How has the Catholic religion shaped your life?
85879
It has shown me that truths mixed with lies make up the most devious of untruths, more difficult to spot the actual inaccuracies. I grew up a Catholic but when I opened my eyes and began to actually study the word of God I ran like heck from that church, repented of my sins became baptized in the remission of sin and by the grace of god hope to continue in the faith until that glorious day that I meet my creator.
796986
I was away from the church for several years and when I first came back I understood the need for community worship.  The Holy Spirit was sending me all these people that were truly enriching my spiritual journey.  People needing help in their own apostolates, some had stories I needed to hear, some providing knowledge I would not have otherwise gleened.  It was a rich and exciting experience.  Back then I knew it was because of my devotion to the Blessed Mother and my devotion to the rosary.  That was several years ago and now it's like pulling teeth to drag myself to Mass each Sunday.  I have a wonderful priest to whom I've confessed several missed Sunday Masses and he said once, "I know God has so many graces in store for you if you will make Sunday Mass a priority."  I love Daily Mass and I love the Eucharist...I don't know.  I'd love to share more and hear more of your journey...E-mail me.  Maybe we can help each other.
857886
I was born as a catholic christian.  It comes a time that I personally asked God and it is also the time that I am losing belief in God and siding to belief that God was only a figurative thing.  Until, I was fed up one day with my problems and I raised my head and uttered to God that He is not real, to my surprise He answered and shown me a vision up to this time I can vividly recall.  His voice is the one described by the prophets, gentle, forgiving and powerful.
204922
Yes.\n\nI'm a Godmother to one of my nieces and also to a friend's daughter and both of those Godfathers were not Catholic.  This was 37 and and 30 years ago!\n\n(By the way, I'm no longer Catholic!)
88696
The Catholic Church is a Church of sinners and much suffering. It is also a Church of saints and scholars. The story of the Catholic Church is a divine and human story. The Church is divine in its Founder, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only founder of a religion who claimed to be God, and proved that claim by rising from the dead. The Catholic Church is also human - afflicted with all the frailties of human nature - the sin and suffering, but also the saintliness and scholarship. When the Church was failing God, God raised up prophets or reformers. A reformer is one who changes people's hearts, not revealed doctrine. There have been thousands of great reformers in the Catholic Church, like St. Francis of A$$isi, St. Clare, St. Benedict, St. Teresa of Avila, etc. The Catholic Church and the Bible have not, in 2000 years, changed any of the many truths revealed by God; among these truths: \n\na) that Holy Communion is really and truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, \nb) devotion to Mary, \nc) confession, \nd) praying for the dead (Purgatory), \ne) the Pope is the visible head of the Church on earth. (Christ of course, is the invisible head of the Church.)\n\nThe following is a brief chronological listing of some of the significant events in Church history from its beginning:\n\nc. 32 Jesus Christ promised to found His Church. "... you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church..." Matthew 16:18\n \nc. 33 Jesus, the Good Shepherd, fulfills His promise to Peter by commissioning him to "Feed My lambs... Tend My sheep... Feed My sheep." John 21:15-18\n \nc. 33 Pentecost - The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, the Apostles and about 120 Disciples. Three thousand came into the Church that day. Jesus' followers took Him seriously. They preached the Gospel.\n \nc. 34 Judaizers begin teaching that one must become a Jew before they can become a Christian. The Council of Jerusalem answered the Judaizers in c. 50 (Acts 15).\n \nc. 45 The Didache, an important record about the beliefs, practices and rule of early Christians, was in existence. We have it today.\n \nc. 67 St. Peter and St. Paul were martyred (killed for their faith).\n \n70 The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.\n \nc. 50-313 Emperors Nero, Domitian, Decius and Dioletian persecuted the Church.\n\nIn Rome, the Church had to meet in secret to worship, receive instruction, and receive the Sacraments.\n \n96 Clement of Rome settles a dispute in the Corinthian church by exercising his papal authority as successor of Peter. St. John is still alive.\n \n108 St. Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to be martyred in Rome, was the first to call the Church "Catholic".\n\n370-405 The Catholic Church decided what books were inspired by God, and put them into one book, "The Bible". The list of the 73 inspired books, as we have them today in the Catholic Bible, was first compiled by St. Athanasius (c.297-373). This list was confirmed by the Council of Hippo (393), Council of Carthage (397) both in North Africa (St. Augustine was active in both councils), Pope Innocent I (405), and the Council of Trent (1545-63). The Bible was preserved by the monks, who copied it over and over again in handwriting for the next 1000 years until the printing press was invented in 1450.\n\n1450 Printing was invented by Johann Gutenberg, and the first book to be printed was the Catholic Bible. It is called "the Mazarin Bible" which was printed in 1452 in Mayence, Germany, at the request of Cardinal Mazarin.
492819
I was raised catholic, spent k-seventh grade in catholic school. \npreteen rebellion brought me to start looking into other religions, more i learned about religion and the history of it and the world. more questions i had, more i got into trouble at school, cant question what every one knows as true right?  about that same time my mother got into a arguement with one of the priest, over sexism. (mom's very religious and a strong femismt) \nI was 14 when i decided that it was all made up by man, that we need something to explain everything we dont know. example: romans had a god to explain the sun right a burning cart with flying horse.  today we know what the sun is and to run around saying it's something it's not is just stupied.  Someday we will be able to explain everything, and there will be no need for a god.  \nFriends no issue, thought there are some i still cant talk religion with(i live in the bible belt) \nMy father is still catholic, but is open minded and we enjoy disscussion about differnt religions and the what the historical truths are. \nMy mom ya well ten years later she still not happy i dont follow her religion, but then even she hates the corruption in the catholic church.
598707
this question has brought out the degree of dogmatic pig headedness that if have come to expect here!!!!\n\nto answer your question, i once new a catholic priest who left the church to marry a buddhist lady. although he remained catholic, they respected each other and were secure enough in their beliefs to accept the differences. I don't thinkk that many who answeed this question are mature enough to manage this.
891156
I had this same problem. I was raised Catholic, but very loosely. Religion did not play a major part in my life, but don't think I was ever really an atheist. I started looking into other religions such as different Christian denominations, Hinduism, Bhuddism, Zoroastrianism, Mormonism, Judaism, Sikhism, Shinto, Manicheism, Gnostic Christianity, Wicca and even simply deeper into my original Catholic upbringing. I found them all very interesting, and full of truths, but not complete. Then I looked into Islam and I converted after about a year or so of research  and study of the religion. It just seemed to be what I had already believed all along, for as long as I can remember. \nI'm not saying that you should necesarilly become a Muslim now, but look into it. I would look into other religions on a deeper level and study them to see what makes the most sense and find what you believe (note I say "believe" and "sense" in the same sentence, not "find very interesting"). Until you find something, if you don't come to your own conclusions, just believ in God and do whatyou think is right; there isn't really much room for error there.\nI hope you find what you are looking for.
414573
Getting saved in church.It made my life change knowing that Jesus died for my sin and that God will forgive me for all sin committed and all in future if i ask for forgiveness in his name. I know someone always loves me and will be there for me throughout my life in good times and in bad. Someone who is never ashamed of me for what i did or thought about doing but lets me know what I could do better and how to go about doing so.
1184960
Religion gives you identity, it gives you a sense of belonging, it makes you understand the purpose of you existence. It makes you understand that these sufferings are not permanent. All these things are very important from psychological point of view. And hence it gives you happiness.
153440
i was also raised catholic. didn't go to catholic school, but parents strict catholic and i'm one of seven (living). no way does the church represent me!\ndid you know that catholic priests used to be able to marry and have children? the priests were given a home but because the priest would give the home to family when he got old and died the church lost MONEY on the home and had to buy a new home for a new priest.\ni also don't agree with moving child molesters around to different churches. child molesters belong in jail. for life. period.(in my opinion).\ngay or straight priests can't have sex. i just don't think that's right.(my opinion)\ni also think that if you are going to belong to a specific religion and that one alone - you should believe with no question.\ni was also put off when a friend told me about her story of moving from n.e.coast to west coast by NO help from the catholic church. her dad left the family (pregnant wife and7 children) on the side of the road with a broken down car to go get help. never came back. after spending the night in the car she walked with kids to next town and walked into the first building she saw - a catholic church. "thank you lord!" she cried. after telling the priest what had happened he sent her walking across town to the salvation army who got in touch with the mormon church. the people there took her and her kids in. never talked about what church they were from never talked religion; they were only there to help. a collection was taken through the phone lines (this was 40 years ago in a small town) and a car and enough money was raised to get this family to mom's aunts house in wash. state.\nTHAT IS A CHURCH. any community who can do that for complete strangers in need of help - that's my kind of church. that's what i want to belong to. as for religion - sorry into that.
437051
By encouraging others to make a difference as well, live as you want people to live, and give as you want people to give!\n\nI'm not a Catholic, but I saw part of a doco on Mother Theresa the other day, and OMG she did so many good things for people - people no one else would touch with a barge pole, and when she did these good things, others followed!\n\nMaybe you could read up on Mother Theresa, I'm not trying to push religion on you by any means, but read about her life and her works, and perhaps try to emulate some of that!
936140
I used to be Catholic, but sometimes I still do it for the calming power of chanting or at rosary sayings before funerals. I did it more in my childhood when I needed a closer feel to God.\nSeveral years ago, my husband wrote an article on how to pray the rosary. It really goes into depth of each prayer and the meaning. The article has been circling the web for many years not and I have seen it translated into other languages.
476760
I changed my faith to Hinduism from what I was brought up with, after YEARS of studying all I could about various religions, the Bible, and other Scriptures, ancient and world history, archaeology, etc.  I also "studied" myself.  I prayed a lot and came to understood that Hinduism is the religion of my soul, the religion I was when I was a child, before I was told what to believe.
197457
I was brought up Catholic from birth and was brainwashed into believing what I was taught as teachings from the Bible. I have always believed and honored my spirituality in God, but too many years of it was not based in His Word.  \n\nLuckily, I was led to the Bible & I have been trying to sort out the Truth from the lies. It's a hurtful issue that I am working hard to overcome and find acceptance with. I am very confused, and somewhat bitter as well, but, at the same time, am I VERY thankful for the wonderful people here who share their knowlegde with beginners like me and are helping me along.  That in itself defines truth Faith in God to me and the power of believing he always there for you if you seek him.   Thank You everyone.
1155397
Raised without religion. Became Catholic as an adult.
107601
Honestly my faith has allowed me not to worry about the little things that most other people worry about. Because of this it has way reduced my stress levels and brought my blood pressure way down. Right now I am working on removing as many vulgar influences as i can from my life that the common world has placed in it. The new challenges that I am approaching are whether or not I appear to be a good Christian to people who see me in my everyday life and whether or not i will be able to avoid doing sinful things that are common for most of the world to do as they carry on with their lives. Another benefit to my life is that it has allowed me to grow closer and find people who are a lot nicer and more understanding.