Hello all. This may not be the most exciting conversion story, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it (hehe).

I was baptized Catholic when I was a baby, and later on received my first holy communion (I also remember spitting it out as I held it in my mouth until I got back to my seat. I did not understand.) But by the time I stopped going to church (for personal reasons) I never got to receive my Confirmation.

Anyways, as I grew to be a teenager I believed in an afterlife of spirits and ghosts, mainly pagan beliefs I had but if anyone asked me if I believed in Christ or God I said yes. Until the trials came. Then I became an athiest for a time. As the years passed a friend of mine who just got back from Isreal from a missionary trip, would every now and then talk to me about God. Alot of questions were asked by me of course, but eventualy I came to believe again. But I said I would only read books about God and not attend church. And have you know it, a month later I was attending church (a Protestant church. For my friend belonged to the "Christian Missionary Alliance Church").

I met wonderful people there, one in paticualer who I became close with. We'd stay after the service and even the night time service for literely hours talking about God and the Bible. And at that time I was very much anti-Catholic, (though he was not). Mainly because my parents were Catholic and I feared for them believing they would go to hell just like anyone who attends a Catholic Church. I thought I knew about Catholicism. I believed it was a cult, had nothing to do with the bible, and made up it's own ideas never refering to scripture.

As time passed I became less anti-Catholic but began to listen to a certain radio station that strictly taught election (though not entirely like Calvinism). For a time I was so hooked to it beleiving everything the station taught, especialy the president of it. My close friend and I were both hooked on it deeply. Our own pastor though detested it because of the way the president preached and certain beliefs he held. But we both continued to listen.

Later on though, my friend and I along with a couple others at our church was always arguing on different matters after the church service. Even the pastor too sometimes. Over and over again it was the same thing every Sunday after church, "arguing time with Mark against this doctrine, or with Robert against this doctrine, etc. It began to deeply depress me and discourage me. With everyone saying so many different things and all pointing toward scripture yet having opposing conclusions, I began to feel like I didn't even know God. What was write. What Karl says sounds like it makes sense, and what Jeff says does too, so who is write? I just developed an attitude of "hey, if you can point it out in the Bible, then it's ok to beleive it, even if your wrong because God will understand." But where was all the truth. I still felt distant.

Well, eventual a beautiful smart and sweet woman crashed into me. I had my dog with me and the first thing she said was "Is your dog ok?" LOL! Yes my dog was for all of you who are wondering, and I was too along with her. She told me she was a Catholic, and I told her I was a christian. She at least knew that she was also a christian. I was surprised to find out that she had a personal relationship with God!

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), May 05, 2004

Answers

So soon we began to date. I met her parents and she met mine. And I even remember going to her house the first time and seeing so many religous pictures they had hung up. I felt un-easy at first, and especialy when they showed me "Holy Water" in a bottle. Never-the- less, we had a good time that night. Though her parents were a little mad because she was suppose to be home at 9pm but got home at 12am. And of course they probaly thought we were being "bad" but a smile was brought to their face when they found out we were talking about God the entire time as we sat in the car.

I attended her Catholic Church on Easter, the next week she attended mine, but never wished to return. Although the people were friendly she said, she did not like how the Lords Supper was celebrated. I was uneasy at her church too and did not really care for it. But as we grew closer I knew something had to be done about our differences on beliefs. I still thought the Catholic Church had barely any scripture on it's doctrines too, but I wasn't anti-Catholic anymore, obviously. Though I knew complications would come. If we got married and by which church, about our kids if God would ever give us any, and what church to go to? Mine one week, then hers the next? And every now and then we would argue on those issues and even our beliefs.

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), May 05, 2004.

So I said to myself, "Ok, is this really going to work out? Must I leave her?" When I was thinking these thoughts I was also reading a "Chick Publications" site. And you all know how those sites are. I decided unless I can see some biblical proofs on Catholicism, and perhaps see if it really is a good "form" of christianity that I could possibly join or at leat beleive some doctrines it teaches, I must leave her. So, I found a Catholic Answers Library web site, and oh boy, I was BLOWN AWAY.

I could not even beleive how much TRUTH Catholicism held and holds. I was excited and although I eventualy attended her church, I still did not call myself a Catholic but just a christian. Until I of course grew into Catholicism more and eventualy I called myself a Catholic. I've taking confession (which is such a blessing) and I am going to get my confirmation soon as I have already talked to my priest about it.

Of course my old church desires me to return as they miss me dearly. I miss them and they are all really good people, but I cannot leave TRUTH when I discover it. And I think it's good to add my relationship with my Fiane has dramaticly increased and we've grown so much closer. I no longer feel "distant" from God. Praise the Lord.

P.S. Not ONE thing every Protestant has ever told me about Catholicism was ever true as well. They, plus I was so ignorant. But I'm back home now and PRAISE THE LORD. Amen!

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), May 05, 2004.

Hi Jason,

My story is much like yours, I left the Catholic Church, became rather atheistic... I never went through the protestant part, but all the rest. Getting married brought me back to the Church, and its been a surprising and moving return. I'm happy and comforted to be back. Seems women drag us through life in a good way.

-- JimFurst (furst@flash.net), May 05, 2004.

Jason said: I cannot leave TRUTH when I discover it

Amen, Jason! That is exactly how I feel :) Praise God for being faithful to bring you back to His Church!

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com"), May 05, 2004.

Well done Jason, Jim and Emily. You are certainly on the right path to God. Armed with Holy Mass, Sacrements, Rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet we cannot go wrong in this confused world.

Love and God Bless, Ramanie.

-- Ramanie Weerasinghe (lilanw@yahoo.com), May 05, 2004.

I love reading conversion stories, and fallen away Catholics coming back to the One True Faith. :o) Even if it did take your furbabe to break the ice. ;o)

God Bless.

-- Jalapeno (jalapeno52000@hotmail.com), May 05, 2004.

Thank you for sharing that.

Dano

-- Dan Garon (boethius61@yahoo.com), May 06, 2004.