S
SSTeacher
Guest
What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
Circumspectly,
Mick
- Status
S
S_J_Thaikattil
Guest
Attend Roman Catholic or any Eastern Rite Mass, especially on Feast Days like Easter Week and Christmas. Read the Biblical passages pertaining to the Last Supper of Jesus.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
Read about the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and its rationale.
Read GK Chesterton and the book The Golden String by Bede Griffiths, both Englishmen Anglican coverts to Catholicism.
Read the life of Catholic saints.
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead. Take time to reflect and question. Remain open and receptive in silence to the still small voice of God in your heart as you search and read.
I hope that helps.
S
SSTeacher
Guest
Thanks for taking the time to contribute. However, youāve listed actions rather than reasons. I was thinking about which reasons would lead to the kind of actions youāve detailed.
Thoughtfully,
Mick
L
Love_is_Patient
Guest
The Eucharist.
God bless you on your journey.
Love is Patient
God bless you on your journey.
Love is Patient
M
Marsha_Adams
Guest
I converted from Seventh Day Adventist to Catholic. The reasons were primarily the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the role of Mary in salvation. These were followed in time by the Teaching Authority of the Church.
C
CHESTERTONRULES
Guest
It contains the fullness of truth.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
It is the surest path to salvation.
It contains the sacraments and apostolic succession.
It contains the best theology and most informed leadership in Christianity.
You can be with the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus PHYSICALLY every day of your life!
T
The_Iambic_Pen
Guest
Here is a list of a few reasons. Many of them, of course, go together.
-An appreciation for the sacred.
-A desire to be in communion with the Church founded by Jesus Christ.
-A longing for that which is beautiful.
-An appreciation for a reverent liturgy.
-The appeal of sacramentalism.
-A desire for moral certainty.
-A love of history.
-Dissatisfaction with the state of Protestantism.
-An appreciation for the sacred.
-A desire to be in communion with the Church founded by Jesus Christ.
-A longing for that which is beautiful.
-An appreciation for a reverent liturgy.
-The appeal of sacramentalism.
-A desire for moral certainty.
-A love of history.
-Dissatisfaction with the state of Protestantism.
I
IrishDude45
Guest
The question is why NOT convert to Catholicism from Protestantism?
There is no comparison, mate.
I did. Yeah royally pissed off grandparents, everyone thinks Iām going to hell. Canāt tell half the relations because of the back lash but Iāve crossed the Tiber and I will die before I will go back. I donāt even know where to begin with the reasons.
Study Scripture
Study History! (Apparently most protestants donāt believe in history)
Pray
Find the Church Christ established. (Hereās a hint, its not the evangelicals)
and above all the Eucharist- donāt need a reason beyond this.
There is no comparison, mate.
I did. Yeah royally pissed off grandparents, everyone thinks Iām going to hell. Canāt tell half the relations because of the back lash but Iāve crossed the Tiber and I will die before I will go back. I donāt even know where to begin with the reasons.
Study Scripture
Study History! (Apparently most protestants donāt believe in history)
Pray
Find the Church Christ established. (Hereās a hint, its not the evangelicals)
and above all the Eucharist- donāt need a reason beyond this.
R
rtconstant
Guest
I was an active Southern Baptist.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
It began for me with the reading of Scripture objectively.
It progressed with a reading of history and the Early Church Fathers.
A realization that the Catholic Church is the Apostolic Church.
The Eucharist, and Apostolic Succession were the lynch pins.
Hope this helps.
P
panoikei
Guest
Because it was the Church established by Christ.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
Eucharist
Reconciliation
Confirmation
Annointing of the Sick
Baptism
Holy Matrimony
Holy Orders
But by far the best reason is it is truth that we have the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
The Majisterium is a Light on a hill that shines for all the world to see in that it is also the only āorganizationā in existence that holds fast to being against abortion, against contraception of any kind, and more. It doesnāt take NO for an answer from those who would try to undermine its authority. It speaks charitably to all other faith traditions, unlike some of our brothers and sisters. It provided us with all the things that Protestants take for granted, bible, terminology like the Trinity and more.
Iāve said enough right there to chew on. But I do not expect you without the Holy Spirit to get it or accept it. Only this can come from God not me.
[edited to add] And Iām a revert after 17 years in an evangelical Christian community as well with lots of leaders in that community. My wife and oldest son converted as well at the same time I realized the fullness of truth must be in the Catholic Church.
Peace
S
SedesDomi
Guest
A Catholic girlfriend.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
G
Gabriel_of_12
Guest
āTRUTHā AND THE HOLY SPIRITWhat do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
M
MelanieAnne
Guest
I was Episcopalian (which basically means low-church Anglican Iāve come to understand). I thought I was āpretty muchā Catholic except for the whole āMaryā thing and I had prayed Hail Marys, if not the Rosary since childhood because of my upbringing. But I WAS SO WRONG.
In addition, Iād like to say āwhat they saidā and point to all those before me. Because that pretty much covers most of it.
But, in the end, I came āhomeā because, when I started to look at Christianity in general, the Episcopal Church in the USA just seemed too silly and relativist. They seemed to be serving themselves pretty well, but leaving Jesus behind. I didnāt like that.
The Catholic Church, which, to me, had more credible origins, seemed to be where God was pointing me to go. And here I am, and here I will stay.
In addition, Iād like to say āwhat they saidā and point to all those before me. Because that pretty much covers most of it.
But, in the end, I came āhomeā because, when I started to look at Christianity in general, the Episcopal Church in the USA just seemed too silly and relativist. They seemed to be serving themselves pretty well, but leaving Jesus behind. I didnāt like that.
The Catholic Church, which, to me, had more credible origins, seemed to be where God was pointing me to go. And here I am, and here I will stay.
V
Viki63
Guest
If one is not āprotestingā the church that Jesus founded,
why stand against it with the protestants?
The foundational doctrines of the Catholic church are all found in the Bible.
why stand against it with the protestants?
The foundational doctrines of the Catholic church are all found in the Bible.
P
Phillipos
Guest
For me it was as simple as reading the early fathers like Ignatius. The Christianity they describe is far different then the protestant/ evangelical version I knew of. The only churches that even closely described what the fathers wrote about was the Catholic/Orthodox church.
R
ralphinal
Guest
To me, the reasons are the opposite to why people leave the Catholic Faith.
They see the need for an authoritative Church Structure, and see it in the Bible.
The learn the true teachings of the Catholic Church, not the teachings that they think are the correct ones.
They cease to read the Bible one verse, one book at a time and begin to link it all together without trying to proove a position.
They allow history to speak to them instead of ignoring it. At the same time, they see ALL of the facts in history and not a slanted version.
They see the need for an authoritative Church Structure, and see it in the Bible.
The learn the true teachings of the Catholic Church, not the teachings that they think are the correct ones.
They cease to read the Bible one verse, one book at a time and begin to link it all together without trying to proove a position.
They allow history to speak to them instead of ignoring it. At the same time, they see ALL of the facts in history and not a slanted version.
G
graceandglory
Guest
Depends on the brand of protestantism. I was a bible studying evangelical. I converted because the Catholic Church is the only church that is scriptural on the topic of divorce. It is the only church that is scriptural on the Eucharist. It is the only church that is scriptural on Church Authority. It is the only church that has Apostolic Succession. It is the only Church that is scriptural and balanced on faith/works. It is the only Church that doesnāt change. It will still be the same Church, faithful to the Scriptures and not driven and tossed by the wind, (James 1)What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
in 1000 more years.
I converted because I wanted to stand on the Rock.
P
Pixie_Dust
Guest
I had my first real conversion experience 16 years ago in a Baptist church at the age of 19, a little over a year after Iād gotten married and about 6 months after my oldest daughter was born. Iād grown up loosely Methodist but we rarely attended church.What do you think would be the reasons that a Protestant (Reform or Arminian) might find convincing enough to prompt a conversion to Catholicism?
Circumspectly,
Mick
In hindsight, my husband and I had some very Catholic beliefs about things (we wished to have our house blessed, our 6 month old baby baptized, and believed that we should put our family size in Godās control and not in artificial birth control) but that Baptist pastor straightened us right out!
I became a staunch Evangelical, Indpendent, Fundamental, KJV-only, the Catholic Church is the āHoā of Babylon, pre-tribulation rapture believing Landmark-ish Baptist. ***Until ***about 5 years ago when I got the Book of Common Prayer (a friend said it would be useful as a devotional) and realized how rich with Scripture that liturgical worship is.
I was involved on another forum like this one, primarily for homeschooling moms, and met several ladies there who had become Catholic, one of them from a background very similar to my own. We talked theology quite a bit and played Bible Verse Bingo quite a bit more. For the life of me I couldnāt see how someone would ever leave the ātruthā of the Baptist faith for Catholicism.
One of our forum discussions involved reading the Early Church Fathers. I couldnāt find a Baptist among them! These were the guys who had learned the Faith directly at the feet of Christās apostles! And they sounded soā¦Catholic!
It had given me no end of grief that so many people could read the same Book and come to conflicting and contradictory conclusions about what that book was teaching, even among people within the same denomination. It was when I realized that the Bible Alone was not Biblical that I realized I couldnāt be any brand of Protestant anymore.
I got some CDs from the Bible Christian Society, visited the Catholic Answers Library, as well as Scripture Catholic, and prayerfully studied the Gospels and I can truly say that the Bible made me Catholic.
E
Eggnotz
Guest
I left evangelicalism and made a stop in Orthodoxy before resting in Catholicism. The reason for leaving the Protestant world was a simple and pragmatic one. Over four decades, Sola Scriptura had turned me into a stark, raving lunatic. When a number of people sit down, read their Bible and then come up with mutually-exclusive interpretations, Houston, we have a problem.
āScripture aloneā leads to hermeneutical anarchy. I was Arminian then Calvinist, the back, then charismatic, then this, then thatā¦
Finally, it occurred to my that getting closer to the beginning of the Church would give me a better chance of āgetting it rightā. Itās fairly obvious that one had to go back further than October 31, 1517 to get anywhere.
It became obvious that Orthodoxy and Catholicism are the oldest manifestations of Christianity. The Early Church was liturgical and Sacramental. Scripture is critical but it cannot be understood in a vacuum. This is where the traditional interpretation of the historical Church provides some safety.
This is why I left one for the other.
āScripture aloneā leads to hermeneutical anarchy. I was Arminian then Calvinist, the back, then charismatic, then this, then thatā¦
Finally, it occurred to my that getting closer to the beginning of the Church would give me a better chance of āgetting it rightā. Itās fairly obvious that one had to go back further than October 31, 1517 to get anywhere.
It became obvious that Orthodoxy and Catholicism are the oldest manifestations of Christianity. The Early Church was liturgical and Sacramental. Scripture is critical but it cannot be understood in a vacuum. This is where the traditional interpretation of the historical Church provides some safety.
This is why I left one for the other.
graceandglory,
Can you expand on what you mean by "balanced on faith/works?
Yourās was a very thought-provoking post.
Jon
- Status