New to Christianity how do I know catholic or protestant is right?

A few things to remember/do:

• genuine faith trusting God fully for everything and genuine repentance ... repentance means turning around, turning back to God and stop doing evils stuff
• your troublesome past means there may be a lot to confess - take your time for it, but if your heart truly is broken because of your past God gladly forgives
• your past sins may have put you under specific spiritual burdens/oppression - this may required special deliverance prayer. past bad behaviour would also have caused bad patterns in your thinking/acts/emotions/eating/drinking - you may have to de-learn a lot of bad stuff. That simply may take a lot of time. Try to find personal faith mate / coach for that - or a pastor somewhere
• faith is only acceptable to God if you truly are willing to surrender every tiny possible sin you are aware of - total surrender of self to God - no hidden corners of your heart to be left untouched

Be blessed - I wish you healing and a wonderful fruitful life as a believer!

Before you decide to do anything, you need to make sure you are mentally well. Do you have a social worker who can assist you with this? Or someone in your family who can help you get treatment?

Only you can decide which denomination you want to join. As a Catholic, I can say there is great reassurance in the fact that once the priest absolves you from your sins, those sins are forgiven forever, but you have to be contrite, and you have to be honest about the sin. If you lie or try to fudge the truth, the absolution doesn't work. You have to admit all the sins you can remember, but if you truly forget some sins, those are forgiven as well, but if you remember them later, you should admit them at your next confession. If you become Protestant, you confess to God, but some denominations offer confession, but it's not mandatory that you go.

Do not be afraid of admitting your sins to a Catholic priest. I promise you; they have head EVERYTHING. Even if they haven't heard what you've done, they cannot tell anyone what they've heard, as they are bound by the Seal of Confession. They can get into serious trouble with the Vatican if they break that seal. They can't even tell police what they've heard, as long as what they heard was in confession. If you admit things to a priest outside of confession, he can tell whoever he wants.

There is nothing you could ever do that is so bad God won't forgive you, but you have to be truly sorry for what you've done, repent, and try to sin no more. God is forgiving, loving, and just. He won't hold your sins against you after you repent, so long as you believe in Jesus and follow him. If you deny him and his teachings, then you're lost to your sin.

I pray to God you find the peace you deserve.

purehaggis said:

So the problem I have now not only am I psychopathic but I was extremely evil u could say worse than some Netflix documentaries I don’t feel remorse or empathy or love I only feel pain, pleasure, anger sometimes enjoyment, I was baptised under Church of Scotland as a baby so if I decided to become catholic I will have to confess all my sins to priest I can almost guarantee what he would here is the worst he has ever heard and most likely never forget a lot of the sins I have committed I also have committed so many since been a baby that it would be weeks maybe months of confession and even then I have done so much I will no way ever remember them all, or if I go the other way Protestant I pray for forgiveness myself and go to church 1 day a week on a Sunday? I just feel being a Protestant seems easier but that does not mean it’s the right path but then catholics believe if u die with even 1 mortal sin you go to hell currently that is unfortunately where I am headed even tho I believe I love Jesus in my own way and believe he is our saviour… honestly it’s a hard one and I want to be a good person I don’t want to be evil but I have been as close to evil than most people.

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Have you received His Holy Spirit?

purehaggis said:

catholic I will have to confess all my sins

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A Catholic priest will do nothing. You have to seek God, who is the only one who can forgive sins.

purehaggis said:

or if I go the other way Protestant I pray for forgiveness myself and go to church 1 day a week on a Sunday?

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Christianity isn't about saying some magical prayer and God will forgive. Start with Scripture and the Gospel in particular, and I pray to God He will lead you to see your utter impossibility of saving yourself, and see that only Christ can save you. I am not saying He will, but He is only one who can.

I see you already see your sin. I was there too, thinking I've done so much evil that God will never save me, it's done, God will not bother with a sinner like me. But that is why God came into this world, to save a sinner like me and you.

He suffered and died for those who who believe in Him so they might have an everlasting life.

And finally, Christianity is not about mechanically going to church or doing things, but rather a relationship with God. You might go to church every day, read the Bible every day, know every verse yet not be saved. It's not about that, it's about relationship with God, it's about giving ourselves to Him, not some mechanical worship. Granted, it is better to go to church mechanically than not at all, but go to church to seek God and to have a relationship with Him.

And to which church? The church where God is present, where His word is preached, and the members of that church obey God and not man.

purehaggis said:

I have been baptised if that’s the same thing yes

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His Holy Spirit dwells in a believer when they have agape love towards Him and only follow Him. Water baptism is well.... outwardly. Holy Spirit Baptism is inwardly.
Blessings

purehaggis said:

So the problem I have now not only am I psychopathic but I was extremely evil u could say worse than some Netflix documentaries I don’t feel remorse or empathy or love I only feel pain, pleasure, anger sometimes enjoyment, I was baptised under Church of Scotland as a baby so if I decided to become catholic I will have to confess all my sins to priest I can almost guarantee what he would here is the worst he has ever heard and most likely never forget a lot of the sins I have committed

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Have you whipped the skin off someone's back and nailed the person to a cross?

purehaggis said:

I also have committed so many since been a baby that it would be weeks maybe months of confession and even then I have done so much I will no way ever remember them all,

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Be thankful that God does desire to forgive you; turn from your past sins and trust Jesus to forgive you.

And now we need to give our attention to not doing the sins which can keep us from loving the way Jesus loves.

Unforgiveness is a major problem; make sure you do the forgiving which God wants.

Right while people were so busy with hating and torturing and murdering Jesus who is God's own Son, Jesus prayed for them to be forgiven >

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (in Luke 23:34)

So, yes Jesus wants to forgive you! And what matters so much to Jesus is that now you be forgiving like Jesus has been with you.

"'And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.'" (Mark 11:25)

Arguing and complaining are anti-love and can keep us from sharing with God in His peace while loving one another as His family.

"Do all things without complaining and disputing," (Philippians 2:14)

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

Do not allow your past to keep your attention away from how God wants you to live and to love now. And now be aware of sins which might not seem like much, in comparison with your past sins, but they can keep us from loving the way God wants. Keep your forgiving up-to-date. And yes, this includes how God expects you to forgive your own self.

purehaggis said:

or if I go the other way Protestant I pray for forgiveness myself and go to church 1 day a week on a Sunday?

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Now you trust Jesus to forgive you. And share with people who help you to get closer to God. We trust God to have you meet the right people and share with us however God pleases. We have you here, now. Welcome to Christian Forums

purehaggis said:

I just feel being a Protestant seems easier but that does not mean it’s the right path but then catholics believe if u die with even 1 mortal sin you go to hell currently that is unfortunately where I am headed even tho I believe I love Jesus in my own way and believe he is our saviour…

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Trust God through Jesus, to forgive you for all, and now to change you into how we can be humble and gentle and all-loving with Jesus and one another.

"'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:28-29)

Trust Jesus to do this with you, and discover who He has helping you with this. The name through which we are saved and forgiven is Jesus. Jesus is our way >

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (in John 14:6)

purehaggis said:

honestly it’s a hard one and I want to be a good person I don’t want to be evil but I have been as close to evil than most people.

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I'll bet you haven't whipped the skin off someone's back today and nailed the person to a cross. But a number of people have done this . . . to God's own Son; actually, all our sins are guilty of the crucifixion of Jesus > He so suffered and shed His blood so all of our sins can be forgiven. Therefore, I would advise that you receive God's forgiveness and thank Him, and now give your attention to God > obey Him by giving your attention to the good you now can do with Jesus and His people.

purehaggis said:

So the problem I have now not only am I psychopathic but I was extremely evil u could say worse than some Netflix documentaries I don’t feel remorse or empathy or love I only feel pain, pleasure, anger sometimes enjoyment, I was baptised under Church of Scotland as a baby so if I decided to become catholic I will have to confess all my sins to priest I can almost guarantee what he would here is the worst he has ever heard and most likely never forget a lot of the sins I have committed I also have committed so many since been a baby that it would be weeks maybe months of confession and even then I have done so much I will no way ever remember them all, or if I go the other way Protestant I pray for forgiveness myself and go to church 1 day a week on a Sunday? I just feel being a Protestant seems easier but that does not mean it’s the right path but then catholics believe if u die with even 1 mortal sin you go to hell currently that is unfortunately where I am headed even tho I believe I love Jesus in my own way and believe he is our saviour… honestly it’s a hard one and I want to be a good person I don’t want to be evil but I have been as close to evil than most people.

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This will take real work. There is just no substitute for in depth study to resolve this.
1. Start having those late night heart to heart talks with your Catholic and Protestant friends and see what they say.
2. Don't be afraid to make appointments to talk to Catholic and Protestant Clergy.
3. And above all, start READING. Becoming well versed in Church history, especially the Early Church, is a must. You need to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as statements of faith for the many Protestant churches. When you can articulate ACCURATELY in your own words how each group views THEMSELVES, and the history of how they came to be, then you will be ready to make your choice.
4. And it doesn't hurt to pray. Prayer can assist you in setting aside your preconceived notions and looking at both views objectively.

A word to the wise: Don't ask Protestants about Catholics or Catholics about Protestants, as each group is very prone to misrepresent the other.

I hope and pray that you will successfully find a wonderful church home that blesses you and helps you become the very best you that you can be.

Study Church history. In my own study, it seemed clear to me after a few months of reading that no Protestant denomination can be the legitimate successor of the early Church.

Catholicism is not the only option outside of Protestantism, however. I would recommend looking into Orthodoxy as well.

The great thing is that Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians all have it right where it matters for salvation.

And I speak this as a Roman Catholic.

purehaggis said:

So the problem I have now not only am I psychopathic but I was extremely evil u could say worse than some Netflix documentaries I don’t feel remorse or empathy or love I only feel pain, pleasure, anger sometimes enjoyment, I was baptised under Church of Scotland as a baby so if I decided to become catholic I will have to confess all my sins to priest I can almost guarantee what he would here is the worst he has ever heard and most likely never forget a lot of the sins I have committed I also have committed so many since been a baby that it would be weeks maybe months of confession and even then I have done so much I will no way ever remember them all, or if I go the other way Protestant I pray for forgiveness myself and go to church 1 day a week on a Sunday? I just feel being a Protestant seems easier but that does not mean it’s the right path but then catholics believe if u die with even 1 mortal sin you go to hell currently that is unfortunately where I am headed even tho I believe I love Jesus in my own way and believe he is our saviour… honestly it’s a hard one and I want to be a good person I don’t want to be evil but I have been as close to evil than most people.

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I am Catholic but God loves all of his children equally, regardless of the name on the Church they attend. Jesus is the only way to find salvation. He has lived the perfect life so that we may receive his perfection.

Jesus died for all of us and all of the sin which you have lived can be forgiven through faith.

God loves you exactly as you are. He doesn't want you to change yourself, God wants you to believe that he will change you as the Holy Spirit teaches you to accept God's love and allow that love to live within you.

There is no better Father, no better Son, and no better Spirit.

I pray that you surrender to God and accept his forgiveness and begin to live a new life.

God bless

The Barbarian said:

The great thing is that Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians all have it right where it matters for salvation.

And I speak this as a Roman Catholic.

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From an outsider's perspective, it is very refreshing to find a Christian such as yourself who isn't demonizing other Christians.

Now let's work on being just as understanding to those outside the church, nudge nudge LOL

Meowzltov said:

From an outsider's perspective, it is very refreshing to find a Christian such as yourself who isn't demonizing other Christians.

Now let's work on being just as understanding to those outside the church, nudge nudge LOL

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If Jesus told His followers to emulate a Samaritan with love for others, rather than a Levite who did not have love, who am I to correct Him?

The Barbarian said:

If Jesus told His followers to emulate a Samaritan with love for others, rather than a Levite who did not have love, who am I to correct Him?

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I'm loving you more with every post.

Shalom.

Meowzltov said:

I'm loving you more with every post.

Shalom.

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From St. Theresa of Calcutta:
“Let us not use religion to divide us. In all the holy books we see how God calls us to love. Whatever we do to each other we do to Him because God is our Father. Religion is a work of love - and not to destroy the peace and unity.”

“Some call Him Ishwar, some call Him Allah, some simply God, but we all have to acknowledge that it is He who made us for greater things, to love and to be loved. What matters is that we love. We cannot love without prayer, and so whatever religion we are, we must pray...”

From Nostra Aetate, Pope Paul VI
The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.