catholicsphere

I wanted to take a moment to share something a bit more personal than my regular ramblings. I wanted to talk about … me.

I don’t know it for sure, but I have the feeling that there might be those out there who are asking themselves where this guy came from, and what did he do with the guy who used to debate endlessly on Catholic vs Protestant doctrinal differences. For those who are unaware of where I came from at all, a little background might be an order.

About 10 years ago, I was a [insert term of choice here; non-practicing, fallen-away, whatever] Catholic. A year earlier, I had begun dating a girl I’d met at college. After I graduated, things got a bit more serious, and she told me that she had serious concerns about our future together. She was a devout Evangelical (still is, but learning more about the Catholic faith), and she wanted to know what I felt about faith. She knew I was Catholic, and that I was non-practicing. I told her that I always considered myself Catholic, and even though I didn’t practice my faith, I wasn’t going to stop being Catholic. This led to a numerous discussion — and debates — on Catholic and Protestant doctrine. In my search for answers, I turned to the internet … and began to discuss and debate with Protestants on discussion boards and in chat rooms. [My preference became discussion boards, as it was not so fast paced and I could expound on ideas much easier.] I’d sometimes spend 10-12 hours a day typing out responses to several discussions I’d be involved in. If there was something I didn’t know, or wasn’t sure of, I looked it up … at places like Catholic Answers, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, EWTN and Catholic Culture (formerly PetersNet). I picked up book upon book, and read like a fiend — reading and studying especially the Scriptures and the Catechism. I also got invited to the Apologetics list on the Catholic Information Network, where folks like Jimmy Akin (’the apologist formerly know as ‘James’”) and Carl E. Olson (among others for whom I have great respect) used to help amateur apologists such as myself, as well as bouncing ideas for rebuttals off each other.

I called myself “fulltruth” back then (in fact, on the Delphi Forums where I did most of my debating and discussion, I’m still known by that username), to reflect my belief that within the Catholic Church was the fullness of Christ’s truth. That girl became my wife and, in addition to attending Mass together, we began attending an Evangelical Free church, where I discussed doctrinal issues with a ministry leader who is now an assistant pastor. We had many great discussions that dove in deep to Catholic and Protestant doctrines. I have the sense that he saw important aspects of Catholic teaching, and he helped me become more familiar with Protestant teachings, which in turn helped me to be a better apologist for the Catholic faith.

Over the course of several years, however, I noticed a shift in those things that were of concern to me. I think I noticed a shift in non-Catholic understanding of Catholic doctrine as well. While there were still plenty of anti-Catholic folks out there, I saw that there were many anti-Christians that were seeming to be only marginally addressed. I witnessed attacks on Christians who wanted to see their beliefs allowed in the public square, and a proliferation of things previously considered moral abhorrations. I saw a storm brewing that seemed to demand quelling. If it was not addressed (and not continuing to be addressed), it seemed that the ability of Christians to live out their faith in the public as well as private sector would be in danger of being revoked.

The fight that I wanted to take on was not to have Christian doctrines made the law of the land, but at least to allow the free expression of beliefs in the discussion of the future shaping of this country. I haven’t completely left behind the Catholic/Protestant debates and discusions, but they have taken a backseat to what I see as a more pressing issue. I believe if religion becomes irrelevant in society and people’s pubic lives, so too will any doctrinal differences.