Comments on: Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/ A network of inquirers, converts, and reverts to the Catholic Church, as well as life-long Catholics, all on a journey of continual conversion to Jesus Christ. Wed, 01 Jul 2020 14:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 By: David Currie's "Five D's" of Catholic Thinking - Faith Seeking Understanding https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-30400 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 14:08:42 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-30400 […] the early weeks of my own journey, I was helped by the biographical testimony of David Currie in his book, Born Fundamentalist, Born again Catholic. Currie outlined five divisions in Catholic […]

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By: The Five “Ds” of Catholic Thinking by David Currie – A necessary excursus before moving forward with discussions of Marian (and other) Dogmatic Catholic Teaching. | Think Theology https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-30382 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:29:38 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-30382 […] the early weeks of my own journey, I was helped by the biographical testimony of David Currie in his book, Born Fundamentalist, Born again Catholic. Currie outlined five divisions in Catholic […]

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By: The Five “Ds” of Catholic Thinking by David Currie – An necessary excursus before moving forward with discussions of Marian (and other) Dogmatic Catholic Teaching. | Think Theology https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-30381 Mon, 21 Jan 2019 18:19:57 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-30381 […] the early weeks of my own journey, I was helped by the biographical testimony of David Currie in his book, Born Fundamentalist, Born again Catholic. Currie outlined five divisions in Catholic […]

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By: Alex Hamilton https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-30185 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 01:50:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-30185 I respect all my catholic brothers. Thanks David for sharing. However, I don’t see why Colossians 1:24 was an issue for you. Let alone been one isolated verse which is a very, very basic mistake of exegesis. Regarding the sacrifices in the future millennium. They won’t be for forgiveness of sins. They will be symbolic, as a memorial. Honestly, I don’t see why the fuss on your behavior you described. The catholic church started with Constantine. It is just a fact. Honestly, I’m puzzled by your statements. How can someone built their faith and career of those two issues that I just gave you the biblical answer? I don’t get it. Anyway, I don’t want to be rude to you brother. I’m just trying to learn. Peace!

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By: Annoula https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-29872 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 02:08:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-29872 David, was your dear father the pastor of Christian Fellowship Church? I have a past connection to that church, and when I read your bio the “light” went on!

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By: berryf https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-28222 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:33:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-28222 Hi David! Just readf your book, Born Fundamentalist…, and am glad I found it. I was left to my own discovery of Christianity as a child. I never attended church with my parents, nor do I ever reacall them ever attending, however, we did pray together on special occasions, and my mother said bedtime prayers with me nearly every night. So, I had instilled in me a belief in Jesus Christ, but I yearned for a church. I tried many different Protestant Churches, invited by my friends, but over time was left confused by the differences. Then my freshman year in college (1966) I met an Irish priest who invited me to attend his weekly noontime classes at the Catholic Newman Center. It was 20 weeks long. During that time I decided I wanted to become a Catholic, and was eventually baptised into the Church and have been a fairly faithful Catholic ever since. Still, I was left curious about my Protestant experience wondering why the left the Church. None of the reasons I heard ever made sense, and quite frankly, I have been quite disturbed by the constant onslaught on the Catholic Church by some fundamentalists who practically insinuate that Catholicism is nothing more than a cult religion. Your book has given me much affirmation about the Church I chose nearly 50 years ago, not that I ever doubted my choice, but at least I am glad that you were brave enough to question your faith honestly and intellectually, and then write about it with integrity, sincerity, and balance. I think all Catholics should read your book, because in my mind it helps me to “put on the full armor of God.” I do not believe the Protestants are any less cherished than Catholics in the eyes of God, but I do believe that during the Reformation period, their leaders were led astray by the evil one.

Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)

The Armor of God

10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

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By: Duane https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-27384 Sat, 21 Jun 2014 02:10:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-27384 In reply to Diane.

Dear Diane,

I too am a cradle Catholic, but I had the exact opposite experience then you. In our grade school they gave us a Bible in 3rd grade and encouraged us to read it every day. My mother who grew up in the great depression was also given a Bible in her CCD classes and also told to read it every day.

As to John 6 if Jesus is speaking figuratively why did so many of his followers walk away? Like you they could not handle this teaching and they left Jesus. I urge you to reread John 6 vs 53-58. If the Eucharist is only symbolic then why in 1 Cor 11 vs. 28-31 does Paul write about those who have received the Eucharist unworthily becoming sick? If you read writings from the early christians it is quite obvious that they believed it to be Jesus’ real body and blood. (By the way Luther and Calvin also believed in some form of the real presence).

As to your Jn. 6 vs. 61-64 it is quite obvious that Jesus is not talking about HIS flesh but about OUR flesh. Truly if his flesh is of no avail then why did he have to die on the cross?

As to your praying to the saints comment we are asking them to pray with us and carry our prayers to God as is shown in Rev.5 vs. 8.

Now answering God’s law changing. I direct you to Mt. 19 where God allowed Moses to change teaching because of the hardness of OUR hearts. Is the hardness of our hearts in this matter still going on when the KJ version of the bible says it is ok to divorce for unfaithfulness when Jesus CLEARLY says only if the marriage is invalid.

Which brings me to my final point. Reading scripture and self interpreting it is a dangerous thing to do as shown in 2 Peter 3 vs. 16. That is why we have the magisterium. I thank God every day for that.

I and the Saints pray for you.

Duane

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By: Bershawn300 https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-27373 Tue, 10 Jun 2014 01:03:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-27373 Hi David! Thanks for sharing your testimony. I, too, have been undergoing a radical tectonic shift in my personal walk with the Lord and in my theology over the past year. This has culminated in my starting RCIA and eagerly awaiting the time when I can be joined with God’s church. Though God had to do very much to crush me on a personal level, in part it was to bring this hardheaded former 5-point Calvinist to her knees and soften my heart to be open to the truths of the Catholic faith.

I won’t go into the personal side here, but on the theological side, I have had many experiences similar to you. My Protestant theology was coming up short and Catholic theology or understanding of the faith/Bible was beautifully and faithfully filling in the gaps.

It is so good to read about someone else who has gone through this type of experience, because it can feel quite foreign (though at the same time completely right). It is nice to hear about other people who made it across the Tiber.

Additionally, I had an extreme almost visceral experience of Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist that completely blew me away and bypassed all former indoctrination against transubstantiation (I had been severely taught against it). I did not take communion, but was sitting in the back of the church watching it go on and thinking about the Lord. As I said, in an almost visceral way, after the priest blessed the sacrament and as I sat looking at the crucifix behind the altar, I could just feel/sense Jesus there in the room with us! It is something I will never forget. After all my time spent in charismatic circles (I was a charismatic Calvinist), I thought “THIS is what charismatic Protestants have been longing for!” And they don’t know even know it! He’s HERE! The PRESENCE of the Lord! So vividly viscerally HERE! In that moment, somehow God had clearly conveyed it to me that my entire understanding of the Catholic faith had been wrong and that I was to submit to and join this church. Of course, my free will is still engaged in the process, but I understood at the time that to not listen to God about this would be an extreme, possibly soul-threatening act of disobedience. Plus, I want to join Him where He is at. Where He is at is where I want to be!

Thank you brother for sharing! It is encouragement along the way!! Blessings.

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By: Diane https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-27192 Mon, 17 Mar 2014 01:50:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-27192 Dear David,

I was drawn to your conversion story because you had the privilege early in life to read and study God’s Word. You see I was not so privileged. My conversion story is just the reverse of yours. I was born and raised in the Roman Catholic traditions. One of my uncles was a Monsignor and three of my first cousins were nuns. I, myself, thought seriously about becoming a nun too.

I attended Mass and received the Eucharist almost every day through Catholic grade school and high school. And as my little first communion prayer book instructed me, I prayed to Mary and the saints and offered them my prayers to gain plenary indulgences for my sins. Fortunately while I was still an adolescent the Holy Spirit guided me to pray directly to Jesus. When I look back I believe that this is when the Lord began to draw me out of the Roman Catholic Church.

Back then if we ate meat on Fridays it was a mortal sin. Now that was every Friday. It still baffles me why it was a sin for Roman Catholics then and yet today it isn’t. To me sin is sin and doesn’t change. Of course if it is just a tradition and man made it changes with their whims. I’m sure glad that God’s Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. Aren’t you?

You see, though I believed as a Catholic that the Bible was the basis for my Catholic faith, I never read and studied God’s Word in a Bible group or much less on my own. Nor were we ever encouraged to do so. We were brought up with the notion that such things were just for the priests and hierarchy of the church.The only Bible we got were from the readings at Mass.

I doubt that you are interested in my life experience, as I was yours, so I won’t go on and on. However, I would appreciate it if you would consider my following thoughts concerning John 6 and the Eucharist.

Why does the Roman Catholic Church use these verses to back their belief on the Eucharist when the incident occurred before the Last Supper?

Also, when reading this section personally, myself, I could understand how one may take it literally if it wasn’t that in a few verses later Jesus, himself, explains the meaning of his words. In John 6:61-64 it reads: A ware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”

In these verses Jesus explains that the meaning is spiritual and that the flesh counts for nothing. Have you ever considered these verses before?

I would also like to discuss Colossians 1:24 but it will have to wait till next time. At least I hope we can talk again. Thanks for taking the time to read this and consider my thoughts.

God is always good! Diane Sperber

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By: Constantino https://chnetwork.org/story/born-fundamentalist-born-again-catholic-conversion-story-of-david-b-currie/#comment-26719 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:22:00 +0000 https://chnetwork.org/?p=4690#comment-26719 Dear David,

I forgot to mention. My brother’s name is Ramon.

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