Comments on: Protestant Converts http://www.passingshadow.com/2009/10/01/protestant-converts/ Conservative Catholic Commentary by a Crusader Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:15:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Boniface http://www.passingshadow.com/2009/10/01/protestant-converts/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Boniface Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:15:02 +0000 http://www.passingshadow.com/?p=56#comment-8 Dunadan- This is a great complimentary to my original post, and I think a lot of your points are valid. Obviously, when talking about what converts (or cradles) "believe" or "think" we are dealing with gross generalizations that will inevitably fall flat when we try to universally apply them to everyone we know. But I think both what you have pointed out as well as what I pointed out are both true in certain contexts. Although I am technically a "revert" (since I was baptized Catholic as a child), I think of myself as a convert because I never practiced the Faith before and I dallied with Protestantism for several years before returning to the Church. My post basically was reflective, commenting on the way conservative apologetically-driven theology affected me personally, and it definitely led me into a place where I kind of ignored tradition (referring to the so-called "small-t" traditions). As I came to appreciate tradition more and more, I came to see that the type of Catholicism I was living was disassociated from the historic tradition (for example, my family went from not wearing head-covering because "we don't have to" to choosing to wear them because it was in line with tradition). I'm grateful for your response and for all the attention this post has received. Blessings, Boniface http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com http://athanasiuscm.blogspot.com Dunadan-

This is a great complimentary to my original post, and I think a lot of your points are valid. Obviously, when talking about what converts (or cradles) “believe” or “think” we are dealing with gross generalizations that will inevitably fall flat when we try to universally apply them to everyone we know. But I think both what you have pointed out as well as what I pointed out are both true in certain contexts.

Although I am technically a “revert” (since I was baptized Catholic as a child), I think of myself as a convert because I never practiced the Faith before and I dallied with Protestantism for several years before returning to the Church. My post basically was reflective, commenting on the way conservative apologetically-driven theology affected me personally, and it definitely led me into a place where I kind of ignored tradition (referring to the so-called “small-t” traditions). As I came to appreciate tradition more and more, I came to see that the type of Catholicism I was living was disassociated from the historic tradition (for example, my family went from not wearing head-covering because “we don’t have to” to choosing to wear them because it was in line with tradition).

I’m grateful for your response and for all the attention this post has received.

Blessings,
Boniface
http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com
http://athanasiuscm.blogspot.com

]]> By: Dunadan http://www.passingshadow.com/2009/10/01/protestant-converts/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Dunadan Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:53:32 +0000 http://www.passingshadow.com/?p=56#comment-7 Ah, my mistake - I was not aware that you are a convert. I apologize for including your name there (though it was a compliment, haha - and by the way, I hope I didn't come across as blasting Boniface either - most of what he said was correct). To be truthful I do not clearly remember your earlier post and didn't read it before writing this one. Interesting point about apologists who miss the tradition for the business of apologetics. I actually find such folks difficult to understand; I can't imagine coming from a devout Protestant background (at least a conservative one) and not immediately and strongly embracing the full historic tradition of the Church (and I'm hardly unique in taking that view, obviously). Apostolic succession was the doctrine which directly triggered my conversion, as well as the conversion of countless other fundamentalists, and when one starts with that particular doctrine, seeking out the historical teachings and traditions of the Church follows rather quickly. I wonder if those converts who do not quickly become traditionalists come from more liberal Protestant backgrounds, and so find the "traditionalism" more difficult to understand. In any case, a true apologist for the Church must (if he's at all intellectually honest) eventually end up embracing Her tradition fully. I have enjoyed your blog for some time now - God bless you and keep up the good work! Ah, my mistake – I was not aware that you are a convert. I apologize for including your name there (though it was a compliment, haha – and by the way, I hope I didn’t come across as blasting Boniface either – most of what he said was correct). To be truthful I do not clearly remember your earlier post and didn’t read it before writing this one.

Interesting point about apologists who miss the tradition for the business of apologetics. I actually find such folks difficult to understand; I can’t imagine coming from a devout Protestant background (at least a conservative one) and not immediately and strongly embracing the full historic tradition of the Church (and I’m hardly unique in taking that view, obviously). Apostolic succession was the doctrine which directly triggered my conversion, as well as the conversion of countless other fundamentalists, and when one starts with that particular doctrine, seeking out the historical teachings and traditions of the Church follows rather quickly. I wonder if those converts who do not quickly become traditionalists come from more liberal Protestant backgrounds, and so find the “traditionalism” more difficult to understand. In any case, a true apologist for the Church must (if he’s at all intellectually honest) eventually end up embracing Her tradition fully.

I have enjoyed your blog for some time now – God bless you and keep up the good work!

]]> By: Athanasius http://www.passingshadow.com/2009/10/01/protestant-converts/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Athanasius Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:44:57 +0000 http://www.passingshadow.com/?p=56#comment-6 My construction was confusing, it should have been: I was Episcopalian then a lukewarm Catholic before I found the Traditional rite. I must have reworded it or something. :P My construction was confusing, it should have been: I was Episcopalian then a lukewarm Catholic before I found the Traditional rite. I must have reworded it or something. :P

]]> By: Athanasius http://www.passingshadow.com/2009/10/01/protestant-converts/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Athanasius Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:44:00 +0000 http://www.passingshadow.com/?p=56#comment-5 To be truthful, I haven't had time to read all of Boniface's post, and I only wrote on the topic once. However, I'm also a convert, not a cradle Catholic. I was raised agnostic, then I was Episcopalian, and before becoming a lukewarm Catholic, until I found the Traditional Rite. I just wanted to put that out there. Also when I wrote on the subject last year, I only meant to point out <em>certain</em> converts who appear to make apologetics a business and miss the mark when it comes to Catholic tradition, but by no means all. God bless, and may He be praised for bringing you back to the Church. To be truthful, I haven’t had time to read all of Boniface’s post, and I only wrote on the topic once. However, I’m also a convert, not a cradle Catholic. I was raised agnostic, then I was Episcopalian, and before becoming a lukewarm Catholic, until I found the Traditional Rite.

I just wanted to put that out there. Also when I wrote on the subject last year, I only meant to point out certain converts who appear to make apologetics a business and miss the mark when it comes to Catholic tradition, but by no means all. God bless, and may He be praised for bringing you back to the Church.

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