RCIA

jen2013

I had my first RCIA meeting tonight and I loved it! It is definately something I am looking forward to having!!

npasquale16

That's great!  Congratulations and welcome!

mswood1977

I am excited for you, I had a wonderful experience in RCIA last year and I hope you have the same.

Calypso1977

yea!  :-)

[Deleted User]

WHOO! RCIA is a wonderful experience, enjoy every minute of it. I got so much out of it.

Ckirwin

that's great news, Jen!

wifeandmommy0609

That is great. I start mine in Sept!

mcdol3

Glad to hear it went well!! That first class was nerve-wracking, but you end up meeting so many wonderful people in the same boat as you.

JCM10

I must have had an awful RCIA class...glad you ladies are having fun! (I just went to learn...not to turn Catholic. The one I went to felt like 1st grade Sunday School...actually kind of insulting that they taught it like that. It wasn't theologically deep at all, which is what I wanted/still need)

jen2013

JCM10-  what church are you taking it at?   and what exactly do you mean they are teaching it like sunday school?   I think these classes are mainly suppose to show you the Catholic ways, all the prayers and all that, not so much reading into the Bible, that would be more like a Bible study class. But I am not sure, I have only had one class so far!  

JCM10

That's exactly the problem I have with it. Someone who never grew up in the church goes through RCIA and thinks they're an informed Christian. My denomination puts huge focus on scripture (we were given Bibles in 4th grade by the church, so we could start reading for ourselves. That copy's all dog-eared and written in...as are the 6 or so I've studied with since tehn). The lack of scriptural/biblical knowledge in the Catholic church (and especially for several new Catholics I know) is ridiculous to me. 

And I already knew a lot of the things...Gloria Patri, Nicene creed, Stations of the Cross, Our Father...etc. from my church. None of those are Catholic specific. About the only things I don't know are Mary-related...since that is a Catholic thing. So I felt like it was a very brief overview, like something you teach little kids...without digging deeper into the scripture and the reasons for the beliefs. I was hoping for a lot more. Even when I ask a lot of my Catholic friends questions, and I ask them what scripture they're getting it from, they don't know. Their answer is always "it's in the catechism" or that they just have learned it. I wanted deeper...which I'm still trying to find. Everything I read seems so shallow and like it's not deeply explained through scripture.  I don't think a class like that (just telling someone the beliefs) should be grounds for them joining a church. 

jen2013

I was also a little disappointed that it wouldnt be more, digging into the Bible, but  I am considering taking Bible study classes on the side after a while for that. I think they just want you to know the "basics" and show that you are really committed to being a part of their church. I think the more you go t a Bible Study and even mass itself, you just  learn more into the Bible. but dont quit! unless it is just something that you are just not willing to do. You may actually along the way enjoy it more and learn some things. I asked FI about this and its basically just like taking CCE, and he has said they don't really or they didntg really dig into the Bible, I don't have an answer for why they shouldnt, not sure. 

mica178

My father is Protestant, and he says one of his qualms with the Catholic church is that so many of its members don't know the Bible very well.  It's probably true that many parishioners' only exposure is the three readings per week, and that is too bad.  RCIA and the kids' version teach you about being a member of the Catholic church and the gist of Christianity, but you'll have to do more Bible study (either on your own or in a class) if you really want to "know" your Bible.

agapecarrie

Actually, almost everything said in the mass is from Scripture.

RCIA is technically supposed to be for the unbaptized. The process that is followed is supposed to be a set format for them. (and have a seperate catechesis for those that are baptized) Unfortunately most parishes have limited resources so that they lump everyone in the same group-- which many times works because so many Christians and Catholics are uncatechized.

JCM10

Thanks for all the productive (not flame) posts...not what I was expecting in reply to that post. 

I grew up in a very traditional Methodist church; mass and my services aren't that different at all...the biggest of course, are Mary & the differing views on communion. I can comfortably sit through mass...I know all the liturgical aspects...responses and such. 

After hearing some of my newly Catholic friends talk about their beliefs, I assumed they had learned the scripture that backed them up, like I did in my Sunday School & Confirmation. Confirmation was all about learning the background on beliefs...so I equated that to RCIA. I know so many people who went from barely attending their protestant churches to turning Catholic...how someone can do that when all RCIA is an outline of Christian living. Even the Catholic unique things they explained when I went were so shallow...and never was a verse cited or a Bible opened.

I don't know what I would do without my Bibilcal knowledge. I have a bad day, I go open Psalms, and various other verses for other situations. My college roommate (a lifelong active Catholic) didn't even know what a concordance was. I use one fairly regularly. I use the Bible to help myself, others, and just to learn. I know one can learn from the Bible without this knowledge... I think that's one of my biggest fears about my kids being potentially raised Catholic. It's not that I think any Catholic beliefs are "wrong," I just interpret the scriptures differently (I have scriptural basis for this being okay too...but that's another point ) but I don't know what would do without that knowledge of the Bible...and having my easy to reference, marked in, dog earred copies of the Bible (and lots of memorized verses). 

bibliophile2010

Sadly, many "Cradle Catholics" do not have a strong understanding of their faith, the origins of their faith (which actually has three sources: the Bible, tradition, and official teachings/interpretations of the Magesterium -- someone correct me if the terminology is off). There are numerous reasons for that, but it is not to say that there aren't many Catholics who seek the deeper understandings you are talking about -- you might just have to find them (there are several such people who post regularly here).  As a convert, I find that I often have a better understanding of my faith than others. I've also heard many RCIA sponsors say that they learned more from RCIA than from whatever catechesis they had previously.

I would just urge you to give RCIA another chance. If it was the first class (or the inquiry class) that had you concerned, give it another try. Talk to a spiritual advisor. Try another parish.  Remember that your classmates are all coming at thsi from different points than you. (And I'm not saying this in a flaming way, but in an encouraging way, because I feel like you desire to know the faith better).

clearheavens

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_bible-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:501635f3-6acc-43e9-8f8d-7ee6777c7cbePost:954bda76-bc37-4f85-81a0-4c4d24224a27">Re: RCIA</a>:
[QUOTE]I would just urge you to give RCIA another chance. If it was the first class (or the inquiry class) that had you concerned, give it another try. Talk to a spiritual advisor. Try another parish.  Remember that your classmates are all coming at thsi from different points than you. (And I'm not saying this in a flaming way, but in an encouraging way, because I feel like you desire to know the faith better).
Posted by bibliophile2010[/QUOTE]

<div>Totally agree.  Give RCIA another chance.</div>

dwest2201

I've been emailing with the parish's Deacon about RCIA classes, he's sending me a book to read before the classes start next month.  I'm not 100% sure yet about converting, but I'm excited about the possibility and think that it will help bring FI and I even closer.  We both have strong faith backgrounds I've just been Non-denominational Christian and he is a "Cradle Catholic" but I think it would be ideal to share the same beliefs and raise our children with one religion.

jen2013

dwest2201- Me and my FI are the same way. he was born and raised Catholic, and I on the other hand have been baptized but have just really gone to a non denomination christian church. I have had 2 RCIA classes so far, and I have really enjoyed them. These classes are helping em to understand why they believe what they do, and why they do what they do.  I think we all believe in the same jist of things in the "Christian" religion but everyone differs a little bit, like Catholics with Mary. Our class class was all about Mary, and I have never really learned too much about her but now that I have it all makex perfect sense, and how could someone not believe? BUT anyways even if you are not sure on converting I would just stick with the class, even if you decide not to become Catholic, atleast you will have the knowledge of your FI's religion and you can better understand it.  

I know not everyone has had positive experiences with RCIA but I have loved my classes so far. Now, I do not think they go into depth like some of us with "knowledge of the bible" already know, but its a good reinforcement I think and you will learn things no matter what. If you want more indepth study of the Bible, look into taking a Bible Study class. 

agapecarrie

The problem with Catholics being so uncatechized is that they try to use the answers they got when they were children to answer adult size questions. When it fails to cover it deeply, it is then disregarded instead of studied. Our Christian education should not stop when we get confirmed. The church's job to catechize is secondary to the parents, to simply reinforce the parents. So when Catholics don't understand their faith, don't blame the church, blame the parents.

RCIA is meant more for a formation of the unbaptized, not a comprehensive Catechesis and study of the faith. It's just supposed to cover mere basics and give you resources to go study more on your own. Its what an "adult' Catholic is supposed to do. Study never stops. The saints, their writings, the catechism, papal writings and documents, understanding the liturgy, apologetics, etc.

WHen I was a youth minister many teens came to me with questions of  "where does the bible say that". I went and got some apologetic books and studied on my own. Since I've been exposed to TOB (Theo of the body), now I look into all kinds of writings, commentary, and go to the institute to learn about it.  I will continue studying until the day I die because God is a mystery, and we will never max out on learning about Him, which is always supposed to lead us to knowing Him.
To the advanced, they can then study Thomism and phenomenology thoughts and see how JOHN PAUL II changed the world bring the 2 together. (reading summa theologia to start).

Don't expect RCIA to spoon feed you everything. When a topic is presented, take it to adoration that week. Look up more resources on it. Read about it. This is what adult learning style is.

dwest2201

Jen- Thanks, I defintiely plan on going and unless there is something that really stands out to me that I don't believe in I will most likely convert.  I am very much looking forward to learning more about the Catholic traditions either way though.