I became Catholic and it enhanced my career (even here in Utah), made great new friends, and caused havoc in my family (while drawing closer to others in my family). In balance, a HUGE win.
The answer is Catholics have more fun. My Catholic cousins could dance, drink, play cards, gamble and smoke and the protestants couldn’t. BTW I’m not Catholic but had a little envy for my cousins who were.
Funny, I always thought it was about realizing you were a sinner and in need of salvation that comes from repentence and faith in Christ.
“But by the grace of God, I am what I am”
Indeed!
Better question...
Why do hundreds of millions of Catholics abandon their faith and no longer practice it?
Or as Hillary asked, “what does it matter?!”
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Not surprisingly, the RC Church believes it has perhaps the best understanding of theological questions. However, laying all that aside for just a moment, anybody who sincerely joins the RCC church (or, yes, any “real” Christian denomination — not one of the morally decayed “progressive churches”)....
will benefit tremendously in their lives.... in ways that matter the most (not talking about “prosperity gospel” stuff!).
Things, understandings, insights, spiritual growth and (for lack of a better way of saying it) a significant increase in their inner feeling of satisfaction with, understanding of, their lives. And it carries through to your important relationships with other people, spouses, family, friends..,
Same comment for “real” Judaism (not “progressive reform” outfits!).
The connection with God (yes, if you don’t know quite what that means, it is perfectly OKAY ... you’ll begin to get it when you join, start participating in a community of faith).....so, whatever that may actually mean...its something you can learn about and ...”get”... through faith and prayer.
Easy, free to join...its not like the gym you belong to that takes $ out of your bank every month, ha!>..free, give it a sincere try for awhile and see if you don’t agree..... if not, OK it cost you nothing.
Just my 2 cents.
as the old saying goes, I’m betting that...
if you “try it, you;ll like it!”
Best,
fhc
The Wine and Crackers on Sunday.
I was born a Catholic, educated in a Catholic school for eight years, got lazy about Catholicism for about 12 years, had a born-again experience, and have now raised two kids as Catholics. I truly love the faith. Despite its bumps, bruises and occasional disappointments, it still feels real to me.
Is all that really a requirement of converting to Catholicism?
I became Roman Catholic upon leaving the Episcopal Church and its progressive innovations. When I expressed to my Episcopal priest friend that I was about to do so, he said something along the lines of “that will be a big and serious change.” I don’t think he was saying that Catholicism is a more serious denomination, rather that the structure (magestrum), theology (rules) and universality of the Catholic Church makes it a complex and almost incomprehensible entity to a non-Catholic. I discovered many of my formerly Protestant assumptions about Catholicism were correct, but as my understanding of those assumptions (the role of Mary, the nature of sin, conscience,
the sacraments etc.) increased, I found a logic, beauty and peace that transcended anything I had ever encountered in a Protestant Church. I would imagine that most converts would say something similar.
I became Roman Catholic upon leaving the Episcopal Church and its progressive innovations. When I expressed to my Episcopal priest friend that I was about to do so, he said something along the lines of “that will be a big and serious change.” I don’t think he was saying that Catholicism is a more serious denomination, rather that the structure (magestrum), theology (rules) and universality of the Catholic Church makes it a complex and almost incomprehensible entity to a non-Catholic. I discovered many of my formerly Protestant assumptions about Catholicism were correct, but as my understanding of those assumptions (the role of Mary, the nature of sin, conscience,
the sacraments etc.) increased, I found a logic, beauty and peace that transcended anything I had ever encountered in a Protestant Church. I would imagine that most converts would say something similar.
I became Roman Catholic upon leaving the Episcopal Church and its progressive innovations. When I expressed to my Episcopal priest friend that I was about to do so, he said something along the lines of “that will be a big and serious change.” I don’t think he was saying that Catholicism is a more serious denomination, rather that the structure (magestrum), theology (rules) and universality of the Catholic Church makes it a complex and almost incomprehensible entity to a non-Catholic. I discovered many of my formerly Protestant assumptions about Catholicism were correct, but as my understanding of those assumptions (the role of Mary, the nature of sin, conscience,
the sacraments etc.) increased, I found a logic, beauty and peace that transcended anything I had ever encountered in a Protestant Church. I would imagine that most converts would say something similar.
I am not of Paul, or Apollos, or Peter.
“So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Cor 3:21-23
Not going to take this any deeper. That is another thread. Would have to be “Where I could not worship.”
I often ask myself that very question. Quite befuddling actually.
Sounds more like Joel Osteen event.
bkmk
This is a good question because no longer do popes make it clear that one must be Catholic for salvation. They’re too busy taking part in non-Catholic ceremonies, kissing false religious holy books, asking Catholic saints to protect diabolical religions and promoting false ecumenism.