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1. Were you born/raised catholic?


Yes but in my case I never accepted the teachings. I went to Catholic school and was confirmed (lived across street from school and hung out with the nuns even visiting the convent) but was an atheist by age 10. I lived at that church school complex from age 7-13. I became Unitarian-Universalist for 13 years from first year of college to age 30. I was nearly disowned by my family over becoming UU. I went back to Catholic church at age 30 when I believed in Jesus but went back to "what I knew", gave into those family pressures instead of taking time. That was 1999--/2000, I would leave by 2002.

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2. How long ago did you leave the catholic church?


I left in Spring of 2002. So I guess its going to be two years in a few months.

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3. Why did you leave the catholic church (what made you start questioning your faith)?


a) I took RCIA update in 2001. Having been confirmed at age 13, I was in update not the convert track but with the converts. I found myself disagreeing with much of what they taught.

b) Due to a severe illness in 2001, I was bedbound for a few months and started reading the Bible in its entirety. This raised many questions. I had done some Bible study before which brought up questions.

c) My Catholic church had an ecumenical womans group with women from mainline Protestant churches. I found myself agreeing with their theology far far more.

d) New Age stuff and other junk was promoted at this church--I was under constant pressures to get energy field healings. After I was saved, this happened in 2002, where I turned my life over to Jesus, I started having discernnment for things. I knew these things were wrong. The politics were very Leftist of the church and some scandalous things were going on. I never heard the word Sin once. I still remember the day my last priest made excuses for the sex abusers and those who hid them.

e) Being UU, and being full deep into Theosophy and HUmanism, I knew much of the United Nations teachings matched the Humanist Socialist agenda. The more I found out about Vatican politics the more upset I was. I also recognized Humanism, and Theosophy in the Popes words. I also realized that the Popes, Cardinals and more were teaching a pseudo-form of Universalism with a Christian facade--the Seeds of the Word and Assisi gathering stuff. I still remember when I found that book Arinze wrote in Feb 2002, that was for all religions to come together. That was my first post on RR, and that is when I met other Christians and started to talk to them about what Christs teachings truly were. Finding about about Assisi, the UN support, the Universalism of the Pope, the fact that the Catholic church teaches Allah-Islam God equals Jehovah was all the icing on the cake.

f) I had difficulty with many Catholic doctrines even with my incomplete return in 99/2000. The Eucharist teachings I ignored. I had a Catholic friend tell me while I was in there it didnt matter if I believed it was Jesus or not in the flesh. I went with that...but after realizing what the RCC really taught about communion, stopped partaking. The whole time I was there I would take communion only rarely. I got very little out of the Mass, found it repetive and empty.

g) I still remember one sacrament I got, Anointing of the Sick in 2001. I dont blame my priest he is a nice guy and was following church protoccol. I had lost most of my hearing and nearly died the month prior. I had lost my balance and no one had explained to me why my vision didnt work the same way. It would turn out I had autoimmune Meniries--it had started before I had infection even. So I got anointing of the sick. It was very empty. I knew i had difficulty with these rituals. they didnt seem to have God within them. It was ROTE.

I remember praying after that day Lord I need you. Please come to me. This is when I went on to know Jesus and when I asked the Lord to come take care of me. HE DID. Amen!

Later one I would realize the prayers done with my fellow Baptist church members were far more powerful with the Holy Spirit present.

h) I started studying bible very extensively before my exit and later on, I had a full 2-3 hour a week study I would do outside of my church. I realized much didnt match Catholic doctrine. I had noticed this even years earlier.

i) There has always seemed to me to be a COLDNESS to the Catholic faith. Like they dont care about individuals, like they didnt care about much. JUST EMPTY AND COLD. I remember being a kid in Mass constantly and I would have constant anxiety attacks here--never did anytime else, I also would have this thought--God is so distance, he doesnt care, I am just one of the masses. Weird thought but I had it constant. It wasnt til I was saved and Knew Jesus Christ personally that I felt any of Christs love. Knowing the true gospel of TOTAL GRACE AND GODS LOVE was the most amazine experience of my life. It is amazing knowing what Jesus has done for us and my Christian brothers and sisters.

But then God presented to me as a kid and Catholic was far away. A God to be afraid of, A God that would send you to Purgatory no matter what. As a child I thought God was *mean*. This was my pathway and why I chose atheism at the age of 10. Yes I was an atheist that young.

God is presented as DISTANT in the Catholic faith. Even here on this board I see some Catholics that seem to have intellectual knowledge of Jesus but no heart knowledge. They depend on their history and RCC authority first and foremost. It is worrisome to see.

J) I would have left the Catholic church even if I believed in the doctrines which I do not. I believe that evil has overtaken its clergy and most of them barely even believe in God anymore. When Trad Catholics talk of freemasons (other words that could be used humanists, theosophists etc) taking over I AGREE.

I of course believe that the Catholic church is the church mentioned in Revelation 17. Rev 17 speaks of a counterfeit Christianity that overtakes much of the world. What else but the Roman Catholic church would fulfill this prophecy.

K) The doctrines are false and much of their authority is self claimed. I have talked of Purgatory, Eucharist, Papacy and found most of them to be built on myths and self-proclaimed history rather then scripture.

L) The catholic churches denial of Scripture to me is beyond hideous. The first day I read my KJV bible when I bought it. I was saved by that point but I knew when i opened that Bible and started reading I had been given a gift by God that I had his Almighty Word...and for this I am ETERNALLY grateful to the Lord. I wish all could experience this. I am sure Shain, Deb and others here very much could relate to what I am talking about.

M) Denial of power and prophecy of Gods Word--dont need to explain much more on that.



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4. Are you criticized by your family for no longer being catholic?


I was disowned for being UU and estranged from family members during those years for daring to leave the Catholic church. One uncle has gone to Presbyterian church with a wife for over 15 years and not stepped foot in RCC but wont leave or join Presbyterian church because of these immense pressures. For my parents it was be Catholic or else. For now I have not told a few relatives.

An aunt knows and doesnt care. She quit church long ago.

My brother is dating a nonCatholic Christian now and is accepting probably because of that factor. We are closer so I can tell him things.

I will be telling my sister soon.

Some others know but could care less-most who are atheists.

Most of my relatives do not attend church and many because of the number the Catholic church has done on them have given up totally on God--no longer believe in HIm which breaks my heart.