How can someone say Catholicism is difficult and empty?

Question

Someone asked why Catholicism is such a difficult denomination and someone stated it is easy and requires little, that there is no emotion in our faith. Where do they get this? I go to Mass often and Adoration as well. I pray my Rosary daily and never have I not experienced a wonder and a deep feeling accompaning it. Every time I attend Mass or Adoration I cry. I never leave feeling anything less than Peace and fufillment. To me it is simple and fufilling.
Peace Be With You,
Debra

Yes I would still attend. The reason for my tears is I realize how amazing Gods love is for me and how undeserving of it I am. They are tears of joy, love, and penance. Mostly love and joy. I go to spend time with Christ and He in return spends time with me. All day.

No I am not intending to be twisting anything perhaps I should have posted these seperately. Part of this is in response to a question and part do to an answer to that question.

Where is the saint? Not I, not hardly, I am content to be merely a seeker and a servant.

"Catholic church is stuffy and repetitive. Stick with something else if you want to get some emotion out of going to church. If I could say I liked church, I would say I liked Catholic church because it was so formal and people just left me alone." This is from your answer but part came from the question asked. How did I misrepresent this?

Sorry I have to laugh at the comment about it being "A rich peoples club" I am not rich and there are quite a bit like me. Most Catholics I know are far from wealthy.

Answer 1

MAYBE CAUSE CATHOLICS PRAY TO MOTHER MARY, AND SHE HAS NO POWERS TO ANSWER PRAYERS. ONLY GOD DOES.

Answer 2

I find it amazing that so many people answered your question and the other one basically the same.

To an outsider, Catholicism is very difficult to understand, but if anyone were to spend an hour at mass, they would soon find that it is no more complex - difficult, than any other denomination. We have certain things that we do at certain times, that is the way it is - it is all about respect and reverence to God.

My favorite is that some protestants saying "I would never kneel to the priest", but if they only knew that the kneeling is to the body of Christ which is present in the Eucharist - and I believe that all will kneel before Jesus on the day of judgment.

I pray my Rosary every day and can attest to the miracles that have happened in my life. I don't cry at mass or adoration, but I do get this over-whelming sense of being unworthy to have the grace and that a huge weight was lifted from me.

(I did nearly cry when I was accepted into the Church at the Easter Vigil last year - and I know I heard a voice - and not the priests voice - say "Welcome Home" as I was being Baptized.)

To end the rambling, though, Anyone who says that Catholicism is difficult and empty has never really been to a Catholic Mass, nor have they experienced everything there is to experience in the faith.

Pace e bene

Answer 3

These religious rituals "work" for some people, and not for others. Many of us already have real experiences that run deeper than mere ritual, and so those rituals are simply empty and robotic. If you don't have a good connection with the real world, though, or if you are in a desperate situation, religious ritual may be a great comfort.

Most atheists abandoned their early religious upbringing simply because they didn't need it, and it didn't add anything to their lives. We were able to find meaning in the reality of nature. But doing so requires a level of emotional and intellectual depth that simply isn't there in most people, and so for those people religious ritual fills the gap.

We really could get past all of this "pissing on each other" if the religious folks let go of the false belief that atheists are people who have NOT thought about these topics, or who have NOT tried religion. Atheists could also contribute by accepting the fact that religious belief is not a sign of mental illness, but rather a perfectly reasonable response for people who would otherwise struggle in vain to come up with a sensible and comforting worldview. In short, atheists are not ignorant, they're thoughtful. Believers are not mentally ill, they're simply wrong. We should all be able to agree on that much, at least.

Answer 4

Typically i have found the Catholic faith to be burdened with rituals and circumstance. To an outsider this would be seen as difficult no different than someone who is good at math vs someone who isnt. Your faith has brought you to a place beyond understanding the ritual and circumstance, to you this is now easy. Whatever you do, you must study. I mean personal alone time in your Bible, just you and the almighty because your church does not have the answers. This goes way way beyond religion (any religion) this is a personal relationship between you and your maker. Forget the victuals, the ritual and the circumstance. Sit somewhere alone, daily and read the scripture it is the basis for the relationship between you and God.
And peace be with you,
Erik

Answer 5

Not everything with Catholicism is flowers and roses... For most people I guess its the heirarchy of the Catholic Church and the not so pleasant history about it...(then again the heirarchy and followers of any religion rarely has been free of sin either). Many people think also that our rituals and our mass is meaningless because a significant number of even our own people find it to be just that. Or maybe its the whole celibacy thing...

Good thing that individual followers like you prove that Catholicism isnt that empty and hopeless...

Answer 6

I don't understand why Catholics pray to Mary or to saints. The Bible clearly states the only way to the Father is through Christ. I think that's one of the reasons that Catholicism is judged that way by other Christians. I also believe you can be touched by the Holy Spirit through all denominations if you truly believe. It sounds as if you do.

Answer 7

Hello D

My friend is Catholic and she always tells me that it is no different from Christianity...I also can't understand why people put pictures like that to your being Catholic...whenever somthing goes wrong, it's always blamed on the Catholic Church...the only difference I see is that you're more traditional and have nuns, confession (which no other denomination has), andd Mass (sorry, I have no idea what that is), but I still make Catholics feel part of Chrisitanity...because they are...it's just like Baptist Church or Presbytarian Curch...

Answer 8

Its easy say it with me pronounce it slowly. catholicism is difficult and empty.

In all seriousness Im an ex christian of both catholicism and protestantism. It was easier to gravitate to protestantism because I was exposed to both, but when it was all said and done i realized christianity was christianity no matter what denomination or non denomination you label it as, I also realized christianity is NOT for everyone despite what the fundamentalist christians like to say.

Answer 9

May Satan continue to do so ! when G-d said to all obey or suffer the consequences of your foolishness. for disobedience is the same as witchcraft Catholics are up yo there eyeballs in sin .AS it says in Isaiah 24 -5-6 the earth is defiled under the inhabitants their of : because they have transgressed the LAWS,changed the Ordinances, Broken the ever lasting Covenant. There for Catholics caused a curse to devour the earth and they that dwell therein are desolate;therefore the inhabitants of the earth is burned and few men left

Answer 10

Now, see, you completely twisted the words and applied your own interpretation. No one said Catholicism is difficult - complex is the term used. No one said it requires little, no one said there is no emotion in the entire faith.

That is so irritating! Honey, I know exactly what you're talking about because it was my freakin' answer! You see things written there that aren't there. No wonder the religious have such messed up ideas.

Answer 11

Sometimes, people have prejudice because they have pre-judged something. Sometimes, they have skewed information which may be untrue. Actually, I also think its maybe they do not have the pre-ordained blessing to embrace Catholicism and attain the fulfilment, wonder and peace that comes with the Faith. I love Mass and Adoration!

Peace Be With You.