Doubts about denominations

Dansiph

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I'm not sure if this is relevant to post here.

Over the past three days I have experienced random doubts about "Protestantism". I use quotation marks because a lot of Baptists don't consider themsleves Protestant. I don't know what triggered it. So, I started looking at Catholic beliefs (mostly just to check for myself)... I was actually at a point of thinking Catholicism could be true. Today I feel I've moved back towards beliefs such as Sola Scriptura and being saved by Faith alone. The problem is now I feel I'm in a sort of limbo of doubt. This is all uncharacteristic for me.

Another problem is everyone is baised and I don't really know how to move forward. Any answers from those who have converted to Catholic or to Protestant would still be helpful though. Please keep in mind how serious of an issue this is.

Thanks
 

Albion

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Well, I converted from Roman Catholic to Protestant based completely on key beliefs and practices where the RCC had gone wrong.

The point is that there are many churches that are classified as Protestant, and there is no reason to think that they are all peas in a pod, so the decision to change churches requires educating oneself, prayer, and serious investigation.

You might make a move that amounts to agreeing with the RCC on 9 out of 10 controversial points of belief or you might disavow almost everything about Catholic Christianity.

But in any case, searching and doubting such as you are going through now is not unusual. I'd look upon it as admirable rather than as a burden. Many of the greatest figures in Church history have had to go through a similar journey before being certain of their commitment, so do not let your own journey distress you.
 
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Dansiph

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Well, I converted from Roman Catholic to Protestant based completely on key beliefs and practices where the RCC had gone wrong.

The point is that there are many churches that are classified as Protestant, and there is no reason to think that they are all peas in a pod, so the decision to change churches requires educating oneself, prayer, and serious investigation.

You might make a move that amounts to agreeing with the RCC on 9 out of 10 controversial points of belief or you might disavow almost everything about Catholic Christianity.

But in any case, searching and doubting such as you are going through now is not unusual. I'd look upon it as admirable rather than as a burden. Many of the greatest figures in Church history have had to go through a similar journey before being certain of their commitment, so do not let your own journey distress you.
Thanks. I was getting a bit distressed for a few days. I've got the educating myself and serious investigation down and although I have prayed, I've been finding it more difficult.
 
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peregrinus2017

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My suggestion to you would be to read the writings of the early church fathers. It will help give you an understanding of how the Faith and the church was veiwed by those who were disciples of the apostles, or within the first few generations of the church. For me, the further back I went, the more sense things made, and the better it all fit together. I became Orthodox, so I suppose I am bias, but the early church fathers are a treasure for all of us. St. Athanasius' On the Incarnation is a most excellent book, and may be a good place to start. May God guide you on your search for the fullness of the Truth.
 
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pdudgeon

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Certainly it is a serious issue; a life-changing issue!

First of all, Protestantism, if you look at the root of the word, contains all you need to know.
Protestantism is a movement by various folks who claim to know better than God who is saved and how they are saved.

The first Christian Church was formed by Peter at it's head. That's the church that you want.
All other churches that exist are a protest against that Church.

You have probably seen on the news lately what happens at a protest.
There is no worshiping of God, there is no recognition of God, and there is certainly no obedience to God. There is, however, a great lifting up of man's ideas of how things should be run.

These are not God's ways.
The same thing happens in Protestant churches. As certain as the Sun will rise, there will always be movements within Protestant Churches for change to bend to men and women's current wants and desires.
 
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HTacianas

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I'm not sure if this is relevant to post here.

Over the past three days I have experienced random doubts about "Protestantism". I use quotation marks because a lot of Baptists don't consider themsleves Protestant. I don't know what triggered it. So, I started looking at Catholic beliefs (mostly just to check for myself)... I was actually at a point of thinking Catholicism could be true. Today I feel I've moved back towards beliefs such as Sola Scriptura and being saved by Faith alone. The problem is now I feel I'm in a sort of limbo of doubt. This is all uncharacteristic for me.

Another problem is everyone is baised and I don't really know how to move forward. Any answers from those who have converted to Catholic or to Protestant would still be helpful though. Please keep in mind how serious of an issue this is.

Thanks

I could probably help you with some of the Catholic part, but I'll leave that to my Catholic cousins. I grew up a Southern Baptist. After years of "being away" I had an epiphany one day and began frantically searching for the right "denomination". Long story short, I am Orthodox now. The Orthodox Church is not a denomination within the meaning of Western denominations. The Orthodox Church is simply the Christian Church. Always has been. Look into it if you'd like.
 
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Dansiph

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I could probably help you with some of the Catholic part, but I'll leave that to my Catholic cousins. I grew up a Southern Baptist. After years of "being away" I had an epiphany one day and began frantically searching for the right "denomination". Long story short, I am Orthodox now. The Orthodox Church is not a denomination within the meaning of Western denominations. The Orthodox Church is simply the Christian Church. Always has been. Look into it if you'd like.
I don't know why but Eastern Orthodox seems very foreign to me. Literally and figuratively. I may be wrong but I often see there's a friendly attitude between Catholic and Orthodox so I assumed deciding between the two wasn't as serious as my primary decision. If that makes sense?
 
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eleos1954

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Certainly it is a serious issue; a life-changing issue!

First of all, Protestantism, if you look at the root of the word, contains all you need to know.
Protestantism is a movement by various folks who claim to know better than God who is saved and how they are saved.

The first Christian Church was formed by Peter at it's head. That's the church that you want.
All other churches that exist are a protest against that Church.

You have probably seen on the news lately what happens at a protest.
There is no worshiping of God, there is no recognition of God, and there is certainly no obedience to God. There is, however, a great lifting up of man's ideas of how things should be run.

These are not God's ways.
The same thing happens in Protestant churches. As certain as the Sun will rise, there will always be movements within Protestant Churches for change to bend to men and women's current wants and desires.

The first Christian Church was formed by Peter at it's head. That's the church that you want.

The first christian church was formed by Jesus and was built on Himself.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I'm not sure if this is relevant to post here.

Over the past three days I have experienced random doubts about "Protestantism". I use quotation marks because a lot of Baptists don't consider themsleves Protestant. I don't know what triggered it. So, I started looking at Catholic beliefs (mostly just to check for myself)... I was actually at a point of thinking Catholicism could be true. Today I feel I've moved back towards beliefs such as Sola Scriptura and being saved by Faith alone. The problem is now I feel I'm in a sort of limbo of doubt. This is all uncharacteristic for me.

Another problem is everyone is baised and I don't really know how to move forward. Any answers from those who have converted to Catholic or to Protestant would still be helpful though. Please keep in mind how serious of an issue this is.

Thanks

In short, I just approach Christianity in a historical way, and by that I mean I study, analyze and ponder over all the of the ways and byways of thought that have taken place in the transmission of biblical, Christian truth over the last 2,000 years.

Through this, I see each denomination as a mode of Christianity, with each group expressing strengths of emphasis in their respective systems of teaching, as well as harboring a few weaknesses due to unnecessary, extraneous interpretations that go beyond what we might understand from the Bible alone.

And that's ok. None of us, nor the denominations we may belong to, are perfect ... :cool:
 
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Dansiph

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Certainly it is a serious issue; a life-changing issue!

First of all, Protestantism, if you look at the root of the word, contains all you need to know.
Protestantism is a movement by various folks who claim to know better than God who is saved and how they are saved.

The first Christian Church was formed by Peter at it's head. That's the church that you want.
All other churches that exist are a protest against that Church.

You have probably seen on the news lately what happens at a protest.
There is no worshiping of God, there is no recognition of God, and there is certainly no obedience to God. There is, however, a great lifting up of man's ideas of how things should be run.

These are not God's ways.
The same thing happens in Protestant churches. As certain as the Sun will rise, there will always be movements within Protestant Churches for change to bend to men and women's current wants and desires.
I don't expect you to be fond of the Reformation but I think it's not right to say there's no worship of God, or recognition or obedience?
 
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pescador

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Certainly it is a serious issue; a life-changing issue!

First of all, Protestantism, if you look at the root of the word, contains all you need to know.
Protestantism is a movement by various folks who claim to know better than God who is saved and how they are saved.

The first Christian Church was formed by Peter at it's head. That's the church that you want.
All other churches that exist are a protest against that Church.

You have probably seen on the news lately what happens at a protest.
There is no worshiping of God, there is no recognition of God, and there is certainly no obedience to God. There is, however, a great lifting up of man's ideas of how things should be run.

These are not God's ways.
The same thing happens in Protestant churches. As certain as the Sun will rise, there will always be movements within Protestant Churches for change to bend to men and women's current wants and desires.

You said, "Protestantism is a movement by various folks who claim to know better than God who is saved and how they are saved." Isn't that a typo? Didn't you mean Catholicism?

As I have said many times before, there is no mention of the Catholic church in the Bible. There is no indication anywhere that the Christianity started by Jesus, the 11 disciples, the apostle Paul, and others is the Catholic church.

It was the Catholic Church that had become so corrupt that a reformation was necessary to bring Christianity back to what God has intended His church to be: a family of believers, a nation of priests, whose devotion is to Him, not to any person, living or dead.
 
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Albion

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It was the Catholic Church that had become so corrupt that a reformation was necessary to bring Christianity back to what God has intended His church to be: a family of believers, a nation of priests, whose devotion is to Him, not to any person, living or dead.

...and we may add that, despite the POV expressed in that post you responded to, the Roman Catholic Church has itself been reformed many times throughout history, thanks to its own Reformers.

Specifically, most of what Martin Luther wanted--but which the RCC wouldn't consider in his own time--has quietly been adopted by the Catholic Church in more recent times. So, although it took awhile, Luther was vindicated.
 
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HTacianas

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I don't know why but Eastern Orthodox seems very foreign to me. Literally and figuratively. I may be wrong but I often see there's a friendly attitude between Catholic and Orthodox so I assumed deciding between the two wasn't as serious as my primary decision. If that makes sense?

The reason Catholicism and Orthodoxy seem similar is that they are the original Church. You'll often hear protestants attacking Catholics for reasons that go back hundreds of years, but if one attacks the Roman Church hard enough they will find themselves attacking Christianity itself. It is a long story.

Orthodoxy may seem foreign to you because it is foreign. But then so is the bible. The Christian bible is written in Greek. The Orthodox Church of Greece is Greek, not surprisingly. It's as much to say that Protestantism with its arguments over doctrines and translations of the bible is foreign to Christianity.
 
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Dansiph

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The reason Catholicism and Orthodoxy seem similar is that they are the original Church. You'll often hear protestants attacking Catholics for reasons that go back hundreds of years, but if one attacks the Roman Church hard enough they will find themselves attacking Christianity itself. It is a long story.

Orthodoxy may seem foreign to you because it is foreign. But then so is the bible. The Christian bible is written in Greek. The Orthodox Church of Greece is Greek, not surprisingly. It's as much to say that Protestantism with its arguments over doctrines and translations of the bible is foreign to Christianity.
I find it interesting that you said "they" are the "original Church". I'm not being nitpicky (hopefully) but surely only one can be the original?

My main reason for saying it's foreign is partly the Greek and Russian etc. Partly the dress, icons, church architecture, etc... it's just so different. I think the church in my area has services in Greek and the building has very fancy brickwork. It's unusual. It's not very welcoming imo.
 
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pescador

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The reason Catholicism and Orthodoxy seem similar is that they are the original Church. You'll often hear protestants attacking Catholics for reasons that go back hundreds of years, but if one attacks the Roman Church hard enough they will find themselves attacking Christianity itself. It is a long story.

Orthodoxy may seem foreign to you because it is foreign. But then so is the bible. The Christian bible is written in Greek. The Orthodox Church of Greece is Greek, not surprisingly. It's as much to say that Protestantism with its arguments over doctrines and translations of the bible is foreign to Christianity.

There is nothing in the Bible that says anything about Catholicism and/or Orthodoxy being the original Church. They are man-made (literally) constructs that bear no resemblance to the New Testament church -- the Body of Christ; they do resemble the Old Testament priesthood, temple, rituals, etc.

The Christian bible is written in Greek? The Bible of Jesus' time was the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament ancient Hebrew and Aramaic (the original languages). Today's Bibles are very accurate translations of the best Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek manuscripts available, aided by thousands of other non-Biblical manuscripts that further illuminate the words and phrases of the time.

Protestant doctrines and translations of the bible are the only true Christianity.
 
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Kenny'sID

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I'm not sure if this is relevant to post here.

Over the past three days I have experienced random doubts about "Protestantism". I use quotation marks because a lot of Baptists don't consider themsleves Protestant. I don't know what triggered it. So, I started looking at Catholic beliefs (mostly just to check for myself)... I was actually at a point of thinking Catholicism could be true. Today I feel I've moved back towards beliefs such as Sola Scriptura and being saved by Faith alone. The problem is now I feel I'm in a sort of limbo of doubt. This is all uncharacteristic for me.

Another problem is everyone is baised and I don't really know how to move forward. Any answers from those who have converted to Catholic or to Protestant would still be helpful though. Please keep in mind how serious of an issue this is.

Thanks

I believe what the bible tells me.

I stay far away from denominations as some will do no more than confuse, while others will go so far as to end one up in hell.

I belong to Christ, not an individual groups idea of how it should be.
 
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Albion

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You'll often hear protestants attacking Catholics for reasons that go back hundreds of years, but if one attacks the Roman Church hard enough they will find themselves attacking Christianity itself. It is a long story.
Once again, there are many different churches classified as "Protestant," meaning that nothing is gained by denouncing some mythical or hypothetical denomination.

Some Protestants reject almost everything that the various Catholic denominations teach and believe, but others differ with them on only a small number of points.
 
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crossnote

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I'm not sure if this is relevant to post here.

Over the past three days I have experienced random doubts about "Protestantism". I use quotation marks because a lot of Baptists don't consider themsleves Protestant. I don't know what triggered it. So, I started looking at Catholic beliefs (mostly just to check for myself)... I was actually at a point of thinking Catholicism could be true. Today I feel I've moved back towards beliefs such as Sola Scriptura and being saved by Faith alone. The problem is now I feel I'm in a sort of limbo of doubt. This is all uncharacteristic for me.

Another problem is everyone is baised and I don't really know how to move forward. Any answers from those who have converted to Catholic or to Protestant would still be helpful though. Please keep in mind how serious of an issue this is.

Thanks
Therefore don't consult us mortal men, consult God's Word because in the end that is who we are accountable to.
 
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Dansiph

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Therefore don't consult us mortal men, consult God's Word because in the end that is who we are accountable to.
I've been reading and consulting God's Word for two years. That didn't stop me coming to this predicament though.

Part of the issue is Catholics don't see the Bible as their only authority. There's also the historical aspects like early church history. One thing which struck me was the question of the Reformation. This happened 1500 years after Jesus' time. The different perspectives on it have caused me to doubt.
 
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Albion

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I've been reading and consulting God's Word for two years. That didn't stop me coming to this predicament though.
Part of the issue is Catholics don't see the Bible as their only authority. There's also the historical aspects like early church history. One thing which struck me was the question of the Reformation. This happened 1500 years after Jesus' time.
The different perspectives on it have caused me to doubt.
It seems, from this reading, that you have been moved in the direction of Protestantism, at least to some variety of it. But did you get stopped at "reading and consulting God's word?"

What is the reason for being now in doubt? You mentioned reading, but has that included studies into the differences between the various churches and also visiting the ones you feel are closest to whatever profile of doctrine and practice you think right?
 
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