Converting from Catholic to Protestant

BBAS 64 · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce

Thank you for sharing your life with us here. I truly got a blessing from you. I was saved in a Pentacostal church a long time ago it was an amazing transformation of my life also.

May God bless you and yours!

BBAS

Plan 9 · Oct 30, 2003

Lotar said:
A word to our Catholic brethren. Please remember the rules, and how we don't bother people with similair situations on the OBOB

"A word to our Catholic Brethren: this is OUR clubhouse and you can't play with us because you have cooties."

You guys do too bother them in theirs.
Most of you make me ashamed to post here and I have noticed how few PREs do.

Lotar · Oct 30, 2003

Plan 9 said:
"A word to our Catholic Brethren: this is OUR clubhouse and you can't play with us because you have cooties."

You guys do too bother them in theirs.
Most of you make me ashamed to post here and I have noticed how few PREs do.

Take a chill pill. I swear, sometimes I don't know about you.

I was asking them to respect the rules, because the last couple of threads of this sort turned into flaming and got closed. Someone is asking for advise on becoming Protestant, Metanoia refered him to the OBOB, which is fine. If he wants to go get the Catholic perspective he can go there. Bruce over reacted in the beginning, but then he got flamed for giving his story. Go to the OBOB and look at the Protestant converting to Catholisism threads, and find any posts from us.

I'm sure there are people who go over there and give them a hard time, I know it's not one sided. I've PMed people I've seen doing this in the past. I like Catholics posting here, and I like posting over there. I just don't like it when we have 3 IDDs.

So far there hasn't been any warring, which is what I wanted to prevent, I didn't accuse anyone.

tigersnare · Oct 30, 2003

Ok simple question simple answer, no debate required right?

One option would be finding a non-denominational church, I find that to be the most neutral option for Catholics in my life. They come to the church I attend and most seem to like the freedom of worship, life application teachings, and overall freedom from repetitiveness.

You might not, but it's one option.

Bruce S · Oct 30, 2003

ukok said:
Humour me Bruce, i can't imagine how you would possibly have known that the majority of a congregation numbering more than 1000 in total, were 'formerly' Catholic ? Did they perhaps have some secret handshake, wear a sticky label "Whooppee...I'm a convert from Catholicism! " ? How exactly did you know this before you even mentioned it to your pastor?

Duh, I asked how THEY got into this church, for me that is a standard opening question. Don't YOU ever socialize with others and ask these sorts of things..."How did YOU come to attend this church?" that sort of question.

I guess I talked with a few dozen in the first few months, after service, in prayer meetings, at events, ....

I'm not that shy a person, and I love to learn about how people got into this denomination....

How exactly do you know that many of them were a. like you. b. only found God after leaving the RCC ?

I said I found God only after leaving the RCC. Asked others, they too were basically unchurched and estranged till they came to this church. Funny how much you find out when YOU open up and tell others about YOUR experience. A common bond being formed with the Ex Catholics sharing, upon finding each other. [Not hard here, as I said, over 60% - per the pastor - are Ex's.]

I would have thought that if a person had not already 'found God' they would hardly be inclined to join yet another Church. Surely a percentage of those people already 'knew' God, or had a serious desire to know God more deeply, but failed to endeavour to do so while in the RCC?

? Just telling it like it was/is for me. Sorry that doesn't fit your idea of the way things should go.

And just so you know, i think that I am allowed to formulate and post an opinion here as i haven't converted to Catholicism, yet. so i'm looking at this as i see it, and i can't see how you presume to know so much about so many people, unless of course you have had very indepth conversations with the entirity of your church congregation ?

The "entirety" no. But with about twenty to thirty men, over a few months, yes, frankly I did. I go to wednesday nights, saturday morning men's prayer breakfast [about 40 attend there off an on] a few picnics, and other events. So, yes, I did have the opportunity of deeper fellowship than most might have found possible, I MADE THE TIME, and TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY, to reach out, in my time of need and hurt, to as many men and also to a few women also, as I possibly could.

Bruce S · Oct 30, 2003

Plan 9 said:
It rarely comes up in my life, either. I see Catholics as brothers and sisters in the faith with some doctrinal differences, and that's all.
When I come here I feel like I'm trapped in some nightmare episode of Family Feud.

Grin. Then don't worry about it Plan 9.

It is like a Jew leaving to become a Messianic. They keep the ties to the Jewish "community" if not the faith. I'm like that. Don't forget, my family is still ALL Catholic [except a brother in law, who like me, left, with equal problems from his Italian Catholic family].

This thread IS about the CONVERSION process, check out the OP and you will see the discussion is on target within the parameters of that OP.

Plan 9 · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
Grin. Then don't worry about it Plan 9.

It is like a Jew leaving to become a Messianic. They keep the ties to the Jewish "community" if not the faith. I'm like that. Don't forget, my family is still ALL Catholic [except a brother in law, who like me, left, with equal problems from his Italian Catholic family].

This thread IS about the CONVERSION process, check out the OP and you will see the discussion is on target within the parameters of that OP.

I completely agree and a mod was here earlier and didn't feel that our two Catholic posters were out of line with their posts, either.

Plan 9 · Oct 30, 2003

Lotar said:
Take a chill pill. I swear, sometimes I don't know about you.

Funny, our feelings appear to be entirely mutual.

Lanakila · Oct 30, 2003

Awe guys can you feel the love, man?

Bruce S · Oct 30, 2003

Lanakila said:
Awe guys can you feel the love, man?

More like walking on eggshells...grin.

Now if others will share conversion experiences [into Protestantism] we can find out how a seeker Catholic, could begin the process, find out what being a Protestant is, and find the deeper meaning and simple understanding of Christianity that Protestanism is for many of us.

For many, it is the LACK OF, things that makes faith easier. Less of this, more of that.

More Bible, more prayer, more independent study. Less ritual, less beauracry, less overhead, less extraneous matters, than the RCC way of finding God.

For some, like me, it works and for others, like my RCC friends, it wouldn't.

It depends on the makeup of the person, not for those raised in any one denomination, but for those who want out of one lifestyle of faith, and potentially want to go into another.

Like I said, it is NOT EASY to do this, either way.

ukok · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
Duh, I asked how THEY got into this church, for me that is a standard opening question. Don't YOU ever socialize with others and ask these sorts of things..."How did YOU come to attend this church?" that sort of question.

I guess I talked with a few dozen in the first few months, after service, in prayer meetings, at events, ....

I'm not that shy a person, and I love to learn about how people got into this denomination....

I said I found God only after leaving the RCC. Asked others, they too were basically unchurched and estranged till they came to this church. Funny how much you find out when YOU open up and tell others about YOUR experience. A common bond being formed with the Ex Catholics sharing, upon finding each other. [Not hard here, as I said, over 60% - per the pastor - are Ex's.]

? Just telling it like it was/is for me. Sorry that doesn't fit your idea of the way things should go.

The "entirety" no. But with about twenty to thirty men, over a few months, yes, frankly I did. I go to wednesday nights, saturday morning men's prayer breakfast [about 40 attend there off an on] a few picnics, and other events. So, yes, I did have the opportunity of deeper fellowship than most might have found possible, I MADE THE TIME, and TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY, to reach out, in my time of need and hurt, to as many men and also to a few women also, as I possibly could.

I would have liked to respond to your post Bruce, but anyone who wishes to address me with the opener of 'DUH', hardly warrants any response that i might give.

Perhaps when i have cooled off a little i shall respond, hopefully, with more kindness than you have shown.

finchuck · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
The RCC faith was not the answer, I looked at it again, but the Legalisms, the emphasis on ritual, the dullness, the works issues, fear and scaring that I saw as an emphasis there, the Mary worship, this all was something that I didn't want. It turned me off totally, I knew, deep in my heart, that if I were to try this again, I would fail. I couldn't fail again, I was NOT going to get another shot at this again, I needed to get God, not think about getting God.

That's how I feel at times. I prefer to consider myself a Christian trying to get myself right with God. Everyday I try to act more like Jesus. I try to be a good person, I try to do the right thing, and for the most part, I am succeeding.

However, at times, mostly in the past as I've taken a new path recently, I've sinned. My question is this: Can a Catholic be forgiven of a sin if he/she doesn't go to confession? My conscious sometimes gets the best of me and I dont want to HAVE to go to confession and be "punished" everytime I commit a sin. I'd rather just turn around and try to live the life that God wants me to live without the priest's consent.

As you may be able to tell, this is all new to me. I'm only 20 and I never really looked into my religion much at all. It wasn't until recently that something occurred in my life that I had to overcome and I turned to God for help. I researched the Christian faith and as I read its values, I thought to myself "I can do this." But then when I look at the Catholic values, I sometimes think "I can't do this."

I am a good person, I know that. But I make mistakes. All I want is to get right with God and live the way he'd want me to live without all the hassles of rituals, customs, traditions, etc. getting in the way. Thanks for your help, and a special thanks to Bruce, your story makes me realize how helpful faith in God can be in getting through difficult times. My hat goes off to you.

Bruce S · Oct 30, 2003

ukok said:
I would have liked to respond to your post Bruce, but anyone who wishes to address me with the opener of 'DUH', hardly warrants any response that i might give.

Perhaps when i have cooled off a little i shall respond, hopefully, with more kindness than you have shown.

I guess you don't watch the Simpson's much. For fans of Homer, "Duh" is sort of like the equivalent of "Errr" or "Saywhat" to others.

Long live Ned Flanders!

nyj · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
I guess you don't watch the Simpson's much. For fans of Homer, "Duh" is sort of like the equivalent of "Errr" or "Saywhat" to others.

Long live Ned Flanders!

Umm, Homer says "Doh!" (always as an expletive)... I don't think I've ever heard him say "Duh".

Miss Shelby · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
I guess you don't watch the Simpson's much. For fans of Homer, "Duh" is sort of like the equivalent of "Errr" or "Saywhat" to others.

Long live Ned Flanders!

Um, Bruce. That's 'Doh'. I guess you don't watch the Simpson's much.

Bruce S · Oct 30, 2003

finchuck said:
That's how I feel at times. I prefer to consider myself a Christian trying to get myself right with God. Everyday I try to act more like Jesus. I try to be a good person, I try to do the right thing, and for the most part, I am succeeding.

See. The "guilt" is there, I can feel it between the lines. EXACTLY what I experienced, always feeling "guilty" like I wasn't good enough for God to want to have anything to do with me.

However, at times, mostly in the past as I've taken a new path recently, I've sinned. My question is this: Can a Catholic be forgiven of a sin if he/she doesn't go to confession? My conscious sometimes gets the best of me and I dont want to HAVE to go to confession and be "punished" everytime I commit a sin. I'd rather just turn around and try to live the life that God wants me to live without the priest's consent.

More "guilt"....huh? They do instill the guilt thing, I know. Now, for some good news. Confession [to a priest] is a thing that Catholics invented sometime in the past. Sure, we are commanded to share our sins with EACH OTHER, that is biblical, but to a MAN, yes a mere MAN, who is the designated sin-teller-to is not something you will have to worry about as a Protestant [most denominations]. You confess your sins TO GOD, privately, and tell them to a trusted friend, if YOU WANT TO. Your sins are fogiven IN ADVANCE by the way, after you give over your live to God. Now, you are not given carte blanche to go on sinning, you ARE supposed to be a Christian now, but the Holy Spirit will enter into your life, the HS will "convict you of your sins" and you will begin the process of discernment, and start hating the sin, and thus not wanting to continue sinning. A priest has NOTHING whatsoever to do with this process as a Protestant [most denominations.]

As you may be able to tell, this is all new to me. I'm only 20 and I never really looked into my religion much at all. It wasn't until recently that something occurred in my life that I had to overcome and I turned to God for help. I researched the Christian faith and as I read its values, I thought to myself "I can do this." But then when I look at the Catholic values, I sometimes think "I can't do this."

Gotcha dude, makes sense to me too. Just don't let the GUILT override you, don't let the GUILT keep you away. Don't let the guilt and internal baggage of thinking the RCC way is the only way, or even the preferred way. For some it is, for others, and untold millions, it is not.

I am a good person, I know that. But I make mistakes. All I want is to get right with God and live the way he'd want me to live without all the hassles of rituals, customs, traditions, etc. getting in the way. Thanks for your help, and a special thanks to Bruce, your story makes me realize how helpful faith in God can be in getting through difficult times. My hat goes off to you.

Not me. The Holy Spirit, and the Worship Music. It was the HS, that moved me, something RCC's give lip service too, but don't elevate to the level they accord the Mary role, for them, the HS is something they TALK ABOUT, not something that is EQUAL to the role of Jesus and God the Father.

This is a TRIUNE faith, not a QUADRUNE faith. This being a Pentacostal for me.

ej · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce... it's 'Doh!'

finchuck · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce, I really appreciate your insight. You are right, the guilt is there. I feel like a guilty Catholic and when I think about it, I don't feel like a guilty Christian. Something about that just doesn't sit right with me and tells me that I'm in the wrong place.

Plan 9 · Oct 30, 2003

Bruce S said:
See. The "guilt" is there, I can feel it between the lines. EXACTLY what I experienced, always feeling "guilty" like I wasn't good enough for God to want to have anything to do with me.

Yet, I often still feel that same guilt. It has nothing to do with my church upbringing.

Benedicta00 · Oct 30, 2003

finchuck said:
Bruce, I really appreciate your insight. You are right, the guilt is there. I feel like a guilty Catholic and when I think about it, I don't feel like a guilty Christian. Something about that just doesn't sit right with me and tells me that I'm in the wrong place.

Hi Chuck,

I do not want to get entangled into the web of a thread but I would like to ask you to consider that feelings are not always the best guide in telling us what is right or wrong.

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