna think about you everyday”; it’s a promise I’ve kept. The interesting thing is I truely did feel something, and it caught me offguard. I know we cannot trust our personal feelings, but I did feel a very subtle “movement” in my heart that didn’t come from me (or a bad hot dog eaten earilier in the day). I felt like I did when my mother hugged me; totally happy and safe. I’m glad it was such a small experience, because if it was anything more I could simply write it off as childish imagination.

From then on, while I did not know God, He never left me, and I never doubted Him after that day. Sure I’ve had difficulties, but never doubts. Eventually, as I grew in the spiritual life, I realized a very important thing: I’m not that smart. I can’t figuare out God on my own, it would be the ultimate arogance if I thought I could. I realized I needed a guide, and I found it in the Church that Jesus Himself started. Even when I was 13 and I met a staunch anti-catholic who I respected so much that I drank his words in, still, he could not convince me that Catholicism was wrong. Eventually I was baptized and Confirmed into the Church, after having looked virtually **everywhere **else. Once you open to God once, He never stops drawing you back.

To support my faith, I have: written Revelation (the Bible) and the fact that the Church’s teaching so harmoniously fit with that Revelation, the unbroken line of succession of Bishops (Tradition), the Church’s consistancy, the natural order, miracles, *eucharistic *miracles, incoruptible saints, Mother Teresa, the existence of J.S. Bach’s music (I’m only half-kidding, his music is almost a proof for God’s existence), and the fact that the Church is still around after 2000 years when, with all the ways **we ** mess her up, if **she **weren’t guided by God Himself, she wouldn’t have lasted 200!

I’d be happy to go into any of these more fully. God bless you in your journey; trust me, it’ll be a fun ride.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

While I can’t tell you why, only God can do that, I can give my own Testimony to Catholicism.

Recently, I’ve struggled with my faith. I’ve doubted everything that I’ve held Holy for so long. I have flirted with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the end of the day though, even with my doubts of Catholicism, I kept finding myself engaging in Catholic prayer and behavior. When I open the Bible, see the Word and I see how the Word has verified Catholicism. As I’ve struggled to get back on the right path, I’ve found that Scripture can back up everything that I have been taught in Catholicism. Peter was the first Pope, Mary was and always is a perpetual Virgin, the Saints do intercede on our behalf, purgatory is scriptural. Although I struggle, these things are always there.

For me, being an imperfect person, I also look for real signs that the Church is true. For that I look no further than Our Lady of Guadalupe.

So while I can prove nothing to you, just ask God. He will help because he wants was best for his children, even if we struggle or sin.

 

[curious27]

Please don’t get offended when I criticize some points, I am simply trying to put Catholicism through extreme scrutiny. I feel that if the 9/11 hijackers, or the members of that cult that went suicidal, had scrutinized their beliefs, maybe things would have turned out differently, so I always try to scrutinize my beliefs.

To support my faith, I have: written Revelation (the Bible) and the fact that the Church’s teaching so harmoniously fit with that Revelation (Seeing as the Church wrote the Bible, the fact that their teachings match up with it isn’t that impressive) , the unbroken line of succession of Bishops (Tradition) (I’m sorry, I don’t see how an unbroken line of succession indicates a Catholicism is true. Please elaborate?) , the Church’s consistancy (I agree, their infallible teachings have been consistent with each other) , the natural order (Not sure what you mean by this, please explain?) , miracles, *eucharistic *miracles (Interesting, please post links) , incoruptible saints (Interesting,please post links) , Mother Teresa (There have been inspirational people of all faiths, I’m not sure this proves anything) , the existence of J.S. Bach’s music (I’m only half-kidding, his music is almost a proof for God’s existence) (I’ll have to listen to that) , and the fact that the Church is still around after 2000 years when, with all the ways **we ** mess her up, if **she **weren’t guided by God Himself, she wouldn’t have lasted 200! (Many religions have lasted a very long time )

I’d be happy to go into any of these more fully. God bless you in your journey; trust me, it’ll be a fun ride.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

Please don’t get offended when I criticize some points, I am simply trying to put Catholicism through extreme scrutiny. I feel that if the 9/11 hijackers, or the members of that cult that went suicidal, had scrutinized their beliefs, maybe things would have turned out differently, so I always try to scrutinize my beliefs.

To answer the first red point, the Church did not write the Bible. The Bible was written by many men over many years.

As for the unbroken line, it proves truth because we can trace the same beliefs and same Ordination back to the very word’s of Christ.

 

[JRKH]

Hi everyone, I’ve been examining various religions to see if any of them have any truth to them.

Please do not be offended, but this question seems to indicate that you may not even have accepted God as of yet. So - Do you believe in God?
It might be of help to us to know where you are in your journey. Which “religions” have/are you investigating. Is it mainly in the Christian area or is it more universal?

If I think there is good reason to convert to a certain religion, I will do so gladly.

I can think of no better reaon to “convert” to a religion than the promise of eternal life enveloped in the complete Love of God. This is the promise of Christianity and since Catholicism is the Root Church of Christianity - that is it is the Church Christ Founded Himself, it only makes sense to be Catholic.

I would like to know, why should I become a Catholic as opposed to any other religion? Why do you think Catholicism is true rather than any other religion?

So far as I know, no other faith system than Christianity was founded by the Living son of God. You have to remember that in any faith system it is first necessary to have faith. To Trust God to lead you. The crucial points of Faith in Christianity are that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, died for our sins, and Rose from the Dead. If one has this faith in Christ then it follows that one should be a member of the Church that He himself established. This is the Catholic Church.
The reason that the Catholic Church is true is:

1. I believe in the Promises of God
2. The Catholic Church has clearly demonstrated both the validity of her teachings.
3. God has shown His protection of His Church and the Holiness of many of Her members.

Why do you believe other religions are man made and yours is not? Thanks in advance.

Personally I will say that in some ways ALL religions are man made. By this I mean that, even if a religion is divinely inspired and instituted, it must be set up and operated by man in such a way as to be understandable for man. I also think that there are other religions that are set up as sincere efforts to seek “God”.
I believe that the Catholic Church is the correct Church because of it’s divine origion (founded by Christ) and it’s longevity. The Catholic Church can be traced back to the time of Christ and then back to the Patriarchs through the Jewish line.

I hope some of this helps.

Peace
James

 

[NFrancis]

Catholicism was founded by Christ when he gave St. Peter the keys to bind and loose on Heaven and Earth (see Matthew 16:19). Thus St. Peter, the apostle, became the first Pope. I will explain some history to better explain the papacy. In the Old Testament the Israelis wanted a King like all the other nations had. Moses foresaw that this would happen and their were guidelines set down to anoint Kings so that they could rule over Israel. The King also had a prime minister to represent him and he was given keys… Christ descended from King David and from Abraham. He became the new King thus fulfilling the prophesies and appointed St. Peter as Pope (ie. Prime Minister). Additionally, King Solomon had his mother as Queen and she met people with him and sometimes people would ask her to pass on messages to the King. She is like Mary, the mother of God.

       None of the Protestant religions were founded by Christ and they do not have holy orders or any authority to perform sacraments.  

       I will stop for now and maybe come back later.

 

[Church_Militant]

Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth will give you a good beginning and I suggest that you carefully consider God’s Love for You. You can PM me with any other questions.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

Hi everyone, I’ve been examining various religions to see if any of them have any truth to them. If I think there is good reason to convert to a certain religion, I will do so gladly. I would like to know, why should I become a Catholic as opposed to any other religion? Why do you think Catholicism is true rather than any other religion? Why do you believe other religions are man made and yours is not? Thanks in advance.

I suggest you read “Rebuilding a Lost Faith” by an Amereican Agnostic…John L. Stoddard.

This book details his journey from studying to become a protestant minister, to agnostic, to athiest to the Catholic Church. He looks at all the major faiths and does an excellent job of explaining what convinced him that the Catholic Church is the ‘One True Church’.

The book was originally published in 1921 but don’t let the date put you off, the message is as effective today as it was then.

This says it all in a way that I could never hope to do in a forum like this.

God Bless,

Iowa Mike