Why I choose to be Catholic

This is not meant to prove my choice is the theologically superior one. I lose interest by the day in theology nuances and intellectual truth seeking. I just want to examine my own reasons.

1 i was raised Catholic. Its what I know. It feels like home. Despite all the scandals. My parents were nice people. My father dedicated his life to the poor. He was no hypocrite. I had good priests. No rogues. And good nuns and brothers taught me. I saw the good side of Catholicism.

2. Its a broad Church. And I am interested in the different expressions of faith. From Benedictines to Jesuits. It allows for a variety of perspectives. From hardcore traditionalists (which Im not) to the more lateral thinkers which tend to inhabit monastic orders and so on.

3 Influential Catholics.
Augustine Confessions
Merton Seven Storey Mountain
James Martin SJ

4. I dont feel as comfortable in other Churches. No Jesus on the cross bothers me. Too much rock and roll and emotionalism in some Churches. Having said that, I do like the emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus. This is not emphasised enough in Catholic circles imo.

5. The Eucharist.. Our priest said this the other day. "Im Christian first. Why do I choose Catholicism? Simply because of the Eucharist."
Its not something I am capable of debating the validity of. But another part of me feels its truth and wisdom.

Thank God he saved me outside of the creations of men. Creations and traditions they worship. Indeed men worship the creation more than the creator.

He saved me as in Ezekiel chapter 34. He came, saved me then I had to read the Bible to find what had happened to me. Then he baptized me in his Holy Spirit and FIRE. Once again the Bible was my refuge to find the truth.

No man created denomination was there to turn me aside from ALL of the Bible ..

No Roman Catholics, double check.
No baptists, check
No Methodists, check
No Presbyterians, check
No Episcopalians, check
No Freewill Baptists, check
No Missionary Baptists
No AME, check
No Lutherans, check
No denomination of any kind God be praised.

Any man following the denominations and their traditions, denial of scriptures dwells in self deceit. Amen

Didn't Jesus say FOLLOW ME?

Yes. He was on Twitter at the time.

I chose to renounce roman catholicism because i read the Holy Bible and the religion of roman catholicism did not align with the Words of my Redeemer Jesus Christ..

Yeah i had nice priests, i personally had dealings with 3 priests as an alter boy, one of then is my uncle.. None of them caused me any grief. I had dealings with nice Nuns at the Sisters of Saint Joseph primary school i went to. I only had trouble with one of them she was a nasty one. I spent years at a Marist Brothers high school/ college and enjoyed the Brothers there, again no problems.. I bet there are nice imams in islam and nice mormon preachers and nice buddhist priests and nice hindu gurus as well..

But we are not saved by following nice people, by conforming ourselves to the religious traditions those nice people teach us.. We are saved by Believing Jesus and Trusting in the Atonement He secured on the cross for our salvation..

How do we know we are following the real Jesus? and thus we are being saved.. That we are not following a false idol, an imposter jesus.. If we believe His teachings then we are followers of the real Jesus.. And if you read the Gospels and the letters of the apostles you will be certain that roman catholicism is not following the Real Jesus of scripture..

I don't feel comfortable seeing a graven image of Jesus on a cross... Because Jesus is not on a cross He is risen and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.. And yes making statue of Jesus is against the Bibles teaching to never make a graven image of anything that is in heaven.. Jesus is in heaven.. As for the second statement about churches that are dominated by entertainment rather then the Word of the LORD i tend to agree that some churches are more interested in entertaining people and showing them a good time then giving them the Gospel truth.. So there you go we agree about something..

When push comes to shove all roman catholics must believe and accept the offical teachings and dogma of the catholic authority.. So believing that the catholic church is a broad church is just... un-catholic..

sorry to disappoint but I warned I was avoiding the theology . everyone likes to think they own the truth.

The truth is ....... no one knows for sure. Faith for me is like gambling. Sorry that metaphor may offend. But I am putting all eggs in one basket. Jesus Christ is almost a sure thing. A 99% certainty. Not a 100% certainty. If he were 100% then it wouldnt be called faith would it.

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FAQ: I'm considering becoming a Catholic. What do you think?

A: I strongly advise conscientious inquirers to consult non Catholic,
independent sources of information about the religion of Roman Catholicism.
In spiritual matters pertaining to heaven and hell; one cannot be too
cautious considering the potentially grave consequences for choosing
unwisely.

FAQ: What's wrong with attending the Church's RCIA classes?

A: The Roman Church's conduct, past and present, has adequately
demonstrated that it cannot be trusted to be honest about itself. Seeking the
truth about Catholicism from the Roman Church is about as reliable as
seeking the truth about North Korea from Kim Jong-Un.

The paragraph below; from the official catechism of the Catholic Church;
acknowledges everyone's rights and freedoms in regard to selecting a
religion of their own personal choice.

CCC 1782 . . Man has the right to act in conscience, and in freedom, so as
personally to make moral decisions. He must not be forced to act contrary to
his conscience. Nor must he be prevented from acting according to his
conscience, especially in religious matters.

However, be aware that once someone joins the Catholic Church, they will
relinquishing those rights. They will placed under the jurisdiction of Rome,
and be expected to fully comply with everything in the Catechism and in the
Code Of Canon Law, plus all of Rome's traditions, and every Bull, every Holy
Day of Obligation, every Encyclical plus all of the Sermon On The Mount and
everything taught in the epistles of Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John;
along with every ruling of Rome's Church Councils including Nicaea 1 & 2,
Constantinople 1 & 2 & 3, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Lateran 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5,
Lyons 1 & 2, Vienne, Constance, Florence, Trent, and Vatican 1 & 2.

In addition, they will not be permitted to either interpret, or apply, the Holy
Bible's teachings sans hierarchy oversight.

CCC 85 . .The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God,
whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to
the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is
exercised in the name of Jesus Christ." This means that the task of
interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the
successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.

Rome asserts that not only CCC 85, but also the passage below grants them
the final say in all matters pertaining to every Catholic's faith and practices.

● Matt 16:19 . .And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Also; be advised that Catholicism isn't a democracy; it's a theocracy; viz:
dissidents merit punishment; even to the extent of excommunication.

● Matt 18:17 . . If he refuses to listen even to the Church, treat him as you
would a pagan or one who collaborates with the enemy.

● Titus 3:10-11 . . After a first and second warning, break off contact with a
heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self
condemned.

FYI: Heresy and Apostasy are not the same thing. Apostates defect, i.e. they
get out; while heretics remain to instigate reforms and foment
dissatisfaction with the Church's leadership.

If conscientious inquirers are unsure that they can fully comply with all that
Rome demands, and all that Rome teaches and stands for; then they might
want to consider looking for a version of Christianity that's a bit more
accommodating: like maybe Christ's version.

● Matt 11:28-30 . . Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek
and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden light.
_

As I have said before,God has people everywhere and in all different sorts of denominations!

Many will be shocked bc God looks at the heart of man and the motive behind their FAITH in Him!

I follow Him,and do not adhere to any doctrine,creed or denomination!

I study,pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead me into ALL truth that will make me holy as He is holy!

Lord,create in me a new heart and put a right spirit into my soul that I might be in the center of your perfect WILL for my walk!

just more anti Catholic rhetoric.
my advice? choose a denom. you feel comfortable with. dont lose sleep over doctrinal differences.
though taking the Eucharist at Mass is a biggie.

no one likes doubt. its uncool to be unsure. even worse to admit it. like admitting defeat. but doubt is part of faith.
didn't jesus express some doubt? he was fully human too? therefore it is human to doubt. if we have no doubt we are not human

.

Christian confidence isn't human; it's supernatural.

● Rom 15:13 . . May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.

The Greek word for "hope" in that passage is elpis (el pece') which means to
anticipate (usually with pleasure) and to expect with confidence. Note the
elements of anticipation, expectation, and confidence.

In other words: elpis hope is a know-so hope rather than a cross your
fingers hope, i.e. it isn't wishful thinking. Elpis hope doesn't pray for the best
while in the back of its mind dreading the worst.

So when people are in doubt whether or not they'll end up in the sum of all
fears when they pass on, then they don't have the hope spoken of in Rom
15:13.

FAQ: Why is it that some people are deprived of the supernatural hope that's
obtained via the power of the Holy Spirit?

A: According to Rom 15:13, it's because of their lack of trust in God.
_

I find this kind of thinking delusional. To think that Christ is working in them and erased all doubt.
Dogmatic certainty is the problem many Protestants have. They dont see it as a problem either. The saved paradigm causes more problems than cures.
"Im saved. No need to worry anymore. "

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According to the apostle Peter, the hope about which I wrote in post No.16
isn't delusional, rather, it's reasonable.

● 1Pet 3:18 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.


The hope spoken of in Rom 15:13 is empowered by the Holy Spirit.


The hope spoken of in Rom 15:13 and 1Pet 3:18 consists of at least two
components. One is a guaranteed rescue from the wrath of God. A second
component is a guaranteed resurrection to an immortal body.

Empowered Christians are 110% confident beyond any shadow of sensible
doubt that those two components are in the bag. Those unsure of their
possession of those two components of the hope are of course deprived of
the power of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Rom 15:13; which in turn is proof
of their lack of trust in God.

The Bible says that people lacking the hope I'm talking about are no less
than heathens.

● Eph 2:11-12 . . Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and
called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision"--
that done in the body by the hands of men) --remember that at that time
you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and
foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in
the world.

The Greek word for "hope" in that passage is the very same Greek word for
hope in 1Pet 3:15 and in Rom 15:13; which does not speak of anxiety
and/or crossing one's fingers, rather, it speaks of anticipation and an
unshakable confidence.

Eph 4:4 says that the hope I'm talking about is a calling. Therefore people
who don't know for sure what's waiting for them on the other side when they
pass on have not yet responded to the call.

Christians lacking the kind of hope that I've been talking about are in need
of someone higher up to pray for them.

● Eph 1:18 . . I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order
that you may know the hope to which He has called you

The Greek word for "the hope" spoken of in that passage is the very same
Greek word for hope in 1Pet 3:15, Rom 15:13, Eph 2:11-12, and Eph 4:4.

The word is elpis (el pece') which means to anticipate (usually with pleasure)
and to expect with confidence. In other words; elpis speaks of unfailing
anticipation, which is only possible via the empowerment of the Holy Spirit
spoken of in Rom 15:13 and the enlightenment spoken of in Eph 1:18.
Christians with a haunting uncertainty about their afterlife are neither
empowered nor enlightened.
_

I think Catholics have a lovely sense of the Mystery of God. The music, the beautiful buildings, iconography , incense and all the thousands of candles twinkling away.....it an be very reflective and beautiful . I have been to a high church anglican service many times. They let the service unfold the meaning of God to each person through the music and story and theatre of it all. I love that. No heavy doctrinal explanations. You come out different to when you went in.

I was raised a Catholic and I am a Catholic.

I don’t know why people are bashing other denominations. I don’t do that, I’m often visiting Evangelical churches because I feel like God is there too.