Are you glad you're Catholic?

Michie said:

Are you glad you’re Catholic?

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Yes. It is a thought that has come to me many times over the years. The more I study, the more I read of Church doctrine and Church history the more I realize that God placed me in a very special family, special community, and time in history. What if I had been born into a place without Christian knowledge or even in a denomination with a lack of the fullness of Catholic faith? Could I have found what I received as a gift of God ? I wonder on this throughout my lifetime and am thankful.
All glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Not at the moment but that's subject to change without notice.

. staff edut

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We got ourselves a ballsy one!

Unfortunately, no. As I feel these days, it is either a sham and completely man made, or the Lord's Truth. If the former, I have given undue attention to attempting to live up to a false code. If the latter, I am at risk of eternal torture (which I don't want) with the reward for good behavior being an eternity in heaven, which I don't really desire that much. It would be easy to say I believe the Church wrong and leave if the punishment weren't eternal torment. That seems rather less deireable than those faiths that will merely torture and behead those who abandon the faith.

MikeK said:

Unfortunately, no. As I feel these days, it is either a sham and completely man made, or the Lord's Truth. If the former, I have given undue attention to attempting to live up to a false code. If the latter, I am at risk of eternal torture (which I don't want) with the reward for good behavior being an eternity in heaven, which I don't really desire that much. It would be easy to say I believe the Church wrong and leave if the punishment weren't eternal torment. That seems rather less deireable than those faiths that will merely torture and behead those who abandon the faith.

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Your spirituality is right about where mine is.

MikeK said:

Unfortunately, no. As I feel these days, it is either a sham and completely man made, or the Lord's Truth. If the former, I have given undue attention to attempting to live up to a false code. If the latter, I am at risk of eternal torture (which I don't want) with the reward for good behavior being an eternity in heaven, which I don't really desire that much. It would be easy to say I believe the Church wrong and leave if the punishment weren't eternal torment. That seems rather less deireable than those faiths that will merely torture and behead those who abandon the faith.

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I, of course, am more philosophical about the situation because...'

...why make a decision when you can pussyfoot about for 25 years.

But I'm pretty much there too. Honestly, I think it's a hazard of actually studying theology.

(..and now you've got me started...)

I mean, we here on this little forum have done a ton, I mean a boxcar load, of research, reading and arguing on the vagaries of Catholic theological thought for what ? 10 years plus now ? It's easier when you don't think about it.

The faith of a child
Ignorance is bliss

These were snide comments made by people with a subtle sense of humor, not instructions on how to live your faith tradition.

That's what I think anyway. I spent a year studying (ok, scratching the surface of) the Dead Sea scrolls. I'll never read the Bible the same way again.

{heavy sigh}

Of course, you, me, shel. We're all in that part of life where mid-life crisis is a possibility, so there is that....

Mid life crisis is what I'm best at. I rather like fast cars and fast women.

Short answer: totes toots.

Absolutely 100% yes. I'm glad. I'm thankful that I'm Catholic.

Yes. I am thankful and glad.

I’d like to comment on some sentiment I see in this thread.

There is no amount of good behavior that get’s us a reward of eternity in heaven.

‘Our works are but dirty rags’ in the presence of a holy and righteous God.

We all deserve eternal separation from God. We do not deserve heaven. Nor do we earn it.

FAITH in Jesus Christ is the only way. HE made the way.

‘Faith comes from hearing, and from hearing by the Word of God’

We have to take the focus off of ourselves, off of ‘being good’ and put our focus on Jesus and realize it is what He did for us.

We need to accept His free gift and surrender to Him.

If you feel like you can’t get to Him... then ask Him to come and get you where you are at.

And He will.

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door I will come in and dine with him’

God does not need us to do good things. He doesn’t need anything from us.

He desires our love.... He doesn’t require our love.

‘We love Him because He first loved us.’

Focus on Jesus. When we do that all the ‘good stuff(works)’ will sprout and grow and His plan for us will manifest in our lives.

If we labour at doing good things believing it get’s us a reward then our focus is in the wrong place. In fact this will only open the door to the evil one to accuse us of not being good enough and getting us to believe the lie that God cannot love us.

‘Seek ye first the Kingdom and all these things shall be given to you’

Is that supposed to be funny?

Yes I am proud to be Catholic.

I am increasingly grateful to be a Catholic. Daily I discover more hidden blessings that God has been waiting for many years to bestow on me, and it flat knocks me over every day.

Michie said:

Glad to see you again!

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glad to be here!

Yes, I am. Deeply. As I become an adult, my faith strenghtens. I slowly discover what being Catholic is, thanks to Catholic friends and studies of the evolution of the Church.
I don't think I ever lived a richer year : I am blooming in my faith and despise some hard times, I am deeply joyful, grateful and mostly light-hearted.