I am a recovering Catholic.
2006-12-19 08:23:29 · 15 answers · asked by pastor of muppets 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you agree....Why?
2006-12-19 08:25:07 · update #1
More than likely, yes. While pre-reformation Catholicism may have specifically encouraged people to simply trust their priests and never read the Bible, Post Vatican II Catholicism has made a point of getting the laity involved in the theological conversation. In short, pre-Vatican II, Catholics never read the Bible. Post-Vatican II, Catholics are supposed to do so, with the guidance of the Catechism so they can check out the original sources for themselves as to why various things are done the way they are done.
In doing so, the Catholic church made the big mistake -- Telling people to read the Bible. There is no more powerful force for Atheism than a complete cover-to-cover reading of that book.
2006-12-19 08:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I do agree that Catholics are more likely to fall away from their faiths than other Christians based on one BIG reason: in my personaly opinion, Catholics are least educated about their faith. The more a Catholic learns about their faith, the more they feel the pull of Jesus Christ in the fullness of the Roman Catholic Church.
Case in point: ME!!!
I kid you not, I didn't know about ANY of the following Church teachings until I was in my 20's:
--that not all non-Catholics are considered as "damned to Hell" by the Catholic Church
--that "Papal Infallibility" does NOT mean that the Pope cannot commit any sins
--that there is any difference between any one sin or any other
--why Catholics believe the Eucharist to be the true presence of Jesus Christ
--that the Catholic Church may have more reasons other than just to "control the population" by opposing the use of contraception and/or birth control
And that is just off the top of my head. I decided to look into these matters--to read it from "orthodox" Catholics before I left the Church and that is actually why I'm still Catholic:) LOL. I thought I was on my out, too! And Jesus always, ALWAYS answers our prayers when we are seeking truth--for He, himself is Truth He told us--but we must seek truth with an open hurt, and a humility that is open to the possibility of being wrong. If we close ourselves off to this possbility, it doesn't matter how much God may want to show us, we'll never even see it.
This is a good question! Thanks for asking and God bless!
2006-12-19 16:50:36 · answer #2 · answered by Mary's Daughter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on why a person is Catholic. If a person was raised Catholic and never thought to question their beliefs (or felt it disloyal), they will probably stay devout. Converts to Catholicism who are looking for a secure connection to the divine with a solid historical track may be apostacy-proof. Those who try to understand the mysteries and inconsistencies in scripture, practice and faith, recasting their "understanding" at regular intervals, may come to the point where they realize it's all arbitrary. I'm not sure it's necessarily a "Catholic" tendency.
Of course, with all of its historical baggage, the councils, the heresy definitions, the traditions, and the documents, the Catholic church may have more opportunities for the curious to come to a thoughtful conclusion. Curiosity isn't exactly encouraged from the pulpit. Going to a Catholic college may be a better predictor.
2006-12-19 16:52:03 · answer #3 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you go by statistics alone, your thesis will be strongly supported by the sheer numbers since the RC Church claims to have THE LARGEST membership base among all other religious organizations today.
CAVEAT: Ex-Catholics DO NOT necessarily become ONLY Atheists or Agnostics automatically. Many do get up from being knocked down and devastated by such a DISILLUSIONMENT and they don't give up but they proceed in their vigilant quest for the Truth.
And *some*, perhaps a handful *few*, DO FIND that narrow Path elsewhere, one that leads to a much strengthened sign of Faith than ever before.
I know I did...
Peace be with you.
2006-12-19 16:50:32 · answer #4 · answered by Arf Bee 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was raised as a Catholic too. Went to Catholic school till high school. Now I'm an atheist. I'm noticing that connection between Catholicism and Atheism too. Weird.
2006-12-19 16:27:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are the least likely to become Atheists. The early programming done by the church is so complete that most Catholics live the rest of their lives without ever having an original thought. Muslims are also hampered by this same phenomenon. I know hundreds of Atheists and only one of them was a former Catholic and he had been a priest.
2006-12-19 16:29:43 · answer #6 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have heard that priests, after going through so much training and bible reading, sometimes become atheist but go through with it anyway. As for normal catholics, I think it just depends on the individual.
2006-12-19 16:35:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i disagree, catholics who understand what being catholic is are more numerous than what most people think. the catholic church has more converts per year than any other denomination, i firget the exact percentage but it was quite significant. i was raised catholic and that will not change, i did go through a period of not practising my faith but then i researched and began to discover how great the catholic faith is.
2006-12-19 16:41:06 · answer #8 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Possibly. The catholics do tend to educate children very well.
2006-12-19 16:35:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
anybody from any religion can wind up being atheist or agnostic if they open their minds up long enough to look around them and think for themselves about everything that they see and hear i'm an agnostic myself
2006-12-19 16:27:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋