the reason for this question,i grew up catholic, got baptised, had my first holy communion, did classes and church every sunday.this was my upbrining all my life, but i really didnt understand or get it until i was 45, and it didn't come from all my training and school?it came from a close friend, who told me to accept christ as my savior and ask for forgiveness?now it all makes sence and i really truely believe. he's out there, he loves us, and he wants us happy, all we have to do is ask.can you believe its that simple?how come certain religions make it so hard to understand, or so hard to feel accepted?has anyone else had the same thing happen to them?
2007-11-09 05:54:21 · 15 answers · asked by debbie d 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know what you mean.
I was raised Catholic and it was no fault of my parents that I didn't get it because they tried. Sometimes we need to be able to come to these conclusions on our own in our own time because we're simply not yet ready.
2007-11-09 06:05:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic Church does not yield to self preference.We do not serve God on our terms and subjectivities rather we serve God on his terms.
The Church is not about "the hills are alive with the sound of music.."It was instituted by Christ to save souls.
I would be tip-toeing through tulips if it were that easy,given fallen human nature it is a trait to seek comfort on account of our inclination to being self centered.
As catholic baptism does not expire you will be judged as a catholic regardless of what you practise now, which holds much more severity than non-believers because of the honour bestowed upon us.
Objective is the word of the day do what your suppose to do.
God bless,
JMJ
2007-11-10 03:56:43 · answer #2 · answered by BORED II 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Debbie, it sounds like you are building from a basic Catholic perspective through your upbringing in the Church. You learned that faith is important, that baptism is the beginning of life in God, that God expects us to come to his Table every weekend, and that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
It is also important, as you have realized, to accept Jesus' authority as the Lord and Savior of your life and to ask forgiveness for sins. Everyone who remains in God must make this commitment personally; our parents can't do it for us.
Your next challenge is to understand that mature faith in Christ is anything but simple. Most of the sects outside of the Church try to oversimplify Jesus' teachings to make them compatible with a lax life of sin and indifference, e.g., "Once in grace, always in grace."
God wants us to take up his cross in self-renunciation (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), obey God's laws, doing what is right and just (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; John 12:50), adopt the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eat the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endure to the end (Luke 21:16-18).
The Catholic Church teaches the full, unsimplified Gospel and provides the sacraments that sustain a Christian life.
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-11-09 07:45:34 · answer #3 · answered by Bruce 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Welcome home.
The Church does not really make is difficult. If you remember back to your First Communion classes, all they were teaching you was:
+ God is out there
+ God loves us
+ God wants us happy
But not everyone is ready to accept God at the same time. Some accept God at a young age and just continue to grow in spirituality. Others are not given the same amount of faith and do not accept God until later.
The Church has been waiting to accept you with open arms since you were a child.
With love and prayers in Christ.
2007-11-09 16:45:59 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Being Catholic and spiritual can be a challenge, but I find the rewards so much greater than if I did it all myself. Along a path I have hiked three times in Spain, there is a small chapel which probably a billion people in the last 1200 years have stopped in to pray at. The feeling of being connected to a billion fellow Catholics is incredible. I pray there and I can feel the prayers of a billion fellow believers, who pray the same prayers, would recognize the services I attended and would pray with me anyday, anytime.
2007-11-09 06:02:14 · answer #5 · answered by JJHantsch 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Some get that right away and think everyone thinks the way they do. Honestly, I got the whole Jesus as my savior and bestest friend thing right away being catholic. It depends who is teaching and if they can teach in a way you understand.
2007-11-09 06:08:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes I know exactly what you mean. I'm Roman Catholic and I just didn't get it properly till into my 30's.
best wishes
Star
2007-11-09 06:00:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I had something of the same thing, all of my learning just made me believe less
I had to build my own relationship with God
2007-11-09 06:00:01 · answer #8 · answered by MNgirl@thebeach 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well, I'm sorry that you didn't get it, but it sounds to me like your parents didn't try very hard to give you that personal message like your friend did when you were 45.
I'm Catholic, but wasn't raised Catholic. I'm raising my kids Catholic, but I don't just throw them into all the routines and expect them to just "get it." We talk about Jesus and why we love Him and how He loves us and all of that.
Catholicism doesn't make it hard. Lack of interaction does, but that was your parents' fault, really. Sorry.
2007-11-09 06:00:03 · answer #9 · answered by sparki777 7 · 9⤊ 3⤋
Amen !!! That is why God made the bible and his word to be preached to every creature of Gods free salvation plan !!! It's not if you do this and this and do this 3x a day then pray to whoever and.....
2007-11-09 06:47:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋