Do You Have to BELIEVE in Every Doctrine to Become Catholic? w/ Jimmy Akin

In this clip, Matt asks Jimmy "Can you become Catholic if you don't feel convinced on all of it's doctrine?" Jimmy's response is brilliant!

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[pintswithaquinas]

What catholic doctrine did you find—or are finding—most difficult to accept?

[alyce-kayruckelshaus]

I already made an extensive comment, so I hope it's okay that I make another. The thing that MADE me decide to become Catholic (and I really felt that there was no choice) was the Eucharist. Once I knew that was right and absolutely necessary, I determined that I would just need to align my beliefs with the rest of the Catholic faith. I'm 60, so it may take the rest of my life, but I suspect God's okay with that. My constant prayer: "I believe. Lord, help my unbelief."

[alyce-kayruckelshaus]

For me, a convert of 9 months, it's not so much a problem of believing or accepting... It's a matter of trying to figure out what these things mean and how they apply to my life. I was very very much a Protestant and that was my entire life for 60 years. I was very active. Catholicism is quite different and there are many things that Catholics, even when they're trying to teach you, assume that we know or that we understand. Sometimes I think I understand too, so I don't really know what to ask. About a month ago... It's okay to laugh... I figured out that in persona Christi is not the same as transubstantiation. My priest actually is human. That discovery really threw me. I had something of a crisis of faith. Not any doubt in Christianity or Catholicism, but a realization that I really didn't understand this which made me wonder what else I don't know or am misunderstanding. So I decided that this year, I'm going to focus on getting to know Mary and developing a relationship with her. It seems like a good place to start. I'm using children's books as well as books that have been recommended to me by adult Catholics. I have to say that even Father Lovasik's books for 4-year-olds are challenging to me. I'm a relatively smart woman and I have a degree in Protestant theology. Which honestly, I think makes it a lot harder for me.

[mikeydonnie]

When I converted to Catholicism 8 years ago, one of the things I had trouble accepting was the Immaculate Conception. I felt like no one could explain it to me satisfactorily. But, along the way, I ended up reading an article about it on a Catholic blog and it just "clicked".

[simonbelmont]

I believe we need a pope,
The seat where the Pope sits today stays the same. But leaders are humans subject to errors. Pray for them.

[esotericbingus]

This video is the straw that broke the Protestants back. Whatever amount of Protestant is left in me haha. Thank you Matt Fradd and Jimmy Akin for spreading the truth of Catholicism, and for playing a large part in my conversion. May God bless you

[JohnR.T.B.]

"...as these teachers _(the Gnostics)_ who are destitute of truly divine wisdom maintain; while the Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said."
- St. Irenaeus (130–202 A.D.), Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter X.

[joshuacooley]

To make it short and plain

You don't need to feel an emotional conviction of every individual doctrine, but you need to be able to honestly make the following vow...

I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.

Which means you need to be able to say "I may not be particularly convinced of doctrine X, but I am convinced of the Church, and if the Church says X is true, I'm willing to accept that and believe it."

[paullydca]

super helpful as I explore converting.

[rschiwal]

Even though I have voiced my objections to doctrine, please know that I trust that which I don't understand. I don't need to understand everything in order to believe. I've seen it in myself and in others that when people don't like a rule, they say, "I don't understand how this can be true. (therefore it is not. Weee!)

[riverjao]

Very helpful insights for a person considering the journey 🤔

[juanchi_elquezapa]

More often than not we confuse faith with mere belief. That is a HUGE mistake. Faith is a response to Revelation, which comes not only from a living tradition but from personal experience. I've tried to bring friends to the Church for years... they've been exposed to Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium... but even so, many of them still haven't had that encounter with Christ within. Until that happens, I can only expect from them mere belief (which resembles adhesion to any other ideology) but not true faith.

[gonzalomorales]

The point when I desisted from needing to prove a certain teaching in order for me to believe it to be true was when I understood the papal infallibility.

[joejackson]

As a cradle Catholic, who knows for a fact The Eucharist and Cup are the Body and Blood of Jesus, and also, the best nourishment for The Holy Spirit within us. I also know the Apostalic succession of the Bishops and all Priests are a documented fact, at least to around 175 A.D. I still have severe reservations on the doctrine of Mary. 1. The Marian Dogmas were not officially accepted until 1957. 2. If Mary was somehow exempted from original sin, wouldnt she have given that information to Luke when he interviewed her to craft his narration of the Nativity?? Lukes time with Mary was much later than the upper room pentecost, so would she have told him such if it were factual and important? 3. If Mary is the Queen of Heaven, why didn't John mention such in His Revalation?? John does talk about the 12 Thrones of Old Covenant Saints, and 12 Thrones of the Apostles, but no mention of a Throne for a Queen. Even Mary who was a part of his household after the crucifixion. So, if Mary is Queen of Heaven you think John would have mentioned. I do agree Mary is a great intercessor, as are also a lot of other Saints, if one feels the need for a go between instead of going directly to the Throne Room of Almighty and Holy God. The sacrements set for by the Church are true and correct. I know this comment will get bombed, please dont be offended if I don't reply.

[donstanton]

Picking and choosing what to believe and what not to believe sounds like heresy to me.

[ntmn]

For me, it’s difficult to accept that Jesus is both human and divine. It doesn’t entirely click for me. It’s not an emotion. It just doesn’t make sense to me. It truly does take an act of faith to accept it, and I can understand why it’s hard to accept. And yes, I’m aware this is infallible teaching. But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept.

[shizzle]

I am catholic but Can somebody please explain me what the difference between the evangelical and Catholic teaching of salvation is. Because we Catholics also believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. But what does faith plus work mean. Is it the same as in the Islam, more good than bad works = heaven, or what? Isn't the faith in the cross enough and works are to "show" your believe??

And what does the Catholic church say about other denominations? Do evangelical and Orthodox also can go to heaven?

Thanks for the answers

[matthuff]

Papal infallibility. Equating Mathew 16:18 to "the pope cannot err in doctrinal instruction" is a stretch to me. I can rationalize that Matt 16:18 could be equated to " The church will not err in a way which impedes the Grace of God (IE the forces of Hell conquer the Church)", but the former is not easy to digest. Ultimately, it feels as though it takes a series of presumptions in order to end firmly in the camp of Infallibility.

[daithimcbuan]

Right, let's run down your thumbnail list.

1. Faith & Works. My belief is that Salvation is from Grace through Faith (Faith ≠ mere belief), and the fruits of Faith are good Works (though the Works themselves do not grant Salvation). A Faith without Works is a dead faith. I am completely on board with Works contributing towards Sanctification (or Theosis to use an Orthodox term) however. I do NOT believe that good works can cancel out sin (i.e. no pennance), only repentance and forgiveness (including the Sacrament of Absolution/Reconciliation).

2. Purgatory. Purgatory is not biblical. However I am open to a sort of cleansing/detox process for ones' Spirit (to use the correct terminology, not Soul). I do not however see why intercessory prayer should shorten this cleansing/detox period. Besides Isiah was made clean in the sight of God by a Seraph putting a burning coal (from the Altar) to his lips. That was pretty quick.

3. Mary & the Saints. I LOVE Mary & I LOVE the Saints. As an Anglican, I have grown up with veneration to Mary & the Saints, albeit not prayer to Mary or the Saints. I personally do not consider asking for intercessory prayer from Mary & the Saints to be abhorrent or in any way theologically problematic. I do however consider it unnecessary. How did Jesus himself teach us to pray? "Our Father, who art in Heaven..." Yes, directly to God. Plus, both Catholics and Orthodox often forget the intercessory part and ask Mary and/or the Saints to perform feats that are indeed quite theologically problematic.

4. The Papacy. Yes, yes. The keys the keys. And Jesus asked Peter three times to look after his flock. Still, if you look at the Early church, it was never all under Rome. Peter was first among equals yes, but first among EQUALS. I do consider the office of the Pope (of Rome... Alexandria also has a Pope) to be the valid successor of Peter and valid Patriarch of Rome. I do not acknowledge the Pope (of Rome) to be the vicar of Christ. I would however love for Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria & Canterbury to come into communion with each other. The successor of Peter can be first among equals of course, but first among EQUALS.

[Beetcast]

At some point you learn that it is all God's will. You don't have to believe but you should.