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Hi. I just wanted to update you. It's nearly 1am here, on Sunday morning, and I am just absolutely aghast at the amount of hatred and misinformation in this video. Rather than spend the next month writing a graduate level paper on Catholic Theology, I'm going to say a few things, and give you a few resources that should help you.

First - You should NEVER take a non-Catholic's definition of what Catholics believe. You shouldn't do that with any religion. This man, John MacArthur, is completely misinformed, and he has allowed this misinformation to fuel a level of vitriol that breaks my heart. It's painful to watch that video, because he is so wrong, and his congregation just eats it up. Apparently, he also enjoys being wrong, because according to Google, he's also a Young Earth Creationist.

Second - For someone who is supposed to be going through the sacraments this Easter, you are VERY poorly catechized. Not all, but a lot of his beliefs are part of a basic education in Catholicism, which you should have received as part of your RCIA classes. I don't know if your classes are poorly run, or if you just checked out because you were only doing this for your wife, but regardless, I don't think you've done even a modicum of research into the topic.

Third - You should only convert for yourself, not for anyone else. Not your wife, not your friends, not your parents. It should only be for you. Catholicism isn't just a religion. It's a culture. This isn't like most Protestant faiths, where your religion is like the color of your underwear (only those closest to you know it, and it has no bearing on your daily activities). Catholicism is a way of life. We have a liturgical calendar. We have acts we engage in outside of Mass. We have rote prayers, we have Reconciliation. Catholicism is a culture of humility and self-control, NOT self-aggrandizement. Becoming Catholic is accepting that all of creation exists, and it is not about you. This is extremely anathema to popular culture, and Protestant culture. You cannot come into Catholicism thinking that the exceptions to rules that Protestants made up for themselves are still in play. The Church is consistent, and painfully so.

Now, if you are still with me, and STILL interested in learning the truth about Catholicism, I am happy to provide you with resources.

First, if you haven't I suggest reading or watching the sermons of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen.
This is a link to a video where he explains the meaning of the Mass. I recommend you watch a lot of his videos. He was a kind, loving man, and in my opinion, was the Mr. Rogers of Catholicism.

I'm also going to recommend his books, especially World's First Love. It beautifully explains why we venerate (note, I said VENERATE, not worship) the Virgin Mary.

I also recommend the following books by Scott Hahn: Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots, and The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. Not to say his other works aren't great, but I think these will help you understand Catholicism as a culture a bit better.

I'd also like to recommend Theology for Beginners by F. J. Sheed, The Feast of Faith by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (aka Pope Benedict XVI), and The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam.

This is by no means a definitive list, but it is somewhere to get you started. I suggest you consider taking some time, and praying about this, and actually invest yourself in studying the Faith. I am still waiting for your list of questions, and when I see it I'll be happy to answer them.

Good Luck on your faith journey, and may God be with you.

Pray about it. Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When you turn your thoughts to this thing you’re considering do you feel excitement, peace, contentment? Or do you feel anxiety, fear, a sense of dread? When you consider the alternative do you feel relief, or a sense of loss?

Pray this way each day for some time until the Holy Spirit makes God’s will for you clear.

I highly recommend Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s books on Ignatian discernment and if you have the opportunity, speak with a spiritual director.

Discerning the Will of God by Fr. Gallagher

The Catholic Children's Bible is good for ages 5 - 9; The Catholic Children's Illustrated Bible - NAB also looks to be a good one. It also has good reviews. Good luck and congratulations to your nephew!

Here is an excellent introduction to Vatican II by an orthodox Catholic professor. I highly recommend the read.
http://www.amazon.com/Vatican-II-Alan-Schreck-Ph-D/dp/0867166096/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463105797&sr=8-1&keywords=vatican+ii+schreck

Also check out these two books: The Ratzinger Report and Crossing the Threshold of Hope
Both books are interviews with Cardinal Ratzinger and JPII and their perspectives on the post Vatican II era.

You will find that a lot of people disparage the Council, however the only proper attitude towards it is recognizing that it is a great gift of the Holy Spirit to the modern world. Soak your mind in the documents.

I could recommend a few books :


The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

Quite light reading and have a good references for spiritual reflections in daily life.

Theology of the Body by John Paul II

This book change my perspective toward "sexual" issues in the modern world, nowadays.

My Daily Bread by Fr. Anthony J. Paone

I read this book daily, personally, whenever i found my faith challenged. As if the book understand my problem at that day.

I hope this help, God bless.

One of the best summaries of our Church's contribution to all of Western civilization is How the Catholic Church Build Western Civilization

I'm a member of the Society of Catholic Scientists, and hopefully soon we'll publish the results of annual conferences.

Many people promote it or at least suggest it, like this book: https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Benedict-XVI-Still-Pope/dp/1621384586

I'm thinking about buying this one today https://www.amazon.com/Pints-Aquinas-Thoughts-Angelic-Doctor/dp/0692752404
I'm loving his Podcast so far.

If you're going to read the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II, its pretty intense. You may want to try Theology of the body for beginners by Christopher West first.

http://www.amazon.com/Theology-Body-Beginners-Christopher-West/dp/1932645349

I just got this book https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Catalogue-Field-Guide-Daily/dp/1101903171/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483311217&sr=1-1&keywords=catholic+catalogue. Interesting stuff. It even delves into subjects that arent typical of a "Living like a Catholic" type books, but still very relevant. Examples : how does a Catholic select a tatoo (if they so wish to have one, they are not encouraged or forbidden). How to make a Mary Garden, How to make a confession (a more common subject). It goes though the holidays/feast days as well.

I only just learned about them myself. Fascinating. Just picked up a book about it.

The answer to you question can be found in a little book called, "Goodbye, Good Men: How Liberals Brought Corruption into the Catholic Church."

It would not be a single book, but you could buy the 7 volumes of the reprint of the St Johns Bible. It is the first handwritten and illuminated bible since the invention of the printing press. It was begun in 1999 and finished in 2011. You can buy the reprints from Amazon.

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http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/

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https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Johns-Bible-Gospels-Acts/dp/0814690513/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=st+johns+bible&qid=1550756108&s=gateway&sr=8-1

> it's always been taught to me that this is absolutely never ok no matter what

I didn't know that. which protestant church do you adhere to?

anyway for historic reasons it just seems madness to me. christianity literally spread through mixed marriages firstly between christians and the pagan romans (see this book for a reference) and after that through the marriages between the christians and the barbaric people (see queen Theodolinda as an example) and most of the time the christian one was the woman.

anyway marriage is just a help for living your life in a relationship that can resemble the relationship with Christ. I don't see anything wrong in marrying someone not christian. (especially if he is not ideologically against religion).

https://www.amazon.com/New-American-Bible-Student-Text/dp/0840712898

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