Converts Unconverting?

[Guest 2B3]

I was wondering if it is common for a convert to re think their position a little later on and revert back to where they were before they converted?

[Sojourner]

I don't think I would.

But some might.

[cathoholic_anonymous]

That depends on a few factors. I have known 'spiritual shoppers' to do that - one person in particular seemed to have a new religion every month, almost - together with somebody who never made a formal conversion, but who just put herself at the end of the Communion line one day. I would imagine that few people who have been through the rigorous education and preparation needed to become a Catholic would revert to what they were before.

Edited August 16, 2007 by Cathoholic Anonymous

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1360002' date='Aug 16 2007, 06:13 AM']That depends on a few factors. I have known 'spiritual shoppers' to do that - one person in particular seemed to have a new religion every month, almost - together with somebody who never made a formal conversion, but who just put herself at the end of the Communion line one day. I would imagine that few people who have been through the rigorous education and preparation needed to become a Catholic would revert to what they were before.[/quote]

True. It does take considerable effort. It's not like the altar-call of the Protestants.

[thessalonian]

I believe Dairygirl went that route, though last I heard she was thinking about coming back. There are a few here and there but I don't think it is common.

Edited August 16, 2007 by thessalonian

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Cathoholic Anonymous' post='1360002' date='Aug 16 2007, 07:13 AM']That depends on a few factors. I have known 'spiritual shoppers' to do that - one person in particular seemed to have a new religion every month, almost - together with somebody who never made a formal conversion, but who just put herself at the end of the Communion line one day. I would imagine that few people who have been through the rigorous education and preparation needed to become a Catholic would revert to what they were before.[/quote]
yeah I think that is true.

For me personally, converting in the first place was no small thing. It involved some deep personal sacrifices. So to go back on that ... I couldn't do it.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Terra Firma' post='1360086' date='Aug 16 2007, 04:31 PM']yeah I think that is true.

For me personally, converting in the first place was no small thing. It involved some deep personal sacrifices. So to go back on that ... I couldn't do it.[/quote]

Ditto to that. It took a lot of research and prayer to make that decision, and then more research & prayer during the process of converting. Of course, now that I've experienced the Sacraments, I could never leave. I can't imagine ever being without the Eucharist, Reconciliation, etc.

[Guest 2B3]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1360101' date='Aug 16 2007, 10:47 AM']Ditto to that. It took a lot of research and prayer to make that decision, and then more research & prayer during the process of converting. Of course, now that I've experienced the Sacraments, I could never leave. I can't imagine ever being without the Eucharist, Reconciliation, etc.[/quote]
I understand the huge sacrifices and study beforehand...

What does one do after converting then with the teachings that they find they cannot accept? It is not honest then to remain in the CC and not accept all her teachings is it?

[Budge]

When I left the UU, {Unitarian Universalist Association} I went back into the Catholic Church for a very short period of time, {2 years or so} but I was in RCIA and unsure if my stay would be pernament. I went back because I was a cradle Catholic and didnt know anything else about other Christian churches and since I was a cradle Catholic went back there.

I woiuld leave after I was born again, so I suppose I was technically a"revert" who unconverted;)

I could not stay because I did not accept the Catholic Church's teachings. I was in RCIA update to even decide to stay or not. {I had been confirmed as a teen} Even before I was saved outside of the Catholic Church...doing my own study of the Bible, having had seeds planted by born again Christians, I knew I disagreed with a lot of what was going on, the official teachings and was encountering way too much of what I had wanted to depart from in leaving the UU...{interfaithism, humanism, ecumenism, pro-globalist-New Age etc}

Edited August 16, 2007 by Budge

[Starets]

Not all RCIA programs are very rigorous, unfortunately. Some are quite insipid in my experience. I would however agree that it is more thorough than the average emotion-charged "altar call"

I have known some "altar-call" conversions to barely last out a week. where there is little deptth there can be little growth and less stability. thats true for catholics as well.

just my scattered thoughts

[StColette]

Micah and I have talked about this before. Many converts to the Church are leaving behind Protestant churches that have a great since of community. While the convert is going through RCIA there is a great amount of support and community for them. Sadly many parishes do not have a great since of community and new converts often find themselves without the support system that they had during RCIA or in their former church. This loss of the sense of support and community has sent some converts back to their old churches.

[Paddington]

Just to hear myself talk.........if they revert, then they probably don't go back to the same kind of thinking as before....they probably go to Door #3.

[hoosieranna]

[quote name='2B3' post='1360297' date='Aug 16 2007, 04:31 PM']I understand the huge sacrifices and study beforehand...

What does one do after converting then with the teachings that they find they cannot accept? It is not honest then to remain in the CC and not accept all her teachings is it?[/quote]

Wouldn't one know all the teachings before they're officially received so that they can decide whether or not to join? Or would that be put down to faulty RCIA?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='2B3' post='1360297' date='Aug 16 2007, 04:31 PM']I understand the huge sacrifices and study beforehand...

What does one do after converting then with the teachings that they find they cannot accept? It is not honest then to remain in the CC and not accept all her teachings is it?[/quote]

Before one converts to the Holy Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ from a false belief, he should be instructed by the Church Teaching in the basic truths which were revealed by God to His Church, and therefore believe them firmly before he converts.

If a member of the Holy Catholic Church obstinately denies a truth revealed by God.

[quote][b]The Catechism of the Council of Trent:[/b]
The second consideration is that he whose mind is strongly impressed with the truth taught in this Article, will easily escape the awful danger of heresy. For a person is not to be called a heretic as soon as he shall have offended in matters of faith; but he is a heretic who, having disregarded the authority of the Church, maintains impious opinions with pertinacity. Since, therefore, it is impossible that anyone be infected with the contagion of heresy, so long as he holds what this Article proposes to be believed, let pastors use every deligence that the faithful, having known this mystery and guarded against the wiles of Satan, may persevere in the true faith.
[url="http://catecheticsonline.com/Trent.php"]http://catecheticsonline.com/Trent.php[/url][/quote]

[Sojourner]

Wow lots of good comments ...
[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1360101' date='Aug 16 2007, 10:47 AM']Of course, now that I've experienced the Sacraments, I could never leave. I can't imagine ever being without the Eucharist, Reconciliation, etc.[/quote]
Yes yes yes yes yes

Faith now is such a more full experience than what I had before. It's not just the sacrifice that keeps me from deconverting. It's the fullness of grace that I've experienced. I would forever miss it if I were to deconvert.

[quote name='2B3' post='1360297' date='Aug 16 2007, 04:31 PM']I understand the huge sacrifices and study beforehand...

What does one do after converting then with the teachings that they find they cannot accept? It is not honest then to remain in the CC and not accept all her teachings is it?[/quote]
Because it was such a big deal, I made sure that there was nothing I could not accept before taking the plunge. And the typical RCIA process is such that you would have plenty of time to re-think before it's final.

And I think it's important to understand that there is a distinction between the things you HAVE to believe and the things with which you are free to have some measure of disagreement and still honestly consider yourself Catholic. Things you have to believe include the Creed, the Marian dogmas, etc. Things you're permitted diversity of opinion: political affiliation, social justice positions, etc.

[quote name='StColette' post='1360489' date='Aug 16 2007, 07:19 PM']Micah and I have talked about this before. Many converts to the Church are leaving behind Protestant churches that have a great since of community. While the convert is going through RCIA there is a great amount of support and community for them. Sadly many parishes do not have a great since of community and new converts often find themselves without the support system that they had during RCIA or in their former church. This loss of the sense of support and community has sent some converts back to their old churches.[/quote]
I definitely experienced (experience) this phenomenon.

But, as noted before I now have the sacraments, and in my mind that more than makes up for the fellowship aspect. One thing that's been huge for me is moving. I now have Catholic friends in real life ... I had a few of those before but now I consider several of my Catholic friends part of my budding community.

[quote name='Paddington' post='1360496' date='Aug 16 2007, 07:30 PM']Just to hear myself talk.........if they revert, then they probably don't go back to the same kind of thinking as before....they probably go to Door #3.[/quote]
This I could see. There would be a lot of reasons I could not go back to the same church I left. Actually if I were not Catholic for some reason I would probably not attend church at all. When I became Catholic I made a definitive decision that Protestant theology was not enough, and based that on very good reason. So if I came to a point that I didn't think I could be Catholic, I would probably be agnostic.