Religious Offense?

Question

Ill try to make a long story short. I was raised Catholic, I completed all of my sacraments from first communion to conformation long before I was old enough to even understand the concept of following a religion. Now Im 22 and am faced with a problem. A few years ago I asked my parents, who were raised similar to myself from a religious aspect, what it meant to be 'catholic'. What about there beliefs made them specifically catholic. They didnt have an answer, and when I asked myself that question, neither did I. Now I dont consider myself Catholic, or a follower of any other religion. Not because I dont believe in God, because I do, but simply because I dont know enough about any religion to dedicate what seems like the amount of faith a religion requires. My problem though is not only finding a religion thats right for me, if one exitst, but that my wife wants to have our marriage recognized by the catholic church. Can we do this if I dont exactly believe in catholicism?

*add (Ran out of letters)

Any suggestions/comments/advice is welcome. Just not sure what to do about the whole situation.

Answer 1

If you don't consider yourself a catholic, even though you are a confirmed member of the church, it doesn't make sense to have your marriage recognized by the Catholic church. The meaning behind completing the sacrement is in its mutual importance to both parties. You say your wife... and not your fiancee, which indicates to me that you two are already married; you have already made the decision that you love each other enough to spend the rest of your lives together. The question then is in why is it important to her to have your marriage recognized by the catholic church? Perhaps, when you two got married, she felt like there was something missing and shes wanting for an opportunity to have a meaningful ceremony (with family/friends/rings/vows). If the catholic ceremony is something your heart isn't in, I doubt she would want you to participate, plus, if she loves you, do you think she would have any interest in dragging you through the preparation for a sacrement that you don't believe in? Not having the wedding recognized by the church in no way diminishes her love for you. And, maybe someday, if you decide you do consider yourself a Catholic, you can always go back and complete the process. Until then, enjoy being with your newly married wife. I have a feeling shes absolutly crazy about you, no matter what religion you consider yourself. Maybe you two could explore various religions together, and find a church where you both feel at home.


I love you

Answer 2

The problem is that you have a rational mind. I as well rejected orthodox mythology, even as I was embracing it.

I'm now agnostic at the most, although I was raised Christian. My mother was Catholic but she left because of how stale and ridiculous it seemed to her.

My feeling is that doubt lives in every rational Christian's mind. What differs between them is their ability to suppress or hide their doubt.

Put faith in reason. If you want to continue to be Catholic, you're going to have to hide your rational thoughts, just like everyone else does. Well, those who have them. It's called an orthodox religion for a reason. It's traditions go back for centuries.

I guess it comes down to a choice. Are you going to spend your life believing in what you think to be true, or believing what you or others WANT you to believe?

Reason is more than a tool of the mind. It's the key to truth, if that's what you really seek.

If God is truth and science is fact,
if fact is truth then God is science.

If you simply want to please your parents and your wife, you should stop thinking about religion rationally. Agnostic believers don't go to Catholic churches.

Catholics are expected to believe what they're told. The Pope is supposed to be infallible. If you question him, you question God and no good Catholic questions God.

Answer 3

I'm glad you're asking the question! Many people might say that you shouldn't question, but I believe you should question everything. When you question, you are on the road to discovery.

I believe that Jesus taught that you can have a relationship with God, without the need for church, paster, rabbi, Torah or Bible, etc. etc. etc.

Jesus shows us the way to connect directly with our Creator.......all you have to do is ASK. Ask every question you have, ask for Gods perspective.

Be ready, for it will require that you set aside ALL you have been taught (please note that I said 'set aside' not 'get rid of') by our culture, religion and society, and God will provide you will answers from another perspective (wisdom). Many people cannot see, because their eyes are clouded by human limitations. Dare to step outside of the limitations, and you will know a Creator that could never be contained within the box of any religion.

You will know freedom from guilt, fear and shame, and the certainity that Divinity is within you, and all around you, and doesn't require your worship, but relationship.

Answer 4

I was raised Catholic and did all sacraments. I know what it means to be Catholic, know a fair amount of the history of the church and its beliefs. Yet, I can't bring myself to fully accept any of their teachings. I just find many inconsistencies with Christianity in general. I think you should talk to your fiancee and tell her what you think about religion and Catholicism. Is not going to be pretty but she has to know why you feel that way. You can have a marriage in the church, it can be done since you were baptized. It should be done only if you feel comfortable with a marriage in church that you no longer believe in.

Answer 5

I want to say first that I think your on the right path to true spiritaulism, The first step to being closer to god is to step back and see what is right for you.. Now as to the matter of your marriage, Personally I dont think it matters to much about How you decide to exchange vows, although there will be a lot of "catholic dogma" attached to your vows If it is "recognized" by the Catholic church.
Your Vows are between you, your wife and god and have no place in the church. So it's your call. do you wish your marriage to be between you and your wife? Or between you, your wife, the millions of catholics & the pope?

Answer 6

You are the spiritual leader of the family and Christ is the head over you. It benefits no one if the church recognizes your union, but if Christ recognizes your union then He can make you one in Christ.

The church is nothing but a building until you go in with the Holy Spirit inside of you . . . then Christ shows up. Christ does not dwell in the church. Christ dwells in you. The catholics are so wrapped up in the rituals and traditions of the catholic church that they have lost their first love who is Jesus Christ. They are even making Mary co-redemptrix with Christ which is heresy. Mary doesn't bring peace. Christ brings peace. Mary didn't crush the head of Satan. Jesus did. Christ is the only way to eternal life. Mary can't even answer prayer. The apparitions of Mary are evil. Demons can enter a person and make them sick. Demons can leave a person and they become well. So don't tell me Mary heals.
Jesus heals, not Mary. The real Mary would rebuke these people. Mary said one thing very clear. She said, "Listen to Jesus." Mary went on to have other children after Jesus. No where in the Bible does it say that Mary was sinless. The Roman Catholic church is setting us up with these Mary apparition signs and wonders for some reason. There are many born again Christian catholic people, but the papacy is too power hungry and politically oriented. The Vatican is evil once again. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life with God. Pope John Paul II bowing to the Our Lady of Fatima statue is straight idolatry and an abomination to God. Even an angel would not let Apostle John bow to him. He said worship God and God only.

Answer 7

Now you begin to see some light as you embark on your own spiritual quest. Study and learn as much as you can about different teachings, dogmas and philosophies. Start with the major religions out there and begin reading, absorbing, and understanding them to be conversant enough about each one.

For some, this could take a lifetime of search but you have youth on your side.

Seek and you shall find. Open your eyes and you shall see. Listen and you shall hear. Knock and it shall be opened for you.

Keep the faith and leave the church that you doubt. I did.

Peace be with you.

Answer 8

You don't have to lie (cons way).
You don't have to pretend .
Don't let be swayed with Evangelical charlatanism either.
Don't be discouraged by Christ Haters.
And above all stick to your own belief , you are no worst than a Jew that spilled Jesus blood, nor t than Pat Robertson who encouraged assassination of a human being under the banner of Evangelism.
Ignore all , you will win at the end.

Answer 9

I think of between the justifications the non secular take offense is the way you're generalizing. might you generalize approximately finishing the life of all blacks, or all Asians, or all Europeans, or all Democrats, or all Republicans, or all redheads, or all mail carriers, using fact, in spite of each little thing, there are blacks, there are Asians, there are Europeans, there are Democrats and there are Republicans, there are pink heads, there are mail carriers that reason harm and mindless animosity? What you're overlooking, using fact it extremely is handy on your argument to accomplish that, is each and all the sturdy that religions do. those issues tend to signify the vast majority of non secular ideals. The media prefers to concentration on the rockets released by way of Hamas and the mindless retaliation by way of Israelis, the pomposity of the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the inane bypass-burning by way of a determination of skinheads. that each and one and all too often is the inspiration of evaluations, like yours, that religions are no longer something yet collectives of out-dated superstitions and righteous hatred. What does not get stated are the 1000's of tens of millions of non secular people who're non secular and inspired by way of their faith to objective to stay extra advantageous lives and do sturdy interior the international. the region I stay, as an occasion, became at present devasted by way of community flooding. there became some feeble government help, and a lot of neighbor helping neighbor to recuperate. however the bigggest exterior assistance became a huge determination of LDS volunteers that confirmed up en masse, labored no longer hassle-free, and did no longer leave till the job became executed. there became no snyergistic Athiests for assistance, in spite of the undeniable fact that. Now I happen to have some doubts appropriate to the LDS church philosophies, yet whilst push got here to shove, they have been there to help, and help they did, and it did no longer rely to them no rely in case you have been of their faith or faith or shade or creed. they only helped. which you will teach around and say that their faith could desire to be consigned to the historic previous books is an physique of innovations previous the gentle. And that is being stated by way of somebody -- i.e., me -- who isn't non secular.

Answer 10

what the pope don't know, won't hurt him. if it makes your wife happy, and doesn't deeply offend you, keep your mouth shut long enough to get the sacrament. you have plenty of time to explore your faith in the mean time, but you should consider what effect your spiritual awakening will have on your marriage before you make it too permanent.