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asplendidtime
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| Posted: Aug 17 2010 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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I was wondering if you have ever struggled and what helped you? I had listened to apologetic debates and then read some things by James White, and it devastated my Catholic beliefs. Have you been there? What helped? I have read Upon This Rock by Steve Ray, recently, loaned to us by a friend, *sigh* but it didn't help,I am a little more frustrated now. Also I read Ignatius of Antioch's sermons/writings (not the essays about his writings). Our friend has shared that what we need to focus on is Authority, but so far, I am not sure that I know what to do beyond where I am.
Personal messages would be fine too.
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Rebecca~Mama to
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JodieLyn
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What a difficult place to be in Rebecca 
I'd love to try and help you find some resources that are what you need. But I'm rather confused. What was it that made you doubt Catholic beliefs? You really need to start there so that you can find the antidote to that.
Authority is usually a good place to start because after that everything comes back to.. if I believe the Catholic Church has the authority then what does it say about.. whatever.
But even then.. you can feel confused or uncertain and still need more information on things to really internalize them again. So don't feel badly about needing more than that.
But what someone might recommend for questions about Mary or the Saints may not help if you're struggling with the Eucharist.. you see. That's why it would really help if you could be more specific about what started this or now that it's started what follows the "that all makes sense but.."
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Michaela
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I'd love to try and help you, Rebecca, if you don't mind sharing what you are struggling with.
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CrunchyMom
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Well, without knowing what specific area of the faith you are doubting, it is hard to know a source.
My first instinct is to suggest The Great Adventure Bible Study by Jeff Cavins. As a Protestant who became Catholic, I found that this series really solidified a lot of things for me. I supposedly knew the Bible well, however, Jeff Cavins study presents the scripture and the entire narrative of redemption from Creation to Revelation in a way that made me see it all with new eyes. He made the Old Testament relevant to our faith as I'd never seen before. Since most Protestant arguments against Catholicism center on sola scriptura, seeing what scripture reveals about Catholicism in a broad sense might help you in your struggles.
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folklaur
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PMd you.
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Erin
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Not a book rec at this stage Rebecca but a St Augustine struggled with this too and he prayed the little aspiration, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." I went through this as a teen and found this prayer very helpful.
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Michaela
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Erin wrote:
| Not a book rec at this stage Rebecca but a St Augustine struggled with this too and he prayed the little aspiration, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." I went through this as a teen and found this prayer very helpful. |
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Oh my, Erin! My first thought when I read Rebecca asking about resources used was prayer. I called out to God many nights, through tears, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24) Often times I would pray, "Lord I believe, help me understand."
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MaryMary
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Dearest Rebecca,
I read your plea over Mary's (my wife) shoulder and I couldn't help but respond. I have spent a couple of times in my life with difficulty in believing with certitude some of the matters that James White has debated and written on.
I have heard him debate Patrick Madrid, and others on Sola Scriptura and other topics and I must say that, at first, it was nearly devastating to me. His style of debate and confidence are decptively winsome.
However, in doing some follow-up with both sides (Mr. White's and his Catholic opponents) I regained confidence in the Catholic position because I saw the flaws in Mr. White's conclusions (forced interpretations, usage of more obscure possible meanings derived from Greek lexicon, and theological dictionaries when the most likely meanings made more sense and were in complete agreement with the same verbiage used elsewhere in Scripture.
Please know that you are in our family's prayers and if there is any further help I can be, please specify what in particular is causing such difficulty for you.
I say difficulty as Venerable Cardinal Newman is oft quoted as sayng, "A thousand difficulties do not make a doubt." In other words, difficulties are very often a good thing, as once we have over come them, they are transformed from a stumbling block into a stepping stone.
Your Brother in Christ,
James
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asplendidtime
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I just wanted to thank everyone. I have been reluctant to post. We have shared with some friends. Who loaned us the books (Ignatius of Antioch & Upon This Rock) and he felt after listening to us that we needed to focus on Authority.
When I say devastated, I mean the very foundations. I mean I am not sure I can pick up a Catholic theology book by a Catholic author and believe it. That kind of devastated.  We don't wish it that way, we are simply feeling that something needs to happen.
So I think I need to know how to believe the Papacy, that's what I mean by Authority. I used to love listening to Patrick Madrid, thank you for mentioning him James, and we even subscribed to Envoy once upon a time. Maybe I need to start there, I think I remember he wrote a book about the Papacy?
My heart is not to debate, at all. I want to believe. I will pray, thank you for the prayer reminder.
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JodieLyn
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I like reading Patrick Madrid as well. I really appreciate his "Where is that in the Bible".. perhaps that could help.. give you places in the Bible to read about the authority of the Church vs what someone else thinks?
Also a set of books called "The Faith of the Early Fathers". They're a complilation of quotes/writing from very early in the church that you can look up by topic and see what they'd said.. sorta a shortcut.. but if you find things you want to know more it has the citations so that you can find other materials... but again.. it might help to see what was believed by those so much closer to the start of the Church.
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asplendidtime
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Thanks Jodie for the recommendations, I'll look those up. Would you recommend Dave Armstrong's resources? I have only just recently heard of him, a revert recommended them to me. Because I had never heard of him I was reluctant to spend the money.
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong
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JodieLyn
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I haven't heard of him either Rebecca. The book looks good but I haven't read it to recommend it or not.
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MicheleQ
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asplendidtime wrote:
Thanks Jodie for the recommendations, I'll look those up. Would you recommend Dave Armstrong's resources? I have only just recently heard of him, a revert recommended them to me. Because I had never heard of him I was reluctant to spend the money.
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong
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Yes definitely --Dave Armstrong is great and a very good resource.
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anitamarie
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Rebecca:
Mark Shea wrote a book called By What Authority? that might help.
He's a convert, so maybe more "trustworthy" for you at this time.
God Bless,
Anita
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asplendidtime
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Thank you ladies.
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Erin
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Rebecca
I've been thinking about this, would you perhaps be best to leave the whole concept of authority alone for the present and focus on another area? Perhaps some spiritual areas?
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MicheleQ
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MicheleQ wrote:
asplendidtime wrote:
Thanks Jodie for the recommendations, I'll look those up. Would you recommend Dave Armstrong's resources? I have only just recently heard of him, a revert recommended them to me. Because I had never heard of him I was reluctant to spend the money.
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong
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Yes definitely --Dave Armstrong is great and a very good resource. |
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I wanted to add that Dave is a convert too (there's a lot of us huh?  ). He was received into the Catholic Church in '91 by the late Fr. Hardon.
Oh and he has an extensive website with loads of great info.
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Angie Mc
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Wonderful suggestions.
Erin wrote:
| I've been thinking about this, would you perhaps be best to leave the whole concept of authority alone for the present and focus on another area? Perhaps some spiritual areas? |
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Rebecca, I was also going to mention this option. I, too, devour apologetics. Yet there have been times in my spritual life when I have needed to put my desire to understand - for all to make sense - on a shelf. I needed to practice the habit of trust based on...
God is who He says He is and
Jesus is who He says He is and
Our Catholic Church is who she says she is
even if at the moment I don't understand.
I can offer a daily prayer for help.
Then...
I can relax and rest in my God.
I can turn my attention to other matters like...
Becoming a great wife and mother and daughter and sibling and relative and friend and neighbor
Enjoying God's beautiful creation
Learning a new skill
Cooking a lovely meal
Reading a picture book...
Then...
When I least expect it...
When I'm not looking...
Something shifts...
Mysteriously.
May God bless you for your desire to understand Truth. I'll pray that you find just the right approach to help you during this trial .
Love,
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asplendidtime
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Thank you so much for all of the suggestions, I will take them all to heart. I am planning to go to Confession on Saturday.
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florasita
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Prayer & Saints & really great priests stay with saints & people who keep it simple & you have a calm in your heart . if you receive a disturbance from something or someone politely step back & take time with Him on the issue/ situation
stay away from catholics who beleive they know if you are catholic enough or not and those who have hate in their hearts for catholics
remember one gift we all are given is the gift to believe . no one can force upon you beleif even if you do not have faith( belief ) but feel should ,that is enough , the important thing is You are always with Him . In the end not even a great spiritual director can lead you to that belief it has to come with & thru Him .
keep your heart open & pray
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Resources for struggling w/Faith?
