Hello, New Here.

[rhetoricfemme]

Hi There.

I'm Christina, and I recently became a member here simply because it's one more place for me to learn about Catholicism.

I dedicated my life to Christ when I was 16, and for most of that time have been a nondenominational Christian. It was in my early years of college (I'm 23 now) that I became curious in Catholicism. I feel drawn there, and when time permits, I very much enjoy studying any aspect of the Church and her history.

At this point, I have so much confusion about where I stand church-wise. I recently moved across the country, having since become a bit of a church-hopper; I go to Mass every now and then, and have tried out other churches in my area, but the Catholic church is the only one that feels home to me. In my hometown, I consider my home church to be both the nondenominational church I was baptized in at age 16, and the local Catholic parish, which I was very prone to just wandering over there for peace and thought.

I just feel so conflicted. It's difficult for me to tell if my affinity for Catholicism is God telling me this is the way to go, or if it's just a part of my curiousity and appreciation for a beautiful faith. I don't necessarily feel that Catholicism is the only branch of Christianity that is right. This must be the bit that trips me up. Aside from feeling drawn to the Church, there is also the fact that I don't agree on every single piece of doctrine. I agree with so much, but not all. And I don't know how I could make a commitment to Catholicism without being perfectly in sync with every aspect. Then again, I can't be the only one to learn to cope with learning the rhyme and reason of arguable doctrine.

How does one learn to live with and abide by such things?

There is so much I don't understand and am trying so hard, perhaps to the point of running the subject into the ground, and there isn't much left for me to work with.


What a funny way for me to say, "Hello," but there it is. Thanks for reading.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
hi, welcome to phatmass!

[rachael]

hi!

[picchick]

Hi


Welcome, I am 23 too!!
Meg

[SaintOlaf]

Also 23, to the phamily

[CatherineM]

I'm 23 times two.

[dUSt]

Hi.

God, through the free will he has granted me, told me to tell you that--only, I didn't actually hear him tell me anything, I am just assuming that he would have wanted me to say that.

[Archaeology cat]

[premed_jakey]

Welcome to Phatmass! Lovely to see you.

[prose]

Heya.

You will for sure find LOTS of answers here. Search around. Check out all the forums. Ask lots of questions Feel welcome.

[doe-jo]

welcome!

[LouisvilleFan]

Another welcome! I became Catholic two years ago... was raised Lutheran and went mostly to Baptist churches (along with one Episcopal church for a while) during college. I never actually became Baptist as far as my personal faith is concerned since I simply considered myself a Christian. But, like you, there was always something peaceful and beautiful about Catholicism that seduced me over the years.

[quote name='rhetoricfemme' post='1530124' date='May 16 2008, 02:40 AM']I just feel so conflicted. It's difficult for me to tell if my affinity for Catholicism is God telling me this is the way to go, or if it's just a part of my curiousity and appreciation for a beautiful faith.[/quote]

[i]One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after ... to behold the beauty of the Lord ..."[/i]
-- From Psalm 27

You're right to be wary of a faith just because you may find it attractive. I was the same way. Still, God and Truth should be attractive to us because they are the source of Love. If you're looking for some objectivity though, you can look at the works of Catholics as Jesus tells us to look at the works of those who claim to follow Christ. We can also turn to reason because Paul tells us to always have a reason for our hope.

[quote name='rhetoricfemme' post='1530124' date='May 16 2008, 02:40 AM']Aside from feeling drawn to the Church, there is also the fact that I don't agree on every single piece of doctrine. I agree with so much, but not all. And I don't know how I could make a commitment to Catholicism without being perfectly in sync with every aspect. Then again, I can't be the only one to learn to cope with learning the rhyme and reason of arguable doctrine.

How does one learn to live with and abide by such things?[/quote]

I know that feeling. Catholicism can be very simple, yet incredibly complex at the same time. There are so many difference beliefs, and even after I became convinced on the one central belief -- that the Eucharist is the true Body and Blood of Christ -- I remained hesitant because I still felt like that there might be some little doctrine or moral practice in the Church that I would not be able to reconcile with my own conscience.

However, all the while, I simply prayed for God to show me if this was the Truth, and tried to keep an open mind and heart. I remember a Catholic once telling me that if I believe in the Eucharist, that I should become Catholic, but I responded that there is a lot more to being Catholic than just the Eucharist (this was at a time when I wasn't even sure about the morality of homosexuality and when I always received the Eucharist at Mass in spite of my non-Catholic standing, so there were a lot of internal debates going through my head!). Funny thing is, as the whole mess has come into focus and I can see the greater order by which the Church was created, what that guy said to me wasn't so far off the mark: the Eucharist is Christ and Christ is the source and summit of being Catholic. If you can rest in that truth, everything else will eventually make sense too.

Of course, feel free to ask questions here. What I just told you is a very brief summary of three or four year process. Sometimes I forget how long it really took

Are you planning on finding an RCIA class? You can attend, even if you're not sure about becoming Catholic.

Edited May 16, 2008 by LouisvilleFan

[irishdancer]

[quote name='SaintOlaf' post='1530226' date='May 16 2008, 10:08 AM']Also 23, to the phamily [/quote]


me too

[jeffpugh]

Welcome! Hope you enjoy your postings on PM! If you'd like, maybe you could crack open a thread on some of your questions/doubts on the transmundane lane board. I'm sure some people would like to help you with your questions (I'd like to help the best I can). God bless.

SMM.

(btw, I'm not 23. lawl)

[hoosieranna]

Welcome! I'm Anna, and still in a similar boat. Some of the others can confirm that. I'm not 23 anymore, having reached the ripe old age of 24 around Christmas. Ask whatever questions you can think of. Chances are that PMer somewhere knows the answer.