I'm joining the Catholic Church next month. Advice/Books/Etc.?

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Hello fellow Freepers. I believe this is my first post on the Religion forum.

Over the past week or so, I put some thought into something I've been pondering for a while; my spiritual welfare. As it was, I had been part of the 'Sola Scriptua' school of thought (Evangelical Christian). By the Bible and only the Bible. Sounded good enough.

Well...what about before the Bible was put into word? It stuck in my head when reading an article earlier on FR concerning a deconstruction of Sola Scriptura and its inherent weaknesses as a foundation for one's faith.

This, combined with a genuine lack of churchgoing (as a family, we've been uncertain about going to various churches, given that top-down problems with Episcopal/Methodist/etc. churches and their increasing liberalization are a genuine problem for one's spiritual welfare), compelled me to make a decision.

I don't know if my family will follow me, persay, but I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge.

Next month, I'm going to the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle near my home, and I'm joining the Roman Catholic Church.

As is, I have a few volumes of the Magnificat pamphlet and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to read.

Any other pointers from other Catholic Freepers?

[Mad Dawg]

I know a couple who heard so many attacks on Catholics at their Baptist church that they are now considering becoming Catholic. Seriously.

[wagglebee]

If someone said that they were converting to Islam and asked for the advice of Muslim FReepers on the Religion Forum, I would respect it even if I thought it was a bad idea.

But out of curiousity, are you trying to compare the Catholic Church to Islam?

[CTK YKC]

I do not know that I would reccomend Jesus of Nazareth, it is a wonderful book but a little heavy for a new convert.

Actually a little heavy for an old timer like me.

[dangus]

Turkey is a MUSLIM nation, with a tiny oppressed ORTHODOX minority. Yet you’re shocked to find out that Turks have been attaching MUSLIM/PAGAN trinkets to the icons they try to sell visitors? And you blame the “ROMAN” CATHOLIC Church for this?

[wagglebee]

I would be interested to know how many Catholic clergymen there are in the world who either own or have unlimited exclusive use of a private aircraft.

Of all the priests I’ve known in my life, only handful could be considered wealthy and all of them were only wealthy because they were from wealthy families.

NOBODY becomes a priest to get rich, people DO become Evangelical ministers hoping to get rich.

[Radl]

But out of curiousity, are you trying to compare the Catholic Church to Islam?

No. What I am saying is it appears on this site the Catholics (AKA Christians) are hated more than the Muslims.

[Uri’el-2012]

Membership in any man-made religion,
will not bring you salvation for your sins !

Only a personal relationship with the YHvH,
the creator of the universe, will provide you
with the means to ask Yah'shua
for His Salvation for your sins.

The only place to begin a personal relationship
with the creator of the universe,
the Jewish Messiah, is in His Holy Word.

I pray that you come to know Yah'shua the Messiah.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[wagglebee]

Okay, I misunderstood you. I don’t think that Catholics are hated on FR, but there is a small, yet well-organized, cell of anti-Catholic bigots who seem to work in unison and make a lot of noise.

[Campion]

The Roman Catholic Church putting up with stuff like this is heresy

You have a really odd definition of heresy, then.

We define heresy as "obstinate post-baptismal denial of a truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith".

By definition, "putting up with stuff like [anything]" isn't obstinate denial, or obstinate anything else.

Laziness, carelessness, sloth, indulgence, maybe.

About the worst you could claim is that it's the logical consequence of indifferentism, which would be a heresy, but it's not the heresy itself.

Words mean things.

By the way, what do you call falsely accusing someone of something, like, for instance, falsely accusing Catholics of "forcing Mary into the Trinity"?

[irishjuggler]

Incorrect. You cite references to the term "Roman Church," but that is not the same as the term "Roman Catholic" where "Roman" qualifies "Catholic." Please re-read the Catholic Encyclopedia article and tell me where it's wrong.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13121a.htm

[verga]

Are you familiar with Epheisans 1:17-23 ? I am a member of that Church, the Church which His Body.

No, at best you belong to a church that is christian lite, at worst an outright heresy.

[dangus]

Nice try, Gamecock.

I see Mary’s home, but I don’t see the evil eye peddler. So when you implied that the Catholic Church was condoning (”putting up with”) the amulets, what you really meant is that a miniscule, oppressed minority in a Muslim state weren’t trying hard enough in your opinion to oppress a Muslim belief beling expressed down the block.

So, Gamecock, are you saying that in a predominantly Christian nation like America, we should prohibit the sale of Muslim (and, presumably, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, American Indian, etc.) religious items? Or do you believe a tiny, persecuted minority should attack the vestiges of religious freedom which permit it to survive?

I know you know that Muslims take a great interest in the virgin Mary, also.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

"Let your conscience be your only guide."

An INFORMED conscience. One formed and informed by the teachings of Christ. E.g., I am sure that Islamic homicide bombers are sure that what they are doing is correct, i.e. their conscience is clear. But moral?

Your conscience isn't something that has to be taught.. It is what you were born with.. A gift from God which makes us spiritual beings and not just animals.. Islamic homicide bombers aren't following their conscience.. They are cowards who are blocking out their conscience and following the dark side.

[Judith Anne]

I laughed out loud!

And then, upon reflection, agreed. :(

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Any other pointers

If you are being called to...

*venerate Mary as "co-redeemer"

*consider your priest as "another Christ"

*pray to dead people rather than Jesus Christ, the "one mediator between God and men"

*say a man in Rome in "infallible" in religious matters (recall JPII kissing the Koran)

*believe that vain and changeable tradition is equal to and even superior to God's holy word...

Then brother, you need more "pointers" than any internet chatroom can provide.

As is, I have a few volumes of the Magnificat pamphlet and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to read.

Perhaps there's hope yet. Read the 1,000-page catechism and see where it differs from your 700-page Bible.

[dangus]

>> I do not know that I would reccomend Jesus of Nazareth, it is a wonderful book but a little heavy for a new convert. <<

The freshest souls often do the heaviest lifting.

[dangus]

>> I do not know that I would reccomend Jesus of Nazareth, it is a wonderful book but a little heavy for a new convert. <<

The freshest souls often do the heaviest lifting.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Do you kneel before Mary?

[AnAmericanMother]

Welcome home!

We converted from the Episcopal Church on Memorial Day weekend 2004. Wish we'd taken the plunge into the Tiber sooner. Our parish is wonderful, the priests are good holy men on fire for Christ, our fellow parishioners are a wonderful bunch of people.

I second the recommendation on Catholicism for Dummies. The title is a little off-putting (I mean, fly fishing and dog training are one thing, but the Church?) but it's absolutely straight down the line orthodox and has a wonderful bibliography for further reading.

Don't forget to get some good music! Chant and Renaissance polyphony are the very best the Church has to offer, especially Palestrina, Tallis, and Byrd.

And pray the Rosary, daily if you can. I have found that to be such a help and comfort.

P.S. Don't worry too much about the sniping from the fringes. Most of it is due not to malice, but simply not understanding.

[dangus]

>> The only place to begin a personal relationship with the creator of the universe, the Jewish Messiah, is in His Holy Word. <<

Even you must’ve noted that half of the responses to “which book should I get” were about which version of the bible he should get.

>> I pray that you come to know Yah’shua the Messiah <<

Now the presumption that he hasn’t is just downright insulting.

>> Membership in any man-made religion, will not bring you salvation for your sins ! <<

That’s why he’s becoming a CATHOLIC. He’s eschewing man-made religions. Of course, MEMBERSHIP in the Catholic Church won’t save you, but it does help make sure you come to know Christ, and it’s the means of receiving his body. Those are two very big plusses.