or would you study Catholicism on your own?
sorry if I have to ask. I'm really just wondering.
thanks in advance for answering!
2007-12-18 12:26:27 · 6 answers · asked by The Asker 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wouldn't trust an ex-anything, until I'm able to get a sense of whether they have an axe to grind against their former brethren. Such are often given to exaggeration at the very least.
I was formerly Baptist before I came home to the Church; I wouldn't expect anyone to give my opinion about the SBC any special weight, either, just on the basis that I am a "former".
That's why the very earnest but horribly biased web site that often turns up as a source here -- "what every Catholic should know" -- isn't very impressive. It relies heavily on the presence of an alleged former priest to prop up the usual anti-Catholic rhetoric.
2007-12-18 16:15:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, I wouldn't ask an ex-Catholic as most who have left the Church had a dim understanding of their faith in the first place. As such, most Catholics who leave the Church and join another usually join up with anti-Catholic churches or at least those who do not easily welcome present Catholics.
My boyfriend is a good example of that: He was a former 'Catholic' who went to chuch about once a month and to CCD even less. He finally complained enough that his mother stopped taking him and when he started dating me, he began going to Mass with me.
At Mass he said he was overcome with emotion and decided to start going back to church, but since he didn't really like the Catholic church, he found another one. Those 'City' Church of Christ ones and they aren't too friendly to Catholics.
Anyway, he now believes that Catholicism is wrong and if anyone asks him, he will tell them all the rumors I have proven to be false about my religion because that's what he's been taught. They just repeat it back and most people walk away believing we are the 'spawn of Satan'.
It's best to speak with a priest at a conservative Catholic church to get information about the Mass or do your own research.
2007-12-20 02:01:11 · answer #2 · answered by Aleria: United Year Of Faith 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would study it on my own, or speak to someone who recently converted to the Catholic Church (like myself :D). You want a fair, unbiased opinion, which is why you should study on your own. However, getting information from a person who converted to the Church and even one who converted away from the Church could help to give you a balanced interpretation, but I'd advise that you only do this after you've studied the standard teaching of the Church so that you are more informed if you decide to speak with someone.
God bless and Merry Christmas!
2007-12-20 14:47:55 · answer #3 · answered by Danny H 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would trust my own ability to do independent research. Most ex-Catholics I have encountered have left the Church due to at least one of any number of "popular" misunderstandings about Catholicism.
This, in my opinion, calls into question the knowledge they have about the Faith, no matter what denomination they hail from.
This is why I trust Church Documentation, and my ability to look these things up.
2007-12-19 14:04:26 · answer #4 · answered by Daver 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. If they left the faith for a Protestant branch, then chances are that they know nothing about their faith. They either got married to a firm Protestant and just didn't care enough about their own faith, or they were one of those NUTJOBS who still think we Worship Mary!!! HA!!! We never did that, by the way. Peace.
2007-12-24 13:06:57 · answer #5 · answered by Catholic717 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Catholic anymore, but no.
Many of them are grossly ignorant about what the church teaches, but people listen to them just, because they're ex-catholics.
2007-12-18 20:29:48 · answer #6 · answered by STAR POWER=) 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋