Why are most Jehovah's Witnesses former Roman Catholics?

[AdoptedDaughter]

May I butt in for a moment, please?

As I read this thread, and many others, I find that the 'baptists' on here seem to lash out at the Catholics. Why? Because they are evil? NO, because they have a different understanding of the faith. Does this make them wrong and us right? NO, it simply means that much in scripture and life are mysteries, so we, in our human minds try to fathom and figure out these fathomless mysteries, and when we come across someone who has ready answers (just as the scriptures command us) they jump on them because they cannot argue with what they have to say.

Another thing that I've noticed is that certain individuals on this board, and in this thread like to attack a person's motives and choices in life without knowing the full story. If the Baptist Board is supposed to show what Christian love is supposed to be like, thank God that I know differently because the Christian testimony is only being held up by these fellow Catholics who are patient with our ignorance and turn the other cheek when you can't 'outsmart' or 'outargue' them.

As for bringing other people into this thread: I was brought into this thread as an attack on another member, and I ask that you not do that. I have done nothing to provoke that kind of attitude or action, and choices that are made are based on prayer and where God is leading me in this lifetime. SO...before you post in haste, please remember who's reading this...and I'm not talking about the millions out in internet land, I'm talking about our Creator and the One that we are supposed to be striving to please!

God's blessings!

 

[3AngelsMom]

In response to the original question:

I think perhaps because they made the 'mistake' of studying on their own, discovered that the trinity was false, and the only church they could find that wasn't trinitarian was the JW's.



They didn't know about the COG7, or the WWCOG, or the HSDA, which interestingly enough ALL keep the Commandments of God, as WELL as having the faith OF Jesus Christ.

hmmmmm

 

[dumbox1]

Actually, my sense was that the original question wasn't really a question (or based on any facts), but was just a hook for Ps104 to hang his "comparisons" on.

I would be interested, though, if anyone knows any source for reliable statistics on where JW converts DO come from (in terms of previous religious beliefs). My somewhat-educated-guess is that in my neck of the woods, relatively few are former Catholics (based partly on the relatively small Catholic population here to draw from, and partly on the ethnicity of all of the local JW's I've met).

Of course, in a more heavily Catholic area it might be a different story demographically. (And globally, we're the largest group around for them to draw from).

Anyhow, I don't think Ps104 really intended to make a factual statement in titling this thread, but if he did (or even if he didn't), I'd be interested in seeing the numbers if anyone knows where they can be found.

God bless,

Mark

 

[Gina B]

AD, I was not "attacking" and I'm sorry you would view caring as such. Playing with fire is a dangerous game, and if I didn't care I wouldn't have a thing to say.
Catholocism is a cult akin to mormonism and should not be included in Christianity and Christians have no business associating themselves with tolerance and acceptance of cults.
GOOD GRIEF!
Have a nice night. You know the arguments on both sides so nothing more needs to be said. I do pray that your decisions in the future will be wise and worthy of acceptance by God.
Gina

 

[MikeS]

Originally posted by Gina:
AD, I was not "attacking" and I'm sorry you would view caring as such. Playing with fire is a dangerous game, and if I didn't care I wouldn't have a thing to say.
Catholocism is a cult akin to mormonism and should not be included in Christianity and Christians have no business associating themselves with tolerance and acceptance of cults.
GOOD GRIEF!

Well, that's telling us! Or should I say "caring for us?"

 

[AdoptedDaughter]

Originally posted by Gina:
AD, I was not "attacking" and I'm sorry you would view caring as such. Playing with fire is a dangerous game, and if I didn't care I wouldn't have a thing to say.
Catholocism is a cult akin to mormonism and should not be included in Christianity and Christians have no business associating themselves with tolerance and acceptance of cults.
GOOD GRIEF!
Have a nice night. You know the arguments on both sides so nothing more needs to be said. I do pray that your decisions in the future will be wise and worthy of acceptance by God.
Gina

Gina,

I did not say it was you. In fact, I did not have you in mind when I wrote the post. Catholicism...evil, cult? Judging by what they believe, I would say that they were neither. Judging, and by studying, what they believe, I can say in full confidence that Catholics can be Christians, and still be part of that denomination, just as Baptists can be Christians and still be part of that denomination. It is not a question of if they are a cult, because a cult would be a group of people who do not believe in the Trinity, at least that's what's been said over and over by Christians of different denominations, including Baptists. Last I checked, Catholics believe firmly in the Trinity, as well as the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ. Before calling something fire and dangerous and evil, study what that group truly believe, and not some mumbo-jumbo that other Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. have said to you. Ask a Catholic what he believes, and not just that, but why they believe, and you will be shocked as to how not evil and non-cultish they are.

God's Blessings

 

[CatholicConvert]

Fascinating to see how Gina continues the trend of Catholics who apostacize from the Faith and then turn upon it with a cold blooded fury. What's even sadder is that they do something as Fundamentalists which they didn't do as Catholics -- study the teachings of their assembly and learn and believe all they are taught, especially the vicious lies against the Catholic Faith.

Gina, if you or any of the other X Catholics on this board had studied the Faith you were born into half as hard as you have studied the deliberate misrepresentations of the Catholic Faith, you would have never left the Church.

Cordially in Christ through the Blessed Virgin,


Brother Ed

 

[Carson Weber]

Hi Gina,

You wrote, "Catholocism is a cult akin to mormonism and should not be included in Christianity."

I sympathize with you. If I misunderstood Catholicism as much as you do (and that is not a put down; it's a matter of fact), I would probably be saying the same thing as you.

If you take 250 southeast to Cadiz and 22 to Steubenville, that is where I reside, only 1 hr. 50 min. from you. If you would like, we could plan a day where we could meet, and we can pour over the Scriptures together, and I can demonstrate to you just how much I consider myself to be a "Bible Christian", which is what all Catholics are called to be.

 

[Gina B]

I have not apostacized from it. LOL The only religion I ever truly believed before Christianity was mormonism.
Carson, I usually have at least five children under my care and no spouse, so I'm very limited in my ability to go far from home for the most part, and just took days off so more will not be possible this month. However, after July it may be a possibility. I would need to be able to bring someone more knowledgable and grounded along as I do not trust myself to be able to figure out some things that may be false and do not want to endanger my spiritual well being by going into a situation I know I'm not properly prepared for.
Gina

 

[Carson Weber]

I would like to introduce everyone to a new weblog now up at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. It is authored by a personal friend of mine, Chris Cuddy, who lives down the street from me. In it, Chris speaks of the misunderstandings and misconceptions Protestants have of Catholicism, and I feel it is appropriate to post a link to this weblog here, after witnessing the posts above on this thread. You may read the weblog at

http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/index.cfm?bid=1

Chris was received into the Catholic Church at this past Easter Vigil at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and has transferred here from Grove City College in Grove City, PA where he studied theology as a supralapsarian, Theonomic, postmillennial Calvinist. He also helped my uncle, my cousin, and I move a 400 lb. piano this morning. What a guy!

 

[3AngelsMom]

Originally posted by AdoptedDaughter:
..... a cult would be a group of people who do not believe in the Trinity, at least that's what's been said over and over by Christians of different denominations, including Baptists.

Could you provide a Biblical reference that states this?

Last I checked, Catholics believe firmly in the Trinity, as well as the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Of course they believe in the trinity, they invented the doctrine! And I would disagree that they believe in the death of Christ. They think He spent some time out of body, freeing prisoners and getting keys.

Before calling something fire and dangerous and evil, study what that group truly believe, and not some mumbo-jumbo that other Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. have said to you.

Good advice, so before you respond, go to www.smyrna.org and study what I believe.

Ask a Catholic what he believes, and not just that, but why they believe, and you will be shocked as to how not evil and non-cultish they are.

Right, ask them why they believe that Mary is the Queen of Heaven, and that she carries the prayers of people to Jesus and can calm her Son's wrath. Ask them why the Pope is called 'Christ on Earth'. Ask them why they ignore 99.99% of the Commandments of God, and live by all the commands of men instead.

Ask them why the 'Church', which is supposedly the visible 'head' of Christ on earth, killed so many of the parts of the Body of Christ.

It would be an interesting 'not' evil conversation. I'm sure.

By the way, by definition, a cult is any group that has doctrines that are not in accordance with the Bible.

It is the CC that states that a cult is a group that denies the trinity.

Go figure.

God Bless,
Kelly

 

[Carson Weber]

Gina,

It sounds to me like you are in a difficult situation with a heroic vocation, and I'm certain that God is blessing you tremendously already for your openness to his gift of life.

Perhaps this Fall, when I return to school from Texas (I will be visiting home July 18 through August 25), we could schedule a meeting. The university hosts Festivals of Praise on the first Saturday of every month; perhaps we could incorporate such an event into your visit. In any case, please consider it.

Kelly,

Cult comes from the Latin word cultus, which means "worship". Every Christian participates in the cultus Christus.

 

[Brother Adam]

Kelly,

Do you honestly believe the things you say? I don't know where your sources are for Catholicism, but mine include scholars, priests, laymen, seminary students, theology professors, the Bible, the Catechism, and some other books. I've yet to come across some of the beliefs you claim Catholics hold to.

 

[3AngelsMom]

Brother Adam,

Which thing would you be referring to?

I am the daughter, and grandaughter of former Catholics, two are dead, one converted to Protestantism. I am the niece of 9 current Catholics. I myself was Catechised, baptised as an infant, and was 'converted' along with my parents when they switched.

Unless the 'unchangable' Catholic church has changed her tune, all of the aforementioned doctrines are held by Catholics.

God Bless,
Kelly

 

[Brother Adam]

And I would disagree that they believe in the death of Christ

 

[Kathryn]

Kelly:

Of course they believe in the trinity, they invented the doctrine! And I would disagree that they believe in the death of Christ. They think He spent some time out of body, freeing prisoners and getting keys.

Catholics believe Jesus Christ died on the cross:

This is our Apostles Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

God Bless

[ July 03, 2003, 12:40 AM: Message edited by: Kathryn ]

 

[Brother Adam]

That was a quote of Kelly's earlier post, btw, Catholics believe Christ died on the cross.

 

[Kathryn]

Of course they believe in the trinity, they invented the doctrine! And I would disagree that they believe in the death of Christ. They think He spent some time out of body, freeing prisoners and getting keys.

Here also is our Nicean Creed that shows we believe Jesus Christ died on the cross:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, make of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father, Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died , and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

God Bless

 

[3AngelsMom]

Originally posted by Brother Adam:
And I would disagree that they believe in the death of Christ

They don't believe that He really died. They believe that His 'human' part died, but that 'God the Son' didn't die.

They don't believe He died.

God Bless,
Kelly

 

[3AngelsMom]

Originally posted by Brother Adam:
That was a quote of Kelly's earlier post, btw, Catholics believe Christ died on the cross.

You know you can edit your posts, right?