What Denomination Are You?

As some here may know already I am a Roman Catholic. I am of the conservative variety. I am not an "American Catholic" or "cafeteria Catholic." I am not a "traditionalist" Catholic, who rejects the teachings of the Second Vatican Council or the Novus Ordo Mass. I attend Mass on Sundays, and usually go to weekday Mass 2-3 days per week, my work schedule permitting. I partake of the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a weekly basis, being the human sinner that I am. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours, read the Bible and pray the Rosary daily, and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Fridays. I state these things not to brag of my devotional regimen (which is not as in-depth as I would like), but to demonstrate that orthodox Roman Catholic devotion doesn't limit itself to Sunday Mass, as many would have people believe. I am also something of a Church apologist, so forgive me if this post sounds like a theological lecture, as that is not the intent. I try to reserve those for the "Independent Theological Scholar's Association" that Raven and I have started.

I am something of an anomaly in secularist America, in that I embrace the totality of the Roman Catholic faith, without reservation. I came to this POV through a long spiritual journey, and as a result of many years of study, analysis and soul searching. I began as a Southern Baptist, however that particular sect left me cold. Not the people, but the theology and getting yelled at every Sunday morning and evening. I knew I was a sinner, and didn't need to be yelled at like a recruit in basic training. As a 9 year old, I was "saved," and baptised, although now I would argue that I was just carried away by emotion (my father had died about 4 months prior to that) and had no clue as to what was going on theologically or spiritually.

I wandered through agnosticism (almost a requirement in the early 80's for physics majors in college ), Buddhism, paganism/druidism, a brief sojourn in the Episcopal Church, and from there, eventually, to the Roman Catholic Church. I was fortunate to room with a guy who was doing his pre-theology studies, prior to entering a Franciscan seminary (now a Franciscan Father in the Holy Land), who had several boxes of Roman Catholic theology books. I read them, at first with a jaundiced eye (especially the ones on Mariology), but gradually, after comparing what all of these books said with what the Bible had to say, I came to see that it all made sense. This part of my journey took place from 1982-1989. Things just sort of stewed for a few years, and I drifted from church to church. I continued to study systematic and dogmatic theology, apologetics, biblical Greek and Aramaic and also to read the writings of the early Church Fathers, such as Tertullian, Ignatius of Antioch, St Polycarp, St Justin Martyr and many others. I didn't go to Mass (even though I felt drawn to it) because my family was so dead set against it. (Unfortunately, my grandmother went to her grave knowing, just knowing, that I was going to hell, because I had "poped.") I even tried going back to the Southern Baptist church I had left earlier, because of a new pastor. Same ol' thing, just with a higher pitched voice, and this guy also liked to pound on the pulpit, once hitting it so hard that he shorted out the sound system! Finally, much to the chagrin of my family, I started attending Mass. That was all it took. It felt like I was coming home. This was also the impetus for my wife and I to start dating, even though we had met at my place of work (me, a dispatcher/firefighter and her a juvenile officer, well, it just sort of clicked). She, as my girlfriend ("that Catholic girl" to my family) provided me with some much needed encouragement during that time.

I asked the parish priest, a cool redneck called Fr. Martin Hayes, who instructed me in the Faith, helping me to see the true sacramental nature of the Church. We met every couple of weeks, for 2-3 hours, and went over what I had learned from my own studies. He really helped me to fill in some of the areas which I had trouble with, like Confession. I had approached him about joining the Church in November 1992, and was received at the Easter Vigil Mass, 1993. Since that time I have become a lector, proclaiming the non-Gospel readings and the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass, as well as being a catechist, teaching our parish's young people the Faith and helping instruct converts in the RCIA program. I have never been happier, spiritually. I look forward eagerly to assisting at Mass, and receiving the Body and Blood of my Lord in the Eucharist. Joy of joys!!

Eamon, I hate to hear that you had a run-in with a less than hospitable priest. The Church needs people of "your type" that is, people who want to worship as Roman Catholics. It sounds like that priest was being judgmental of the fact that you aren't a Sunday morning regular. He seems to forget that while Catholics are bound to assist at Mass every Sunday, they are only canonically bound to come to Mass and Confession during the Lenten-Easter season. I agree with Irish-Stepper, don't let that one bad-tempered priest run you away from the Church. Keep on looking for a parish that suits you.

Though, Eamon, you did state one thing which bothers me.

Being something of a historian myself , the dogmatic foundations of the Church have not changed for 2000 years (down, Raven, down!! ). The Reformation (as much a political event as religious) did not change the theological precepts of the Church, only how she looked at the rest of the world. Vatican II was a pastoral council, which changed ephemeral details of the liturgy, etc, but did not touch the dogma underlying. Vatican I, in 1870, which defined papal infallibility as dogmatic, was the last time any dogma was defined. The Real Presence in the Eucharist, for example, the most important belief in the Church, has remained unchanged since Apostolic times (back, Raven, back!! ).

Oh, Elspeth. I believe you stated in another forum that you wanted to know how I got from Southern Baptist to Roman Catholic. There y'are, m'dear!

Whew. I don't think I've ever written this much about my faith journey before. Hope y'all weren't bored to tears or offended by it!

Pax Christi vobiscum.

Just my tuppence.

Andy

Well, this is way cool.

When I said we were an eclectic community, I didn't realize how eclectic we were individually.

I found myself agreeing with so many things. What I like about our Presbyterian church we attend is that probably half of the congregation, or more was not raised Presbyterian. It makes for a richer community in my opinion.

And andy, you said you had problems with confession. It's strange, but one of the things about the Catholic Church that I like is the confession. At least I think I would. There have been times I wanted to go to confession, but as a non-Catholic I didn't think I would be welcome. I certainly wouldn't know the protocal.

Thanks for sharing all.

I have been in a church of my forefathers. It was difficult for some when we left it. My mother really is hung up on the baptism issue and my sister told me it was like we were deserting a dying friend when I said we needed a more vibrant community to raise our children in. Presbyterianism is far from perfect. But a great deal of what you get from a church is what you put into it. Faith and belief are one thing. Church another. At least for me. Church is the place Christains gather, are fed and restored, are challenged and work together as a body for the good of the Lord. Faith and belief is a personal realtionship between the one and the Lord. That can happen anywhere. I, for one, have always been closer to God on a hilltop than in a church.

Really, the problem I had with confession was a purely human one- I was ashamed to admit my sins to another human. Fr. Marty showed me that the priest is acting in alter Christus, dispensing the absolution. That, and he assured me that there was nothing that I could possibly confess that he hadn't heard before.

Actually, that is what I like about confession now. It forces me to be humble. It forces me to vocalize my sins and misdeeds to another, which makes me much less likely to commit them again, a practical "plus" for confession. Plus, the assurance of absolution is comforting.

Andy

Yeah, that's what I like about the idea of confession. I think the Catholic Church should have 'open confession' night for all of us Protestants who would like the same unburdening to another who we knew had to keep their mouths shut afterwards.

When I do go to confession, I always go into the confessional with the screen. I want something, however scant, between my face and the priest's hand .

I've tried face-to-face confession, and it makes me just too uncomfortable. I prefer the old style confessional, with the screen. The absolution is just as valid and there isn't the uncomfortableness of having the priest look you in the eyes while you are confessing.

I don't mind being humbled when going to confession. Like I said, it helps to keep me honest between confessions. But I find with face-to-face confession, I am trying to read what the priest is thinking, instead of concentrating on my sins.

Just my tuppence.

Andy

Some of this may seem like TMI, but is is a part of my journey.

My Story:

My father was a very devout Catholic. He went to mass and Eucharistic adoration daily. He was also a member of the Knights of then Immaculata and the Knights of Columbus. My mother, who had previously been married, and had my brother had converted from Methodism when she married my father. The first 5 years of my life were spent as a very devout catholic. I was born on August 15, which some of you may know is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary in to Heaven, so I went to mass every year on my birthday. That also explains my name: Mary Elizabeth. I remember one year we had a birthday party for me which included Mass in our backyard with the priest at our church.

My mother ended up cheating on my father with a very high profile member of the church, and getting pregnant with my little sister, and they divorced. I went to live with her and ner new husband. They were basically kicked out of the church after that, and went from one catholic church to another and dragged me along in the process. I continued to go to various Catholic schools, depending on what church they were attending, and a couple public schools thrown in there for money reasons, and completed every sacrament but Confirmation.

They ended up in the charismatic catholic movement and stayed there for a while. Then a friend had introduced them to a HUGE Southern Baptist Church. They converted, and dragged me there as well. This was a very "charismatic" chucrch run by a few pastors. All I saw from them was their fancy houses and shiny new expensive cars and all I could think was that they were doing nothing but milking money out of these people. My mom and stepfather pulled me out of the school I was attending, and enrolled me in the school at this Southern Baptist Church. It went from preschol to the college they had just started. I absolutely hated it. I firmly held onto my catholic beliefs, and was told the whole time that I was wrong, that I was resacrificing Christ when I took communion during the weekends I was visiting my father.

I did do the full immersion baptism to please my mother and step father. And they remained at that church for quite a few years with only 1 brief stint back at the catholic church.

I went to live with my dad and started going back to the Catholic church, and was very active in CYO. I did community work with them and was very happy. I ended up moving back with my mother and stepdad. They were going to a Non Denominational church at the time which I percieved to be a smaller version of the Southern Baptist church. They had a school of the prophetic and were very over the top on things. They also liked to tell me I was wrong and going to hell for being a Catholic. I finally convinced my parents that I was old enough to go to church on my own ( I am not sure how I did that) and started going to the local catholic church with some fiends of mine. That lasted until I went to college.

I started going to the Newman Center at my college and eventually stopped because of time constraints and studying. I left school and continued to stop going. When I went back to school for Anthropology I started seeing the similarities between the different religions of the world. I also wondered how with so many people in the world that there could only be one way to "heaven". I have continued that train of though ever since.

I basically introduced myself to Wicca. I decided to read about it to see if it was actually what I thought it was or not. I found out that it was not full of satanic-blood-drinking-baby-sacrificing-goaheaded people. I sterted practicing after a coupe years of study.

I still have a fondness for catholocism, I still have all of my dad's rosaries and scapulas (sp). I have all of his books and statues too. I just do not practice anymore. I describe my beliefs as being MORE than christianity. I share many of their beliefs, but I also believe things from many other religions.





WOW!! This is my longest post ever!

Hey everyone
I grew up in a pretty conservative Christian Reformed Church. After some issues we left and moved to an even more conservative church called the United Reformed. Though I find much of their doctrine beautiful, (contrary to popular belief, most of the doctrine of the church simply ties the whole Bible together and is more philosophical then a set of added rules by the church. All of the doctrine in this church was Biblically based.) I simply was not finding God. I mean, it's one thing to have head knowledge, but totally another to put into practice.

I have been raised in such a way that christianity is important and crucial, but you don't go up to random people and say, so what's Christ doing in your life today! Anyway, I went on a mission trip to Romania a few years ago and it was extremely interesting to see all the different background denominationally anyway. I had never heard of people running laps around the church because they are filled with the Holy Spirit, or speaking in tongues! The one thing I did love about many people, however, was the fact that Christ radiated in every part of their life.

Right now I play piano for a Presbyterian church. I really like it there and the people are absolutely wonderful, though I still "church searching". I agree with the general concensus that the church is fairly corrupt and too many times turns people away from Christ rather than too.. In the end, the Bible is the Truth, not the Church

Andy, good post. What you said about the 'dogmatic foundations' of the Church I agree with, and the Preist (we will call him Father was quick to point that out. We were going at it pretty heavy at that point (and to think I visited with him to get his blessing to come back to the Church!)

I kept going to that Church, but wouldn't take communion. We would glare at each other, to the utter glee of Father McGlaughlin (who had heard of our verbal reparte). I intend to keep trying, and to keep a good attitude about it, but it did cause quite a stir when it happened. Father B finally got his own Parish, and headed to North Philadelphia. I still see him occasionally.

I intend to keep trying, but my faith is more important to me, and I keep that strong.

Eamon

Don't let the liberal/secularist/money grubbing bent of many clergy these days keep you from the Church. The times, they are a-changing, and the current crop of seminarians are generally more devout and orthodox than they have been for 40 years. Praise God! As to your quest and determination to prevail, all I can say is "Huah!!"

I'll say a prayer to St. Joseph for you, man! Keep the faith!

Just my tuppence.

Andy

Thanks Andy! I do appreciate it!

Eamon

Well I spent the first 25 years of my life as a Catholic. Then I turned away from God altogether. I just got to the place that I did not believe anymore. But then it didn't stop there. I couldn't help believe in something bigger than me! I started reading about as many different religions as I could. As a result, I became a Christian. I did so because I personally believed the historcity of Jesus Christ and the Bible. I believed in the writings of Josephus, the Jewish historian of that day, and it went from there. I finally came to the conclusion that Christ was either who he said he was or he was the craziest man on earth. I chose to believe He was Son of God. I now attend a non-denominational church called the "Christian" church. It is much like the Baptist church if you wanted to compare it to another.

I was born and raised Catholic. Cradle Catholic. Happy to be a Catholic. But my flavor of being Catholic is very different than my kids. I was raised in the Kennedy - era. I remember watching John Kennedy being sworn in on TV in the First grade. Didn't understand it then, but I was gradually brought up to appreciate it all. And glad that I did. My kids have not gotten the benefit of the daily immersion to the faith that we cussed and griped about daily. But you know, it was for the best. My faith now is very traditional and very strong. I look each day in the eye and challenge myself to take whatever comes at me, because I have The Trinity to help me through, and all of God's saints in Heaven that I can call on to pray for me. I have the benefit of the spirit of my dad, and my wonderful Grandparents as well as 2 children working to protect me and my surviving family here on earth, until the day comes that we can all be together in Heaven to worship God asa family again. I know that is going to happen. I truly do!

Was that a rant or what???

Nope. It was a well articulated statement of faith. Huah! God bless!

Hummm...let me think...Right now and for the past 15 years I haven't had a denomination. I was raised Baptist from the age of 4 years. But about the age of 8 all alone in my mother's bedroom around 10:00 at night I cried out to Jesus to come into my heart and life and be my Lord and Savior. Since then I have had a personal relationship with God/Jesus Christ. I say personal because "I" personally asked Jesus Christ into my life---to forgive me of all my sins and be my Savior. The Lord has proven Himself to me time and time again. He revealed His love to me as a young child in such a powerful way. At the time, I was going through something so horrible---I was being sexually molested by a family member. My world was upside down and when I called out to Jesus in a time of desparation, He took my pain and gave me His heart and He has never let me go!

When I was 19, I started attending an Assembly of God church. It was O.K. But when I started a non-denominational church, I loved it. Right now I attend a non-denominational church called "Generation Church." This is the best church I've ever attended. The people are so lade back and real. We believe the Bible is literal and relivant. We believe in the Apostle's Creed. We believe in the Full Gospel, being Spirit-filled and that God still heals and performs miracles. In addition, we don't believe in turning inward and getting fat, but taking what the Lord has given us and pouring it out unto others. Generation Church is very community minded. I've worked or done more things in this church than all the other churches combined I've belong to (which is a lot). Well is this all I have to say...for the moment.