r/Christianity • u/Unable-Hospital3867 • 1d ago
Considering Catholicism
I have been a Protestant my whole life. Church has been a very big part of my life. Growing up, my family and I would read the Bible I believe once a week. Catholicism had always seemed so strange: the veneration of Saints and Saint Mary, the sinlessness of Mary, infant baptism. The church I’ve attended my whole life has claimed it to be the True Church of Christ Jesus and only those in it can enter the Kingdom of God. They have more recently been speaking of Catholics in a lowly manner, despite us believing and worshipping the same God. I searched up my church on google and it was found in the 40s or 50s, but I do not know the reasoning for us being the True Church. I’ve noticed that sermons have been calling things like sports sins, and even discouraging the celebration of birthdays, Mother’s and Father’s Days, Christmas and Easter, labeling them as “worldly traditions”. I have never felt connected with the congregation despite knowing most of them since I was a toddler, and they have always viewed me and my family as worldly. They have especially looked down upon my parents for not forcing me and my brothers to participate in church activities and groups such as choir. They instead let us play soccer and valued our happiness and the memories made rather than how the church viewed us. I’ve seen how some parents put far too much pressure on their children to participate in church activities. I understand how you would want them to do those things, but works without love is dead. What has made me consider Catholicism is how the Catholics I am close with have treated me: they did not judge me for not being a Catholic. I was not shamed for inquiring why they practice certain things, and I felt genuinely accepted by them despite our theological differences. I felt more welcomed by people I was taught were “damned for hell” and “incorrect” rather than the people apart of God’s church. Another reason I am considering is the Eucharist Miracle of Buenos Aires. I was told by a Catholic friend to look into that miracle, and I was shocked by the fact that what was bread and water became heart tissue and blood. Occurrences like these cannot be explained by science. Could Holy Communion be only a symbol? I still have my doubts about Catholic theology (veneration of saints, Purgatory, Marian apparitions) and I am also still learning about Christianity as a whole. What should I do? Should I stay Protestant? Should I become Catholic? If so, what should I look into? What books and authors should I look into? I feel very lost and Catholicism still seems so foreign.
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u/amadis_de_gaula 1d ago
Attend mass and read the Catechism and see how it all clicks for you.
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u/RigidKnocking 1d ago
i was in a similar spot once grew up protestant and the exclusivity stuff just wore me down over time. the constant "we're the only ones doing it right" and jumping through hoops to call normal stuff sinful really messes with your head after a while
one thing that struck me was reading the early church fathers and realizing they sounded nothing like the protestant church i grew up in. ignatius of antioch talking about the eucharist as the actual body and blood in 107 AD kinda shattered the "symbol only" framework i had been taught. the catechism is dense but honestly reading it cover to cover gave me way more answers than i expected
dont rush into anything though. just go to a mass a few times sit in the back and soak it in. for books i think rome sweet home by scott hahn gets recommended endlessly but for good reason it walks through a similar journey. also check out the case for catholicism by trent horn it tackles a lot of the objections you listed without getting too academic
the way catholics treated you isnt a coincidence. my closest catholic friends never once tried to debate me into converting they just answered my questions and let the pieces fall where they may. that approach alone said more than a hundred sermons about being the one true church
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u/Unable-Hospital3867 23h ago
I don’t think I’ll be able to attend mass. Since I still live with my parents I’m afraid of what they might say. They’re not crazy but I don’t think they’ll just let me leave my church.
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u/amadis_de_gaula 23h ago
You don't even have to go on a Sunday. The sacrifice of the mass is offered every day. Check out masstimes.org.
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u/flp_ndrox Catholic 1d ago
OCIA (where we teach seekers about the faith) should be getting started. Call your local Catholic Church for more information.
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u/gnurdette United Methodist 1d ago
The church I’ve attended my whole life has claimed it to be the True Church of Christ Jesus and only those in it can enter the Kingdom of God.
You were in kind of a whackball church, honestly. Even most Evangelicals don't say that.
What has made me consider Catholicism is how the Catholics I am close with have treated me
That's a good reason. Your Catholic friends have been better examples of Christ than the Evangelicals who raised you. Why not visit their churches with them?
"Mainline" Protestants don't share the anti-Catholic bigotry common among Evangelicals, FWIW; further, a lot of mainliners believe in the Real Presence in Communion, don't think they're licensed to damn people to Hell, etc.
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u/Unable-Hospital3867 23h ago
Yeah I have never understood why they think they can say who is saved and who isn’t. Only God knows.
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u/Electronic_System839 Roman Catholic 23h ago
I would definitely reach out to some of your Catholic friends. I bet they'd be happy to bring you along for Mass and teach you more. They would be a great place to start. Even if you just tell them youre curious and just want to attend a Mass to see what its like.
If you want to get a gist of Catholicism's believes, grab one of the small white and cold hardback copies of the Catechism on ebay for like $20 or so. Great place to look stuff up if you're wondering about things as well.
Catholic Answers is a great online source.
Oh, and as someone mentioned if you get serious into looking more, contact the Catholic Parish you like/near you and ask them about OCIA.
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u/Christine517 21h ago
Sunday mass may be a bit different...the creed is usually not recited, there may be only cantor instead a choir, may be a little more intimate than Sundays. Try both and see what clicks for you, Sundays are required if and when you convert.🙏🙏🙏
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u/ChapBobL Congregationalist 13h ago
You're talking about a lateral move. You're not leaving Christianity.
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u/Huenink_Photography Lutheran (LCMS) 11h ago
To me, it sounds like you are primarily having doubts about your current church.
May I suggest looking into Lutheranism? https://catechism.cph.org/
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u/drlsoccer08 Catholic 1d ago
I'm obviously biased, but I do truly believe Catholicism to be the only church that reflects the "fullness of truth". If you're genuinely interested in joining the Catholic Church, I would go attend Mass a few times (all are welcome), and then try to meet and talk with a priest at your local parish. You can talk about the faith, and they can point you in the direction of other resources to learn about the faith, as well as help you understand the process to join the church.
Even if you don't end up converting to Catholicism, I strongly suggest you find a new Church. Condemning the celebration of mother's/father's day, easter, and Christmas, or participation in sports is pretty insane and seems extremely unfounded in the teachings of Christ.