Are you Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox?

Question

And why? Is it just because you were raised that way or are there compelling reasons? I'm a Protestant but I'm "looking" for other denominations that are more true to the Bible (than the Episcopal or Methodist churches with which I am now affiliated). Where should I be searching? What denomination are you?

Answer 1

I was raised as Roman Catholic, but I prefer to say I am Christian. All who believe in Jesus Christ, I consider them to be Christians.

Happy New Year

Answer 2

I am Catholic, and proud of it. I was raised as a Catholic and looked down because of it. People still mock me and call me a bigoted idiot. However, after feverish studying of thoelogy and history (as well as much soul-searching) I realized I was home. There is no other religion for me. I love Jesus, YWH, the Holy Spirit, my Catholic family, Mary, the saints, and my spiritual father. I may be a priest or a husband some day. Either way, my dream is to be a good father.

Catholics follow the Bible and most of our theology is taken from it. However, we have interpreted some things a bit more differently than others and set up our own accompanying rule system.

If you consider Catholocism, the first two places to go would be a local clergyman and, or course, The Catecism of the Catholic Church. The Catecism is easy to read and sums up the religion well. However, be warned that becomming a Catholic means facing a world which will often feel like it does not accept you.

Answer 3

Roman Catholic

Answer 4

Catholic, but an Eastern Catholic rather than a Western Catholic. The Catholic Church is not a monolithic entity governed by Rome, but a federation of 23 self-governing Churches.

There is a great book by two former Protestant scripture scholars called "Rome Sweet Home." http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Sweet-Home-Journey-Catholicism/dp/0898704782/sr=8-5/qid=1167746350/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/103-7110389-8524646?ie=UTF8&s=books It was written by Scott and Kimberly Hahn. He became Catholic, along with several other protestant theologians, because while he was studying scripture he accidently read a Catholic author. As his crisis deepened, he and his wife who was also a theologian, went to other leading theologians for support. As their depth of study increased, the people they went to became Catholic. Finally, he decided to become Catholic and eventually she did too.

The Catholic and Orthodox Churches are both the most scripturally sound bodies that are out there. You will find more scripture in them than in other Churches.

If I had to pick, and my background were either Episcopal or Methodist, I would choose Catholic as it is a little more tolerant of diversity than Orthodoxy. There isn't enough of a difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy to matter, other than in surface stuff.

If you would like to learn about orthodoxy, other than on the traditional sites (or Eastern Catholicism for that matter as there is no real difference between us even ritually,) check out http://www.frederica.com/essays/

and

http://www.frederica.com/facing-east-excerpt-1/

Answer 5

i have been raised a roman catholic my whole life and at first i didnt know anything about it when i was younger. but one summer i went to a camp at a monastery with monks and I had a life changing experience and i realized i love my faith and my God. I got to try new things like eucharistic adoration where its really God sitting up there on the altar and its a freeing feeling that you can offer yourself up to him and tell him anything. And I cant imagine never having been to a confessional because i feel so relieved when i realize all my sins are forgiven. and i know people talk about all of the sex with priests in the church...but it happens to teachers too and no body makes such a big deal out of it. all im saying is that i take a lot of pride in being catholic and i think its a great religion and you should def look into it. because who wouldnt want to have the reassurance that Jesus Christ died for them to live

Answer 6

People, I wish you would stop this nonsense. Spending you lives preaching nothing more than a comic book fable. You waste your lives, the lives of those close to you and do little good on this planet with these childish superstitions. We aren't cavemen anymore. Just because you don't understand how things around you work, doesn't mean that it's done by magic or a genie. You are all embarrassing the human race with your backward thinking. This is true for all religions!

Answer 7

I converted to Catholicism after a decade and half of being rabidly anti-Catholic. People who knew me were shocked. What Lives7 wrote is true, "Many have tried and ended their search with the truth of Roman Catholicism." When I tried to disprove it, I instead became convinced it was indeed true. Besides the Bible, read the writings of the early Church Fathers, and study history.

Answer 8

Roman Catholic.
The first Church that can still trace its historical founder to Jesus Christ directly. Wrote, compile the biblical letters of the ancient world into an authoritative Bible, that all bibles today trace their development.

I challenge you, respectfully, to try and disprove Roman Catholicism teachings through the bible. Please examine both sides of reasoning and interpretation.

Many have tried and ended their search with the truth of Roman Catholicism.

God Bless.

Answer 9

Pastor Billy says: here is a tip Chris, do an internet search for John Henry Newman who became Cardinal Newman,

"to be a student of history is to cease to be Protestant"
Newman

trust me on this one based on where you are coming from and the Christian tradition you belong to currently, Newman will amaze you.

Answer 10

I was raised a Catholic, but did not become active in my faith until I was thirty-something. By that time, I had forgotten much of what religious education had taught me as a youth. So, I had to learn it all over again.

Long story short, I chose to be Catholic.