Why Should I Come Back to the Church?

[Scoobyshme]

I will give you three reasons to come back to the Church:

1. The Eucharist.
2. The Eucharist.
3. The Eucharist.

Jesus, physically present, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, for us.

If you do not believe in God now, you will when you die, but then, it will be too late.

If you are betting your soul that there is no God, and you’re right…you’ll never know it. You’ll just die and that’ll be it.

On the other hand, if you’re betting your soul that there is no God, and you’re wrong…you’ll know it forever, in the most horrific way possible!

 

[Waiting]

You’re getting a lot of good suggestions from posters. Let me tell you my formulae. If you want a friend , be a friend. If you want the friend to be God, then be a friend to God. Talk to Him. Offer acts of kindness in His name. Ask Him for His opinion, or His help. In other words, be a friend – a best friend to God – and you will have a friend in return – a best friend – God, Himself. Good luck and God bless.

 

[Michael_Allen]

… but so far I have not found anything to make me believe that the Church really speaks the truth.

I can actually sympathize with that. I spent many years as an atheist as I wasn’t convinced any of the major faiths could prove what they asserted (and I still don’t think they can). I drifted away in my university years. I explored philosophy and science as ways of understanding the world around me (this was quite natural for me as I am a scientist). I explored other faiths. But for me, eventually, something (or I believe, someone) drew me back to Christianity and then to Catholicism. For me it explores something that philosophy and science are unable to explore - and I then found a very rich experience in prayer. There came a point that I put my faith, my trust, my hope in God, through Jesus - a commitment even in the presence of uncertainty. I think that commitment to faith, to put ones hopes in it, is probably necessary in all the world’s faiths. I’m not naive - I know that Christianity is the way I am comfortable to explore the divine, at least in part, because that is my cultural upbringing. If I were a Jew the chances are that I would have returned to Judaism, and the same for Hinduism or Buddhism if that were my culture. I think that commitment of faith, of hope, then opens up a new world, perhaps in all the religions.

As Augustine said - we have faith so that we may then seek understanding - we don’t have faith because we have understood. The danger of agnosticism is that a person never commits to anything without absolute proof, and I just don’t think that is the way of the spiritual life (or at least, its not for me, though perhaps other people never have any doubts or uncertainties). I believe the spiritual life has to embrace and live with uncertainty. The danger of apologetics - whether Catholic, Protestant or Atheist - is that uncertainty is pushed aside in order to make a more confident assertion. That’s not the world I live in, but perhaps that’s a weakness of mine.

Anyway, that’s just a few thoughts on living in the absence of proof.

God bless +

Michael

 

[bearcat9276]

With an unbroken line of popes…we have an unbroken line from the Apostles…from 1John 4…6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Unfortunately, an unbroken line of popes doesn’t do much for someone who does not believe that Jesus was God in the first place.

 

[bearcat9276]

What gives you joy?

A variety of things. Chiefly being with my loved ones, family and close friends. Other sources include comedy, art, and anything that is intellectually stimulating.

 

[bearcat9276]

please ask any specific questions in the apologetics forum we would love to answer them!

Unfortunately I don’t have a lot of specific “questions”, per se. While there are some arguments against Catholicism that I find persuasive I’m really looking more for this: If someone was not raised Catholic, had no experience with it, what reason would you give for them to convert?

I find that most Catholic apologetics is concerned with addressing specific objections. But even if all of a persons objections were refuted, that would not make Catholicism true, it would merely make it plausible. Another example of this is string theory. Scientists may be able to address all known objections to string theory, but that doesn’t make it true unless those scientists can, at the same time, offer a positive case in favor of string theory.

 

[bearcat9276]

Welcome bearcat and may God bless you for inquiring.

This bolded comment struck me while reading your posts. How could any person, Catholic or otherwise or website teach you “what is truth”?

How do YOU determine what is truth? If someone quotes from the great Augustine or Aquinas, how will you determine if it is truth? From what basis will this revelation come?

There are many writings, quotes, or scripture out there to prove there is a truth and it can be found in the Catholic Church, but how will you know once it is revealed to you?

Peace!!!

As a general rule, I try not to simply “accept” that something/someone speaks truth. My usual approach is to weigh the evidence and arguments that they present and try to determine what the most likely conclusion is.

 

[bearcat9276]

Peter asked Jesus “To whom shall we go?” If you do not turn to God/ Christ, ask yourself this question.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here, could you try to clarify it for me?

 

[bearcat9276]

There is only one genuinely debatable premise that one has to accept in order to make it an airtight case that God exists. The premise is as follows:

“It is logically possible (coherently conceivable) that God exists.”

That’s all. If we grant that one premise, then the conclusion that “God exists” follows by inescapable and strict logical necessity.

This much is firmly established in contemporary philosophy of religion, though the advance is totally unknown at the level of the popular debate. The implications of this proof are familiar to well-informed professional philosophers (regardless of whether they are atheists or theists).

I’ve heard arguments like this before, but unfortunately I don’t find them convincing. Could you lay out the argument the way that you see it? Maybe then I’ll be in a better position to address it.

 

[bearcat9276]

I would ask that you do the same amount of research and questioning as to why you left the Church as you did when ‘someone’ drew your attention away from her. Also, you may want to consider what the integral reason for ‘leaving’ was; an argument in the family, a death, etc.

My chief “reason” for leaving was because I found it less and less likely that the claims of the Church were true. There was no traumatic event that led to me losing my faith, my experiences in the Church as a believer were actually quite positive.

May I suggest you try going to “Theology on Tap”? It’s a somewhat open format for young adults to discuss the Catholic faith and get answers to theological questions. I can see from what you have written that you are still going to Mass and participating with your parish. That is a vital part of your re-integration into the faith. Remember, it’s often easier for people to act their way into a new way of thinking than to think their way into a new way of acting. Even Mother Teresa went through some dark times in her faith.

I had never heard of “Theology on Tap”, perhaps I’ll give it a try if I can find one in my area.

 

[robwar]

How would an unbroken line of popes convince me that the beliefs of Catholicism are true?

A lot of reading and researching, watching debates, etc. I became persuaded that skepticism was the most rational option when it comes to religion.

I attend mass every week with family members (for their sake, not mine), and the same with various sacraments. So far it has not moved me towards belief, but I suppose it’s always possible that something could change.

I mentioned adoration because that is different from a Mass. You can just sit there in front of the exposed Blessed Eucharist. (yes I know you don’t believe or maybe agree with that). I think it might do you some good to sit a lone with God. You don’t have to pray or say anything but just ask God if He is real and what is the truth. Try this for a month and see what happens to you.

 

[georget]

Welcome bearcat, I believe what you are experiencing is healthy and if through the grace of God you come out on the other side a believer, your faith will be firm and unshakeable. Have you considered doing everything in reverse? What I mean is, why is it unlikely that the bible is the word of God? Why is it God wouldn’t speak through an institution? Why is skepticism the most rational? without a higher power what is rational and who says so? And what unbeliever on earth decides that if there was a God how that God should behave or how he should communicate with his creatures? And what scientist would you want creating a world for you to live in, and when you look at all of creation do you think they could have done it better, and why, in other words turn the argument around. If you think everything is an accident 2x2 will still =4. why? God be with you on your journey.

 

[Evan]

You might consider this (Stealing from Fulton Sheen)

We have in the Old Testament, supernatural events (GOD) working with a people
who ever heard of a slave population forcing a pharaoh to release them?
what other people were exiled from their home and years later SENT BACK by a new ruler!
what people had prophesees of a coming messiah, and he appeared.

As for which religion
What other religion was started by someone who was ultimately killed, and still remains to this day.
What religion claims that not only was the founder killed, but 3 days later, he was no longer dead?
What religion continues to witness miracles (investigate Lourdes, or healings that confirm Saints are in heaven)

 

[bearcat9276]

I mentioned adoration because that is different from a Mass. You can just sit there in front of the exposed Blessed Eucharist. (yes I know you don’t believe or maybe agree with that). I think it might do you some good to sit a lone with God. You don’t have to pray or say anything but just ask God if He is real and what is the truth. Try this for a month and see what happens to you.

I’m aware of the difference, and I have attended adoration before, though not for some time. Based on past experience I personally feel that further adoration is unlikely to yield real results, but it is possible.

 

[Adonia]

Hello all,

hopefully I’m posting this in the right place.

I left the church almost four years ago, when I was a freshman in high school, as a result of research and questioning that I was going through at that time. I no longer identify with any religious group or belief system. However, I’ve maintained a real interest in religion, religious debates/discussions, etc. and am very open to different beliefs.

This forum seems to be a great place for discussion of these religious issues, so I would like to pose a question:

As an ex-Catholic, now a non-believer, why should I return to the Church? What reasons are there to convince me that the claims made by the Catholic Church are true?

You need to follow that which is spiritual and inside of you to determine your path, If Christianity is your choice, study the Early Church Fathers and compare their writings with the Catholic Church of today. That right there will tell you a lot.

I returned to the Latin Church after many years and it is the place that I find comfort, it being familiar to me. It is the faith that I grew up in and after much reflection the only Christian entity that I could choose as an adult. I wanted to follow the truth by worshiping the Savior and with the Holy Eucharist as the main focus of the Latin Rite, where else could I conceivably go?

 

[Cadellin]

A lot of reading and researching, watching debates, etc. I became persuaded that skepticism was the most rational option when it comes to religion.

Faith, like love, is experienced, not reasoned.

 

[bearcat9276]

What I mean is, why is it unlikely that the bible is the word of God?

A) Simple probability says that even if we knew that God had inspired a particular book, the odds of any one book being that book would be remarkably low. And we certainly don’t know that God inspired any books in the first place.
B) I find what I read in the Bible to be inconsistent, both with itself and from what I would expect from a perfect God. This might be a subject for a whole other thread though.

Why is it God wouldn’t speak through an institution?

He very well might, though it seems inefficient to me. I’m just saying I’ve seen no reason to believe that he actually has.

Why is skepticism the most rational? without a higher power what is rational and who says so?

I think it’s relatively easy to weigh the evidence and arguments for and against a proposition without the need for divine intervention. Obviously we could go on for an entire thread about epistomology alone, but suffice it to say that I don’t see the need for God to exist in order to make sense of the world.

 

[bearcat9276]

You might consider this (Stealing from Fulton Sheen)

We have in the Old Testament, supernatural events (GOD) working with a people
who ever heard of a slave population forcing a pharaoh to release them?
what other people were exiled from their home and years later SENT BACK by a new ruler!
what people had prophesees of a coming messiah, and he appeared.

Yes but what reason do we have to believe that events recorded in the Old Testament are actually true? The consensus of most historians seems to be that the books of the Old Testament were written long after the events that they purport to describe, and are often filled with inaccuracies.

As for which religion
What other religion was started by someone who was ultimately killed, and still remains to this day.
What religion claims that not only was the founder killed, but 3 days later, he was no longer dead?
What religion continues to witness miracles (investigate Lourdes, or healings that confirm Saints are in heaven)

The longevity of Christianity is not really a point in its favor, as plenty of other religions have been around for far longer. As for miracles, every religion that I’ve heard of is filled with extravagant claims of miracles being performed. Catholicism is no exception to that fact.

 

[Sheadad]

Perhaps it would help to think about “why” you are asking the question and others;

What is this inner mechanism in me that draws me to ask -What is Truth?

Why does it keep prodding me to find out?

What would be the purpose of this “feature” of a created being?

How will I know the truth when I find it? By what yardstick do I measure it?

Is there a complete untruth all the way to perfect pure truth?

Am I avoiding the recognition of the truth because I might not like the responsibility it requires?

Just a few things to think about.
Best Wishes.

 

[georget]

A) Simple probability says that even if we knew that God had inspired a particular book, the odds of any one book being that book would be remarkably low. And we certainly don’t know that God inspired any books in the first place.
B) I find what I read in the Bible to be inconsistent, both with itself and from what I would expect from a perfect God. This might be a subject for a whole other thread though.

He very well might, though it seems inefficient to me. I’m just saying I’ve seen no reason to believe that he actually has.

I think it’s relatively easy to weigh the evidence and arguments for and against a proposition without the need for divine intervention. Obviously we could go on for an entire thread about epistomology alone, but suffice it to say that I don’t see the need for God to exist in order to make sense of the world.

Good luck
God bless