Hi I am Sterling. I am 15 from the USA. I am former pagan and agnostic, now a Catholic. I like to just say....HI!
Hi Sterling, welcome to HAF!
Hi Sterling
Welcome to HAF.
Regards
Chris
Hello Jester and Chris
Hello Sterling.
Welcome to HAF.
Welcome!
Welcome ;D
Welcome!
Hello, welcome.
The UNHCR might have to be consulted soon.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 10, 2011, 12:41:01 AM
Hello, welcome.
The UNHCR might have to be consulted soon.
Fill me in ???
Hello to all!!! sorry I have been busy. What is up?
Hello Sterling9578,
What was the moment (or events/thoughts) that made you go from pagan and agnostic to catholicism.
Oh cool! just noticed you were a fellow catholic ;D
Quote from: Cooper20 on May 10, 2011, 01:14:56 AM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 10, 2011, 12:41:01 AM
Hello, welcome.
The UNHCR might have to be consulted soon.
Fill me in ???
There's been a lot of Catholics seeking refuge lately, surely some agency should take an interest in such things.
Pudding, your avatar is looking at me funny. Tell it to stop.
Also, welcome, Sterling.
Well this is long story. Ok first I guess before my age of reason I was about 7 and my stepmom took me to church(Evanglical). And I learned about the basics and just kinda took as something serious but not really realistic to a 7 year old... Anyway my grandma was a wiccan in the least tradational sense of the word and probley was more pagan. But basically she had me convinced without a question the any christian idea was wrong and that people who are inside the religion are totally unforgiving and condemning. I was a practicing pagan for 6 years until I found a couple simple logical errors with the idea of reincarnation. Also I noted that(no offence to polythiests) but it seems to me that divinity is not possible in a polytheistic situation. More on that later. But what my grandma had programmed into me stuck and I was completely convinced that there was no way that the Christian God existed. But with polytheism gone from the options, and I was pretty shut to any other religion. So I determined that it is impossible to know if a god existed and I felt that why would the God care about us and what we do? After that I remained thinking that way until the months before my 15th year old birth day. I was flipping though my limited channels(damn ecomony) and I came to Joel Ostreen. I liked the way he preached. But then I was like so what has got this guy so.... riled up? So I sent out to find out so... like others before me I read the Bible. I then realized alot of what my grandma had told me wasn't true. Anyway then I went to a Lutheran church for 3 months. I went confermation classes and I attended Bible Study. I decided that in all their unformalness and enjoyable lightness, it was not the true in doctine according to the Bible. So I went to the Catholic Church. I have discovered the true spirit of God and it happened quick I am in Bible study and Youth Group unforunately lacking in some of the MOST basic theology at first but now I am as educated in theology better then most adults are. I also study biology, chemistry, and physics in school. I am not an unintelligent kid. I will show this. Also I am taking college classes and am study philosophy in preparation for all the sacraments.(yep Holy orders and Holy matrichamony)
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 13, 2011, 03:02:38 AM
Well this is long story. Ok first I guess before my age of reason I was about 7 and my stepmom took me to church(Evanglical). And I learned about the basics and just kinda took as something serious but not really realistic to a 7 year old... Anyway my grandma was a wiccan in the least tradational sense of the word and probley was more pagan. But basically she had me convinced without a question the any christian idea was wrong and that people who are inside the religion are totally unforgiving and condemning. I was a practicing pagan for 6 years until I found a couple simple logical errors with the idea of reincarnation. Also I noted that(no offence to polythiests) but it seems to me that divinity is not possible in a polytheistic situation. More on that later. But what my grandma had programmed into me stuck and I was completely convinced that there was no way that the Christian God existed. But with polytheism gone from the options, and I was pretty shut to any other religion. So I determined that it is impossible to know if a god existed and I felt that why would the God care about us and what we do? After that I remained thinking that way until the months before my 15th year old birth day. I was flipping though my limited channels(damn ecomony) and I came to Joel Ostreen. I liked the way he preached. But then I was like so what has got this guy so.... riled up? So I sent out to find out so... like others before me I read the Bible. I then realized alot of what my grandma had told me wasn't true. Anyway then I went to a Lutheran church for 3 months. I went confermation classes and I attended Bible Study. I decided that in all their unformalness and enjoyable lightness, it was not the true in doctine according to the Bible. So I went to the Catholic Church. I have discovered the true spirit of God and it happened quick I am in Bible study and Youth Group unforunately lacking in some of the MOST basic theology at first but now I am as educated in theology better then most adults are. I also study biology, chemistry, and physics in school. I am not an unintelligent kid. I will show this. Also I am taking college classes and am study philosophy in preparation for all the sacraments.(yep Holy orders and Holy matrichamony)
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
I am confused....
oh I got it, I am not brainwashed, How do I know this? One, I do believe in Hell. I am not one those people who are unconfortable for punishment for ones sins. Also I had no one to push me but me. Another thing is that I am open minded. I have been to most religions holy places(churches,synagogues,mosques, etc.) so I know that I have a wide view of theology.
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 09, 2011, 03:01:37 PM
Hi I am Sterling. I am 15 from the USA. I am former pagan and agnostic, now a Catholic. I like to just say....HI!
Hello Sterling!! I am a Catholic as well and I'm glad to read that you have found the Good News.
It is interesting to see that there has been such a large increase in thiests on this forum.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
And this serves what purpose exactly? It's cute but is rather childish.
Quote from: PapistItalian16 on May 13, 2011, 06:23:02 PM
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 09, 2011, 03:01:37 PM
Hi I am Sterling. I am 15 from the USA. I am former pagan and agnostic, now a Catholic. I like to just say....HI!
Hello Sterling!! I am a Catholic as well and I'm glad to read that you have found the Good News.
It is interesting to see that there has been such a large increase in thiests on this forum.
thank you.
Quote from: amppax on May 13, 2011, 06:58:31 PM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
And this serves what purpose exactly? It's cute but is rather childish.
I agree.
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 13, 2011, 04:11:49 PM
Another thing is that I am open minded. I have been to most religions holy places(churches,synagogues,mosques, etc.) so I know that I have a wide view of theology.
Had you considered that there might not be a god at all?
No witches, no gods, no demons, no ghosts, just an amazingly complex and natural reality without any supernatural.
Quote from: Stevil on May 13, 2011, 08:15:28 PM
Had you considered that there might not be a god at all?
No witches, no gods, no demons, no ghosts, just an amazingly complex and natural reality without any supernatural.
Not to but in, but, I had actually considered the Norse gods for about a month. This was a loooong time ago though.
Hello and welcome. Hopefully you, as i have so far, will find this place awesome. I found it interesting for me on my own expeirience that I took much of the same journey you did. From devout baptist, my father is a minister, to agnostic, to wican, to agnostic, to buddhist. The biggest difference is that I went atheist, not saying anything bad. Just found in cool that we went through much of the same path faith wise but wound up in two very different places. Again welcome.
Welcome!
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 13, 2011, 07:01:25 PM
Quote from: amppax on May 13, 2011, 06:58:31 PM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
And this serves what purpose exactly? It's cute but is rather childish.
I agree.
Then you both need to read it again. TMPs posts are unusual in style and take a bit of reading to get your head around.
In the process of being of Agnostic, I did. But I concluded the probilibity was too low for me. Sorry. NO OFFENCE INTENDED to anyone.
Welcome!
Thank You!
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
I think he is refering to the pope. Not positive though or maybe the book Godless. Or possibly still the UNICEF comment made eariler.
Quote from: Sterling9578 on May 16, 2011, 06:32:11 AM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 13, 2011, 04:15:15 AM
Ah faith and its' multitudinous manifestations, what a wonderful thing.
You want to help the poor, but need help coping with their smelly feet, we can help. In no time you'll be able to turn your nose up at those so called clever people.
Not comfortable with hell? Easily fixed, we have a variety of plans for the squeamish.
Uneasy with clever woman, not happy with your place in society? Don't fret half the population could be set below you.
Do you enjoy enthusiastic singing dancing and clapping, no worries we can do that too!
Yes that one is impressive, but yes you're right, a bit crass, too reminiscent of a used car sales man.
Ahh, I can see you're a discerning customer, yes the impeccable robes, regal hat, the metaphorical metaphors, the classics never go out of fashion.
I think he is refering to the pope. Not positive though or maybe the book Godless. Or possibly still the UNICEF comment made eariler.
It was inspired by this from your Sterling self:
QuoteAnyway then I went to a Lutheran church for 3 months. I went confermation classes and I attended Bible Study. I decided that in all their unformalness and enjoyable lightness, it was not the true in doctine according to the Bible. So I went to the Catholic Church.
It seems you went looking for the Christian god, one offering was light and enjoyable, but the Catholic church offered something different. I've attended a few Catholic services, baptisms, weddings and communions. There certainly seems to be a lot of effort put into making it a spectacle, through clothes, music, architecture and paraphernalia. As for metaphors, the services were full of them, the priests say we are doing this to represent something else repeatedly.
So the truth is offered in different flavours for different folk, due I suppose to history and modern marketing techniques. Some of us unbelievers will condemn churches for punishing divergent thought, but say ah ha, the Christian church is splintered, surely a divinely inspired faith would remain one. We are hard to please.
Anyway I hope you enjoy Catholicism, personally I liked the sound of the easy going Lutherans, flamboyant displays seem a bit suspect to me.
Wierd, I find it the other way around actually. Like transubstantiation for example. They say exactly what it means. But the Lutherans treat it as not even a sacrament. Also it is very loud in Lutheran churches compared to Catholic Churches. They are also more tradational in the sense of they were the first church. The Christian Church split because of misunderstanding. This is why people read the bible and take their own intepratation is dangerous. I would agree if they disagreed AFTER they consulted a priest/theologian. I think that the protestant reformation should have been avoided all together. Then athiest or skeptics would have no case to argue. Though the cases made Martin Luther and Calvin are intresting they only highlight parts of scripture which SEEM to favor them but if you read the Bible, and you are able to consult SOMEBODY(doesn't even have to be a priest nessasarly) it will help you understand the doctine. This is the only reason the church is split. Also I remember talking to a pastor from the church I went to and she didn't even the basic belief of salvation by faith.
MORE POSTS PLEASE!!