Relationship + Jesus Only?

I was inspired to write this this morning because of a conversation I had yesterday. It was a great eye opener to see another Catholic's point of you view about our faith. Some Catholics like to say (myself included before I really started doing the research and finding my own answers) that...I believe that there is a God, but I don't believe everything the Church tells us to do. Do I really have to follow everything the Church says? The thing is, is that we Catholics have forgotten our own story. If you have that mentality of having the personal ability to pick and choose what to believe about your faith, then you're no different than the other 30,000+ Protestant denominations who all claim to really know what God wants. Why are you Catholic instead of being a part of another Christian Denomination? Out of the 30,000+ who knows the Truth? If you really looked into our History you'd find, how Matthew Kelly would put it "Genius in Catholicism."Unless you know our story, someone is going to force their story on you. Don't just be a cradle Catholic like I was. Do the research before you start denying what you choose to be apart of. The only way you're going to fully appreciate and understand your faith is if you starting questioning it. The more questions you ask, the more answers you'll find, the stronger your faith will become.

Matthew Kelly (Rediscover Catholicism), "But perhaps the biggest danger with the direct-to-God approach is that it becomes all too easy to deceive ourselves, and then we begin to create God in our own image. When it is "just me and God" it is all too easy to project my own qualities and biases upon God. Then rather than being created in the image of God, we begin to create God in our own image."

"The dictatorship of Relativism is confronting the world.  It does not recognize anything as absolute and leaves as the ultimate measure only the measure of each one and his desires.  

"'Adult' is not a faith that follows the waves in fashion and the latest novelty.....Adult and mature is a faith that gives us the measure to discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth." - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Excerpts from his homily at the Conclave that elected him Pope.

Recommended Reading:

 

They use this in my church's RCIA program so don't trip about the title lol :)

 The Protestant View...which is unfortunately a view some Catholics embrace. 

The Catholic View

 

Give props where props are do. Know our History.