How does an adult become a Catholic?

[Truther]

And what if she was actually called by God and led by the Holy Spirit to join the Catholic Church?

It's not for you to make that judgement.

God is not crazy(going against His own will).

That was her own idea.

God leads us to perfect truth, which the RCC is just the opposite of.

 

[Illuminator]

I guess the same applies for those interested in becoming monks and nuns?

Basically, yes. There are stages of discernment, and levels of vows before the permanent ones.
What These New Catholic Sisters Wish You Knew About Religious Life | HuffPost

Finding my place: Stories of religious life (uscatholic.org)

 

[Marymog]

You are double lost.

Obey Acts 2:38.

Thank you Truther. The Church teaches and practices that we must Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. When we do that we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sadly, not all Protestant denominations teach or practice that. Sooooo who is “double lost”? Well, your Protestant friends are....

 

[Truther]

Thank you Truther. The Church teaches and practices that we must Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. When we do that we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sadly, not all Protestant denominations teach or practice that. Sooooo who is “double lost”? Well, your Protestant friends are....

RCC babies Obey Acts 2:38?

Adult RCC'ers obey Acts 2:38?

I trow not.

 

[Addy]

~

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Thank you Truther. The Church teaches and practices that we must Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. When we do that we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Sadly, not all Protestant denominations teach or practice that. Sooooo who is “double lost”? Well, your Protestant friends are....

You just condemned all OT saints. and all of the NT saints. Who were baptized in water BECAUSE they repented and received the BAPTISM of the HS

Gods church would hold to his doctrines. Not twist them to suit their own doctrines.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

oops sorry @Josho I thought this was a different thread.

 

[Illuminator]

Dr. John Bergsma, a former Protestant Pastor, delivered this keynote address on the topic of his conversion to Catholicism at the 2019 Men's Conference for the Diocese of Harrisburg. The complete title of his talk is: The Top 3 Reasons That I Became Catholic... and Always Will Be . . . Perspectives from a Former Protestant Pastor.

 

[Josho]

God is not crazy(going against His own will).

That was her own idea.

God leads us to perfect truth, which the RCC is just the opposite of.

Truther, I can agree some people have had bad experiences in the Catholic Church, but not every Catholic Church is the same, there are certainly some wonderful Catholic Churches out there.

And if we were to be honest some people have had bad experiences at Pentecostal Churches too, there is quite a bit of adultery in some of them, and plenty of fornication, especially within the bigger congregations, all forgivable sins yes, but it's not a good look. And yes even across other protestant denominations, some get drunk on a Friday night, party hard on a Saturday night, go to Church on Sunday and cuss on a Monday, these are common things, especially among young people, of course the same can be unfortunately said about some who call themselves Catholics, especially some from nations like Italy, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, where it's nearly treated like a nationality, just because someone was born in one of those countries, some who call themselves Catholics get up to drugs and prostitution, by their fruit, I don't think we really could call those sort of people real Catholics though...

That is the sad state of many Churches at the moment...

 

[Josho]

Truther, I can agree some people have had bad experiences in the Catholic Church, but not every Catholic Church is the same, there are certainly some wonderful Catholic Churches out there.

And if we were to be honest some people have had bad experiences at Pentecostal Churches too, there is quite a bit of adultery in some of them, and plenty of fornication, especially within the bigger congregations, all forgivable sins yes, but it's not a good look. And yes even across other protestant denominations, some get drunk on a Friday night, party hard on a Saturday night, go to Church on Sunday and cuss on a Monday, these are common things, especially among young people, of course the same can be unfortunately said about some who call themselves Catholics, especially some from nations like Italy, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, where it's nearly treated like a nationality, just because someone was born in one of those countries, some who call themselves Catholics get up to drugs and prostitution, by their fruit, I don't think we really could call those sort of people real Catholics though...

That is the sad state of many Churches at the moment...

I think @Addy is about to say "See that is why I am non-denominational"

 

[Addy]

Truther, I can agree some people have had bad experiences in the Catholic Church, but not every Catholic Church is the same, there are certainly some wonderful Catholic Churches out there.

And if we were to be honest some people have had bad experiences at Pentecostal Churches too, there is quite a bit of adultery in some of them, and plenty of fornication, especially within the bigger congregations, all forgivable sins yes, but it's not a good look. And yes even across other protestant denominations, some get drunk on a Friday night, party hard on a Saturday night, go to Church on Sunday and cuss on a Monday, these are common things, especially among young people, of course the same can be unfortunately said about some who call themselves Catholics, especially some from nations like Italy, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, where it's nearly treated like a nationality, just because someone was born in one of those countries, some who call themselves Catholics get up to drugs and prostitution, by their fruit, I don't think we really could call those sort of people real Catholics though...

That is the sad state of many Churches at the moment...

@Josho.... the problem with Catholicism is much bigger than just some bad public relations problems... I agree that ALL churches have their not so proud of moments in history... and sadly.... much of it involves sexual immorality... I think of Ravi Zacharias when I say this.... His case was the height of hypocrisy... I agree with that part of your statement.

Many people who attend Catholic church have NO idea of what they are being taught... they have simply been indoctrinated since childhood.
If you look at everything the church claims to stand for.... not much of it is BIBLICAL... all these sacraments are used as scare tactics to control. NONE of this is about CLOSER relationship to God... it is about being bound to an institution that FALSELY flaunts AUTHORITY that it does not rightly have.

Would you bow down to kiss the pope's ring??

Would you ever consider BELIEVING that a priest has the AUTHORITY to FORGIVE and ABSOLVE you of your sins??
Does God demand that we do some sort of penance after we confess?? NOPE... HE tells us to GO and sin no more.

Would you be able to ever wrap your brain around the fact that Catholics are taught that the wafer and wine are the literal body and blood of Christ?? This ritual alone is almost satanic in nature... NO where in the bible does it tell us to drink the blood of ANYTHING... let alone the blood of CHRIST our SAVIOUR.

Would you be able to in good conscience pray the rosary.... reciting repetitive prayers to Mary?

Do you believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin?? Why would she not be allowed to follow through on practicing a marriage to Joseph... This is a FALSE delusion.. Placing Mary on a pedestal about all others. She is considered to have powers that NO human actually has... It's IDOLATRY.
Add to this fact the crazy devotion they have to the dead.... they call them Saints... You can find one for every need you might have... If you have lost something.... Pray to St. Christopher... He will help you find it. It's all lies...

Priests are falsely ELEVATED as Holier than the rest... the higher up the ranks... the higher the HOLINESS of.... and that is the problem with this hierarchy of the church.... it's all FALSE authority... and this is what LEADS to all the hypocrisy that is found within the church. This false authority leads to all kinds of UNCHECKED sin. It's a nasty pool of venom.

It's not the Catholics that are bad... they are people and many of them are innocent by ignorance... It's the Doctrine of Catholicism that is bad.

Catholicism is an EXTREME form of LEGALISM... and it is not remotely pleasing to God.

There is so much more.... I did not cover purgatory... a holding tank if you will... for all the sinners to FINISH their repentance so that they can be fit for heaven... and for those of us on earth... we can PURCHASE special get out of jail FREE cards for our loved ones who have landed there... NOPE... NOPE... NOPE..... and just NOPE.

 

[Addy]

I think @Addy is about to say "See that is why I am non-denominational"

Ha.... Addy has said MUCH more than that.... As far as my denomination.
I am a CHRISTIAN.

I realize I have become the poster child of "enemy" of the Catholic church within the forums.... Oddly enough... My landlords are Catholic... and I LOVE them to pieces... they have NO idea what I think of their religion.

I have BOL... Illuminator... theefaith... and Marymog on IGNORE... so you might want to come to my defence when my above post gets attacked.

 

[Illuminator]

@Josho.... the problem with Catholicism is much bigger than just some bad public relations problems... I agree that ALL churches have their not so proud of moments in history... and sadly.... much of it involves sexual immorality... I think of Ravi Zacharias when I say this.... His case was the height of hypocrisy... I agree with that part of your statement.

Many people who attend Catholic church have NO idea of what they are being taught... they have simply been indoctrinated since childhood.
If you look at everything the church claims to stand for.... not much of it is BIBLICAL... all these sacraments are used as scare tactics to control. NONE of this is about CLOSER relationship to God... it is about being bound to an institution that FALSELY flaunts AUTHORITY that it does not rightly have.

Would you bow down to kiss the pope's ring??

Would you ever consider BELIEVING that a priest has the AUTHORITY to FORGIVE and ABSOLVE you of your sins??
Does God demand that we do some sort of penance after we confess?? NOPE... HE tells us to GO and sin no more.

Would you be able to ever wrap your brain around the fact that Catholics are taught that the wafer and wine are the literal body and blood of Christ?? This ritual alone is almost satanic in nature... NO where in the bible does it tell us to drink the blood of ANYTHING... let alone the blood of CHRIST our SAVIOUR.

Would you be able to in good conscience pray the rosary.... reciting repetitive prayers to Mary?

Do you believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin?? Why would she not be allowed to follow through on practicing a marriage to Joseph... This is a FALSE delusion.. Placing Mary on a pedestal about all others. She is considered to have powers that NO human actually has... It's IDOLATRY.
Add to this fact the crazy devotion they have to the dead.... they call them Saints... You can find one for every need you might have... If you have lost something.... Pray to St. Christopher... He will help you find it. It's all lies...

Priests are falsely ELEVATED as Holier than the rest... the higher up the ranks... the higher the HOLINESS of.... and that is the problem with this hierarchy of the church.... it's all FALSE authority... and this is what LEADS to all the hypocrisy that is found within the church. This false authority leads to all kinds of UNCHECKED sin. It's a nasty pool of venom.

It's not the Catholics that are bad... they are people and many of them are innocent by ignorance... It's the Doctrine of Catholicism that is bad.

Catholicism is an EXTREME form of LEGALISM... and it is not remotely pleasing to God.

There is so much more.... I did not cover purgatory... a holding tank if you will... for all the sinners to FINISH their repentance so that they can be fit for heaven... and for those of us on earth... we can PURCHASE special get out of jail FREE cards for our loved ones who have landed there... NOPE... NOPE... NOPE..... and just NOPE.

The shot gun tactic is employed when the anti-Catholic has nothing substantial to say. They scramble with such lists because they are incapable of meaningful dialogue.

 

[Addy]

@Josho .... I have looked at this thread of yours... plus the SDA one... Can I be set free to NOT have to return here??
(meaning... Please don't tag me in anymore Catholic conversations... or SDA ones... I am however open to food. LOL )

I really don't even know how it is that I became involved in this Catholic stuff... OH yeah... I ran into BOL and it all exploded from there.

My role within the forums is to bring encouragement... humour and experience fellowship... My passion is the topic of GRACE... These last few weeks it seems that I have gotten side-tracked and ensnared by some of the Catholic members here... I honestly have NO desire to talk about ANYTHING CATHOLIC.... however... I will not bow down to the bullies who come here under the guise of defending their faith. FAITH does not need defending... it is something to be practiced... OH wait... I have them all on ignore... so I guess that means my problem is solved.

BE GOOD Josho.... This has been a nasty topic for me... but you are aware of that.

 

[Illuminator]

Ha.... Addy has said MUCH more than that.... As far as my denomination.
I am a CHRISTIAN.

A cop out answer. In other words, you stand for nothing and fall for anything. You are a Christian that has deified your private opinion, rising yourself above any established community. Your hate rants reveals you have no definition of "Christian" in the first place. "I am a CHRISTIAN" is a statement made out of jelly that has no defined statement of faith. Anything goes. You are your own private authority that doesn't amount to anything. A "pope" in a church of one. No development, and no roots. You rail against your own false conclusions, not because you don't understand, it's because you refuse to understand.

 

[Illuminator]

@Josho .... I have looked at this thread of yours... plus the SDA one... Can I be set free to NOT have to return here??
(meaning... Please don't tag me in anymore Catholic conversations... or SDA ones... I am however open to food. LOL )

I really don't even know how it is that I became involved in this Catholic stuff... OH yeah... I ran into BOL and it all exploded from there.

My role within the forums is to bring encouragement... humour and experience fellowship... My passion is the topic of GRACE... These last few weeks it seems that I have gotten side-tracked and ensnared by some of the Catholic members here... I honestly have NO desire to talk about ANYTHING CATHOLIC.... however... I will not bow down to the bullies who come here under the guise of defending their faith. FAITH does not need defending... it is something to be practiced... OH wait... I have them all on ignore... so I guess that means my problem is solved.

BE GOOD Josho.... This has been a nasty topic for me... but you are aware of that.

Then why did you list 15 different anti-Catholic topics in one post? (#171)

 

[Pearl]

@Josho.... the problem with Catholicism is much bigger than just some bad public relations problems... I agree that ALL churches have their not so proud of moments in history... and sadly.... much of it involves sexual immorality... I think of Ravi Zacharias when I say this.... His case was the height of hypocrisy... I agree with that part of your statement.

Many people who attend Catholic church have NO idea of what they are being taught... they have simply been indoctrinated since childhood.
If you look at everything the church claims to stand for.... not much of it is BIBLICAL... all these sacraments are used as scare tactics to control. NONE of this is about CLOSER relationship to God... it is about being bound to an institution that FALSELY flaunts AUTHORITY that it does not rightly have.

Would you bow down to kiss the pope's ring??

Would you ever consider BELIEVING that a priest has the AUTHORITY to FORGIVE and ABSOLVE you of your sins??
Does God demand that we do some sort of penance after we confess?? NOPE... HE tells us to GO and sin no more.

Would you be able to ever wrap your brain around the fact that Catholics are taught that the wafer and wine are the literal body and blood of Christ?? This ritual alone is almost satanic in nature... NO where in the bible does it tell us to drink the blood of ANYTHING... let alone the blood of CHRIST our SAVIOUR.

Would you be able to in good conscience pray the rosary.... reciting repetitive prayers to Mary?

Do you believe that Mary was a perpetual virgin?? Why would she not be allowed to follow through on practicing a marriage to Joseph... This is a FALSE delusion.. Placing Mary on a pedestal about all others. She is considered to have powers that NO human actually has... It's IDOLATRY.
Add to this fact the crazy devotion they have to the dead.... they call them Saints... You can find one for every need you might have... If you have lost something.... Pray to St. Christopher... He will help you find it. It's all lies...

Priests are falsely ELEVATED as Holier than the rest... the higher up the ranks... the higher the HOLINESS of.... and that is the problem with this hierarchy of the church.... it's all FALSE authority... and this is what LEADS to all the hypocrisy that is found within the church. This false authority leads to all kinds of UNCHECKED sin. It's a nasty pool of venom.

It's not the Catholics that are bad... they are people and many of them are innocent by ignorance... It's the Doctrine of Catholicism that is bad.

Catholicism is an EXTREME form of LEGALISM... and it is not remotely pleasing to God.

There is so much more.... I did not cover purgatory... a holding tank if you will... for all the sinners to FINISH their repentance so that they can be fit for heaven... and for those of us on earth... we can PURCHASE special get out of jail FREE cards for our loved ones who have landed there... NOPE... NOPE... NOPE..... and just NOPE.

Never heard it summed up better than that @Addy. I specially liked:

It's not the Catholics that are bad... they are people and many of them are innocent by ignorance... It's the Doctrine of Catholicism that is bad.

Catholicism is an EXTREME form of LEGALISM... and it is not remotely pleasing to God.

 

[Truther]

Truther, I can agree some people have had bad experiences in the Catholic Church, but not every Catholic Church is the same, there are certainly some wonderful Catholic Churches out there.

And if we were to be honest some people have had bad experiences at Pentecostal Churches too, there is quite a bit of adultery in some of them, and plenty of fornication, especially within the bigger congregations, all forgivable sins yes, but it's not a good look. And yes even across other protestant denominations, some get drunk on a Friday night, party hard on a Saturday night, go to Church on Sunday and cuss on a Monday, these are common things, especially among young people, of course the same can be unfortunately said about some who call themselves Catholics, especially some from nations like Italy, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, where it's nearly treated like a nationality, just because someone was born in one of those countries, some who call themselves Catholics get up to drugs and prostitution, by their fruit, I don't think we really could call those sort of people real Catholics though...

That is the sad state of many Churches at the moment...

This is not about incidentals but doctrine.

Doctrine is what defines an organization.

I had no bad memories of my experience with the RCC, but as I realized I was raised in false doctrine and was eventually saved(obeyed Acts 2:38 as an adult), I finally began to take a serious look at my former belief system.

The first thing I had to do to get truth was to stop thinking my presuppositions were acceptable to God.

The RCC is founded on presuppositions and they can't break free to obey the Bible.

The RCC has thousands of rabbit holes they can go down that have nothing to do with Bible truth.

 

[Mungo]

This is not about incidentals but doctrine.

Doctrine is what defines an organization.

I had no bad memories of my experience with the RCC, but as I realized I was raised in false doctrine and was eventually saved(obeyed Acts 2:38 as an adult), I finally began to take a serious look at my former belief system.

The first thing I had to do to get truth was to stop thinking my presuppositions were acceptable to God.

The RCC is founded on presuppositions and they can't break free to obey the Bible.

The RCC has thousands of rabbit holes they can go down that have nothing to do with Bible truth.

Catholic doctrines are truth. They may not line up with your false, personal and fallible interpretations of scripture but they are the truth handed down to the apostles.

 

[Mungo]

It's not the Catholics that are bad... they are people and many of them are innocent by ignorance... It's the Doctrine of Catholicism that is bad.

False

Catholicism is an EXTREME form of LEGALISM... and it is not remotely pleasing to God.

False