for those that have converted to another religion

[Denine]

How did you make up your mind and do you have any regrets?

I have been married 14 years and have never wanted to convert. However, I no longer agree with the church I was brought up in. I am very conservative and the church has turned very liberal. My FIL died a couple of weeks ago, and I have been thinking about it more. Mostly, I want to present a united front to our daughter who is 3 and when I die, I want more than just a prayer service at a funeral home.

Just looking for what others have done.

DH has never pressured me to convert.

 

[Aurora63]

What religion are you thinking of converting to?

My DH is Muslim. He does not pressure me (Christian) to convert. I know I never will convert...I am not very religious, but I do feel very strongly about my faith, and I can't change that now! So we'll keep it as is.

 

[Denine]

I would be converting from Protestant (UCC) to Catholic.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I went through RCIA with people of many different ages in all different walks of life. I had sprinklings of my desire to be Catholic throughout my youth even though noone in my family is Catholic. It is where I always felt at home.

If you no longer feel at home--perhaps checking first if another congregation would solve your dilemma. The next step would be trying other faiths--attending different services. I did this--though not in any great amounts...and the only place I ever felt home was a Catholic Mass and I only went to those when invited.

You might consider attending a mass and seeing what it feels like. I have a few friends whose spouses attend and for one reason or another--it just isn't the time for them yet.

If you call the parish--they should have an inquiry program--the first step in conversion. Basically a Q&A opportunity..but you aren't saying you will or won't convert. You just go to get your questions answered to see if the Catholic faith may be right for you.

I converted in college--though since I wasn't baptized, I was not technically a convert as wasn't truly practicing anything to convert from.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would be converting from Protestant (UCC) to Catholic.

In my RCIA--we had a woman who was graying--had grown children..I think she may have even had grandchildren.

God calls you when your ready. So there is no rush to the process. Good luck!

 

[JELBoggio]

Converting to a religion other than the one you were brought up with is a hard decision. I'll give you the short version of my own experience.

I was brought up Protestant although my Dad never attended church with my mom and I. Going to church was sporadic to say the least. I've always felt close to God growing up and would always pray at night on my own. Religion was a touchy subject in my home because when my Dad's parents married, they eloped. Gma being Protestant and Gpa being Catholic, neither family thought the other was good enough since they weren't the "right" religion.

Well, to me going to church didn't matter much because I started to buy into what my Dad thought - that going to church didn't matter and that I could be close to God without organized religion in my life.

Now, my DH's family is religious and attended Mass every Sunday. I would go with them on occasion when I visited them. When we got married, we were married in a Protestant church, even though my DH is Catholic. I told him that I would not convert and that I liked my religion and he supported that 100%.

We had DD and we baptised her in the Catholic church. We "church shopped" until we found one we both liked and it happened to be Catholic. Still, I did not want to convert. Then DS was born and again, baptised in the Catholic church. One of the sisters spoke to me and said that if I was ever interested in converting, to speak with her.

Ultimately, I did convert (process takes about 8 months to a year). That was almost 4 years ago. DH was surprised and was happy that I was doing this for myself as well as my family. I never had any issues with being Protestant at all. In the area we live in, there are lots of Catholic churches. A Catholic church is the one we identified the most closely with. For me, I wanted to be the same religion as my children - to be able to take communion with them and to share the same religion as them. I do feel a strong sense of community with my church and we are very active in our Parish community. I feel more "whole" with my family and with God.

My family understands my decision and my mom is happy for me, although my Dad really could care less. They still accept me - even my Gma.

People convert for various reasons. Mine was brought about by my kids and it has brought me so much happiness. I hope it does the same for you. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Saphire]

Hi Denine,
I was brought up Catholic but attend a Protestant church now. I did not convert to another religion, as Catholics and Protestants have the same doctrine and foundation in their faith. (Think Apostles Creed) It is okay to switch from one to another (Catholic-Protestant) if it is best for you, as you would only be switching churches, not your faith or religion. God will lead you when you seek Him, as you desire to find a new expression of your faith. Remember, it is not about the church, the building or the denomination, but about your relationship with God.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Saphire she is talking about converting from Protestant to Catholic.

 

[Saphire]

Saphire she is talking about converting from Protestant to Catholic.

Yes, I realize that. My point was that I don't see an issue going from Catholic-Protestant OR Protestant to Catholic, because it is the same faith! Just a different expression. We believe the same foundational things about Jesus and who He was. So this would not be a conversion of religion, just a switching of churches.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Yes, I realize that. My point was that I don't see an issue going from Catholic-Protestant OR Protestant to Catholic, because it is the same faith! Just a different expression. We believe the same foundational things about Jesus and who He was. So this would not be a conversion of religion, just a switching of churches.

Actually there is a conversion if she wants to partake in all sacraments. She cannot recieve communion for one but she can attend mass every Sunday.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Actually there is a conversion if she wants to partake in all sacraments. She cannot recieve communion for one but she can attend mass every Sunday.

Additionally--many things are different in how they view things as well.
Think Saints, Mary--while we don't worship them, it is a big part of the Catholic faith and not necessarily so in the Protestant Faith.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Additionally--many things are different in how they view things as well.
Think Saints, Mary--while we don't worship them, it is a big part of the Catholic faith and not necessarily so in the Protestant Faith.

Lisa,
I am Catholic. I was just surprised that somebody who said she was raised Catholic did not understand you don't just walk into a Catholic church and become Catholic. It really warms my heart to see people who convert to Catholics, since we tend to get bashed most of the time. I do love my religion and as I get older seem to be drawn more and more into it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It really warms my heart to see people who convert to Catholics, since we tend to get bashed most of the time. I do love my religion and as I get older seem to be drawn more and more into it.

Easter is my favorite time of year with the Baptisms. I don't go to the vigil anymore, but the following week--they do show all the baptisms that took place. Babies through adult. The catechumens (forgetting my terms here--the already baptized) don't get shown as much---but pretty neat thing to watch every year

 

[Jennifer S]

I was raised Catholic. My DH was raised Lutheran. When we got married we tried all kinds of churches together and we finally decided on our local Lutheran church. All I had to do was meet w/ the pastor - since I was already baptized that was it. I do believe there are more steps going the other way - to Catholic. Make a meeting w/ the priest to talk.

 

[pammypooh]

I was raised in the UCC too. And I converted after my DH and I became engaged. He did not pressure me at all. I attended Mass with some friends in college and found it to be a beautiful service. I went through the classes and DH served as my sponsor. Now that we have a family I can't imagine not being a member of the same congregation as my kids. Or sending them up to receive Holy Communion and not being able to experience it with them. I love our Parish and we send our kids to our parish school. Our church/school really is the center of our spiritual as well as social lives. Please consider speaking with someone (DH? or Catholic friend? Priest?) and talk about your feelings. I was most concerned with how my grandmother would react and she most wanted me to have a life filled with faith. I know she is looking down at my family now and is pleased we are where we are and that we worship together as a family.

Good luck to you in your decisions!

Pam

 

[goofygirl]

There's plenty of message boards out there to go to. I know Catholic Answers is one , catholic-convert.com is another. Do a Google search.

I know someone who just converted to the RCC at 62. And I also have a friend converting from Judiasm to the RCC because he is marrying a Catholic. They are very happy.

As for myself, I am in the process of looking into possibly converting to the Episcopal Church. I grew up not practicing anything, though I have Jewish and Catholic roots. I explored both and Judiasm just seemed too "foreign" to me with the Hebrew, etc and the RCC seemed too confining and strict. Episcopal seems like the "happy medium" I fit into, with all the attractive things in that I like- bells, communion, singing, kneeling, rosary beads, etc. It just seems to fit.

 

[katedrew94]

I converted to my DH's religion, and I do regret it. At the time I really only did it because his family wanted me to, and it was easier to keep the peace. Not good reasons, I know, but at the time I was young and wanted to be accepted.

There have been many life circumstances that have turned me off to organized religion since then. I would not do it again. My DH is also frustrated with his religion and we haven't been to church in a long time.

 

[numbersman]

What religion are you thinking of converting to?

My DH is Muslim. He does not pressure me (Christian) to convert. I know I never will convert...I am not very religious, but I do feel very strongly about my faith, and I can't change that now! So we'll keep it as is.

You are Christian, and he is Muslim? How do you do it? I mean, if you are Christian, then you must know that your husband isn't saved, b/c Muslim beliefs and Christian beliefs about salvation are COMPLETELY different. Honestly, you say you feel strongly about your faith (though your not very religious, still trying to see how that is possible), so how does it make you feel to know that he's not saved, but you assumably are? I know the Bible says to stay in the marriage and try to convert the other person (1 Corinthians), but this would be pretty tough in your situation, I would think.

 

[Disney Doll]

Oh numbersman, lets not go there!!!! That is not the point of this thread, and it's just going to turn it into another big Christian-bashing thread.

To the OP Denine, if you think you want to convert to Catholicism, I would suggest you go speak to the priest at your local Catholic Church. If your DH goes to church, perhaps ask him which priest (if there is more than one at the parish) might be best suited to helping you...priests are people too and their strengths and weaknesses lie in different areas. Some are better working with children, some are better working with seniors, some are better administrators etc.

The Catholic religion does have its good points (which are seldom discussed) and its bad points (which seem to be discussed ad nauseum, especially around here!!! ), so it might be best for you to learn about it to see if it would really be right for you. But it would be best for you to really research it & learn about it. I would avoid hearing about it from those who may not be as well-versed in the history of the Catholic Church as they think they are!!!!

There are some differences between the Catholic and Protestant religions, but there are many similarities too, so Catholic may have the benefit of letting you feel comfortable because of the similarities with the extra added "oomph" you seem to be seeking.

I wish you the best in your endeavor. I am a "cradle Catholic" and have always found my religion to be what I need to fully live my life.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Disney Doll what a great post. I am Catholic but never heard the term "cradle Catholic" before. Does that mean you were born to Catholic parents and raised Catholic (this is me)?