Converts: Protestantism to Catholic, Catholic to Protestant, Etc.

[CaliforniaJosiah]

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This is simply a "roll call" and nothin' more....

I've always been amazed by the percentage of active, articulate, informed posters in Theology - Protestant and Catholic - who are "converts." It enriches our discussions, IMHO.

The poll does most of the work - but feel free to give BASIC details in this thread. For example, WHICH Protestant denomination was involved? Or anything else you feel is relevant.

It is NOT the intent of this thread to "bash" anything or anyone - or to suggest anyone was "right" or "wrong" in their journey. It's just to note our collective "roots."


Thank you!


Pax


- Josiah




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[CaliforniaJosiah]

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IN A SENSE, I converted TO Catholicism from a liberal, mainstream, Protestant denomination.

Then FROM Catholicism to Lutheranism (LCMS).

But each of these was "informal" in that the first time I was OFFICIALLY a Confirmed member anywhere was in the LCMS (about two years ago).



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[LiturgyInDMinor]

I became a "protestant" in 1996 after being born in 1970 into the Roman Catholic Church.
Baptist to be specific.
I recently became Presbyterian because I felt that the baptist church was missing a LOT regarding things. MY PERSONAL OPINION/DECISION alone so don't quote me and post a bunch of stuff like I'm insulting baptists.

 

[nephilimiyr]

I was born and baptised into the Roman Catholic Church, raised and confirmed also. I also had a born again experience as a young teenager in the RCC. Back then I didn't know or understand exactly what happend to me because the RCC didn't teach about such things, but it was a real strong and odvious experience that I had. I know my mother nor anyone else in the Church could explain to me what happend. I think as a result, this helped me throughout my teen years to became more and more disillusioned, not just with the RCC but with christianity altogether, yet I also blame this on myself.

Either way, I left the Church in my late teens, but I never left my belief in God. In the early part of this decade I began to get somewhat serious again with God but only on a theological stand point. However, right after 9/11 happend I renewed my relationship with God while having another one of those strong experiences and haven't looked back.

The reason for me now being a Protestant rather than a Catholic is because my personal perference is for alot less tradition and ritual now. In the Catholic Church I was raised in I was basically taught that in order to have a deep and rich relationship with God I needed to do this whole list of things. And although my mother instilled a deep belief in God in me, she also instilled a fear in me that God was up in heaven shaking his fist at me. I have found that none of that is true. I don't need to do all kinds of things in order to have a deep and rich relationship with God, all I need to do is rest in him and live in the Spirit. And most importantly, God is not shaking his fist at me, He is not mad at me, and he is not disappointed, even though I tend to screw up quite a bit. My actions do not determine how God feels about me. God is not Santa Claus, He is not up in heaven making a list of whether I am naughty or nice.

That is why I am now a Protestant. And because of the very strong experiences I have had with God I gravitated towards the charismatic type churches and am now a member of a great, but small, non-denominational charismatic church.

 

[Yarddog]

I was raised in the Baptist Church but left in my early teens because of the message which the minister was preaching. He was always condemning people.

In the Catholic Church, I found the message of love and forgiveness. I was accepted as I was and there was a message of hope, not condemnation. The Spirit of God was flowing in the Church.

That was 25+ years ago and I'm a happy man.

God Bless

 

[nephilimiyr]

I was raised in the Baptist Church but left in my early teens because of the message which the minister was preaching. He was always condemning people.

In the Catholic Church, I found the message of love and forgiveness. I was accepted as I was and there was a message of hope, not condemnation. The Spirit of God was flowing in the Church.

That was 25+ years ago and I'm a happy man.

God Bless

Praise God!! There is no room for condemnation for any of us. God doesn't condemn us so why do we do that to ourselves and others?

Good for you!!

 

[SpiritualAntiseptic]

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IN A SENSE, I converted TO Catholicism from a liberal, mainstream, Protestant denomination.

Then FROM Catholicism to Lutheranism (LCMS).

But each of these was "informal" in that the first time I was OFFICIALLY a Confirmed member anywhere was in the LCMS (about two years ago).



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As a young man, I suspect you must carry around a lot of guilt.

 

[nephilimiyr]

As a young man, I suspect you must carry around a lot of guilt.

That's another reason why I wont go back to the Catholic Church, or any other tradition/ritual based church. And yes, there are some Protestant denominations that are heavy into tradition and ritualism just as much as the RCC and EOC.

 

[SummaScriptura]

I was raised Catholic. Served as an altar boy for two years. I left the Catholic Church at age 16. There I'd heard of Christ the savior of the world, elsewhere I met Christ the savior of me. That was my experience.

 

[nephilimiyr]

I was raised Catholic. Served as an altar boy for two years. I left the Catholic Church at age 16. There I'd heard of Christ the savior of the world, elsewhere I met Christ the savior of me. That was my experience.

I hear you saying that because you heard Christ the savior in me outside the RCC I'm wondering if this could just be a matter of timing for you? Because I was also raised in the RCC I assume I was taught the same basic things. I have to say that while I was in the RCC I was taught "Christ the savior in me" but there was a distance between me and them. I was like, hey I met him the other night, I know him, but I was looked at and treated like a looney. I was told that if I wanted to know him more I would have to contunue all the traditions and rituals. I was like no, you don't understand me, I met Jesus last night, He descending upon me last night and I know him. I was told I couldn't possibly know him fully unless I live a life of devotion to him. Well I got confused to say the least. These people didn't know what they were talking about because I knew him.

 

[SummaScriptura]

No one in the RCC explained how I could have an intimate relationship with Jesus. I found out I could, but not in "my" church. Timing? Perhaps. Provedence? Decidedly.

 

[nephilimiyr]

No one in the RCC explained how I could have an intimate relationship with Jesus. I found out I could, but not in "my" church. Timing? Perhaps. Provedence? Decidedly.

I think you and I are on the same page, and have had the very same experience. For me this happend in the 70's and at that time I truely believe the RCC wasn't prepared for what hit them. Thousands of people like us were in their ranks and telling them that we had this great and wonderful experience with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and they didn't know how to handle it, and they still don't. Even when millions upon millions of people within their own ranks tell them that there is a charismatic renewal happening they still want to shun and quite them. Pride in their religion, their traditions, and rituals, that's what it amounts to.

 

[OpenDoor]

I was baptized and confirmed in a RCC July 07
left May 09

(new record?)

 

[Dark_Lite]

Raised Methodist -> Was Agnostic for about 3 - 4 years -> Converted to Catholicism.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

As a young man, I suspect you must carry around a lot of guilt.

? I mentioned NOTHING about "guilt."

But yes, I was/am aware of my fault and guilt - and thus need for divine grace, mercy and salvation. Actually, my conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism or from Catholicism to Lutheranism did not particularly involve such since ALL the churches I've participated in are Christ-centered and proclaim God's forgiveness through Christ. And none of them were particularly legalistic, I "felt" no greater or lesser "guilt" in any of them.




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[LittleLambofJesus]

Converts: Protestantism to Catholic, Catholic to Protestant, Etc.

I have also heard the term "REVERT" bandied about. It would seem that if one converts from one Denomination to another, it is different than one reverting back to a Denomination that one belonged to.

For example. In Islam, they say EVERYONE is born a Muslim, so anyone that joins that religion is "reverting" to it not "converting". [I am an ex-RC btw] Thoughts?

Religious conversion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Religious conversion is the adoption of new religious beliefs that differ from the convert's previous beliefs. It involves a new religious identity, or a change from one religious identity to another. Conversion requires internalization of the new belief system. It implies a new reference point for one's self identity and is a matter of belief and social structure—of both faith and affiliation.[1] This typically entails the sincere avowal of a new belief system, but may also present itself in other ways, such as adoption into an identity group or spiritual lineage. Conversion refers to changes from one religion to another, not to be confused with religious reaffiliation which refers to changes from one denomination to another within the same faith.[2] Examples of religious reaffiliation include switching from being Southern Baptist to Methodist (within Christianity) or from Sunni to Shiite (within Islam).

 

[Dark_Lite]

For example. In Islam, they say EVERYONE is born a Muslim, so anyone that joins that religion is "reverting" to it not "converting". [I am an ex-RC btw] Thoughts?

All humans are born agnostic. That statement of Islam is easily disproven by the simple fact that people tend to believe in the faith they grow up with.

 

[Blackknight]

You forgot one. Atheist to Orthodox.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

You forgot one. Atheist to Orthodox.

From what I understand while debating atheists over the years, most appear to choose the Orthodox Church out of all the Denominations within Christianity.

I could be wrong, but it would be interesting to ask an atheist about it

http://www.christianforums.com/t7308489/
Ask The Atheist

 

[MrPolo]

Tons of great "to Catholic" conversion stories can be found here. The better ones (in my opinion) are the ones who focused on truth in teaching as their reasons...