what is a good denomination for an ex-Catholic?
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Anonymous
PP, much food for thought. I actually believe the truth about God is found everywhere, in varying degrees. But Jesus did establish his Church, with Peter as its head. ("You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.") He gave him the key, authority. And he promised the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church. And Jesus was explicit about transubstantiation. So much so, that most of his followers walked away in shock. Jesus asked Peter if he, too, would leave over this hard teaching. Peter replied, "To whom should we go? You have the words of eternal life." Lastly, the Anglican communion differs in more ways than transubstantiation, from what I understand. What creed do you say at your services? I honestly don't know. |
Anonymous
Jesus may not have established his Church with Peter as head. A reconstructed Aramaic/Syriac of the passage would properly be: "You are KE'PHA' (a movable stone) and upon this SHU`A' (a large massive rock) I will build my church." This is in exact correspondence to the original inspired Greek text: "You are PETROS (a movable stone) and upon this PETRA (a large massive rock) I will build my church." Translated correctly, the rock is either Peter's confession of Christ, or Christ Himself, in Peter's answer to Jesus' earlier question "Who do men say that I the Son of man am?" Peter is NOT the Rock. If you think about it, why would the Son of God and Son of Man give one man the key? It makes much more sense, given all other scripture, that the Church teaches that the path to salvation is through Christ, not through Church. You also need to look at the origins of the word Church. It was also mis-translated and misused along the way. The Greek wording is not what we consider "Churhc", but "pertaining to the Lord" or "belonging to the Lord." Therefore, Jesus did not establish a Church by our modern interpretation of the word. If you read all of John 6, the entire passage makes the picture clearer. "35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” 41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” - Many turned away because they still did not accept that Jesus was Son of God. Anglicans use the Nicene creed, with minor differences to American English Roman Catholic version, none which changes tenants of faith. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker 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, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with 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 worshiped 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. |
Anonymous
| If I were not Catholic, I have thought about joining LDS -- although it would be tough to give up my strong coffee habit! |
Anonymous
| Why didn't you try one of the local quaker meetings, since your test suggested quakerism? There are meetings in Bethesda, Adelphi, and DC. |
Anonymous
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When you find a congregation with services you like, talk to the minister/priest about your beliefs and questions to see if they are open to someone who doesn't subscribe to all of their dogma. United Church of Christ may be your best bet for this, but many Episcopal and (liberal) Lutheran may work, especially for the liturgical aspect.
Incidentally, I really liked the book An Alter in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor--it's a about getting in touch with the holy in every day life, including in difficult times. The author is Christian, but the book broader than that. |
Anonymous
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Episcopal Church of the Ascension in the Sligo Creek area is very welcoming and liberal
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Anonymous
| OP here...Wow...I'm just seeing now many of the responses. Thanks so much for all of your replies. Much food for thought! |
Anonymous
| Ascension - Sligo Creek. I know a seminarian who just started there. I think it would be pretty liberal. I love the Episcopal church - but, yes, you should check out a few parishes as they can very. |
Anonymous
| Ascension is right on the border between Silver Spring and Takoma Park and yes, it is very liberal. We went there once a few years ago and the priest at the time was a lesbian. All of which are good things, IMO. |
Anonymous
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It got just one quick mention so far - please check out the Eastern Orthodox church. It is the most traditional/unchanged version of Christianity- the original form.
If you are interested please read more about it. Some churches are more ethnic than others - some of the Greek Orthodox churches will be very ethnic (some with over 50% of the service in Greek, less converts). However, the Orthodox church is open to anyone, and people other than immigrants and descendants of the more ethnic communities convert to Orthodoxy and find it to be a traditional church with great people, a wonderful spiritual home. Consider checking out an Antiochian Orthodox church such as St Georges in DC, or Ss Peter & Paul in Potomac; a Russian Orthodox church such as St Nicholas in DC, St Marks in Bethesda; possibly a Serbian or Coptic Orthodox church. If you are interested in a less ethnic/less language service-- there are a very small number of "Western Rite" Orthodox churches. These are the Orthodox religion, but the service is all in English, and resembles more of a Western Protestant service with hymns. When DH and I got married, we had different spiritual backgrounds -- it was an easy choice to gravitate towards the Orthodox Church, and away from the Catholic Church for a number of reasons, for us. I wish you the best in exploring this decision, and hope you find somewhere you will be comfortable spiritually. |
Anonymous
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OP, my mom was raised Catholic and when her mom was about to die with cancer she talked directly to God for the first time (without asking for saints to do it for her). She found herself and started questioning the church. A friend took her to a youth group in a local Baptist church and God told her to stay.
What's it about Jesus that makes you uncomfortable? My mom always questioned everythig and the baptist church was always very welcoming to her questions. They have very frequent bible studies and wonderful sermons I you're into that. They're free and independent and you can always find a community that will fit your family's personality. I grew up baptist, went to a Catholic school all my life and respect them a lot but today I found myself going to a regular non-denominational Christian church close to my home. I like being involved in the community doing what the Lord has taught us to do: To Serve our neighbor so my main goal was to join a church that will feed my family spiritually and will give back tothe community. |
Anonymous
I joined an AME church and love it 
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Anonymous
Try Rockville United Church - very open and diverse theological thought - but still God oriented |
Anonymous
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And have you tried Quaker? My beliefnet came out Quaker and UU too. There is a whole range of Quakers, from very Christian to Atheist, but there are some core beliefs.
http://www.fgcquaker.org/connect/quaker-finder In this area they have silent meeting. Probably it is best to do a little reading about it before attending so you know what to expect. |
Anonymous
I have met Quakers who do not consider themselves to be Christians, but never an atheist. I don't think you can be a Quaker and an Atheist. Discuss. OP, I would shop around to Episcopal and Lutheran churches in the area if you want something liturgical. I have dragged my catholic dh to quite a few different christian denominations, but he really likes the liturgy and feels most comfortable at Episcopal. If you are open to returning to a catholic church shop around in the baltimore diocese. Much more liberal than the Washington diocese. I liked the catholic church in crofton, md. |