Why would anyone become Catholic?

https://www.indiegogo.com ^ | October 2, 2014 | Indiegogo

[NKP_Vet]

Why would intelligent, successful people give up their careers, alienate their friends, and cause havoc in their families...to become Catholic? Indeed, why would anyone become Catholic?

As an evangelist and author who recently threw my own life into some turmoil by deciding to enter the Catholic Church, I've faced this question a lot lately. That is one reason I decided to make this documentary; it's part of my attempt to try to explain to those closest to me why I would do such a crazy thing.

Convinced isn't just about me, though. The film is built around interviews with some of the most articulate and compelling Catholic converts in our culture today, including Scott Hahn, Francis Beckwith, Taylor Marshall, Holly Ordway, Abby Johnson, Jeff Cavins, Devin Rose, Matthew Leonard, Mark Regnerus, Jason Stellman, John Bergsma, Christian Smith, Kevin Vost, David Currie, Richard Cole, and Kenneth Howell. It also contains special appearances by experts in the field of conversion such as Patrick Madrid and Donald Asci.

Ultimately, this is a story about finding truth, beauty, and fulfillment in an unexpected place, and then sacrificing to grab on to it. I think it will entertain and inspire you, and perhaps even give you a fresh perspective on an old faith.

[CynicalBear]

>>Perhaps it is seen as competition.<<

It would also they their doctrine of supersessionism.

[LadyDoc]

Dang, LadyDoc; I bet your Christian expository liabilty insurance is sky-high!

Ha.

Having a belief in God doesn't mean putting my brain on the shelf.

And having a secular explanation for Paul's vision is not a problem, because God works via ordinary things. I have seen miracles, but I have also seen "coincidences" or improbable cures or episodes that changed people's lives but that could be explained scientifically or by chance, but just because there could be a scientific explanation doesn't mean it isn't God orchestrating the episode.

So Paul may or may not have hallucinated from heat stroke (or gotten a temporal lobe seizure from dehydration and hyponatremia), but God arranged the medical problem so that he could direct the vision to change Paul's life.

A modern example of this would be George Forman's vision of Jesus (after a prize fight, where it might have been from electrolyte depletion like Paul or maybe from a slight concussion) but the fact is that this vision of Jesus changed his life for the better also.

And John Paul II's visions when he was semicomatose after the assassination attempt probably led to his actions that helped cause the peaceful fall of communism.

[CynicalBear]

>>af vet already explained that this has something to do with polygamy.<<

While totally ignoring the rest of the passage as Catholics are wont to do. Dodge, twist, obfuscate, ignore, change the subject. It seems so Satanic somehow.

[Resettozero]

I have seen miracles, but I have also seen "coincidences" or improbable cures or episodes that changed people's lives but that could be explained scientifically or by chance...

And who has been arguing against this point? Why would you also try to divert the main subject of this thread to sciencism?

[Resettozero]

Having a belief in God doesn't mean putting my brain on the shelf.

That God exists is manifest in many ways including nature. The question that naturally follows is, since you sort of professed there is a God, Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

Your intellectual assault is too great for me to withstand. So, how much weight do you attribute to the sayings of Jesus of Nazareth?

[CynicalBear]

I hope holding our breath until you get an answer is optional.

[Springfield Reformer]

Jesus "chose" Paul? When?

Acts 26:12-18  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,  (13)  At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.  (14)  And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  (15)  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.  (16)  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;  (17)  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,  (18)  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

So Paul is an apostle because he is a "sent one," as in sent by Jesus Himself: "... I send thee." Can't argue with Jesus. It never works.

Peace,

SR

[CynicalBear]

>>Can't argue with Jesus. It never works.<<

Oh but they will try then when caught act like they were talking about something else.

[Springfield Reformer]

LOL!

[metmom]

And that effectively nullifies any supernatural and miraculous events by God.

They can all be explained away *scientifically*.

That’s no kind of god to believe in.

[af_vet_1981]

Thanks for confirming you have no real argument, but indicate avoiding the consequences of answering the necessary fundamental questions, and thus are fit to be ignored until you do. It took a while but you earned it. Bye.

Thanks for confirming you have no alternative to the holy, catholic, apostolic, Church found in the Catholic Church. I plan to assemble in one tomorrow.

[Resettozero]

Thanks for confirming you have no alternative to the holy, catholic, apostolic, Church found in the Catholic Church. I plan to assemble in one tomorrow.

What a blind accusation! Enjoy your religious practices on Sunday...but you have only deceived yourself.

[JPX2011]

Thanks for confirming you have no alternative to the holy, catholic, apostolic, Church found in the Catholic Church. I plan to assemble in one tomorrow.

As do I. But who am I kidding. Who needs Church when they have the assured veracity of the infallibly (but conditionally) cogitated fundamental question to autocratically impose on everyone else. /s.

[af_vet_1981]

Peter chose???

Yes, Peter exercised his servant leadership delegated by the LORD Jesus Christ, and with the Comforter whom Messiah sent to him, and chose
1. when, and
2. from whom,
3. to select a new apostle to replace Judas Iscariot.
4. The text does not indicate the delegation that selected two candidates.
5. This church, was in fact, the holy catholic apostolic church and Jesus prayed for them; they obeyed him; they remained in unity and love; they had the Holy Spirit; they did it correctly.

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

[CynicalBear]

>>Enjoy your religious practices on Sunday..<<

I wouldn't even attend one of those pagan rituals.

[CynicalBear]

The delusion of Catholic teaching is insidious and deadly.

[af_vet_1981]

What a blind accusation! Enjoy your religious practices on Sunday...but you have only deceived yourself.

I was addressing another; I thought you cursed me the other day; when I asked you to explain it, you never did. Now you have injected yourself by addressing me. Do you have an assembly to go to whose denominational name you are willing to share as an alternative holy catholic apostolic church ?

[af_vet_1981]

The delusion of Catholic teaching is insidious and deadly.

When was the last time you personally attended a Catholic mass (assembly) ?

[JPX2011]

I wouldn't even attend one of those pagan rituals.

[Resettozero]

Who needs Church when they have the assured veracity of the infallibly (but conditionally) cogitated fundamental question to autocratically impose on everyone else. /s.

Precisely so. /s