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The Sun

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
 

Michie

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You might want go to the source and ask your questions here.

One Bread, One Body - Catholic
Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
 
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Albion

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
Hi, The Sun. Those are among the bigger questions, all right. In my case, I found through much study that the Catholic Church's claims on all of those matters are untrue -- mainly, that the claims are not supported by the actual history involved.

But if the reverent worship, the sacramental system, orderly administration, and so on are important to you (as to me also), then either Anglican/Episcopal or Lutheran churches are worth exploring. Both can say with a lot of truth that they retain the best of Catholicism while also being reformed where reform was needed. In the end, a lot of study before making up your mind is your best course of action.
 
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anna ~ grace

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
Ask questions. Visit a local Catholic parish. Talk to a priest. Talk to Catholic Christians. Pray. Study. Pray more.

God be with you, friend.
 
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TuxAme

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Where the bishop is, there's the Church- and in the Church is Christ.

Go to the very beginning of Christianity, to the time of the apostles and the first few hundred years following them. You will find that the first Christians were very much Catholic. They weren't Baptist, or Methodist, or Anglican or any other sort of protestant. They adored the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ, they submitted to the authority of Peter's successors, they handled doctrinal matters through Councils as opposed to the opinions of one man- they baptized their children as young as infants, they opposed birth control and abortion, priests could trace their ordination back to the apostles themselves.

Also: the blind received their sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed and the deaf heard, and the dead were raised up, and the poor had good news preached to them.

If you want to worship as Jesus intended and have assurance that the doctrine handed down to you is sound, the Catholic Church- Christ's Church- is the only place to go. Feel free to stop by the subforum Mitchie offered if you have any questions.
 
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Not David

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
Orthodoxy is a good option too.
 
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Carl Emerson

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More fundamental to this decision is to want His will more than anything and to hear His 'voice' on the matter. Getting opinions is good, but don't act on a majority vote, wait the time until He convinces you.
 
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chevyontheriver

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
Reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church will assist you in answering your questions. It is available on line here: Catechism of the Catholic Church

It is also available at most bookstores, used or new or religious.

It is very accessible, in plain English, and can be read chapter by chapter, topic by topic by the index, or by a Scriptural index.
 
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anna ~ grace

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Reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church will assist you in answering your questions. It is available on line here: Catechism of the Catholic Church

It is also available at most bookstores, used or new or religious.

It is very accessible, in plain English, and can be read chapter by chapter, topic by topic by the index, or by a Scriptural index.
The Baltimore Catechism is good, too. Originally designed for children, it's good for adults, too.

The Baltimore Catechism
 
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com7fy8

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You can test.

For example, the Bible says,

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

To me, this is clear, how our Heavenly Father desires to personally rule every one of His children in His own peace > "in one body", our Apostle Paul says, here. So, you can test if your church choice is bringing you more and more into sharing with God in His own peace, and this in sharing with others who are helping you with this.

This is what every Christian is called to > "in one body", Paul says, here. So, this is a basic. See if this is therefore a thing which the pastor and others are talking about, since this is what God desires to do with every one of His children. So, trust God to bring you together with people who are helping you more and more into submitting to how God rules us in His own peace.

And this is very practical, by the way > if He is guiding you in this peace, He guides us according to what He knows is really true about people. So, we can have His reliable guiding so we do not trust the wrong people, for example. And God's peace is His own harmony being shared with us, with His own creativity for how to love each person, even the ones proven to be untrustworthy, having hope for any person, like Jesus on the cross had hope for any and all people > love "hopes all things" (in 1 Corinthians 13:7).

God's church for you, then, will not be a copy-cat puppet center, but will help you get more and more this personal in sharing with God and ones who help one another into this.

And check other things in God's word, and expect that God will have you succeeding in doing what His word says.
 
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Fidelibus

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church

I too was once in your situation. Reading the Early Church Fathers, and studying the history of Christianity is one of many reasons that led to my conversion into the Catholic Church, after being a member of every non-Catholic church one could think of.

God Bless you on your journey.
 
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The Sun

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More fundamental to this decision is to want His will more than anything and to hear His 'voice' on the matter. Getting opinions is good, but don't act on a majority vote, wait the time until He convinces you.
I agree 100 percent and you are right. There is nothing like it when the spirit speaks, and i really want to avoid religion so thatswhy im conflicted
 
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chevyontheriver

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I agree 100 percent and you are right. There is nothing like it when the spirit speaks, and i really want to avoid religion so thatswhy im conflicted
Yes, you must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, to end up where God wants you. Truth prevails and the Spirit leads you to it. You can study, ask questions, reason things out, but the Spirit shows those receptive to the truth which way they should go.

Sounds like you might be one of many who comes into the Catholic Church kicking and screaming. You want to avoid 'religion' but are drawn to the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is practiced with smells and bells, processions, kneeling, silences, litanies, pancake breakfasts, novenas, vigils, intercessory prayers, adoration, and the Stations of the Cross. This is what you get with being a Catholic, and that is what most people who don't like 'religion' would find objectionable. But these same people would I bet have chafed at how Israel worshiped. We are the religion of Israel completed by the person of Jesus. The faith is a mix of spiritualities and rituals in the worship of the Holy Trinity.
 
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The Sun

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Yes, you must follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, to end up where God wants you. Truth prevails and the Spirit leads you to it. You can study, ask questions, reason things out, but the Spirit shows those receptive to the truth which way they should go.

Sounds like you might be one of many who comes into the Catholic Church kicking and screaming. You want to avoid 'religion' but are drawn to the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is practiced with smells and bells, processions, kneeling, silences, litanies, pancake breakfasts, novenas, vigils, intercessory prayers, adoration, and the Stations of the Cross. This is what you get with being a Catholic, and that is what most people who don't like 'religion' would find objectionable. But these same people would I bet have chafed at how Israel worshiped. We are the religion of Israel completed by the person of Jesus. The faith is a mix of spiritualities and rituals in the worship of the Holy Trinity.
that was really well written.
 
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Albion

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I agree 100 percent and you are right. There is nothing like it when the spirit speaks, and i really want to avoid religion so that's why im conflicted
Based on that answer, the Catholic Church would not be the one for you.
 
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Major1

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church

If you prefer to worship in a Religion that believes in man made doctrines and practices which are NOT found in the Bible, then Yes, the Catholic church would be a good fit for you.

I will be glad to list several practices that are done by the Catholic religion which can not be found in the Bible and in most cases are that Jesus.
"forbidden" by the Bible...………..
1. Calling the Priests "Father" is forbidden.
2. Praying repetitive words using Rosary beads is forbidden.
3. More praise to the Virgin Mary
4. The Pope says only very special dead Catholic people qualify to be called "saints".
5. The Pope decided to reserve the title of "priest" to worn by church leaders only.
6. Celibacy was first enforced for priests and bishops by Pope Gregory VII.
7. The Catholic church baptizes babies by sprinkling a little water on them.
8. Catholics are taught that only the priests can understand the Bible.
9. The RCC says that the Pope can change what is in the Bible if he wants.
 
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thecolorsblend

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
One of the neater parts of Catholicism is that the RCIA program invites anybody curious about the fullness of the Christian faith to participate and ask as many questions as they want. It's an effective way of learning about the faith.
 
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Anthony Edgar

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Hi
Im wondering if i should become catholic. I like so much about it and agree with a lot of things. BUt how can i know those missing books are really taken from the bible, if its ok to pray to saints, purgatory...and being in the church but not 'active'? I just wanna know your thoughts/ And this is the church apparently that peter founded and the true church
I was born and raised Catholic, but gradually drifted away from Christianity altogether after I left school. I ended up believing in New Age ideas like reincarnation and aliens. But I was empty inside, and eventually came back to Christianity via interactions with various non-Catholic denominations (the first of which was the JWs!). The result of this was, I became very anti-Catholic, but on the other hand, I wasn't completely happy with non-Catholic theology. To cut a long story short, I started studying what Catholicism had to say and was really impressed by its intellectual depth and its "ring of truth". So now I'm very happy to be a practising Catholic again and here I will stay, as I truly believe the Catholic Church is the one, true Church that Jesus founded.
 
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ralfyman

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If you prefer to worship in a Religion that believes in man made doctrines and practices which are NOT found in the Bible, then Yes, the Catholic church would be a good fit for you.

I will be glad to list several practices that are done by the Catholic religion which can not be found in the Bible and in most cases are that Jesus.
"forbidden" by the Bible...………..
1. Calling the Priests "Father" is forbidden.
2. Praying repetitive words using Rosary beads is forbidden.
3. More praise to the Virgin Mary
4. The Pope says only very special dead Catholic people qualify to be called "saints".
5. The Pope decided to reserve the title of "priest" to worn by church leaders only.
6. Celibacy was first enforced for priests and bishops by Pope Gregory VII.
7. The Catholic church baptizes babies by sprinkling a little water on them.
8. Catholics are taught that only the priests can understand the Bible.
9. The RCC says that the Pope can change what is in the Bible if he wants.

They are not found in the Christian Bible because the Church was formed long before the canon of the Christian Bible was established, and these points came or continued from the same tradition that led to that formation.
 
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