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?

[netmilsmom]

>>I just can’t imagine my poor guardian angel’s trials when I was a young adult!<<

Mine too!

[Uri’el-2012]

The first Bible I read (back before I was Christian) was the King James, and I grew to love it for the sheer loveliness of many of the passages. Even then I knew it wasn’t the only one, of course, but I will always it.

The first Bible I started to read was the Douay-Rheims, I found it opaque.

Started reading the KJV; also opaque but I loved the soaring language.

Moved on to the NIV; easy to read but not for scholarship.

About eight years ago I switched to the updated NASB for use on this forum.

For reading I prefer the David Sterns: Complete Jewish Bible

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua

[Judith Anne]

In your tagline, you have Christ saying He is the “Elohim of Ya’acov,” er, sorry, “Ya’acob” but “Elohim” is plural. Is that the literal word in the NAsbU? Just curious.

[Marysecretary]

Talking about the one true church again???

[Marysecretary]

There have been several, mom. Maybe most Catholics do think that,but there are others who have said otherwise, even in Catholic writings. I think Dr. E. has posted some.

[Petronski]

If you do not take your 2x4 of spiritual love to the skull with grace and a smile, you are thin-skinned.

A thin-skinned pagan, to be precise.

[Marysecretary]

I can’t speak for others. I try to speak what I feel is the truth according to scripture. Perhaps some here feel boldness is nastiness. I don’t know. Love, M

[Marysecretary]

I said ‘some’ catholics. Do you count yourself as one? I didn’t say JUDITH ANNE.

[Marysecretary]

Pride has nothing to do with this. I fear many Catholics will not be in heaven because they are putting their faith in the fact that they were “baptized into Christ.” Baptism has nothing to do with true salvation. The Eucharist has nothing to do with true salvation. You do not know my heart Opus. You really don’t.

[Petronski]

If you knew my heart, Opus, you’d know that I only nag you and tell the foulest lies about your church out of my love for you! If you don’t accept my own personal interpretation of scripture, you’re going to hell, so step to, mister!

Oh, and since insults are in the eye of the beholder, if you don’t like my insults, stop beholding them!

[Petronski]

How dare you question my nastiness, you @#$@#% ^$%@%&$%$%!

Love, P.

[Judith Anne]

To be precise, you mentioned “a certain few.” As Catholics we all stand in solidarity with our Catholic brothers and sisters on this thread, no matter how obliquely you refer to the “certain few” you claim are vitriolic.

[Religion Moderator]

You’re thin skinned when you don’t take it all with a smile and vitriolic when you hand it back.

Thin skinned posters are the ones who take things personally or use a magnifying glass to find offense or sit on the abuse button, or continually ping moderators or send them Freepmails insisting that posts or threads be removed or posters banned.

Thick skinned posters hardly notice when others insult them or what the believe or hold dear. They turn the other cheek. They do not want the challenges or challengers removed but instead stand and deliver their rebuttal - toe to toe and eye to eye.

[Petronski]

Sometimes that toe-to-toe eye-to-eye rebuttal includes a sarcastic observation about being accused of thin-skin.

Caustic sarcasm is not thin-skinned. Rather, if done properly, it can be part of an effective, withering rebuttal, and in any event is rather the opposite of thin-skin.

[nanetteclaret]

***instead stand and deliver their rebuttal - toe to toe and eye to eye.***

With all due respect, RM, this gets a bit tiresome when one does it over and over with the same people, day after day. One begins to wonder if these people have some sort of comprehension problem or if they are just forgetful about what was told to them the day (or hour or minute) before.

[Judith Anne]

Great! Then we can see how thick-skinned ALL of us are. :D

[Dr. Eckleburg]

This question began when Judith Anne wrote she "only bows to Christ."

I asked if she bowed to Mary and assorted saints. I haven't seen an answer to that question yet.

Do you bow to Mary and saints?

[Uri’el-2012]

In your tagline, you have Christ saying He is the “Elohim of Ya’acov,” er, sorry, “Ya’acob” but “Elohim” is plural. Is that the literal word in the NAsbU? Just curious.

683 posted on May 30, 2008 10:07:49 AM MDT by Judith Anne

The verse in the NASBu is

NAU Isaiah 60:16 ............... Then you will know that I, the LORD,
am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Mighty one (HSN-046) is an old name of G-d often used poeticly

<046> rybia' abir (7d) Meaning: strong
Origin: from the same as 82
Usage: Mighty One(6).
Notes: (a) Isa 66:11 (b) Isa 19:20; Isa 43:3, Isa 43:11; Isa 45:15, Isa 45:21; Isa 63:8 (c) Isa 59:20; Isa 63:16

0046 rybia' 'abiyr {aw-beer'}
Meaning:
1) strong, mighty - used only to describe God
2) the Strong - old name for God (poetic) Origin: from 082; TWOT - 13c; adj m Usage: AV - might (One) 6; 6

LXE Isaiah 60:16 ....... and shalt know that I am the Lord
that saves thee and delivers thee, the Holy One of Israel.

TNK Isaiah 60:16 .... And you shall know That I the LORD
am your Savior, I, The Mighty One of Jacob, am your Redeemer.

I read it a different way:
YHvH is saying that He is our Savior and Redeemer( Kinsman-Redeemer).

Yah'shua(Jesus) means in Hebrew: YHvH is my salvation.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[Rutles4Ever]

It sure looks to me like they think the Bible does possess intrinsic holiness, not unlike a relic.

It's really remarkable that Protestants believe that the inspired word of God resides under the accidents of a dead tree and some ink, or that the soul resides beneath the accidents of the human form, but they can't abide the body, blood, and divinity of Christ residing under the accidents of bread and wine. For them, Transubstantiation, apparently, is the only thing in the universe impossible for God.

[1000 silverlings]

Wonderful post X