Uncomfortable religious situations you were forced into

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

Do you believe that it literally becomes the body of Christ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

Do you believe that it literally becomes the body of Christ?

No, and my Catholic friends who are scientists don't either. I'm sorry that will upset you. They are very respectful of the ceremony and the host is treated with respect for the sacred tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

Do you believe that it literally becomes the body of Christ?

No, and my Catholic friends who are scientists don't either. I'm sorry that will upset you. They are very respectful of the ceremony and the host is treated with respect for the sacred tradition.

NP. Well then you misunderstand the Catholic faith. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith. You do.not believe what Catholics believe if you do not appreciate that. Which is fine, but you should respect it just like you would act respectfully in a Hindu temple if you were invited in.

Your friends are dissenting Catholics. It's a thing but they have no authority to change the deposit of faith. Even the Pope could not change this teaching. It's unchangeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

You are one hundred percent correct that the person should not have invited you to read. That is on them. They should not have insulted you either, although I suspect they were at most guilty of an unfunny “joke.”

You say you “believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion.”

Does that mean you believe in transubstantiation; that through grace and the actions of the priest at Mass the bread and wine become in actual substance the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus, with the external appearance of bread and wine remaining behind only as external “accidents?” That only a priest validly ordained in the apostolic succession can confect this miracle? That the Eucharist, that is the consecrated body and blood of Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine are the fruits of an in blood re-presentation of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross st Calvary? That the Eucharist is the “real presence” of God, not co-presence of God in and material things, not the real presence for some people but only bread and wine for others, not a mere symbol, not a mere “memorial” of the Lord’s supper?

Because if you do not believe each and all of those things you in fact do not believe what Catholics do about the Eucharist. Catholics have “closed” communion because for them, the Eucharist is the ultimate sign of unity, and hence cannot be shared with persons in a different faith community who do not share Catholic beliefs. Those who share such beliefs but are not within the Roman Church can receive the Eucharist under specific circumstances outlined in the Church’s canon law.

[Anonymous]

“Unbloody” not “in blood.”

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for this explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

You are one hundred percent correct that the person should not have invited you to read. That is on them. They should not have insulted you either, although I suspect they were at most guilty of an unfunny “joke.”

You say you “believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion.”

Does that mean you believe in transubstantiation; that through grace and the actions of the priest at Mass the bread and wine become in actual substance the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus, with the external appearance of bread and wine remaining behind only as external “accidents?” That only a priest validly ordained in the apostolic succession can confect this miracle? That the Eucharist, that is the consecrated body and blood of Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine are the fruits of an in blood re-presentation of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross st Calvary? That the Eucharist is the “real presence” of God, not co-presence of God in and material things, not the real presence for some people but only bread and wine for others, not a mere symbol, not a mere “memorial” of the Lord’s supper?

Because if you do not believe each and all of those things you in fact do not believe what Catholics do about the Eucharist. Catholics have “closed” communion because for them, the Eucharist is the ultimate sign of unity, and hence cannot be shared with persons in a different faith community who do not share Catholic beliefs. Those who share such beliefs but are not within the Roman Church can receive the Eucharist under specific circumstances outlined in the Church’s canon law.

I agree with you...it was an insult and not funny, not even a joke, although I think HE thought it was funny. It was rude.

You're absolutely correct on the rest also: I am NOT Catholic. I obviously worded my feelings incorrectly and will leave it at that as I don't want to get into the argument and considered an atheist again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Protestant, and both occured in the Catholic church. DC went to a Catholic school for middle and I recommend anyone to this school...I love everything about it. When he would be awarded something (virtue of the month) it was a big deal for him, and it was given during Mass. I respect the Catholic Church and it's routines, but it still rankled that I was denied Communion. I believe everything invovled and my feelings are strong, so to be "not good enough" was hard.

The 2nd was at a family member's funeral, and a few of us were asked to read scripture from the pupit. I grew up a preacher's kid...I've read the Bible through and have read publicly 100's of times. But we were told 15 minutes before that we needed training, and the official asked if we were Catholic, we said no, Protestant, and he said "It's ok, I've taught atheists to do this".

It took everything in my power to not walk out...I stayed for family. I did not bow to the priest.

If you believe everything involved, why not just be Catholic?

Non-Catholics shouldn’t be reading at Mass, even at a funeral.

Well then they shouldn't have invited us to read knowing we weren't Catholic, or talk down to us as Protestants as if we were "atheists" Those people are the only ones in the wrong here. As for the other misunderstanding, I believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion regardless of the denomination I am in.

You are one hundred percent correct that the person should not have invited you to read. That is on them. They should not have insulted you either, although I suspect they were at most guilty of an unfunny “joke.”

You say you “believe in everything associated with communion and the meaning of communion.”

Does that mean you believe in transubstantiation; that through grace and the actions of the priest at Mass the bread and wine become in actual substance the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Jesus, with the external appearance of bread and wine remaining behind only as external “accidents?” That only a priest validly ordained in the apostolic succession can confect this miracle? That the Eucharist, that is the consecrated body and blood of Jesus under the appearance of bread and wine are the fruits of an in blood re-presentation of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross st Calvary? That the Eucharist is the “real presence” of God, not co-presence of God in and material things, not the real presence for some people but only bread and wine for others, not a mere symbol, not a mere “memorial” of the Lord’s supper?

Because if you do not believe each and all of those things you in fact do not believe what Catholics do about the Eucharist. Catholics have “closed” communion because for them, the Eucharist is the ultimate sign of unity, and hence cannot be shared with persons in a different faith community who do not share Catholic beliefs. Those who share such beliefs but are not within the Roman Church can receive the Eucharist under specific circumstances outlined in the Church’s canon law.

I agree with you...it was an insult and not funny, not even a joke, although I think HE thought it was funny. It was rude.

You're absolutely correct on the rest also: I am NOT Catholic. I obviously worded my feelings incorrectly and will leave it at that as I don't want to get into the argument and considered an atheist again.

being considered an atheist is not the worst thing in the world.

Signed, an atheist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Room mother in Catholic school started speaking in tongues during a prayer circle.

Not sure I buy this...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you very much for this explanation.

Yes, Catholics have very specific ideas about the eucharist that are not shared by other Christians. A detailed explanation, as above, is needed to understand it completely. Otherwise, you'll make a fool of yourself at a Catholic service and everyone will know you're not one of them and have knowingly or unknowingly Violated Their Scared Rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you very much for this explanation.

Yes, Catholics have very specific ideas about the eucharist that are not shared by other Christians. A detailed explanation, as above, is needed to understand it completely. Otherwise, you'll make a fool of yourself at a Catholic service and everyone will know you're not one of them and have knowingly or unknowingly Violated Their Scared Rules.

No, just don't receive communion. You can follow the rule out of respect or ask for an explanation. Your choice. But being rude and insulting isn't just a Christian sin, its also gauche and bad manners.

[Anonymous]

Both my parents are ordained ministers. The kinds of memories from my childhood and adolescense that haunt me:
- I often wet the bed at night, likely due to lots of moving around (they were itinerant ministers for a few years which meant we lived in a travel trailer and moved constantly), until 5 or 6 years old. Once at a church service when the pastor said now they would have laying on of hands/prayer, my mom said I should go up for prayer to end the bed wetting. At this young age of 6, even then I knew this was not the right approach. But I felt pressured so I just went up. When I told the lady, I distinctly remember her looking embarrassed. God I was so embarrassed. I'm so angry at my mom about that. As a mom myself now I can't imagine doing a similar thing. Address what is causing your child's issues, don't just expect to pray it all away...

At around 8 years old, at another church, the pastor's wife told me to come up to sing a song I'd written. I did NOT want to do this. I stayed sitting and said no. Everyone treated me like I was just shy, when I just did not want to do it. They said if my brothers come up too, that will help me... so we all 3 went up. I was so angry. I wonder if the congregation could tell how perturbed I was or if they just continued to think of me as such a cute, Christian little girl singing songs about Jesus. Again, I am so determined to NEVER put my children in situations like this.. I will respect their personal decisions.

Ugh there are too many examples like this. I still struggle with hearing anything about Jesus or Christianity without wanting to roll my eyes, except that my husband is Catholic and I can totally enjoy the low-key traditional mass/services of more inclusive Catholic and Episcopal churches.

Wish my parents could understand how much distress they've caused me and my brothers but instead they continue going around the world preaching, supported my so many like-believing people who just believe they are the best...

[Anonymous]

I guess I wasn't super "uncomfortable", but weird.

when I was in 4th grade (late 90s) my friend invited me to go to her evangelical megachurch with her. she invited me by delivering me (and some of our other friends who didn't go to that church) a handwritten invitation, birthday-party style, at school with information that made it sound like there was this big event at her church where we could win prizes and such. "Come to Church Night with me and we could win a ride in a Hummer limo!" it sounded fun! and this megachurch was visible from the interstate near our neighborhood and as a catholic(ish) kid I was always super intrigued by this "church" that looked like a college campus, so I begged my mom to let me go. she had no problem with it. so I went, and was very, um, in awe of the lighting effects, the dancing, the louuuud, pop-sounding music, etc. I was with the big group for awhile and then me, and all of the other kids there who were guests of a regular attendee, got pulled into a separate room where we had to fill out sheets about what church we usually go to, "do you believe in Jesus?", get told that Jesus "saves"...almost like a sales pitch for us and our families to come to this church and/or become evangelical christians. It was so weird. They also gave us a bunch of brochures and pencils and crap emblazoned with the church logo to bring home. When the friend's mom dropped me off at home, I threw the "goodie" bag in the trash before I even walked inside. I knew my parents would've had some choice words to say about it!

Fast forward to high school and young adulthood, and I know SO many formerly normal and balanced people who got suckered into that church and kinda just abandoned all of their non-evangelical friends and instead spent all their time with church friends and doing church stuff. Church is still going strong and I find it very cultlike.

[Anonymous]

My family forced me to go on a mission trip with my friend's church during college so that I'd have something to do during the summer. Turns out they're some crazy Baptist Church that speaks in tongues, etc. It was the freakiest 4 weeks of my life. It was the last time I was ever involved with "low church" anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I wasn't super "uncomfortable", but weird.

when I was in 4th grade (late 90s) my friend invited me to go to her evangelical megachurch with her. she invited me by delivering me (and some of our other friends who didn't go to that church) a handwritten invitation, birthday-party style, at school with information that made it sound like there was this big event at her church where we could win prizes and such. "Come to Church Night with me and we could win a ride in a Hummer limo!" it sounded fun! and this megachurch was visible from the interstate near our neighborhood and as a catholic(ish) kid I was always super intrigued by this "church" that looked like a college campus, so I begged my mom to let me go. she had no problem with it. so I went, and was very, um, in awe of the lighting effects, the dancing, the louuuud, pop-sounding music, etc. I was with the big group for awhile and then me, and all of the other kids there who were guests of a regular attendee, got pulled into a separate room where we had to fill out sheets about what church we usually go to, "do you believe in Jesus?", get told that Jesus "saves"...almost like a sales pitch for us and our families to come to this church and/or become evangelical christians. It was so weird. They also gave us a bunch of brochures and pencils and crap emblazoned with the church logo to bring home. When the friend's mom dropped me off at home, I threw the "goodie" bag in the trash before I even walked inside. I knew my parents would've had some choice words to say about it!

Fast forward to high school and young adulthood, and I know SO many formerly normal and balanced people who got suckered into that church and kinda just abandoned all of their non-evangelical friends and instead spent all their time with church friends and doing church stuff. Church is still going strong and I find it very cultlike.

I'm curious -- what was your family's religion at the time? Are you still religious - belong to a church, etc?