Introduction
This is a powerful and personal testimony, yet a practical and thorough guide through the deep and complicated Catholic beliefs. The book forces you to ask the question, “Am I who I thought I was?” It's as if you will be walking in the shoes of a man who questioned his faith then faced the turmoil and pressures that accompanies those doubts, only to discover answers that completely changed his life.
A fascinating topic as it helps us all understand others beliefs and to seriously examine our own beliefs.
An Inspriational Help Guide to Deal With the Guilt of Leaving the Catholic Religion
The French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal
said, “In between heaven and hell is life”; however, I would like to add to his statement and say, “In between heaven and hell is a life that is searching for a better life.” Isn’t that what we are all ultimately striving for--a better life than the one we have? Well, I have found it.
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, in a Catholic family who accepted all the Catholic traditions and beliefs. My brothers and I attended Catholic schools and one of my brothers served as a priest for eight years. It seemed that all the pieces were in place to have that “better life” but at the age of thirty-eight, I unexpectedly found myself alone without much hope. A void had existed in my life for an exceptionally long time, but I did not understand what was causing the emptiness.
At some point, we all question the path we are traveling, questioning what we were taught, or what we thought we believed. When disaster hit, I had to take a hard look at my life. Fortunately, I discovered what was missing, but the path to that remarkable discovery was a complicated one, filled with questions about my future, my faith and my identity.
In this book, I want to address some questions I had from growing up Catholic, and most former and current Catholics will relate to them. This book will provide an in-depth look at some of the major Catholic traditions and beliefs, from baptism to Mary and the saints, to purgatory and the Church’s doctrine.
What I have experienced has been nothing short of staggering. You, too, will benefit by discovering that same tremendous joy and peace I have found, a life of inner happiness and harmony, no matter what your circumstances may be, from feeling as if you are in a meaningless cycle filled with an emptiness within, to a rejuvenated and renewed life. My personal prayer is that God will move you through each chapter, as He has moved me these past nine years, so you can capture what I have learned in the hope of helping yourself, your family, and your friends move forward on their own adventure to finding a better way to live.
My purpose is to present clear and accurate truths regarding our beliefs as Catholics and to delve into the unpopular questions, concerns, and circumstances that we as a community of parishioners are facing today in our own lives and in the church. You will be able to use this book as a tool and a guide to explore, evaluate, and discover Jesus in your own life.