Why I'm converting

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Thank you Your addition to this thread is quite appreciated and the part I bolded very much sums up the issues I had with Christianity as a whole before deciding to convert.

You are welcome mdrummer

I’m keeping you in my prayers. God bless!

 

[fabricdragon]

i converted a few years ago.
i was raised Episcopalian (a Pk to be exact) and then , fed up with various hypocrisy and frustrations (and a lot of that is just a function of being a Preacher’s Kid) i ended up in various new age beliefs. then tried a 7th day church… and then became a Wiccan ,
i was, to put it VERY mildly. “aggressively anti Christian”

oh yes, and what little i knew about Catholics? doubly so. after all, (insert popular dogma about Catholics persecuting Pagans here)

i was, in fact. HOSTILE to anyone even talking about it. seriously.

but i make jewelry and participate in historical re-enactment. so i got sort of interested in the Rosary.

and that was the beginning of a long, complicated, and often quite angry path…
when my friend Lynn (may Perpetual Light Shine Upon her and Grant Her Peace) was diagnosed with colon cancer. i gave her a Rosary since i had heard she was Catholic.
she loved it
later she asked me if i knew anyplace to get a rosary she could take into an MRI
and i learned to make knotted cord rosaries for her

in the meantime, if you sell rosaries you meet Catholics surprisingly nice ones… …reasonable ones…who dont scream at you.
often i met fallen away Catholics who didnt know how to say the Rosary, and would ask me… which meant i started carrying pamphlets to give out (and started saying part of it)

it took years before i worked up the nerve to walk into a local church and ask to talk to someone about converting.
if i hadnt met a LOT of very nice Catholics along the way who didnt shove, or try to convert me, i am sure the path would have been longer.

 

[mdrummer5]

i converted a few years ago.
i was raised Episcopalian (a Pk to be exact) and then , fed up with various hypocrisy and frustrations (and a lot of that is just a function of being a Preacher’s Kid) i ended up in various new age beliefs. then tried a 7th day church… and then became a Wiccan ,
i was, to put it VERY mildly. “aggressively anti Christian”

oh yes, and what little i knew about Catholics? doubly so. after all, (insert popular dogma about Catholics persecuting Pagans here)

i was, in fact. HOSTILE to anyone even talking about it. seriously.

but i make jewelry and participate in historical re-enactment. so i got sort of interested in the Rosary.

and that was the beginning of a long, complicated, and often quite angry path…
when my friend Lynn (may Perpetual Light Shine Upon her and Grant Her Peace) was diagnosed with colon cancer. i gave her a Rosary since i had heard she was Catholic.
she loved it
later she asked me if i knew anyplace to get a rosary she could take into an MRI
and i learned to make knotted cord rosaries for her

in the meantime, if you sell rosaries you meet Catholics surprisingly nice ones… …reasonable ones…who dont scream at you.
often i met fallen away Catholics who didnt know how to say the Rosary, and would ask me… which meant i started carrying pamphlets to give out (and started saying part of it)

it took years before i worked up the nerve to walk into a local church and ask to talk to someone about converting.
if i hadnt met a LOT of very nice Catholics along the way who didnt shove, or try to convert me, i am sure the path would have been longer.

Good story

 

[mdrummer5]

i converted a few years ago.
i was raised Episcopalian (a Pk to be exact) and then , fed up with various hypocrisy and frustrations (and a lot of that is just a function of being a Preacher’s Kid) i ended up in various new age beliefs. then tried a 7th day church… and then became a Wiccan ,
i was, to put it VERY mildly. “aggressively anti Christian”

oh yes, and what little i knew about Catholics? doubly so. after all, (insert popular dogma about Catholics persecuting Pagans here)

i was, in fact. HOSTILE to anyone even talking about it. seriously.

but i make jewelry and participate in historical re-enactment. so i got sort of interested in the Rosary.

and that was the beginning of a long, complicated, and often quite angry path…
when my friend Lynn (may Perpetual Light Shine Upon her and Grant Her Peace) was diagnosed with colon cancer. i gave her a Rosary since i had heard she was Catholic.
she loved it
later she asked me if i knew anyplace to get a rosary she could take into an MRI
and i learned to make knotted cord rosaries for her

in the meantime, if you sell rosaries you meet Catholics surprisingly nice ones… …reasonable ones…who dont scream at you.
often i met fallen away Catholics who didnt know how to say the Rosary, and would ask me… which meant i started carrying pamphlets to give out (and started saying part of it)

it took years before i worked up the nerve to walk into a local church and ask to talk to someone about converting.
if i hadnt met a LOT of very nice Catholics along the way who didnt shove, or try to convert me, i am sure the path would have been longer.

Good story Thanks for sharing it.

Sadly the Christians (Catholic or otherwise) that try to force their beliefs may have good intentions but most have no idea the damage they’re doing.

 

[rcam]

I had a similar experiance.I was raised jehova’s witness and my whole life I was taught the end of times.When I finally left I never thought that I would walk into a church again,until my wife’s brother who’s wife is catholic ask me to stand in his wedding.When I walked into the cathedral I got the warmest feeling,I knew what it was even though I had never felt it before.I was home.
long story short my wife and I are going though rcia at our local parish and couldn’t be happier.We will be baptized at the easter vigil this year along with our two children. I never knew it could be so good.

 

[mdrummer5]

I had a similar experiance.I was raised jehova’s witness and my whole life I was taught the end of times.When I finally left I never thought that I would walk into a church again,until my wife’s brother who’s wife is catholic ask me to stand in his wedding.When I walked into the cathedral I got the warmest feeling,I knew what it was even though I had never felt it before.I was home.
long story short my wife and I are going though rcia at our local parish and couldn’t be happier.We will be baptized at the easter vigil this year along with our two children. I never knew it could be so good.

Congratulations! The part I bolded is odd isn’t it? It’s a feeling you know but you can’t even begin to describe. It’s awesome

 

[ambertrevena]

Hello friends…

Shifting or converting your religion is not a big deal…But we don’t have to loose our faith on God,that is the main thing…If you have firm belief on God then their is no need to visit the temples and churches,We can say that God is not forcing us to wish him daily in the churches and temples…So converting your religion is not a matter of discussion…

Amber Trevena.

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Want to know your destiny click : Indian astrology and Horoscopes

 

[MrZetterlund]

Hello friends…

Shifting or converting your religion is not a big deal…But we don’t have to loose our faith on God,that is the main thing…If you have firm belief on God then their is no need to visit the temples and churches,We can say that God is not forcing us to wish him daily in the churches and temples…So converting your religion is not a matter of discussion…

Amber Trevena.

---

Want to know your destiny click : Indian astrology and Horoscopes

I’m sorry, but that is largely un-insightful. Temples and churches are the House of God, where many who fellowship with the same belief can come together and raise their voices to Him. Conversions ARE a large matter of discussion, as they demonstrate the renewal of one’s worldview and present a change of heart to those interested on making decisions for themselves…

Sorry if I seem argumentitive, but geez… Your reason for opposing the testimony of one’s conversion is self evident.

 

[ambertrevena]

Hello Friends…

No-one in this world is forcing anybody to change their religion to catholic or some other religion…The thing which matters is the faith in God…If you have the faith then it does not matter that you have shifted your religion from one to other…Gos never minds such kind of shifts…He only demands to have faith in him…

Amber Trevena.

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[cominghome1966]

… in the meantime, if you sell rosaries you meet Catholics surprisingly nice ones… …reasonable ones…who dont scream at you.
often i met fallen away Catholics who didnt know how to say the Rosary, and would ask me… which meant i started carrying pamphlets to give out (and started saying part of it)

it took years before i worked up the nerve to walk into a local church and ask to talk to someone about converting.
if i hadnt met a LOT of very nice Catholics along the way who didnt shove, or try to convert me, i am sure the path would have been longer.

Your story touched me. Thanks.

 

[joandarc2008]

mdrummer - how is your RCIA going?

 

[mdrummer5]

mdrummer - how is your RCIA going?

Haven’t gotten to start yet Since I didn’t decide this until earlier this year and RCIA at my Church starts in September I had missed too much so I have to wait til September of this year for the new class.

However I did meet with the priest at my church over the weekend about my annulment and found out some good news. I was under the impression that I had to have the annulment done to become Catholic, apparently I was misinformed and I only need it if I want to get married in the Catholic Church, which I do if/when I get married again but I’m glad to know I don’t need to worry about it for now.

Now I just have to wait 7 more months. I don’t mind waiting but by then I’m hoping I will have learned enough that it will more or less be review and discussion for me.

Thanks for asking though!

 

[Joe_5859]

However I did meet with the priest at my church over the weekend about my annulment and found out some good news. I was under the impression that I had to have the annulment done to become Catholic, apparently I was misinformed and I only need it if I want to get married in the Catholic Church, which I do if/when I get married again but I’m glad to know I don’t need to worry about it for now.

Did your priest tell you about how long the annulment process takes in your diocese? Times vary depending upon many factors, but sometimes it can take 18 months or more.

Just FYI so you can plan things out accordingly.

 

[mdrummer5]

Did your priest tell you about how long the annulment process takes in your diocese? Times vary depending upon many factors, but sometimes it can take 18 months or more.

Just FYI so you can plan things out accordingly.

Not really… he said it should be fairly quick and painless for me as neither one of us was ever baptized and were never a member of any Church. Our marriage was strictly legal with no religious factors so in theory it should be pretty quick.

 

[Joe_5859]

Not really… he said it should be fairly quick and painless for me as neither one of us was ever baptized and were never a member of any Church. Our marriage was strictly legal with no religious factors so in theory it should be pretty quick.

Ah, I see. Yes, in situations like that, there is not as much involved, so it should go more quickly. I just didn’t want you to be surprised.

 

[mdrummer5]

Ah, I see. Yes, in situations like that, there is not as much involved, so it should go more quickly. I just didn’t want you to be surprised.

I appreciate it He actually just called me to let me know that I can go ahead and get the information needed to verify that neither of us was baptized and that it will more or less be held in file until I am officially engaged, which will not be for some time.

Now… if I could just make September get here faster.

 

[Joe_5859]

I appreciate it He actually just called me to let me know that I can go ahead and get the information needed to verify that neither of us was baptized and that it will more or less be held in file until I am officially engaged, which will not be for some time.

Now… if I could just make September get here faster.

God is helping you to grow in the virtue of patience right from the get-go. At least you’ll really know what you’re getting yourself into before you become Catholic.

 

[mdrummer5]

God is helping you to grow in the virtue of patience right from the get-go. At least you’ll really know what you’re getting yourself into before you become Catholic.

Yea… patience has never… EVER been one of my virtues lol

 

[Maria_Aurea]

I’m very early in the process of converting to Catholicism. I’ve seen quite a few threads where I’ve found my story to be somewhat relevent so thought I would post a new thread explaining it in hopes that it helps anyone who is trying to convert someone.

Background: I grew up following the Jewish faith with a mother who converted from Southern Baptism. The church my grandparents used to attend very much followed the belief system that God is angry (imagine an angry little man screaming at you about God that looks like this ). The few times I went with them going to church as a child was actually scary for me because I was openly told I would go to hell by everyone including members of my family because of my faith. Obviously not a good way to show someone God’s love. By the age of 14 I stopped going to synagogue (Jewish “church”) and up until a couple weeks ago considered myself to be agnostic. Then I talked to God for the first time in a long time. I apologized and asked for a sign of how to pursue faith. Within a week of that my girlfriend asked me if I wanted to attend Christmas Mass with her. Subtle… but a sign nontheless. I went and felt spiritual fulfillment I’d never known before. Monday I have an appointment to discuss RCIA

The reason I want to share this is because too many Christians try to convert people and I’m here to tell you as someone who was opposed to it most of his life… don’t actively try. just present it as an option. When someone is ready to open their heart to God they will. Trying to pressure them into it (even if you don’t think you are it’s probably perceived that way) will only drive them further away. When my girlfriend asked she said “Do you want to go to Christmas Mass?”. Had she said “I want you to”, “will you” or worst of all “you should” I’d have declined.

Now she wasn’t trying to convert me and doesn’t even know that I’ve decided to yet (don’t want her to think I’m doing it for her) I guess what I’m saying is if you want to try… consider your approach more thoroughly. After the Christmas Mass my girlfriend and I were talking about it and I explained what my thoughts were and she even said “I will not try to convert you, but if you have any questions feel free to ask.”

Present the path… don’t try to push anyone onto it.

Also, while no expert, given my previous views and fairly decent education in psychology (though not my career path) I am fairly well versed in how non-Christians view the idea of conversion so if anyone has any questions that I can possibly help with in terms of converting a loved one feel free to send me a private message. I will never try to convert anyone given my previous experience but given how good I feel about it can appreciate the idea of wanting to share that feeling.

I agree with you. Trying to force the issue will only drive them away to what you are trying to do.
My late husband was an Anglican when we got married. Every sunday, when I go to mass he used to take me to church but I never asked him to go with me. He was the one who made the decision to come with me to church and from there, it gradually developed. He decide that we should get married in the catholic church and got converted to catholicism. He approached our parish priest about becoming catholic and when we got married, he actually asked the priest who married us to be accepted in the catholic faith before we got married. The only thing I did is to show him what my faith is all about and God did the rest.

 

[zipperc98]

mdrummer5,

I should have read this thread first before replying to the other…

Thank you for this story! I have always been inspired by others testimonies…coming from and LDS background, testimonies are shared on a regular basis. I find it very fascinating to hear other’s processes, particularly in religion.

I can only imagine you are chomping at the bit ready to go through RCIA! I was inspired to talk to a Deacon the day BEFORE that Parish’s RCIA program had started…many times I have thought that maybe I should drop out of the program and wait until next year. But there is NO way I would have been happy doing that. I’m ready now, and nothing can stop me!

The good news is you will be SO fired up and ready…no doubt you will be incredibly informed and will be impressing everyone there! lol. I hope that the rest of the year flies by for you! I know my parish, they accept people in the program at any time…however they don’t necessarily allow you to participate in the sacraments. There is a gal who joined our group a bit late…she decided to wait because she wanted to get the full process from the begining…however she continues to come to the classes. I would imagine it helps keeps her excited and exposed to feeling the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.

BTW, I have been attending Adoration frequently…I think I may be the only one in my class that seems to be interested in this. But it gives me an amazing experience, any time I want! If you haven’t done this yet, I highly recommend it!

I hope your journey is going well! Good luck, and may God bless you and those in your life!