Why does it have to be about "Religion?"

What?
bye

Still discerning and planning
"For God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son, so that everyone
who believes in him not perish but
may have eternal life" -John 3:16

FrPeek,

Leaving the Catholic church I beleive was hard for my husband, and he has told me before, many times, that if I would of turned Catholic, he would of stayed Catholic. I grew up in a non-christian home, with no religion at all, no teaching of Christ or anything, so when I was 20 years old, the Catholic church scared me to death! My in-laws always invited me to church with them, in hopes that I would join, and I did go and continue to go with them when we are home in Minnesota. But there are things about the Catholic church that I don't agree with, but I respect it very much, and would never bash it or criticize it. Everyone is entitiled to there religous beliefs, and we ALL think that ours is the best and correct one.
One of the first things that I noticed and fell in love with, was my husbands faith and spirituality. I had never met anyone who had so much trust, faith, and belief. And by God's grace and mercy, he opened my heart, and for that I am a child of God forever.

A thought about humility;
If in relation to one I have been given more
then why haven't I done more to help him lovingly?
If in relation to one given more than me
then why haven't I rejoiced in his goodness
and seek to imitate his virtue more?
If in relation to one equally gifted,
why do I think my solution is better.

So, though differently gifted, we must stand, not in comparison to others, but in comparison to the Almighty God and his Son, Jesus, and in humility beg for His mercy. Share the Truth as you know Him, but in love, recognizing the fact that faith is a gift of God in grace, not something we do ourselves, though we strive to be open to the gift.
The difficulty for a Catholic who in conscience believes that he is called to leave the Chruch, is that he must struggle with leaving "the fullness of the faith handed down by the Apostles." That is a crisis in faith that I, thank God, have not had to undergo.
Although, I objectively would disagree about leaving the Catholic Church, I would listen quietly if your husband was to tell about his struggle. I would learn more about God, about humanity, and about myself by merely listening. Thank you for loving this man who despite his struggles (we all have them - including our zealots!) continues to seek to serve Jesus Christ.

I am glad that you came to that conclusion that protestants are not just 'bible thumping' people as you put it. I am Lutheran-Missouri Synod and proud of my religion, and our love for Christ is deep, profound, and faithful. I wonder though what made you think that if you weren't Catholic, you didnt love Christ?
My husband is in the seminary right now, and will be ordained, God willing, in 2007, and he is Christ centered and filled with God, and very devout to and about his religion, and when he preaches it is a moving experience for him and for the congregation.
And I agree that we are to evangalize to those who dont know Christ, or the love he shows us everyday. Argueing about who's religion is best is small, petty, and pompus.

I agree with you. I am not and have never been Catholic, and I don't expect that I ever will be. To me, though, that isn't the issue. I was immensely impressed by all four young men (by Steve especially) on this show. No matter what their final decisions were, it is obvious from their sense of purpose and from the way they actively strive every day to determine what God wants for them that these are good men who love both God and the people around them. Whether Catholic or not, the world can certainly use more men (and women) like that, and I pray every day that we are all inspired to do a little more, to be a little better, and to work a little harder for the kind of purpose and love they have. Thank God for these young men and for the way they have reminded the world of all the good that can be found in the Catholic faith, especially in light of the problems the Church has been having lately. Although I never really thought negatively of Catholics in the past, because of this show I will now always think of Catholics as good, humble people who strive to do God's will -- and any Catholic who does otherwise is only representative of him/herself (the same goes for any other religion, too!).

People who use a show like this as an excuse to be anything other than loving and charitable to those around them, as an excuse to bash or belittle the beliefs or faith of others, would have found excuses to do that anyway. On the other hand, I believe that wherever people find their own faith and goodness and light, they should take it and use it to make the world a better place. These young men are obviously doing that, and my life is better for having seen and heard their stories. I imagine that there are many other people out there who will see this show and find a faith they had forgotten or never had, Catholic or otherwise, which will lead to so many acts of service and love that will, in turn, change the lives of even more people. Dan, Joe, Steve, and Mike may never really know how much good they have done just by trying to do good and by letting us watch them in the process.

People are always bringing religion into things when the truth is (and the only thing that matters)is that we love and serve God to the best of our abilities. I don't know what every "religion"believes but,I do know that God loves me and wants me to serve Him. I feel like that is all that they young men are trying to do. Don't we all search for that in our lives???