[Betaille]

I've noticed that most intellectual converts to christianity go to Catholicism. Any ideas on why this is?
For some reason Catholicism has a strong link to intellectuals... examples: William F. Buckley, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis, Malcolm Muggeridge, etc...

[TomSmedley]

I suspect because Catholicism offers a full-orbed robust world view. Most evangelical protestant denominations provide rather anemic, thin gruel for believers after conversion. And i write as a protestant convert from catholicism. There is too little emphasis on the objective application of the faith, too much navel-gazing. An aversion to "legalism" translates into a faith dominated by morbid introspection.

Hard-core Reformed (calvinist) believers enjoy the same sense of fitting into the world for God's purposes. Both families of faith stress infant baptism and the cultivation of the mind through subsequent catechisms and Christian (parochial) education.

[twigs]

CS Lewis was not a Catholic, but Chesterton became one. Catholicism has quite an intellectual heritage. Just studying their history would interest intellectuals.

[PLK]

I've noticed that most intellectual converts to christianity go to Catholicism.

It is the heavyweight. It is The Church, the reason the first letters are always upper case. All other Christian groups are considered "sects" because they broke away from the first Christian church, the first church: The Church.

That doesn't make it "better," but their doctrine, tradition, and everything are the basis of it all.

[ccmay]

Tolkien, I believe, was a cradle Catholic, not a convert. And C.S. Lewis was not Catholic at all.

-ccm

[pax_et_bonum]

I've noticed that most intellectual converts to christianity go to Catholicism. Any ideas on why this is?

It's logic.

The teachings of the Church follow logically from the basic belief that Christ is who he said he is.

[ELS]

I've noticed that most intellectual converts to christianity go to Catholicism. Any ideas on why this is?

The writings of St. Thomas Aquinas have helped to convert many intellectuals to Catholicism. His best known work, which used to be studied in the seminaries, is The Summa Theologica.

[ninenot]

In Catholicism lies the synthesis...

[foreshadowed at waco]

I think that the main feature of the Catholic Church that excites the intellect of many is its mysticism--the Catholic Church, as far as I know, is the only Christian Church that believes in the transubstantiation--that part of the Mass where the Eucharistic wafer and the wine become the body and blood of Christ--it is not merely a symbolic re-enactment--it is a sacrament--only baptized Catholics who have received the sacrament of Holy Communion (now called Eucharist) are permitted to receive communion in a Catholic Church.

Plus we have a lot of great art including beautiful churches all over the world. Also St. Thomas More, Aquinas, Pascal, de Chardin, and other great theologians.

[Salvation]

Dick Morris, Sam Brownback, Peggy Noonan to name a few more.

[churchillbuff]

For some reason Catholicism has a strong link to intellectuals... examples: William F. Buckley, JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis"""

CS Lewis wasn't Roman Catholic. Never became Roman Catholic. Made it clear in his letters that he thought that Roman Catholics believe in doctrines that go beyond Christian doctrice - for instance, he said in one letter that Roman Catholicism, or at least its practice in some place, raises Mary the Mother of Jesus to "co-redemtrix."

[Tribune7]

I think Lewis was an Anglican