Where do misconceptions come from?

[bkallen14]

I grew up in a protestant christian family and to make a long story short, the holy spirit has led me to the Catholic church. I have been doing a lot of reading on both catholic doctrine and protestant doctrine and I am going to join the catholic church. I told my father today and he was unhappy which I expected that would be his first response. He came at me with a lot of the same misconceptions I had of the church before I looked into it more. What I don't understand is where do all these misconceptions come from? Like for instance he asked what I thought about confessing my sins to a priest and him telling me how to repent, like giving money or saying so many Hail Mary's. He said a friend of his who was Catholic told him stories like this. I too have heard some awful things about what supposviley the Catholic church has done, but these misconceptions have had to come from somewhere. I don't know if anyone really knows, but when we were discussing issues I was lost for words sometimes with the things he would say. How has things come to this?

Thanks,

and please pray for me with this journey and my family

Kara

 

[faerieevaH]

Some of the things are 'citylegends' that have been around for ages. Others though may stem from bad catechesis of Catholics themselves, who don't understand things. And then when they leave the faith, they take misconceptions with them and enlarge them.

 

[Carrye]

Kara,

You absolutely have our prayers. Welcome Home!!!

About misconceptions: Sometimes they are unintentional - people don't always know what we really believe. Other times, unfortunately, there are people who hate the Church. They hate what She stands for. They would like nothing more than to see her fall. And they spread lies about her. Or worse, they use half-truths.

That's one thing, I'm sorry to say, you'll have to get used to as a Catholic. BUT there are other FANTASTIC things you'll have to get used to as well: The Eucharist, Holy Mass, and being received into the Church, just to name a few.

God bless you, and truly, it is wonderful to have you here!

 

[MParedon]

Praying for you.


I think there are many reasons for misconceptions. Firstly, would be many Catholics weren't taught their faith. They don't know what the Church believes or why it does and they don't take the initiative to try to learn. They have a vaguely guilty feeling for not deepening their faith and they push all the responsibility on the Church. So they give explanations to other non-Catholics in not only a 2-dimensional uninformed way, but also in a resentful petulant manner.
The practices of the Church can easily be caricaturized and the Teachings of the Church are pieced together with what the person imagines are the reasonings the Church has.

Thus making it beyond facile for others to feel sorry for the poor misled Catholics and demonize the horrid Catholic Hierarchy. It makes for a juicy dragon to slay and people get to do it in the name of Christianity. What can be better than that? Don't get me wrong, usually people have the best intentions, they want to lead people out of the darkness and take them out of the clutches of Satan. It's much easier to have a visible target than to have to deal with the reality of evil being much more messy and not as easy to identify.

The Church says it has the Full Deposit of Faith and that is just a big fat Bulls-eye waving around.

p.s. please don't think this is a bitter post, I just reread this before I posted and I fear it may come off that way. Really, it's just me trying to understand with human nature and I'm speaking as one of those people that used to 'disagree' with what I thought the Church taught. So I'm just explaining some of the reasons why I did.

 

[raptor13]

Fulton J. Sheen once said "if you're looking for Christ's church, look for the Church that is most hated, even as Our Lord was hated."

Sometims I think the fact that others hate us so much is sorta like the 5th Mark of the Church lol

 

[plainswolf]

Fulton J. Sheen once said "if you're looking for Christ's church, look for the Church that is most hated, even as Our Lord was hated."

Sometims I think the fact that others hate us so much is sorta like the 5th Mark of the Church lol

Thats an amazing bit of wisdon from the good Bishop. And you know, I never thought of it in that way but you're right about hatred of the Church kind of making it a 5th Mark of the True Church.

J.M.J.
plainswolf

 

[Michelina]

Welocme Home, Kara! and Welcome to OBOB!

We have plenty of people who can help you. There are many converts here who have walked that walk.

You'll also find that there are many people who can answer any questions about Theology, History or whatever.

 

[plainswolf]

Welocme Home, Kara! and Welcome to OBOB!

We have plenty of people who can help you. There are many converts here who have walked that walk.

You'll also find that there are many people who can answer any questions about Theology, History or whatever.

Have you ever marveled at the zeal of converts? I mean I'm not knocking cradle catholics whatsoever, but I know many converts and WOW do I admire their zeal and love of the Faith and when I see and feel that it re-energizes me into the same. I guess they are contagious as so to speak. They are such wonderful examples for us all.

J.M.J.
plainswolf

 

[Tinkerbell222222]

Hi Kara! I know exactly what you're going through! Just last week, I informed my parents that I wanted to convert to the Catholic Church. Like you, I have done a lot of reading and studying and have found that I've grown up with a plethora of misconceptions. I'm not exactly sure where all the misconceptions come from, however I know that some Protestant churches do teach rather vehemently against Catholicism. It is my best guess that these teachings are left over from the Reformation and the strife it caused.

I know how very hard it is to want to be Catholic and to feel that God is calling you to Catholicism, but to have a family that is unhappy with the decision...it's something I'm going through right now. If you ever want to talk, you feel free to pm me or get me on AIM. I'll be praying for you!

 

[Rising_Suns]

Fulton J. Sheen once said "if you're looking for Christ's church, look for the Church that is most hated, even as Our Lord was hated."

I like that quote.

Bishop Sheen also once said; “There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.”