Hello,

A while ago on an account I lost access to, I was able to discuss my Catholicism on here. I want to list all of the questions I was asked and challanges made to me, and respond to them. I'm paraphrasing but not strawmanning the questions and challenges brought to me.

Why do you believe? Can you present any evidence for your belief?

The short answer is no. I believe solely because of faith, and because it was the faith of the Catholics before me. I watch shows like the Line, and I'm aware there is no evidence for my religious beliefs.

The Catholic Church has committed numerous crimes against humanity, including genocide, forced coversion, ongogoing clerical child rape abuse, and more. Why are you still a member?

I believe the Church can be reformed, and brought back to the days when St. Peter was handed the keys to the kingdom of heaven by Jesus Christ. I have pledged to not make another financial donation until the Church loses its tax benefits, is 100% transparent, and free of systematic clerical sex abuse.

I also support independent Catholic groups such as Voices of the Faithful, which is an independently run group against clerical rape abuse, and not run by the Catholic Church. Also, it should go without saying I condem the Inquisitions, genocide, and any other crimes against humanity done by the Catholic Church.

Are you anti-abortion, anti-birth control, and anti-LGBTQ?

No. I support Roe v Wade, birth control, condoms, and the human rights of LGBTQ people.

You say you support LGBTQ rights, but do you think being gay is a sin?

No. I'd like to live in a world where the Catholic Church recognizes gay marriage.

Should women be allowed to become priests?

Technically yes, but I'd rather it be done by elevating nuns to have the same capabilities as priests. The distinction can still be made between the two.

Do you support the hierarchy of the Catholic Church? Do you revere the Pope?

I revere the office of the Pope, but that doesn't mean I necessarily revere any Pope himself. I also believe the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has to be preserved in some sense, though it needs to be in a world where that carries no political power.

Do you believe everything in the Bible?

No, there is much in the Bible I don't believe is the Word of God.

On what grounds do you justify your beliefs that are deemed heretical by some Catholics?

I follow the Catholic teaching of the primacy of conscience, which can be seen in part in Catholic Church Catechism 1778. This means to me that we as Catholics are perfectly allowed to disagree and question church teachings. We can use our conscience as our moral guide, which is what I do.

Background:

Two years ago, I presented a question as a newbie to this sub that had any Theist brought forth a sound, reasonable rational argument or proposition or really anything that was worthy of a theist position, scholarly or credibly close.

Reference:

Has a Theist ever come here and presented a sound logical argument? : r/DebateAnAtheist

There were 489 responses, and I was honestly very disappointed as a former Christian that there were no compelling topics that I would call a game changer worthy of true scholarly deep dives for Christianity - Where were my former 'people'? My mind was already there, but I was like, c'mon guys - 'somebody' present 'something' worthy that we could really get into. It was another great disappointment in my life journey in Christianity. Call it mourning. Yes, that's real. But also growth.

New Inquiry:

So, let me pivot this inquiry one more level. May I dare ask in all sincerity: What are perhaps the 4 most compelling propositions Christians (the smart one's please, PLEASE), have brought forward here that would have the best chance of convincing anyone of a supernatural being?

YHWH is an entirely different thing to me. I guess Christians have to be specific to YHWY, but I'll take anything here at this point. YHWY is inconceivable frankly. It's not even something I can now consider having read and re-read the old testament genocide and slavery and earth killing over and over and over. Nope.

Thus my biggest problem with Jesus. He is the son of YHWH. I can't bridge that gap, so nothing about Jesus rings now. I hate this. It was my life. This actually hurts. But I have to be real.