Catholicism?

Status
Not open for further replies.

chilehed

Veteran
Jul 31, 2003
4,710
1,384
63
Michigan
✟236,715.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
As a recovering Protestant, I've found the following link to be a valuable resource: www.catholic.com

The central difference is that Protestants deny the teaching authority of the Church (this is what convinced me to convert). Read the gospel accounts of the last supper, particularly staring around John 14 (I think). Jesus makes very specific promises to the Apostles that the Holy Spirit will prevent them from ever teaching error, and that the true gospel message will be maintained every day, forever. As I started to read the writings of the early church fathers (who were scattered all over the ancient world), what I found was the same teachings and liturgical practices that are found in the Catholic Church to this very day.

As I thought about this and considered all the implications, I became convinced that the Catholic Church is the church that Christ founded, and that I had to join it in order to obey His will.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Credo
Upvote 0

JeffreyLloyd

Ave Maria, Gratia plena!
Supporter
Mar 5, 2003
19,896
1,066
Michigan
Visit site
✟53,491.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
What do you want to know?

The Catholic Church was started when Jesus came to Saint Peter and asked him:

"But who do you say that I am?"

Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and bloodas not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - St. Mathew 16:15-19

Here we see, St. Peter givien the keys to the kingdom of God. Jesus promised to bulid his Church on Saint Peter! That is why, St. Peter is our first Pope.

After St. Peter, the next pope was St. Linus (67-76) and then St. Anacletus (76-88), and then St. Clement I (88-97)! This gones on and on up until the 265th pope, Pope John Paul II!
 
Upvote 0

KennySe

Habemus Papam!
Aug 6, 2003
5,450
253
59
Visit site
✟14,554.00
Faith
Catholic
KGirl said:
I have found that though I thought I knew a bit about Catholicism, I'm left vury confused. Is there a way someone can explain it in the simplest manner to understand?

I'll attempt to answer "in the simplest manner". (I tend to ramble.)

The Catholic Church is the continuation of the Church built by Jesus upon Peter and the Apostles. Our Bishops are of the direct line of succession from the Apostles.

The Catholic Church preserves the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Apostolic Traditions.
 
Upvote 0

MattMMMan17

Well-Known Member
Nov 10, 2003
1,221
73
Los Angeles
✟17,098.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Congratulations KGirl, I never thought anyone could cause me to jumble so many thoughts with such a simple question :p I agree completely with all of the answers that have been given. You might want to try the book "Catholicism vs. Fundamentalism" to see the differences and "Catholic Questions, Catholic Answers" for easy to read explanations for beliefs in the Catholic faith. God bless! :)
 
Upvote 0

Michelina

.
Supporter
Nov 6, 2003
13,640
663
✟19,733.00
Faith
Catholic
KGirl said:
I have found that though I thought I knew a bit about Catholicism, I'm left vury confused. Is there a way someone can explain it in the simplest manner to understand?

K, buy yourself a copy of "The Catechism of the Catholic Church". It is lucid, simple, authoritative and beautiful!
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

VOW

Moderator
Feb 7, 2002
6,912
15
71
*displaced* CA, soon to be AZ!
Visit site
✟28,000.00
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
To KGirl:

Little question, BIG answer, huh?

I grew up in a God-believing home, but with no particular faith or church. That bothered me, a lot. When I got old enough to need answers, I studied just about everything I could get my hands on. I even took college-level classes, "The Bible as Literature."

They were an excellent starting point. The Old Testament is studied, and I developed a profound respect for the Jewish faith and the Jewish people. I concluded on my own that the Jews were indeed "God's Chosen Ones." If I didn't already believe in Christ, I may have even become a Jew!

But, I knew I was a Christian. So, once again I turned to history. I already understood the basics, that the Catholic Church considers it to be the first Christian Church, and that all other Churches branched from Catholicism.

I made a mental list of the points I supposedly "disagreed with" when it came to the Catholic Church. Number One on the list was the Pope. How could one man have such an authority over people like that? I realized that the Number One on this list was the basic stumbling block I had towards Catholicism.

I went to the Bible to find my answer. And it was right there, too! Jesus turned to Simon and said, "You are PETER, and upon this ROCK I will build My Church." At the bottom of the page, there was an explanation that the name "Peter" meant "Rock."

It was like the Holy Spirit thumped me on the head and said to me, "Okay, THERE is your answer!"

After that, any other questions seemed inconsequential.




Peace be with you,
~VOW
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.