Brother Adam Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Question for you converts. There are a few of us non-Catholics on phatmass who have noticed how incredible Catholic theology is, but there is still something, that we can't pinpoint really, that is making us pretty uneasy about Catholicism. Did any of you experience these feelings as you were understanding what it meant to be Catholic? How did you deal with them? Do you still have them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Bro. Adam, Can you explain a little more what you mean when you say you're uneasy? Is it a particular doctrine, or line of thinking, or attitude that you're describing? Is it more with church teaching, or with Catholic culture, or is it something else? Sojourner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted April 17, 2004 Author Share Posted April 17, 2004 Catholicism as a whole. You can explain doctrine, justify everything that is done culturally...Yet for me an a couple of other phatmassers it just doesn't sit well. I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe another convert will have an idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiat_Voluntas_Tua Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 I know what you mean Bro. Adam...I had that feeling...I would say it doesn't have to dowith the Catholic Church...It has to do with pre-conceptions about the Catholic Church. I was raised to believe the catholic Church was wrong. I was taught it was "evil". I was taught that the Church was completely wrong. So obviously I would have a dislike for the Catholic Church. And even when I became educated about the Catholic Church, and started going to daily Mass (even though I could not receive the Eucharist), and praying the rosary daily, and reading the CCC, I still felt that something wasn't right...And I couldn't pin point it, untill I knelt down before the Tabernacle, and asked Christ to be my feet, and lead me down the road towards His Church. I just burst out in tears, when I realized that we already lead me down that road. He walked me right down that road, and placed me at the door of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. It was my decision to go inside the Church and become part of the Body of Christ. And I made that decision to become part of the Body of Christ, and at first I wasn't sure about it, but it was a leap of Faith. And now being a Catholic, I know that once I leaped I was carried by Christ, and all the Angels and Saints were cheering for me. It was like I was gone from my family for 18 years, and then I finally returned home, to My Father, and My Mother. Pax et Agape per Maria, Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Bro. Adam, I wonder if what you're describing is something like getting cold feet before you get married ... you know that this is the right person for you, you love her, but there's still something inside that balks, something that makes you apprehensive about the whole deal. I think this is a common feeling for anyone contemplating a big commitment. I think all along the way I wrestled with doubts, and I kept asking God if he was sure this was the path he was calling me to walk. This was true all the way up to my confirmation, and I imagine it will be true at various points along the rest of my journey. You're right that Catholic theology makes a lot of sense, everything can be explained and justified, but somehow just knowing that it's true on an intellectual level isn't enough. There were for me a handful of points in which I knew on and emotional and spiritual level that what I had heard and understood was true, and during the times when I doubted, it was these things that I came back to, over and over. I think through these events that the Spirit bore witness to me of the veracity of the Church and its teaching in a way that simple apologetics never could have done. Is that anywhere near what you mean, and what you're feeling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megamattman1 Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 [quote]Catholicism as a whole. You can explain doctrine, justify everything that is done culturally...Yet for me an a couple of other phatmassers it just doesn't sit well. I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe another convert will have an idea. [/quote] I'm actually a cradle catholic but I think I might know your problem. If it's not what Sojourner mentioned, which is a very, very good point, then it might have to do with the fact that Church history as it pertains to the papacy isn't really black and white. You have about 150 to 200 years of next to nothing. Then it's somewhat compelling. Then it's very compelling. Yes the history is defendable, but not really offendable... I mean it can't go on the offensive as much. ;- ) It's hard to tell if it's a natural Godly development or a natural man made occurance. If this is not it, then again what Sojourner said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theculturewarrior Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Much of my reserve was due to the fact that Catholicism has a bad rep and I didn't want to be part of that. I could see past most of the anti-Catholic misperceptions. My main problem was pedophilia in the priesthood. I thought, "Am I supporting pedophiles by becoming Catholic?" This is ridiculous, of course, but I think it is probably a common objection. There were other objections, but that one stands out, in retrospect. Anyway, now I don't feel uneasy at all with Catholicism. In fact, the one time I went to an evangelical church since my conversion, I felt VERY uneasy. I had to quietly say Hail Mary's just to acclimate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted April 17, 2004 Share Posted April 17, 2004 Bro Adam, I, too, had uneasy feelings on my journey to the RC Church. I think MY problem was too much crow-eating. Y'know, I breathed contempt for the Church and her practices, members and programs. I had a lot of 'crow' stacked up to consume when the Holy Spirit did His work--and I think that it took time to purge my soul of all those instances of me being wr---. (wrong!) It was my pride for sure that kept me from giving in totally at first---I mean, wow, I was becoming one of 'them' and even though I intellectually accepted it, I still had all those years of 'feelings' to purge. Hey, did you get my pamphelt I sent you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 I had and still have a lot of crow to eat too... I think I understand, Bro. Adam. I can't quite pinpoint it, though. You know, people mention the great joy of being Catholic... shedding tears etc. I just don't have that. I am super emotional (a used to ball at AT and T commercials when i was pregnant)... but I just don't feel that way... Although it's coming. I just keep trusting God that he knows what he's doing... I'm just following along for the ride. I really enjoy being Catholic... but I enjoyed being Baptist, too.... Oh, Sorry... tangent... I think many fundamentalists and evangelicals are so trained against Catholicism... it seems like your trading teams. Like you're betraying everything... but I don't think so... to me it feels like finding the missing jigsaw pieces. Now I am just having to put them into place so I can see the whole picture... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted April 18, 2004 Author Share Posted April 18, 2004 Thank you for your responses. It was a lot of good input. Sitting at mass last night (Saturday night), part of me felt right at home and yet part of me was going "You've totally lost your mind, what the heck do you think your doing sitting here yearning for their communion". I've been reading Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper the past two days. I can usually put away his books inside a day. I keep putting it down though going "No, this is making too much sense, and I can't deal with that". The more I think about it the more I think I may be being called to the Catholic Church much sooner than I would like. I always figured, if it was true, than maybe in 5 or 10 years. *Sigh*, but for now, I'll keep my claws firmly dug into the ground and refuse to move for anyone but the only One who can move me anyway. Kicking and Screaming all the way, Bro. Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megamattman1 Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 Bro Adam, Remember when you had in your details (the words at the end of each post) that you were up to something and only you and another girl on here knew what it was and something to the effect of "she ain't talkin"? What was it that you were up to then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 Bro. Adam, You and Teresa (I hope I'm spelling her name right!) are in my prayers. Blessings on both of you. Abby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted April 18, 2004 Author Share Posted April 18, 2004 [quote name='megamattman1' date='Apr 18 2004, 12:25 PM'] Bro Adam, Remember when you had in your details (the words at the end of each post) that you were up to something and only you and another girl on here knew what it was and something to the effect of "she ain't talkin"? What was it that you were up to then? [/quote] Are you refering to going to Mass? No. It was that I was growing in a desire to see Catholicism as the truth, but didn't really want anyone else to know that. There is a thread somewhere on that in the open mic forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 [quote name='Brother Adam' date='Apr 18 2004, 09:54 AM'] I always figured, if it was true, than maybe in 5 or 10 years. [/quote] This is exactly what HS_Dad said!!! Someday in the far off future he might become Catholic.... (I think he said after the children leave home)... But I said what a disservice that would be to them to raise them in a faith he didn't beleive in so that he could wait... I told him it was important to figure it out now so that we could do as little damage as possible with possibly shaking their faith (in us and God)... You and Teresa are so fortunate to be able to be figuring this out now. I can't tell you how painful this is for our little ones... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiat_Voluntas_Tua Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 Bro. Adam...(I am 18) when I was considering converting my parents didn't want me to...So I said when I was like 20 I would convert...But the more I waited, the more I became educated, and the more I became educated the more I believed, and the more I believed the more I loved, and the more I loved the more I wanted to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.......What I am saying is that if you trully believe that the Catholic Church is THE TRUE CHURCH, than you will not be able to wait one day without wanting to become part of the Body of Christ. Conversion all starts with understanding...once you understand The Faith God will take over and fill your Heart with a desire...You will know when that happens. Just pray that God gives you a desire to do His Will. Prayers are with you Bro. Adam. Pax et Agape per Maria, andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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