I Am So Angry Right Now

[toledo_jesus]

Hi,
I totally sympathize with you. My mom and I have had some friction over the past year as I delved deeper into my Catholic faith. She has gone so far as to accuse me of being a fanatic...which is okay with me.
I came to this board with somewhat similar problems, and I received some great advice. When you hit a wall with your mom, pray. You must always show her love and respect (not a problem with you, it looks like) but you aren't going to agree on everything. My mom is Catholic, and she will dispute certain Catholic teachings til her face turns blue. Have faith, be true to it, and you will persevere.
Oh, and keep coming here! These people are awesome.

[Cathurian]

[quote name='1337 k4th0l1x0r' date='Jun 12 2004, 10:49 PM'] Cathurian, what is the religious background of your parents? [/quote]
I'm not even sure about my Dad: I haven't seen him in years. He's abusive, and likely on cocaine. I've since forgiven him and now wish him well, but I can't be around him. I have no clue about his religious background.

My mom comes from one of those big gossipy southern families -- you know the sort. Everyone's Christian, or so they say, but many talk badly about the practices of others. Such as, one time a member of the family condemned dancing, and was later caught dancing to some music on television. My great-grandmother got some flak for allowing her daughter who was seriously physically disabled to listen to the country music she enjoyed. It wasn't gospel music, so they concluded must be morally wrong, and looked down on her for allowing it in her house.

I think they're all Baptist, but I'm really not sure. I don't know -- I've only ever seen them at funerals and heard the stories about some things that have happened between them. I barely know them. My mom wasn't exactly a hard-line fundamentalist, and neither is my grandmother very strict. I think they both have great faith in Jesus Christ without quarreling as individuals over the silly things that Protestant groups will quarrel over.

I was raised with nominal Christian faith. I basically learned that Jesus and God exist, God is good and loves me, and some basic Christian morality (also some other stuff that's just cultural but often presumed to be in the Bible). I was given a children's Bible story book with pictures when I was small, and read the whole thing through. But I wasn't brought to any church, and I don't think I was talked to enough about God, so I didn't have a good understanding of the faith when I was young.

It just amazes me how my mom can sit here and say that we're all Baptists when I've never been brought up in a Baptist church or anything like that. I mean, I don't even know what Baptist doctrine IS, so how on earth was I raised a Baptist? And what's more, why does it matter what denomination your, say, grandfather was? That has absolutely *no* bearing on its truth value. After I accepted Jesus Christ about two years ago, I refused to choose a denomination, because I had decided that denominations only split people apart into groups just inches apart and fostered fighting and elitism. I still think I was right in that much, but now I believe the Catholic Church is the way to the greatest truth and unity in the Body of Christ.

Jen -- I'm not sure exactly what you mean. I have decided the Catholic Church is correct, if that's what you're asking. But I haven't been able to get to mass or even start RCIA yet: though I CERTAINLY want to!!!

Child of God, I believe you're right! Some of the things my mother claims are in the Bible and actually aren't really concern me. In fact, just today, we had a row over the doctrine of the Trinity. I'm honestly not sure if it came about because we were using different wording and misunderstanding each other, or if we actually held different beliefs and one of us is wrong. But in any case, it's always been obvious to me that my faith is not understood, nor do I understand my mother's at all. God may be trying to move us *both* together into greater truth, and greater knowledge of the Bible's real message. What wonderful insight you have!

Edited June 13, 2004 by Cathurian

[Paladin D]

Adding you to my MSN.

[1337 k4th0l1x0r]

I live in the South, so I know EXACTLY what you mean when you say your family is Baptist. It's the de facto religion down here. There are many people who are in Baptist families and go to a Baptist church whenever they go to church, but all in all aren't living as Christians. There's a long lived tradition amongst many that you make yourself higher if you put down everyone else. They don't really care what the truth is because they won't listen to it if it means that they can't put them down anymore. My parents were accepting of me becoming Catholic, but my Dad was trying some pretty weak arguments (the whole John 6 is a symbol, Mary's doesn't need to be in Christian life, petros v. petra... and more than likely this was said in Aramaic! Back to the topic now) to covert me and I stated the real Catholic position. His response was something along the lines of "no, that's not the Catholic position," as if I was stating something false to placate his protestant notions and the real faith was some kind of pagan ritual.

My point is that you may not be able to change your parents, but you must let it be known that you have faith and will go to church and will become Catholic. They will see that this is a true passion of yours and that you're at least not up to no good.

As my parents told me, "We're just glad you didn't say you were gay."

[justfran]

Wow this is just the thread I needed!!!

Thanks, Carthurian, for posting this on phatmass. I'm going to tell Dad I'm going to Youth Mass tonight...if he doesn't let me then...I won't know what'll be going through my head until the moment comes, but hopefully i will tell him that it's my choice.

[BeenaBobba]

[quote name='Cathurian' date='Jun 13 2004, 12:54 AM'] Jen -- I'm not sure exactly what you mean. I have decided the Catholic Church is correct, if that's what you're asking. But I haven't been able to get to mass or even start RCIA yet: though I CERTAINLY want to!!! [/quote]
Yeah, that's basically what I was asking. I wanted to know how far you are on your journey.

I was interested by your story and what you recounted, so I read what you wrote in the "Check-In" section. It sounds like you've had a difficult past. Let me just say that I really, really admire your strength -- so much so that I don't know how to properly express it via writing. Just know that I'm very impressed. I see that God is calling you, and that His grace is giving you strength. Praise God! And may God bless and keep you.

Peace,

Jennifer

P.S. I said a prayer for you and your mom earlier, and I'd like to say a Rosary for your intentions soon.

[Lil Red]

Cathurian, prayers for you! Many phatmassers have gone through what you've been going through with your mom. Definitely talk to Paladin - he's gone through alot of the same stuff. Remember - we're always here to talk to