Growing up, I was raised Catholic but we were never religious. At about 6th grade, I decided that there was no God and that religion is all made up. Now, at the age of 18, I've become mature enough to understand that there can be a place for religion and God in my life even when there is an apparent "lack of evidence" to support it, this being called having faith. Now that I'm mature, I've figured I wanted to get back into Christianity, or to be more precise, go through some exploration between myself and religion in order to develop a stronger sense of understanding and faith towards God.
Upon looking back into getting into Christianity, I've gathered that Catholicism is apparently corrupt because of Vatican II, some of the actions of Pope Benedict, and also given that they pick and choose what laws of God to enforce. I'm leaning towards Orthodoxy as it seems the most faithful to the intention of the Bible but from what I found, there aren't any nearby Orthodox parishes within my city so I have to look at neighboring towns. What should I look into and look out for?
Also, how do you keep your faith even when there are some opposing views and "evidence" against it? Why do you believe in the religion you believe in and how has your faith confirmed that what you believe in real?
>>75922468
>Finding the will to believe something on insuficent evidence
Read the Bible for yourself
I am a southern Baptist because I believe the tradition is the most faithful to scripture
I implore you to research it and am here if you want to talk
>>75922769
What makes Southern Baptist better than Orthodoxy and Catholicism?
>>75922468
>Not worshipping Jupiter
>>75922769
Also, do you read into the scripture literally?
>>75922884
Obedience to scripture, particularly as it relates to autonomy of the local church
The highest importance is the gospel message where "orthodox" and Catholics follow a works based salvation
>>75922988
No, I use the historical-grammatical method. There are numerous instances of metaphor and allegory in scripture.
I do fit what you call a biblical literalist though, on a surface level, because I believe the inspiration of the text and therefore take it as it says, supernaturally. The earth was really flooded, jesus really died and rose on the third day, there was really a six day creation
>>75922468
>What should I look into and look out for?
You should stick to Roman Catholcism, since it's the one true Church. Your position is basically that of a protestant. We are explicitly warned in scripture again and again to avoid factionalism and that to do so is a grave sin: "As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
Since Christianity began there have been people striving to destroy it. The controversies we see now in the Church therefore should not surprise us in the least.
>Also, how do you keep your faith even when there are some opposing views and "evidence" against it?
I educate myself. The assorted darwinists, agnostics, and nihilists that comprise our opposition literally believe in fairy tales:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C5pq7W5yRM
http://creation.com/five-atheist-miracles
(I'm not a creationist but these points are valid)
>Why do you believe in the religion you believe in and how has your faith confirmed that what you believe in real?
Because it makes more sense than not:
http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/resurrection-evidence.htm
https://carm.org/analysis-pre-pauline-creed-1-corinthians-151-11
And because my experience confirms everything it has promised me. I have never felt more joy and alive than as a Catholic. Catholicism is the richest thing in the universe. I feel of it as Jesus here describes it: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field. Which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
>>75925521
> whore of Babylon
>one true church
Yeah all those pedo priests and popes sure is the true church kek
>>75925762
10 Reasons to Reject the Protestant Reformation:
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-1-to-reject-the-reformation-the-canon-of-scripture/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-2-to-reject-the-reformation-scriptural-interpretation/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-3-to-reject-the-reformation-the-visible-church/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-4-to-reject-the-reformation-ecumenical-councils/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-5-to-reject-the-reformation-the-church-fathers/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-6-to-reject-the-reformation-patristic-scriptural-exegesis/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-7-to-reject-the-reformation-history/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-8-to-reject-the-reformation-heterodoxy/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-9-to-reject-the-reformation-logical-fallacies/
http://shamelesspopery.com/reason-10-to-reject-the-reformation-the-grand-finale/
