Hello, This is my first post on this board. I have asked three poll questions as a means of getting a feel in determining what sort of audience of Christians I am dealing with. The first question deals basically with your own interaction with Catholic on this board. I hope that many have participated in other forums of a similiar nature to perhaps make a comparison as to the level of participation. The second question deals basically with Catholicism. Some people may respect Catholics individually as there exist many different expressions from "liberal" or "cafeteria Catholics" who do not believe in the full teachings of the Catholic Church to "conservative" Catholics who agree with the changes of Vatican II and all the way to "traditional Catholics" who prefer the Latin Mass, but in terms of the teachings of the Church as a collective whole and not based on the preferences of the individuals, this is what the question is intended to answer. My third question, I have checked the box to allow multiple answers. I think it would be unfair to do otherwise as there are different aspects from education, calling one "brother," to what you percieve as temperment.
Now, to introduce myself--My Secular Self:
I am 38 years old. Caucasian. Born in Washington State. Raised around the Seattle, Tacoma, and even Arlington, WA areas. I visited Japan for two weeks in the spring of 1984. I graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma around 1991, but didn't really graduate until 1992 due to attending Clover Park Technical College on a quarter tuition. I was studying offset reprographics. I eventually joined the Marine Corps in 1993-1997 as a LVS operator MOS 3533. I went on two West Pacs, became a Shellback on the first float. I moved to Atlanta, GA for a job opportunity and met my fiancee. I worked as a Correctional Officer at a local jail in Pulaski, TN for one year. I married my wife, who is a Japanese citizen from the Gunma prefecture near Takasaki. I joined the TN Army National Guard. I have volunteered for three tours to Iraq, never command directed. Was stationed at TQ for OIF05-06, in Camp Bucca for OIF07-08, and was stationed in Speicher, Tikrit for OIF09-10. I've been married for 12 years, no kids... yet. I have about another four years left before I get my twenty year letter for retirement benefits. I am a Staff Sergeant as a 13M, but been a 13B. One more thing, between my marriage and my first tour in Iraq, I attended and graduated with a BA with an English major, Asian studies and secondary education minors in 2005.
My Religious Journey:
I was raised in Assembly of God churches and other non-denominational/independant churches. Pretty much was an Arminian, Pretribulation, Premillinialist, Tongue-speaking. Could not reconcile what I thought was sacreligious behaviors with contemporary appeals. Found the youth groups to be more a socialization for boyfriend/girlfriend matchmaking rather than serious spiritual pursuits. I became Lutheran shortly thereafter as I was asked to fill a position as a Sunday school teacher due to an opening. As a Lutheran, I vocalized my disagreements with the "Real Presence" but was still allowed to be confirmed a Lutheran. About the time I joined the Marines, I backslide. I experienced some traumatic experiences when in the Marine Corps, but not related to the profession... I was molested by another man. I went to an offshot of Exodus International in San Diego called "Alternatives" which was reassuring. After I moved to Tennessee, after my marriage, I could not find a Lutheran Church in my town of residence and so started to attend the Episcopal Church. After finding out about Bishop Gene Robinson's election, I pretty much fought a loosing battle with my fellow parishioners who wanted to pray about it and even supported it along with some other ideas as woman ordination and full communion policies extended to even the unbelievers. I searched for a bible believing church, attended a Southern Baptist church, but was not convinced with the OSAS teachings. I missed the Eucharist and started to investigate Catholicism. It was a rough time going through RCIA as I was angered at the lack of apologetics and had to do my own research to satisfy my own objections and misunderstandings. I was confirmed a Catholic on Easter 2004 with the confirmation name Columcille. I have been having some dialogue with both the Greek Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox priests during my last deployment to Iraq (Chaplian Millsaps was Greek Orthodox and was my battalion chaplian) while the Antiochian Orthodox priest has a mission church in a nearby town. I decided to discontinue my catechumen process with them to investigate the Secular Franciscan Order to see if this is my calling or not. So far, I am about to finish my 6th orientation with the fraternity in Chattanooga and should be welcomed as an inquirer perhaps as early as May.
At any rate, I feel I have given the best summation of both my secular activities and my religious journey. I hope to have some good discussions with others here. I shall try and let you know that my temperment may frustrate some. Normally when I post, I hope to stick the Original Post and avoid diverging onto another subject. I find that it brings better closure to a given subject to stay on track. Some may think that my not answering a question is avoiding it, but it is just my policy to ignore chasing after rabbit trails. I'll answer the question if it is a new original post and I am not held up with my duties with the TN Army National Guard or other such interruptions. I am sorry for such a long post. Pax et bonum (peace and good) .
Now, to introduce myself--My Secular Self:
I am 38 years old. Caucasian. Born in Washington State. Raised around the Seattle, Tacoma, and even Arlington, WA areas. I visited Japan for two weeks in the spring of 1984. I graduated from Stadium High School in Tacoma around 1991, but didn't really graduate until 1992 due to attending Clover Park Technical College on a quarter tuition. I was studying offset reprographics. I eventually joined the Marine Corps in 1993-1997 as a LVS operator MOS 3533. I went on two West Pacs, became a Shellback on the first float. I moved to Atlanta, GA for a job opportunity and met my fiancee. I worked as a Correctional Officer at a local jail in Pulaski, TN for one year. I married my wife, who is a Japanese citizen from the Gunma prefecture near Takasaki. I joined the TN Army National Guard. I have volunteered for three tours to Iraq, never command directed. Was stationed at TQ for OIF05-06, in Camp Bucca for OIF07-08, and was stationed in Speicher, Tikrit for OIF09-10. I've been married for 12 years, no kids... yet. I have about another four years left before I get my twenty year letter for retirement benefits. I am a Staff Sergeant as a 13M, but been a 13B. One more thing, between my marriage and my first tour in Iraq, I attended and graduated with a BA with an English major, Asian studies and secondary education minors in 2005.
My Religious Journey:
I was raised in Assembly of God churches and other non-denominational/independant churches. Pretty much was an Arminian, Pretribulation, Premillinialist, Tongue-speaking. Could not reconcile what I thought was sacreligious behaviors with contemporary appeals. Found the youth groups to be more a socialization for boyfriend/girlfriend matchmaking rather than serious spiritual pursuits. I became Lutheran shortly thereafter as I was asked to fill a position as a Sunday school teacher due to an opening. As a Lutheran, I vocalized my disagreements with the "Real Presence" but was still allowed to be confirmed a Lutheran. About the time I joined the Marines, I backslide. I experienced some traumatic experiences when in the Marine Corps, but not related to the profession... I was molested by another man. I went to an offshot of Exodus International in San Diego called "Alternatives" which was reassuring. After I moved to Tennessee, after my marriage, I could not find a Lutheran Church in my town of residence and so started to attend the Episcopal Church. After finding out about Bishop Gene Robinson's election, I pretty much fought a loosing battle with my fellow parishioners who wanted to pray about it and even supported it along with some other ideas as woman ordination and full communion policies extended to even the unbelievers. I searched for a bible believing church, attended a Southern Baptist church, but was not convinced with the OSAS teachings. I missed the Eucharist and started to investigate Catholicism. It was a rough time going through RCIA as I was angered at the lack of apologetics and had to do my own research to satisfy my own objections and misunderstandings. I was confirmed a Catholic on Easter 2004 with the confirmation name Columcille. I have been having some dialogue with both the Greek Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox priests during my last deployment to Iraq (Chaplian Millsaps was Greek Orthodox and was my battalion chaplian) while the Antiochian Orthodox priest has a mission church in a nearby town. I decided to discontinue my catechumen process with them to investigate the Secular Franciscan Order to see if this is my calling or not. So far, I am about to finish my 6th orientation with the fraternity in Chattanooga and should be welcomed as an inquirer perhaps as early as May.
At any rate, I feel I have given the best summation of both my secular activities and my religious journey. I hope to have some good discussions with others here. I shall try and let you know that my temperment may frustrate some. Normally when I post, I hope to stick the Original Post and avoid diverging onto another subject. I find that it brings better closure to a given subject to stay on track. Some may think that my not answering a question is avoiding it, but it is just my policy to ignore chasing after rabbit trails. I'll answer the question if it is a new original post and I am not held up with my duties with the TN Army National Guard or other such interruptions. I am sorry for such a long post. Pax et bonum (peace and good) .
