Introduction of the religion

Roman Catholicism is one of the oldest and most widespread religions on the Earth. Complicated messes, confirmations and other rites, depicted in media and literature, create the commonplace image of Catholicism as a denomination permeated with rituals and traditions. The goal of the research, described in this paper, was to build a comprehensive picture of the beliefs Catholics hold, to find out about their thoughts concerning God, people, salvation, life, death and other significant matters. As I belong to the Church of God in Christ, I studied Catholicism by comparing it to the beliefs adepts of my denomination hold. My research showed that though Roman Catholics and adepts of the Church of God in Christ are both Christians, their beliefs differ in many aspects, which may impede the process of building understanding between these churches and their believers.

Name, location and review of the site.

My desire to get a comprehensive and accurate picture of Catholicism led me to the St. Anne’s Catholic Church, a religious site many local Catholics visit regularly. My co-worker, who invited me to visit her church, was one of them. After that tour I understood the roots of some differences Catholics and the adepts of Church of God in Christ have.

Dimensions and overall feeling

St. Anne’s Catholic Church is huge, with solid doors and high ceiling, filled with elaborate images and statues of Catholic saints.  Most objects within the building are massive; the altar and the statues are made of marble. The overall feeling there is that human being is small and insignificant compared to the power of the deity.

Interview summary

After the doors of the St. Anne’s Catholic Church closed behind us, my colleague agreed to answer some questions concerning her faith. Considering the fact that she is a cradle Catholic, who, according to her, has always been passionate for learning more about her faith, our communication helped me a lot in researching Catholicism as a religion and a cultural phenomenon. For instance, we talked about:

The day of justice, the absence of reincarnation, hell. People will be judged for what they have or haven’t done.

Daily prayers, religion as guidance in day-to day-life. Prayer is an act of communication, something religious person needs and enjoys?

Knowing God through things that surround one. In other words, knowing God through one’s life. “The Church teaches that the one true God, our Creator and Lord, can be known with certainty from his works, by the natural light of human reason” (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Reading the Bible, learning about one’s religion

Promise of salvation and God’s love

“There is more to being a Catholic than mass on Sundays”. Being religious means finding out about different aspects of faith, constant moral growth, praying and asking for guidance. Faith is a process rather than an object?

Oppression Catholics may face. Sometimes religious people provoke anger and prejudice even in the closest relatives. It may be complicated to live in a family where members belong to different denominations.

Sense of comfort and peace about life through faith. Faith is believing that there is something more than you can see, and someone who knows more than you do.

As long as people, who are not Catholic, love God, God can reach them. People have different background, their own inner demons, some reasons that make them choose against Catholic Church teaching. Still, they have a chance for salvation.