uriel@oak.circa.ufl.edu (03/16/90)
In article <Mar.13.03.59.05.1990.14060@athos.rutgers.edu>, you write... > > Hello, I am new to the list so I would like to give some background >on myself. So am I. I read this group a lot, but generally I'm afraid to post! > I was raised a Methodist, got bored with it, converted to Buddhism, >got bored with that and now I am on the process of becoming an >orthodox catholic (seems to be where the spirit is leading me, >for whatever that's worth). I don't quite understand what you mean when you say you "got bored with it," but it doesn't sound good. It is quite understandable to be bored with a particular religious tradition, but if you are searching for truth in religion, then whether it bores you should not be a factor in your decision. I have found that if Christ is truly with you then you can live with any religious tradition that includes Him, but if all you have is religion (and not Christ), then any religious tradition can bore you to tears. > I have studied religion a lot but I >don't know near as much as I would like to know about it. I have studied religion a bit, and I find that it is most useful either (a) to supplement your faith or (b) to assist in communicating with those who have different faiths. > I was wondering, does going from one religion to another indicate >some kind of insincereity at some level, and if I am not totally sure >whether or not I should become a catholic, how can I resolve this >conflict? Does changing religions indicate some insincerity? I'm going to hazard a guess that what you mean by "insincerity" is "dishonesty" (they are not necessarily the same) and say that if you do not, honestly seeking, find truth in Religion X, you should not bother with it. But if you are dumping Methodism and Buddhism simply because they no longer please you, or because you have learned all you care to know about them, then you are being quite dishonest. How can you resolve the conflict over whether to become Catholic? First, ask yourself why you want to make such a move. What makes Catholicism any better than Methodism or Buddhism? The ritual? the mystery and sanctity? the culture? These are things which have nothing to do with whether God and the Truth await you within. If all you are doing is looking for thrills (so to speak) then go ahead, it can't hurt... but don't expect it to be any more fulfilling than anything else. But if you are truly seeking the truth, I recommend staying right where you are for the time being. Shift into neutral. You say you know a lot about religions; you must have done some homework about each of them. Talk to people who follow them. (I take it that's why you're on this group.) Obviously, I recommend that you study Christianity, and not necessarily Catholicism (the latter is a subset of the former anyway). Two good books to read about it are G.K. Chesterton's _The Everlasting Man_ and C.S. Lewis's _Mere Christianity_. I'd like to hear more from you, if you care to send email. (I hope my email address works. My school is a real electronic island.) > >- An intelligent, but confused mind - >- Brian M. Dean - An intelligent but proud mind, a strong but underdeveloped body, and a fallen but forgiven soul, Scott Whitmore ============================================================================= SCOTT WHITMORE "The Angel Himself" URIEL%maple.decnet@pine.circa.ufl.edu SNAILMAIL: 24-510 Tolbert Hall, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL32612 "Joy is the serious business of Heaven." -- C.S.Lewis, _The Problem of Pain_ DISCLAIMER: I do not represent this school's opinions... unfortunately. =============================================================================