How to become a Catholic

Catholic Information Network ^ | September 1995 | James Akin

[annalex]

50 Days of Easter 2008 Celebration ping, dedicated to converts to the Catholic faith. If you want to be on the list but are not on it already, or if you are on it but do not want to be, let me know either publicly or privately.

Happy Easter. Christ is risen!

Alex.

---

Previously posted conversion stories:

Anti-Catholicism, Hypocrisy and Double Standards
Hauled Aboard the Ark
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part I: Darkness
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part II: Doubts
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part III: Tradition and Church
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part IV: Crucifix and Altar
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part V: The Catholics and the Pope
Why I Returned to the Catholic Church. Part VI: The Biblical Reality
His Open Arms Welcomed Me
Catholic Conversion Stories & Resources
My Personal Conversion Story
My (Imminent) Reception into the Roman Catholic Church
Catholics Come Home
My Journey of Faith
LOGIC AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF PROTESTANTISM
"What is Truth?" An Examination of Sola Scriptura
"Have you not read?" The Authority behind Biblical Interpretation
The Crisis of Authority in the Reformation
Our Journey Home
Our Lady’s Gentle Call to Peace
A story of conversion at the Lamb of God Shrine
Who is Mary of Nazareth?
Mary and the Problem of Christian Unity
Why I'm Catholic
A Convert's Response to Friends
My Story
Courage to Be Catholic
Finally Catholic! My Conversion to the Catholic Church
Southern Baptist Pastor Leaves Everything for the Eucharist
The Short Version (the Way International convert)
Shower of Roses-- An Independent, Fundamental Baptist Becomes Catholic Through Mary's Intecession
Confessions of a Catholic Convert
Alex Jones: the evangelical who became a Catholic deacon

Also see:
Sheep That Go Astray
Pope Benedict Goes to Washington Ecumenical Meeting at St. Joseph's Church, New York
Orthodox and Catholic Churches are allies, (Orthodox) Bishop Hilarion says

[annalex]

James Akin is a convert to Catholicism from Presbyterianism.

I will post his own cconversion story shortly.

[ex-snook]

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), A journey of Faith from around September to Easter in your nearby Church.

[nmh]

It's too bad Catholicism doesn't agree with the Bible. Thanks but no thanks. I'll remain a Bible based Christian. I prefer to follow Christ and not man made “wisdom” which is the dominant theme of Catholicism.

[ex-snook]

Sorry you feel that way. At some time you might consider that Jesus believed in teaching through people, good and bad. He didn’t believe in communicating through writing. He wrote once on sand not something designed to last.

[annalex]

Catholicism doesn't agree with the Bible

Nonsense. Anyone reading the Bible honestly and accepting it as written will become Catholic or Orthodox. Protestantism is a gross perversion of the scripture.

If you think otherwise, follow my posts around, or if you have a specific question, I can answer it here.

[Petronski]

It's too bad Catholicism doesn't agree with the Bible.

In your opinion.

[annalex]

RCIA

Yes, but a caveat is necessary. Often, the RCIA is staffed by the most liberal Catholics the parish can find. That is probably so that no one feels alienated in the process. The end result is often such that more conservative converts seeking historical accuracy and biblical orthodoxy are repulsed by it. It is OK to shop around for an RCIA program that better suits your outlook, and by all means supplement your studies with apologetics material now amply available on the Internet. The Religion forum here at FreeRepublic has become a good networking tool and an educational source as well.

[Alex Murphy]

At some time you might consider that Jesus believed in teaching through people, good and bad. He didn’t believe in communicating through writing.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

- Romans 16:25-27

Pinging a few Presbyterians who might be interested in seeing what James Akin - who is said to be a convert from Presbyterianism - had to say in this thirteen-year-old article....

[Petronski]

...this thirteen-year-old article....

Truth has no expiration date.

On the other hand, this article is no doubt older than scores of protestant splinter groups.

[annalex]

James Akin - who is said to be a convert from Presbyterianism

This is James Akin's conversion story: A TRIUMPH AND A TRAGEDY.

[Alex Murphy]

This is James Akin's conversion story

I read it. What a nut! From the Church of Christ, to Apocalyptic weirdness, to New Age Mysticism, to the PCA, and then on to Dr. Gene Scott - and all that before he marries a half-Catholic-half-New-Ager-half-Anglican (yes, that's three halves), moves to a PCA church, then leaves it four years later!

He was born in 1965, and attended a Church of Christ congregation until "five or six" (1970-71). Started reading "end times" parts of the Bible at "thirteen or fourteen" (1978-79). Turned to the New Age Movement for "about five years", but broke from them in his "first year of college" (1984). "Some time later" he starts listening to Dr Gene Scott, and "six months later" he joins Scott's church" (let's call it 1986). He was "fascinated...for some time" but decided to "find some other religious affiliation" and settled on the Presybterian Church in America (PCA). He says at this point that his goal is to become "a pastor or...a seminary professor."

Now at some unnamed date he marries his wife in a non-Catholic ceremony, but we are given a date when they later remarry in a Catholic ceremony - 1991. Thus, Akin's conversion happens no later than 1991, at age 26. During those intervening years (198? - 1991), his wife has converted from New Ageism (back) to Catholicism, to Anglicanism, and (back) to Catholicism AGAIN. At least several years prior to 1991, a former attendee of his PCA church sent a Catholic article to the congregation - Akin says he read it, but not how he got it, since the writer left the congregation "some time before I started attending there". He also mentions reading other Catholic materials "a year or two" before he converts to Catholicism himself (i.e. 1989-90). Akin also mentions that he was "having problems" with the fundamental doctrines of sola fide and sola scriptura, roughly four years after he claims to have become a Christian via Dr Scott's telechurch and even less than that as a PCA member.

It bears repeating that, during this very same period, Akin makes his decision to become "a pastor or...a seminary professor" yet he's having trouble with his own beliefs.

"How To Become Catholic" - this would make a perfect cover illustration:

[VRWCer]

bookmarking!

[Petronski]

"How To Become Catholic" - this would make a perfect cover illustration:

Feel the love.

[trisham]

Feel the love.

****************

LOL!

[cyborg]

Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed!

[annalex]

Spiritual restlessness frequently precedes conversion; it is in fact an element of true repentance.

[Petronski]

In a general sense, those who understand the value of the Holy Sacraments but decide to cut themselves off from them, well, there’s some severe bitterness that’s got to follow from that.

Imagine Moses reaching the Promised Land and, rather than being kept out, simply refusing to go.

[trisham]

Hey, cyborg! We don’t see you here often enough. :)