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

Posted on 05/28/2008 6:05:04 PM PDT by 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?


TOPICS: Catholic; Evangelical Christian; History; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: catholic; convert; religion; tiberswimteam
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To: Mad Dawg

Sell you what? That God is a living soul? That’s a reality


621 posted on 05/29/2008 9:19:37 PM PDT by 1000 silverlings (Everything that deceives also enchants: Plato)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

God is a Spirit and He must be worshipped by a Spirit, which is why true believers are quickened with the HS. So many verses in the bible, not the least of which I posted, 1 Cor 2, explains it all for us. Worshipping Him in Truth, is to read and meditate upon, and obey, the Truth that He has given to us, which is His Word. It is not the “wisdom of men” but the Wisdom of the Lord.


622 posted on 05/29/2008 9:32:12 PM PDT by 1000 silverlings (Everything that deceives also enchants: Plato)
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To: Ultra Sonic 007
Hi Ultra Sonic 007, Congratulations and welcome to the Roman Catholic Church. I would suggest any of the encyclicals of Pope John Paul II to read (or any of the Popes for that matter).
623 posted on 05/29/2008 9:38:35 PM PDT by GinaLolaB (=^..^=)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; judithann; Alex Murphy

***So far, NO protestant here has defined his/her denomination, so we can all examine their beliefs in the light of our own***

FWIW, Alex is posting a chapter from the Westminster Confession Of Faith, as an “Open” thread daily. According to the rules you can follow along and comment as you see fit.


624 posted on 05/29/2008 10:34:24 PM PDT by Gamecock (The question is not, Am I good enough to be a Christian? rather Am I good enough not to be?)
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To: wmfights

I have always found great fried chicken at Baptist churches.


625 posted on 05/29/2008 10:37:13 PM PDT by Gamecock (The question is not, Am I good enough to be a Christian? rather Am I good enough not to be?)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Thank you so very much for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life. - John 6:63

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. - Deuteronomy 4:2

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. - John 14:23

To God be the glory, not man, never man!

626 posted on 05/29/2008 11:10:44 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Salvation
You are very aware of Holy Tradition. It's even cited in John and Peter's letters.

There is no tradition of praying to Mary in John or Peter's letters that I'm aware of.

627 posted on 05/30/2008 2:23:47 AM PDT by HarleyD
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
[It's technically called bibliolatry and from my perspective they are guilty of worshiping the book called the Bible (without the capability to understand it)]

One way to rationalize ignoring the Bible is to accuse others of paying too much attention to it. How do people "worship a book?" What evidence do you see that people are doing that? Because Bible-believing Christians can point to a LOT of things Rome teaches that resemble a type of idolatry, i.e. praying to Mary and assorted dead people; believing Mary is a "co-redeemer;" viewing priests as "another Christ;" thinking relics contain instrinsic power; etc.

Amen!

They reject the Book by their traditions, the very thing that Christ condemned (Mk.7:7-9)

What does loving God's word too much look like (keeping in mind that Christ Himself is the "word made flesh?")

God places His words above His own name (Ps.138:2)

628 posted on 05/30/2008 3:41:35 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration ("Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people".-John Adams)
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To: Ultra Sonic 007
I had been part of the 'Sola Scriptua' school of thought (Evangelical Christian)

Thinking right thoughts isnt very helpful. Pray the rosary daily. Watch EWTN. Go to a eucharistic service as often as possible - include eucharaistic adoration times into your busy schedule and support catholic schools....

If protestants could get all this done instead of talking about being protestant and their internal angst- the moslem problem would evaporate in the face of christian solidarity.

629 posted on 05/30/2008 3:45:15 AM PDT by x_plus_one ("let them eat cake, drive small electric cars and take the bus")
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
[So far, NO protestant here has defined his/her denomination, so we can all examine their beliefs in the light of our own.]

That is because on the issues of justification by faith alone, sola scriptura, rejection of idols, Mary worship, purgatory etc we all agree.

630 posted on 05/30/2008 3:55:28 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration ("Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people".-John Adams)
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To: 1000 silverlings
Before I say anything else I want to apologize for the strength of my post last night. As I went to sleep I thought that some people have different didactic styles and I need to come to grips with that.

But yeah, stipulating I have no clue what I might mean by the mind of God, certainly it's worthy of worship.

What I'm seeing from over here in Babylon is a well-developed thought and devotion to the theology of the Word. The person who identified the Bible with the "word of John 1:1 seems to go too far, but I'm getting that you do not make that identification.

631 posted on 05/30/2008 4:02:31 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
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To: Petronski

” I’ve been driven absolutely nuts by sola ecclesia...”

Oh Gosh! You too? My groom took one look at your post and I had to lock him in the closet. He’s drooling and jibbering screaming,”The Horror! The Horror!”

I’m feeling faint myself.

Where’s the Valium!


632 posted on 05/30/2008 4:10:49 AM PDT by OpusatFR (Will hijack threads for cheese - brie or better. No Borden's please.)
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To: netmilsmom

” thought so, Bible worship, I’ve seen it many times.

In my husband’s family, he was taught never to put the Bible underneath any other book, nor leave it on a table with other papers or books. I’ve watched them treat it as something other than a sacred text.

When he first saw me hi-lighting mine and making underscores and remarks in the margin, he was shocked.


633 posted on 05/30/2008 4:19:42 AM PDT by OpusatFR (Will hijack threads for cheese - brie or better. No Borden's please.)
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To: Salvation

So, is it an open thread or not an open thread?

I witness that what we believe is actually quite universal (”catholic”)


634 posted on 05/30/2008 4:20:00 AM PDT by John Leland 1789
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To: fortheDeclaration
They reject the Book by their traditions, the very thing that Christ condemned (Mk.7:7-9)

Did Christ write that down, or did he say it to *men*?

God places His words above His own name (Ps.138:2)

Which is why you should shriek in terror at the presupmtion of making yourself God's "interpreter."

635 posted on 05/30/2008 4:30:06 AM PDT by papertyger
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To: Judith Anne
It is so interesting when Protestants give links on supposed “Catholic teaching” that have nothing to do with the Catholic Church.

Also interesting that they claim it is Roman Catholic teaching, when in reality it is PROTESTANT teaching, about Catholics. Who knows how accurate it is, or if it’s all a pack of lies?

******************

The article at the link apparently says what some want to hear. Whether or not it is the truth is less important, it seems.

636 posted on 05/30/2008 4:52:21 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Antoninus; Petronski

I too have heard of problems with the first edition of the Catechism.


637 posted on 05/30/2008 4:52:21 AM PDT by CatQuilt (Lover of cats =^..^= and quilts)
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To: CatQuilt

bump


638 posted on 05/30/2008 5:10:40 AM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore
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To: Mad Dawg

>>I don’t want to yell at 1k silverlings<<

Wait MD, who’s yelling at anyone?

Come on hon, you’re making us look bad. No one is yelling, we’re discussing here. And not even how “The Ususal Suspects” discuss with us.


639 posted on 05/30/2008 5:35:31 AM PDT by netmilsmom (I am Ironmom. (but really made from Gold plated titanium))
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To: OpusatFR

>>In my husband’s family, he was taught never to put the Bible underneath any other book, nor leave it on a table with other papers or books. I’ve watched them treat it as something other than a sacred text.>>

I’ve seen that too! The book is given a high place of honor. On huge wooden book stands. Kind of like an altar.

One teacher I had in high school carried his constantly and would often teach with one hand on it.

Like a good luck charm. Yep, Bible worship plain and simple. I’ve seen it many times.


640 posted on 05/30/2008 5:55:51 AM PDT by netmilsmom (I am Ironmom. (but really made from Gold plated titanium))
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