From Protestant to Atheist to New Age to Catholic (My Conversion Story) // Existential Delight #8

[@dylangous]

Hi everyone, thank you for watching my video. I appreciate all of your kind comments and words of encouragement. I will edit and update this comment to address questions I keep getting in the comment section below. Let me begin by pointing out that my conversion took place over the course of 10+ years - the idea that I changed my mind from one day to the next simply misunderstands the timeframe that I cover in the video. Also, you may feel I should simply follow Christ and not religion. While I appreciate your desire to help, following Christ necessitates I unite myself to the Church. Just as the structure of marriage allows me to grow in intimacy with my wife, so too the structure of the Church allows me to grow in intimacy with Christ - the founder. While religion may seem like walls of a prison to you, they are, to me, the walls of a playground which create space for good things to run freely. Religion unites me to God, as is its true purpose. It is sad to say, but all the negative comments are united only in their hatred for the Catholic church. If my conversion upsets you and you feel I have made a mistake, please pray for me. I will be praying for you. Hopefully this approach gets us closer to accomplishing our Lord's desire that we may be one.

[@franciaquiamno7797]

You are not mistaken. Congratulations for your decision. God loves you.

[@Mariasol07]

You are home 🏠

[@tony1685]

so friend, why don't you believe Scripture? according to the Bible - catholicism isn't even Christianity. former (35 yr) catholic, now Christian. remember friend, *Truth invites investigation!* ~ catholicism runs from It. all questions welcomed and encouraged. thanks for reading.

[@amandajones3964]

A truly Christlike response. Continue to be a blessing 🙏

[@alisterrebelo9013]

I resonate with your story from Atheism to Catholicism. I am a craddle Catholic so we have a slightly different starting point. Do not mind the haters, if they had the religious experiences that I did, they would be believers too. Although I had to spend 16 years searching for Truth as an atheist, watching the world turn woke, realise that objective value really does only come from a belief in God, I was then able to soften my heart to hear the call of God. Had I known about apologetics as a teenager, I would've been better able to guard my mind against the siren call of the new atheists.

[@efandmk3382]

My journey was similar. Raised Protestant, became Atheist, explored Buddhism, then converted to Catholicism. If you're searching, and your search is objective, all roads seem to lead to Catholicism.

[@arianemontemuro7901]

All roads lead to Orthodoxy.

[@rafaelvega73]

​@@arianemontemuro7901 which is catholic too, the original church

[@mamiro59]

@@arianemontemuro7901 No.

[@stephanithalias]

​@@arianemontemuro7901 Catholic still holds the union with the pope. The pope is like St. Peter... so It's wiser to be a Catholic....😇

[@adelbertleblanc1846]

Stand in the Faith. Don't let yourself be troubled. For 60 years, I have seen theses that seemed unshakeable collapse over the generations (Pope Benedict XVI).

[@davidnacey7281]

Very interesting. I went from Jehovah's Witness, to atheist, to Theist searching for a religion and denomination, ultimately to Catholic. As a JW, I prided myself in Bible knowledge. As an atheist, I struggled to overcome fears and doubts, and ultimately failed to see how all of this came into being by mere happenstance. As a searcher, I studied all the major world religions and Christian denominations. Finally, after realizing that the one Church I swore I would never join was the one true Church, I became Catholic 20 years ago tomorrow. God bless you.

[@ohmightywez]

That is quite a journey! I’m extremely impressed by your determined search for Truth incarnate. The Jehova’s Witnesses are profoundly anti-Catholic, so kudos to you for having the burning desire for a real and physical relationship with Christ, and the internal fortitude to accept rejection and anger from friends and family members.

[@tony1685]

this is catholicism, not Christianity, friend. haven't you studied what the protest was/is all about ? this surely isn't His true church - it doesn't meet His criteria.

[@tony1685]

@@ohmightywez if one desires a relationship with Christ - it's impossible they remain catholic. see John 14:15 for proof, friend.

[@amandadelassus2128]

@@tony1685 You mean it didn’t meet Martin Luther’s criteria.

[@andrefouche9682]

@@tony1685 Tony on what grounds do you accept the book of John as authoritative?

[@nojo1986]

Apparently KZbin algorithms knows I was an atheist, who went to new age and finally landed in the church in which I was born and raised. Who knew this would happen?!?

[@marvalice3455]

Something interesting. Algorithms, in as much as they work at all, are entirely children of reason. They take the information they are given, and act on it with absolutely no passion whatsoever. They are flawed, but they often find truths their more irrational creators find very hard to see.

[@wjtruax]

Dylan - Thank you for your words of Christian unity. I’m a lifelong hardcore Presbyterian (very similar to the NG Kirk) but will come into the Catholic Church at this year’s Easter Vigil. As I face the hard conversations with family and lifelong friends who don’t, and really can’t, understand my move to Rome, my prayer is that those conversations will result in all participants becoming better disciples of Christ. Gratia et pax.

[@srich7503]

Prayers of peace be on you!!!

[@revelation1215]

Praised be God. You must have a real conviction to be willing to risk the rejection of your family.

[@wjtruax]

@@revelation1215 I know that I’m more confident in and in love with Christ than ever before. I trust that my family will see the fruit of that reality and realize that I’ve gone deeper into the Christian faith rather than rejecting it. Thank you!

[@revelation1215]

@@wjtruax The Catholic Faith is rich and God has truly blessed you.

[@wjtruax]

@@revelation1215 amen!

[@ProLifeChloe]

I was raised Protestant although I was baptized Maronite Catholic as an infant. at 18, I went deeper into Christianity and reverted back to the Church. I’m now 21 and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Glory to God!

[@c.z.227]

Cradle Catholic here who didn't know her faith and finally started learning it in my 40's. There is SO MUCH to learn, I'll be continuing to learn until I am just short of the grave. So glad you found Catholicism. God Bless you and keep up your journey!

[@ABB14-11]

Sometimes it’s overwhelming isn’t it?

[@kellibuzzard]

We'll continue learning in the presence of Christ in Heaven!

[@zazaiwon87]

It is a lifelong learning 😊

[@tony1685]

i pray you open the Bible so you can see how catholicism is counterfeit, Ma'am.

[@maggieconser]

I've just started learning everything last year after reading the Bible. Adult convert 20 yrs ago.

[@no_more_anymore]

Yoooo! I was a fan of yours when I was Orthodox, now I've become Catholic too lol.

[@jacobwoods6153]

If you don't mind, what was the reason for leaving Orthodoxy and becoming Catholic?

[@no_more_anymore]

@@jacobwoods6153 To keep it simple, it was due to who had authority in the end.

[@jacobwoods6153]

@Betta Fish Christian Completely understand. I was a Calvinist looked into Orthodoxy first and then became Catholic.

[@Jeremy-ge6zv]

@@no_more_anymore In the European West, Christianity has gradually transformed into humanism. For a long time and arduously, the God-Man diminished, and has been changed, narrowed, and finally reduced to a man: to the infallible man in Rome and the equally "infallible" man in London and Berlin. Thus did papism come into being, taking everything from Christ, along with Protestantism, which asks the least from Christ, and often nothing. Both in papism and in Protestantism, man has been put in the place of the God-Man, both as the highest value and as the highest criterion. A painful and sad correction of the God-Man's work and teaching has been accomplished. Steadily and stubbornly papism has tried to substitute the God-Man with man, until in the dogma about the infallibility of the pope-a man, the God-Man was once and for all replaced with ephemeral, "infallible" man; because with this dogma, the pope was decisively and clearly declared as something higher than not only man, but the holy Apostles, the holy Fathers, and the holy Ecumenical councils. With this kind of a departure from the God-Man, from the ecumenical Church as the God-Man organism, papism surpassed Luther, the founder of Protestantism. Thus, the first radical protest in the name of humanism against the God-Man Christ, and his God-Man organism-the Church-should be looked for in papism, not in Lutheranism. Papism is actually the first and the oldest Protestantism. We should not do this ourselves. Papism indeed is the most radical Protestantism, because it has transferred the foundation of Christianity from the eternal God-Man to ephemeral man. And it has proclaimed this as the paramount dogma, which means: the paramount value, the paramount measure of all beings and things in the world. And the Protestants merely accepted this dogma in its essence, and worked it out in terrifying magnitude and detail. Essentially, Protestantism is nothing other than a generally applied papism. For in Protestantism, the fundamental principle of papism is brought to life by each man individually. After the example of the infallible man in Rome, each Protestant is a cloned infallible man, because he pretends to personal infallibility in matters of faith. It can be said: Protestantism is a vulgarized papism, only stripped of mystery (i.e., sacramentality), authority and power. Through the reduction of Christianity, with all its eternal God-Man qualities, to man, Western Christianity has been turned into humanism. This may seem paradoxical, but it is true in its irresistible and unerasable historical reality. Because Western Christianity is, in its essence, the most decisive humanism; and because it has proclaimed man as infallible, and has turned the God-Man religion into a humanist religion. And that this is so is shown by the fact that the God-Man has been driven to the heavens, while his place on earth has been filled with his replacement, Vicarius Christi-the pope. What a tragic piece of illogic: to establish a replacement for the everywhere-present God and the Lord Christ! But this piece of illogic has been incarnated in Western Christianity: the Church has been transformed into a state, the pope has become a ruler, bishops have been proclaimed princes, priests have become leaders of clerical parties, the faithful have been proclaimed papal subjects. The Gospel has been replaced with the Vatican’s compilation of canon law; Evangelical ethic and methods of love have been replaced with casuistry, Jesuitry and the "holy" Inquisition. What does all this mean? With the systematic removal and destruction of everything that does not bow to the pope, even with forced conversions to the papal faith, and the burning of sinners for the glory of the meek and the mild Lord Jesus! There is no doubt that all these facts converge into one irresistibly logical conclusion: in the West there is no Church and no God-Man, which is why there is no true God-Man society in which men are mortal brothers and immortal fellows. Humanistic Christianity is actually the most decisive protest and uprising against the God-Man Christ and all the Evangelical, God-Man values and norms. And even here is evident European man’s favored tendency, to reduce everything to man as the fundamental value and the fundamental measure. And behind that stands one idol: Menschliches Allzumenschliches. With the reduction of Christianity to humanism, Christianity has been no doubt, simplified, but also at the same time-destroyed! Now that the "gleischaltung" of Christianity with humanism has been accomplished, some in Europe are seeking a return to the God-Man Christ. However, the cries of individuals in the Protestant world-"Zuruck zum Jesus! Back to Jesus!"-are empty cries in the dark night of humanistic Christianity, which has abandoned the values and the measures of God-Man and is now suffocating in desperation and impotence. While from the depths of centuries past reverberate the bitter words of the melancholic prophet of God, Jeremiah: "Accursed is the man who puts his confidence in man!... Pt 1 Saint Justin Popovic

[@Jeremy-ge6zv]

@@no_more_anymore In a broader historical perspective, the Western dogma about man’s infallibility is nothing other than an attempt to revive and immortalize dying humanism. It is the last transformation and final glorification of humanism. After the rationalistic Enlightenment of the 18th century and the shortsighted positivism of the 19th century, nothing else was left to European humanism than to fall apart in its own impotence and contradictions. But in that tragic moment, religious humanism came to its aid with its dogma about the infallibility of man saved European humanism from imminent death. And, although dogmatized, Western Christian humanism could not help absorbing all the fatal contradictions of European humanism, which are united in one single desire: to exile God-Man from the earth. Because the most important thing for humanism is for man to be the highest value and the highest measure. Man, not God-Man. According to our own Orthodox feeling: Christianity is only Christianity through the God-Man, through His God-Man ideology and God-Man methods. That is the fundamental truth for the sake of which no compromises can be made. Only as the God-Man is Christ the highest value and the highest measure. One should be truthful and consistent to the end: if Christ is not the God-Man, then he is the most impudent fraud, because he proclaimed himself as God and the Lord. But the Evangelical historical reality irrefutably shows and proves that Jesus Christ is in everything and in all things the perfect God-Man. Therefore, one cannot be a Christian without a belief in Christ as God-Man and in the Church as His God-Man Body, in which He left His entire Miraculous Person. The saving and life-giving power of Christ’s Church lays in the eternally-living and all-present personality of the God-Man. Any substitution of the God-Man with a man, and any winnowing of Christianity in order to pick out only that which pleases a man’s individual preference and reason, turns Christianity into shallow and impotent humanism. The outstanding importance of Christianity for making lies in its life-giving and unchangeable God-Manhood, by which it models humanity as a whole, bringing it from the darkness of non-being to the light of Pan-being. Only by its God-Man power is Christianity the salt of the earth, the salt that saves man from rotting in sin and evil. If it dissolves into various humanisms, Christianity becomes bland, becomes salt that has turned flat, useless, fit to be tossed out and trod on. Any tendency or attempt at a "gleischaltung" of Christianity with the spirit of the times, with ephemeral movements and regimes of certain historical periods, takes away from Christianity that specific worth which makes it the singular God-Man religion in the world. In the Orthodox philosophy of society, the rule above all rules is this: do not accommodate the God-Man Christ to the spirit of the times, but rather accommodate the spirit of the times to the spirit of Christ’s eternity-Christ’s God-Manhood. Only in this way can the Church preserve the life-giving and irreplaceable personality of the God-Man Christ and remain a God-Man society, in which people fraternize and live with the help of Divine love and justice, prayer and fasting, meekness and humbleness, goodness and wisdom, charity and faith, love of God and love of one’s brother, and all the other Evangelical virtues. According to the God-Man philosophy of life and the world, man, society, nation, and state are to accommodate themselves to the Church as the eternal ideal, but the Church must never accommodate itself to them-much less submit to them. A nation has true worth only inasmuch as it lives the Evangelical virtues and incarnates in its history the God-Man values. What applies to the nation, applies to the state as well. The goal of the nation as a whole is the same as the goal of the individual: to incarnate in one's self Evangelical justice, love, sanctity; to become a "holy people"-"God’s people"-which in its history proclaims the Divine values and virtues (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1:15-16). + + + They will ask us: where are the concrete fruits of this God-Man society? How was it that precisely on the field of Orthodoxy’s radiation came about the appearance of "the most radical secularism in human history?" (Joseph Piper) Does there not also exist an Eastern "Humanism" (for ex. Caesaro-papism, etc.)? The success of atheistic social humanism on the soil of Orthodoxy: is that not proof of the "inability of Orthodoxy" to solve the most elementary social problems? It is a fact that this world lies in evil and sin. The reduction of everything to man is in fact the atmosphere in which sinful human nature and man in general-no matter where he is located-lives and breathes, and something toward which they strive. It is, therefore, no wonder that the tides of this sinfulness, just like the tides of European pseudo-Christian poisons, from time to time wash over the Orthodox peoples as well. However, one thing is irrefutably true: the Orthodox church has never ecclesiologically dogmatized any sort of humanism, whether we are talking about Caesaro-papism or any other "ism." With the strength of its genuine and uncorrupted God-Manhood and Evangelical truthfulness, and through its constant call for repentance regarding everything that is not from God-Man, it has preserved, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom and the chastity of its heart and its soul. And by this it has remained and continues to be the "salt" of the earth, man and society. On the other hand, the tragedy of Western Christianity lies precisely in the fact that it, either by correcting the image of the God-Man, or by denying it, has attempted to once again introduce demonized humanism, so characteristic of sinful human nature, to-where? Into the heart of the God-Man organism itself-the Church, whose essence lies precisely in the freeing of man from it. And through it into all regions of life, person and society, proclaiming it as the supreme dogma, as the universal dogma. With this, the demonized intellectual pridefulness of man, hidden under the cloak of the Church, becomes the dogma of a faith without which there is no salvation! It is horrible to think it, much less say it: with this, the sole "workshop of salvation" and graduation to God-Manhood in this world, is gradually turned into a demonized "workshop" of violence over consciousness and dehumanization! A workshop of the disfigurement of God and man through the disfigurement of the God-Man! Pt 2 Saint Justin Popovic

[@dapplerosegrey260]

This is so relatable for me. I have been on a similar journey. Grew up evangelical and was very disappointed and disillusioned in it. I’m very much a spiritual seeker and until somewhat recently felt like I may never go to Christian church again. In my new age phase I had a very impactful reconnection with Mother Mary, and she got me interested in the Catholic Church. I was confirmed in the Catholic Church this month and it’s absolutely where Christ wants me to be.

[@dylangous]

Ave Maria! Thank for you sharing🙏

[@lolitamaltizo6562]

God loves you so much ❤

[@virginialara9211]

Please describe your reconnection to Mama Mary. 💝

[@ronellcarroll]

Amen!!! Welcome home! 🙏

[@michellemeiers8309]

Welcome home brother ❤

[@triumphofihm525]

I’m a cradle Catholic in my 50’s & you gave me hope for the younger generations

[@Bonita.ch1]

Read Revelation 17.

[@marvalice3455]

​@@Bonita.ch1 oh no. Please don't start quoting "two Babylon's" That book is utter nonsense

[@tony1685]

@@Bonita.ch1 it's a clear and unmistaken revealing of catholicism - that much is clear.

[@tony1685]

@@marvalice3455 i can teach the Truth from Scripture - which i prefer. care to discuss or aren't you allowed?

[@joecastillo8798]

​@@tony1685 Tony, Once again: You are being lead away from truth by your man-made Church. If you really believe the Bible is the Word of God then believe what Jesus says regarding your life: John 6:51-55 51. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." 52. Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 53. So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. I ask you: Why reject our Lord's direct message to your conscience? If Jesus is telling you that something is true, why would you respond to our Lord by saying it isn't true? Can you understand the consequences of your rejection? It is quite evident it isn't Heaven. May God bless your discernment.

[@carolynjones394]

Loved this video. So much to think about. I especially resonated with, "I don't want a church that moves with the world. I want a church that moves the world. I don't want a church that adjusts its teachings to the Age."

[@NinavauKoginavaan]

i like this

[@Alma-ge6qo]

AMAN 😊❤🎉

[@wulan12344]

The Catholic church is a contradiction of the world. ..

[@tony1685]

@@wulan12344 Amen, and the word as well.

[@learnbibleversethroughpict6027]

@@tony1685 Protestants are contradicting the Word by ignoring some of the very important teachings of Christ. One such example is Mathew 16 : 18

[@sheribrogden9247]

I converted a few years ago. It only gets deeper. I was just going to listen to this for 5 minutes. I listened to all of it. My journey was very different. God is so inventive in how He brings us back to Him.

[@jessebryant9233]

Don't want to be difficult, but "deeper" and "Catholic" is not something I've ever experienced...

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

@@jessebryant9233 What is your experience? I'm not looking to convince you of anything, as I'm a Christian who is ecumenical and Catholic friendly, but not RC. I'm just genuinely curious.

[@jessebryant9233]

@@saintejeannedarc9460 My personal experience would include half my family and every Catholic I've ever known-except 1. Generally, they know about 8 Bible verses (literally), never speak of the Gospel (most can't even tell you what it is), and (like most professing "Christians") you would never know they were "believers" if they didn't tell you, because there is literally no difference between the way they live and act and that of typical average secular humanist.

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

@@jessebryant9233 Well that's pretty bleak. Are you Christian yourself? It sounds like you may not only think that of Catholic Christians.

[@jessebryant9233]

@@saintejeannedarc9460 Yes, I'm a Christian. And yes it is pretty bleak... And would you not agree that most professing Christians are essentially cultural Christians? Almost everyone will claim to be a "Christian", but my experience is that 5 minutes later they'll turn around and tell you that homosexuality is okay, express support for abortion, tell you how they hate so-and-so, tell someone to go f--- off, talk about the last filthy film they watched and loved, express lustful thoughts, curse, swear, and blaspheme (sometimes in a single breath), and if you talk about the Bible, they get upset and inform you that you shouldn't "judge", etc. For sure. It's pretty bleak! And I'm not even claiming that I enjoy looking in the mirror! But it seems that people are lacking just the basics of the faith. It's like we can hardly handle milk, let alone meat. It's deeply troubling and certainly makes me want to raise the bar for myself. Strong and mature and consistent Christians are our only hope!

[@silviae1000]

Hi I'm Silvia from Argentina What I love about your talk is that you don't give your testimony from an apologetic point of view, not with the Bible but referering to your life experience, your feelings, from a very personal perspective. You said "the reasons came later", this is so profound, it's what really counts, the calling you felt in your heart, "I fell in love with the Catholic Church". So did I .Beautiful!!! Many blessings for you and your family

[@dylangous]

Thank you, Silvia! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@SaltedHope]

I've had the same journey. I absolutely love the Catholic church! Years of searching and researching spirituality and theology and there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that catholicism is the one true church.

[@tony1685]

it's not. it's a counterfeit, according to Scripture.

[@myronmercado]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Welcome home to the Church Jesus founded. He said the gates of hell will NOT prevail against it. He stayed true to that promise.

[@melissathorson9459]

Thank you so much for this wonderful testimony 🙏❤️ (from a lifelong Reformed Protestant who recently became Catholic 🙏✝️)

[@ronellcarroll]

Welcome home!!! 🙏 🎉🎉🎉

[@Meiran._]

​@Ronell Carroll what does that mean ? Catholicism is home?

[@ronellcarroll]

@@Meiran._ The Catholic Church is the 1st, original church. The only church for 1500 years after Christ's time on earth.

[@Meiran._]

@Ronell Carroll Jesus has one Bride. One church which is His Holy Church. There is no denominations in Heaven. It is the children of the Father that are there. Let us learn to love one another.

[@ronellcarroll]

@@Meiran._ I don't recall anyone saying anything about not loving each other..... Also should you decide to study history you will see Jesus created and set up the Catholic Church for all and although many have tried to divide and create water downed versions the Church will remain. 🙏

[@kristenstudebaker814]

Love GK Chesterton. "Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out". He really is clever and speaks incredible truth!

[@ivorybow]

You and I share a practically identical journey, except mine began back in the early 60s. I am now 75, and converted to the Catholic church in 2002. I was deeply involved in the wave of Eastern spirituality that blended with the hippie movement in the mid to late 60s. Like you, God rescued me from the psychedelic culture, and my thought that I was God, and the world around me my own mind. In the ensuing years, I walked in the clouds above the "ordinary folk," and in 2001, Mother Mary rescued me from such foolishness and brought me home to her Son's Church on Earth. I love my Catholic faith, and every day it only grows richer. I do love Dr. Peterson and I listen to him daily, as he gives me hope for young people. Bishop Baron is also one of my teachers. I enjoy his erudite and soothing homilies.

[@meganturner1456]

Converted 24 years ago. Has been a fantastic journey. Love JP, Bishop Barron, Chesterton. Love Pints with Aquinas. Seems like a deep pool u dive into and never reach bottom. God bless all on this chat xx

[@marcianiedziolko9984]

Bishop Baron is a modernist unfortunately. There are better Clergy to follow.

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

@@marcianiedziolko9984 I'm really enjoying the sermons of Ft. Riccardo. He seems like a wonderful ecumenical priest who is friendly w/ Bishop Baron, and even extolled Pastor Tim Kellar (very progressive), but that flavour doesn't appear in his sermons at all.

[@marvalice3455]

​@@marcianiedziolko9984 if rev. Barron was the most modernist guy out there, the church would be solid as a rock. Lol. Pray for our bishops, they need all the grace they can get.

[@paididoy]

@@marvalice3455 ,too sad, the church is in turmoil starting in 1960's.

[@tony1685]

will pray you convert to Christianity one day soon.

[@PInk77W1]

“In anything we do, there comes a point where no one would do it, except for honor.” GK Chesterton

[@Bamifun]

My cousin converted from Baptist to Catholic while in medical school. You’ve made me curious about her journey.

[@tony1685]

catholicism is antichrist, according to Scripture. but it does deceive many - Revelation 13:3

[@treasuremaker8489]

Dylan, you are amazing! I was baptised as a Catholic, but practiced new age for almost 8 years. Learned the hard way, but grateful for praying the rosary. Mother Mary showed me the truth. God called me by my name. Love from the Philippines!

[@mortensimonsen1645]

Fellow catholic convert (nov 21) here. It was a delight! to hear your story. You explained psychedelics to me so I actually understood the experience better than ever before (I am 49) - and thus understand the link to new-age/eastern religion/pantheism. I think you're very much on track when you appeal to people's "participating knowledge" - people are simply a lot less rational than they/we believe ourselves to be. Daniel Kahneman (Thinking Fast and Slow) can perhaps provide some scientific underpinning to this idea of our inflated believe in the rationality of ours. I love that you love Chesterton - I will check up on some of your videos about him.

[@NavigatingCareers]

❤😊 I’m a cradle Catholic from the Philippines and blessed enough to have a stable & supportive family. I pray more Catholic families are “made” all over the world! Thanks for sharing your story, I listened from start to finish - keep going! Happy anniversary to you guys and happy birthday to your daughter 🤗😍🙏🏻 God bless you all!!

[@Oscar_Mendez]

Today when there was a lot of traffic I decided to listen to this podcast. I can only say Wow. Thank God I got like 2 hours of traffic (I never say this haha), but it allowed me to listen to the entire podcast. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

[@joseantoniocastro1486]

Amazing journey, I enjoyed it so much. I´m Spaniard, catholic with a kind of similar way to catholicism from a very godless youth, I subcribe to your channel to learn about Chesterton, Which i also love so much. You asked about mystics and I recommed you to read Santa Teresa de Jesús and San Juan de la Cruz. Both spaniards and both the best mystic saints that you can find. I´m sure tou will enjoy them so much. Saludos desde España.

[@shumbusho8579]

From which part of Spain?

[@joseantoniocastro1486]

@@shumbusho8579I´m from Madrid.

[@gethimrock]

You ever heard of University of Navarra? You should take classes there

[@Kitiwake]

An interesting debate I considered one time. Which is better, integrity or piety? It's too obvious to me.

[@lolitamaltizo6562]

​@@Kitiwake ❤❤❤

[@filiamaria8]

Bishop Barron and Dr. Brant Pitre really added so much clarity to my Catholic faith and now looking for more wonderful people living the faith...I guess Chesterton is on my list now😊😎 God bless you all!

[@sandra4065]

Do a quick google search for quotes by G K Chesterton - great introduction to his wit ❤

[@Gerschwin]

Just finished your video. Loved it. A nice meandering talk. My favorite line is "expecting crumbs and being served a buffet". Definitely!

[@soniafell8267]

Welcome home brother 🙏 once lost but now you are found.from a 68 year old cradle to grave Catholic.

[@bradkarpenko4568]

Thanks Dylan , for sharing your journey from Alan Watts to Jesus Christ and the new and eternal life in Him . Hope to chat with you some day , in this life or the next .

[@susannebrule3160]

Thanks Dylan for sharing your story into the Catholic Church. I've been going threw the Catechism in a year with Fr. Mike on ascension press which I love and Im learning so much. He also does the Bible in a year which is great also. My God continue to bless you and your wife on your journey in the Church,there so much to learn.

[@tony1685]

Mike isn't teaching Truth, Ma'am. catholicism is pagan, not Christian.

[@susannebrule3160]

@@tony1685 I thought you were Catholic?

[@lois2997]

@@susannebrule3160 he used to be, he left it to be a heretic 7th day Adventist now he trolls and constantly bashes the catholic faith

[@susannebrule3160]

Keep praying for him

[@lindalambert8727]

Orthodoxy changed my life too. I am a Catholic convert too.

[@feaokautai7354]

Great journey of conversion to Catholicism! I love ❤ hearing your story! Jesus Christ is everlasting real in your life.❤ I'm so proud of you.

[@einsigne]

Beautiful conversion story

[@das3841]

Interesting sharing, so typical of all we've been through in our age. Thank you, from Jhb.

[@saviocoimbra7286]

Que incrível jornada. Glória a Deus por voce e sua família. Que o Espírito Santo te ilumine sempre em sua caminhada na Santa Fé Apostólica. Saudações desde o Brasil.

[@pioamalraj9791]

desde USA. Hello Savio. this is beautifully written portugese.

[@susand3668]

I am so glad to meet you today! Thank you for being my brother in Christ, and a fellow admirer of Chesterton!

[@peetysister6457]

Thanks for your testimony! Your story and those of others like your give me hope for my church.

[@ilonkastille2993]

We have to keep hope for our Church, since Christ Himself promised that the Gates of hell will NOT prevail over it. The Evil One who wants the destruction of His Church, is only a creature. God will always win.

[@shanbyrt]

I haven't heard anyone else articulate as succinctly as you have my own sense and sentiment regarding protestant Christian denominations. I too was not against any denomination or pattern of Christian worship, but I fell in Love with Christ and his Church. The way I have expressed this to others is that I wasn't running away from something that I disliked or detested, but was running to something deeper, more full of the truth, more complete. Thank you for this!

[@sethball1319]

It is interesting how close your story is to mine. I’ll be coming into the church this Saturday. So excited!

[@kathiweston2731]

I’m a cradle Catholic and thrilled to hear your story of how God brought you to the faith. I pray for the best for you and your young family and look forward to listening to more of your videos. My son is a Chesterton fan so I’ll recommend you to him.

[@jessebryant9233]

If I may, in your own words, could you tell me what you mean by "the faith"?

[@tony1685]

@@jessebryant9233 it's certainly not Biblical, but a counterfeit belief they label as such.

[@jessebryant9233]

@@tony1685 Too often it seems that Catholic's are like those on the Left, who clap like seals affirming one another, yet when it comes to questions regarding their own position... [crickets]

[@tony1685]

@@jessebryant9233 well stated - i was catholic 35 yrs and grew tired of not being capable of actual Bible discussions. i began my studies and now follow Christianity - not the paganism they preach, teach and follow. some understand a little Scripture - but since they have to support their own doctrines, they contradict the basics, which the Bible teaches - rendering them useless when trying to actually comprehend and follow Truth.

[@jessebryant9233]

@@tony1685 I wish it was not so hard to TRY and talk with them. I've had more luck with JW's. 😥🙏

[@quayscenes]

You had me at 1:39:10 with the Heresy disclaimer and Žižek impression! This whole video is outstanding. It makes my short list of all time greatest conversion stories.

[@alicebarneto171]

So inspiring !!! Please keep me and my family in your prayers.

[@tony1685]

yet it's amazing how catholicism is actually heretical, and so few understand that it's based off paganism.

[@annakau1]

I really loved Bishop Baron’s Catholicism series…is a must for anyone who wants to tip their toes in the understanding of Catholic Church.

[@leonardoherreraornelas4667]

Hi Dylan. New subscriber here. Your conversation journey was quite similar to mine. My brother died when I was 14 while I was an engaged catholic. I went through a faith crisis and became an atheist. It was until my young adulthood when I started to do drugs, mainly cannabis and LSD, at some point I really felt I was about to found a pagan cult with my friends. I quit LSD because I almost died in my last trip. I continued to smoke weed trying to quit little by little. I was already studying the christian faith and started to pray. I ended up becoming catholic, the last day that I smoked weed I was about to fall into a psychotic broke. I remember myself praying and begging Jesus to take me out of that. Long story short... That was the official day I recognized Him. You can tell the rest of the story: I started going to mass, formalize my communion with the Catholic church, stopped living in adultery, fornication and a long etc of things I had to quit. Now I'm a committed Christian, married and waiting for a baby to be born in a few months 🎉. Thank you for sharing your testimony.

[@marieotu1612]

Jesus us so faithful, never gave up on you..thank you, Jesus..❤

[@anne-marielouiserey4244]

Thank you for sharing. Great testimony. Amen.🌻🌻🌻💛💛💛😇

[@luissandoval3364]

Thank you for your testimony , love everything about the video. Cradle Catholic and I have to be honest I am learning more about my faith from conversion stories like yours , Scott Hahn , Keith Nester and many others . Thank you for praying for unity among Christians we need to unite or Islam will eventually outnumber us . Testimonies like yours help us get closer to our Father in heaven to the holy trinity. God bless you and keep spreading the good news . ❤️🙏🏼🛐🕯️

[@saintejeannedarc9460]

We do need unity among Christians. That's why I can glean so much from Catholic testimonies and priests, as an evangelical.

[@reginaullrich2401]

Oh my, you are so charitable! Loved hearing about your journey to the Catholic church! Welcome ❤

[@crusader2112]

This was a great and interesting stream. Thank you and God Bless. From a Fellow Catholic. 🙏🏻

[@SOGT610]

Dylan. This broadcast is so important that you should break it down into two sections. I believe it should be shown not only to all future Seminarians but every senior in Catholic High School;.Sadly the attention span of people these days is. is quite short: so a broadcast in shorter segments might be better. This is a brilliant presentation. I wish you and your Catholic Family all of God's Blessings. Dr. Tom Kohler, D.A.

[@dylangous]

Hello Dr. Kohler, thank you for your message. I think I might go through the video and edit out all of the repetitions so that it is more direct and to the point. Thank you for the suggestion and God bless you!

[@philcoppa]

one need not watch it all in one sitting, one can do it in sections

[@Sheilamarie2]

Wow, this was a terrific story/journey! Now I get to watch your Chesterton videos, yahoo! Thank you, I loved this! God Bless You...

[@tellyhow6281]

Good to discover you Dylan. Refreshing convertion story. Brainy and kind. GK Chesterton is up there with Pope Benedict XVI, CS Lewis, St Thomas Aquinas, St Augustine and St John Henry Newman. And the early Church Fathers with St Paul.

[@jackieann5494]

Thank you ! Informative and interesting . As you shared your story , I kept thinking and feeling that someone must have been praying for you throughout your journey .... God bless you !

[@monicabraicu6255]

Thank you for your talk, great journey, may God continue to bless you! I like Jung, it helped my introspection and my dreams interpretation.I am a devout Catholic, coming from the Orthodox Church and I have agreat love for both. God bless you and your family!

[@DianaMonsalveJ]

Great video, I when trough a kind of similar journey as well... God bless you.

[@coljambla]

Brilliant video, Dylan - an incredible odyssey!

[@jonathanabuthan1373]

Odyssey! what an appropriate word for this

[@thepic12]

Loved your story! Bishop Barren is the number one Google search. My husband and I listen to his sermons every Sunday before we go to Mass! It helps us to understand the readings better! God Bless you and your family!

[@tony1685]

so sad.

[@thepic12]

@@tony1685 no we’re very happy!!!!!

[@tony1685]

@@thepic12 would you be happy to know that catholicism (mr barron) prove weekly that they don't love Christ? see John 14:15 i too was happy when i knew nothing of Truth. but now that i know Truth - i am very happy - but sad for people that turn their backs to Christ, as this 'church' does.

[@thepic12]

@@tony1685 we Catholics keep Gods word to the letter! Thank you very much!

[@thepic12]

Here’s a letter from St Ignatius of Antioch who studied under the Apostle St John: “I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible” (Letter to the Romans 7:3 [A.D. 110]). “Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2-7:1 [A.D. 110]). I’ll pray for you my brother in Christ!!

[@thomasthebankengine818]

Bless you brother for this testimony-your intelligence combined with the Holy Spirit within you is a delightful and moving combination ❤🙏

[@dompernickel]

A very engaging story! You articulate your experience very well!

[@maishayangu9216]

Oh wow! I am actually waking up to the conclusion of this video that i started listening to like 5hrs ago. I would sleep through it and startle up after it has gone for almost an hr and then, i would reset it to the last word i was conscious listening to it and the process repeated itself until the last minute. It is now 4:02 am on Easter Sunday 2023, and i am just about to get up and go attend 8 am Mass. That is how interesting your story of conversion has been. Thank you for sharing. Although i know, i missed some parts, i may someday rewind fully when i am fully sober, but i loved listening to it. God bless you, welcome home brother anď Have a Happy Easter people of God.

[@roelgonzales8858]

“Life is wonderful, the mystery of life is the sanity of life” i like that. Thanks

[@dianajohnston1425]

This was an awesome video. Thanks so much for putting it together. I love the detail, and the time that you took to go through books and people who influenced you, and the micro-stages along your journey. I followed a similar path, though without stages #2 and #3 - I went straight from Protestant to Catholic - but the process was incredibly slow (at least 15-20 years, possibly longer if I really want to count details). We will be received into the church next week at Easter Vigil. I love the comment that you left below - that the walls of God's law are the fence around a playground, not the walls of a prison. That is incredibly apt. Sorry, too, that you're getting so many hecklers. Believe it or not, the insane and inevitable rudeness of Protestants in comment sections (and the inevitable graciousness of Catholic responders) was one of the reasons which made me give Catholicism a serious look in the first place. So perhaps it's a good thing! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your channel, and thanks for posting! Oh, and I love Chesterton! Yes! So much good stuff with him! !

[@denisewells2992]

When you were speaking about getting more into psychedelics and you began looking for "guardrails" I heard "God-rails" at first. Knowing where your story was going it felt like a perfect slip and it made me smile.

[@kandass1980]

Welcome Home dear brother in Christ Jesus

[@elainemckenna473]

Hi there...I am an old lady now but went through very similar things in my journey to Catholicism. The key moment was actually :an experience of Christ" just like you had. The reading is fantastic and helps so much with the journey...nothing like spiritual scholars. Now I just want to pray and pray..best wishes to you always and thank you for your channel

[@mpoimahao8684]

I know that accent anywhere. Hello, my fellow South African❤️. Praise be to God for your journey and conversion🙏🏽.

[@koketsomokone2975]

My thoughts exactly!😂😂

[@xtusvincit5230]

Superb intellectual/spiritual autobiography. Thank you for sharing your journey. I belive many many more in your generation will follow similar paths.

[@gregorypietersen4459]

As soon as you started speaking I thought hey you sound south african. Fellow south african catholic here,welcome home

[@maggieconser]

Thank you for sharing your story! Praying today for the conversion of atheists.

[@johannaquinones7473]

Thank you for sharing your journey❤ so encouraging for those of us who have loved ones who have left the faith

[@dylangous]

Thank you for your kind comment Johanna!

[@Gerschwin]

Hey! I'm from cape town! Convert also. 🙏

[@Pedro_Gala]

I've really loved your testimony. May I one day have strenght to share mine. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

[@ucheuju9348]

Bishop Barron is a gift to the Church. He and Dr Peter Kreeft want me to take a course in Philosophy! Thank you for sharing your conversion story.

[@shenomiya6194]

Thanks for sharing your story, I loved it. God bless you so much dear brother in Christ ❤

[@noquit739]

As a baptised Catholic, I really love to hear testimonies from the converts to Catholicism. It is so empowering, so much learnings and strengthening. The converts are even more biblical and catethical knowledgeable and standing their newly found faith with so much love and conviction. Welcome home brother. Thanks for sharing your way home to Rome.

[@no_more_anymore]

@55:50 this is probably one of the most important realizations that former atheists go through. That's what happened to me, too.

[@lesmen4]

Moratality, what's after death curiosity led me to google and got some authentic views from Christianity that made me lukewarm to stronger Catholic. Thanks to Catholic content on youtube, much better than usual homilies .

[@Anon.5216]

In fairness to Priests they are restricted to 15 min homilies. However, we are so blessed to hear wonderful teachings on utube.

[@shinym.s9896]

Great testimony. May the Holy spirit guide you through

[@PattiS3]

Thank you for this. I'm so glad I found your channel!

[@Love.Yah.]

Halleluyahhh 🙌 great testimony Welcome back my brother to the fold of JESUS CHRIST 🙏

[@IesuRexGloriae]

Gllory to God! Welcome home brother! Keeping you in my prayers...that God may grant you the grace of final perserverance and grow in holiness. Jesus & Blessed Mother blessed me with a holy Spiritual Director who is from South Africa, Father Gardner but been living here in the U.S. for many years. He is a retired priest but still offers the Holy Mass in our parish. People call him a very Holy Priest.

[@seraficaweis6317]

It is an irony that those who are not cradle Catholics usually become the most die hard Catholics or staunch defender of the church. Thank God for giving us persons who would guide the lost sheeps back to the true church.

[@sebjuliussen9378]

Man! This mirrors my journey so closely, I was just received into the church at the easter vigil. I was emotional listening to this. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@mattd398]

I enjoyed the video. Near the end about belief being more than mere propositional knowledge is a realization I recently just had, although I separate belief and propositional knowledge into 2 categories. I'm very drawn to Catholicism, mainly because of the Eucharist, since these allows 'belief' or experience to exist, and the saints, but my main problem is that I believe in Universalism, or the belief that all will ultimately be saved.

[@ilonkastille2993]

We can’t all be saved without doing anything.

[@faithofourfathers1043]

I would simply reply, "come home" and everything else will follow. If you wanna dive deeper into the Catholic understanding of those ideas check out "Dare We Hope That All Men be Saved?: With a Short Discourse on Hell" by Fr. Hans Urs Von Balthasar

[@ABB14-11]

I’m Catholic and I struggle with “universalist” tendencies. It really stressed me out two years ago when I realized so many won’t be saved and I can’t accept that some people I truly admire and respect might not be saved. I’m trying to deal with it now by trusting in God’s goodness and believing He knows the “hearts of men” more than I ever will. Maybe He’ll do it in a way we can’t even comprehend right now that doesn’t contradict with what the Bible said about hell.

[@user-bl4lf9rg8m]

Salvation is offered to everyone, but not all will accept it.

[@user-bl4lf9rg8m]

​@@ABB14-11 but then don't accept it. Make sacrifices and pray for them. It depends on us too. Mary said in Fatima that so many poor sinners go to hell as nobody pray for them. So we can take that as invitation to participate in conversions

[@kristawilde7697]

Incredibly compelling story/testimony, and encouraging for Catholics & anyone seeking Truth. Thanks for sharing! 👍👍🙏🙌 Praise God!

[@marynguyen8315]

Congratulations ! And Praises be to God !

[@waitforit175]

This past week, I celebrated 19 years since I became Catholic. I'm still converting. That's the beauty of Catholicism. There's always grace and the opportunity for a deeper conversion.

[@anthonymount1275]

My conversion from atheism to Christianity was kinda similar, minus the psychedelics. I rejected a Catholic upbringing very early on as a child due to an overbearing but well-meaning pious grandmother. I later found stoicism at a very unhappy and meaningless-feeling point in my life. The ancient stoics had a God concept that they argued was essential to the coherence of the philosophy. I initially balked, but I was so enamored with stoicism as a way of life, and the practical aspects were having such a profound effect on me, that I could not shake it. I wrestled mightily with accepting this stoic God. That was the start of a crack in my atheist armor. Then I read Spinoza, then Whitehead and Hartshorne, then William James' "Will to Believe" was the final nail in the atheist coffin. The intellectual dam I had erected collapsed, and possibilities rushed in, my closed world opened wide. It still took a while after this to go from mere theism to Christianity, and I'm still wrestling with it in many ways to this day. I'm very much a mere Christian. Big-tent Anglicanism is where I'm most comfortable.

[@johnyang1420]

Try RCIA

[@jennychapman1677]

Bishop Barren had a huge influence on me in my journey from Protestant to Catholic! I thank God for him always

[@holdingsteadfast]

If Jordan Peterson converts to Catholicism he'd for sure have a lot more enemies. But that just pales in comparison to actually knowing that beyond his understanding of the bible, his philosophy and psychology, that there is a God. That He's real, and that He's a whole lot more than all the literatures of philosophy, psychology, theology, and everything else combined.

[@fpingham]

Happy to see it my brother in Christ! And also getting some deserved views and subscription to your channel. I remember we were fewer back in Orthodoxy live reading but it was just a matter of time, just like your conversion. Best wishes and prayers

[@AllanKoayTC]

i'm a cradle Catholic who fell away in his teens, became a Buddhist, dabbled in Hinduism and new age stuff, became agnostic. returned home in my 30s. during my "wilderness years", a Protestant friend said something that has stuck with me till today. he said, "What do you have to lose if you believe in God?" exactly. if it turns out that there is no God, and i'm Christian, so what? but if it turns out that God does exist, and i'm atheist, oh boy, will i be in trouble.

[@dinaandrade5415]

Paschal's wager!

[@AllanKoayTC]

@@dinaandrade5415 i had to google that. i didn't know about the wager! thanks!

[@dylangous]

Thank you for sharing, Allan! I appreciate your comment.

[@audreydonovan6710]

God bless and protect you and your family Dylan. May God be praised that you found Him. Come Holy Spirit and enlighten the hearts and minds of all people to find their true home with You our Heavenly Father. Source of all love, hope and joy. Jesus I Trust in You 🙏❤️✝️

[@silviamarholin615]

Bienvenido a la belleza, la bondad y la verdad 💒 de la Iglesia Católica. Welcome to the beauty, truth and goodness of the Catholic Church 🙏🙏🙏

[@Dr.Nguyen-Bakersfield]

I have so much to learn from you. Humbleness is one virtue that is truly lacking in this world. You have a superb and humble intellect.

[@dylangous]

Thank you for the kind words my friend.

[@MrsYCote]

Beautiful conversion story. While my conversion story is very different, I could relate to so many of the same feelings along the way!

[@BFM481]

May the peace of Christ be with you always and may your story loving Jesus be a turning point for many youngsters. Please pray for my children that they be fervent catholics.

[@milagrosamistoso9086]

Thanks for your video...🇨🇦

[@deonwilson4044]

Every second of your podcast very worth listening to. I am a fellow Catholic and have been since my being baptised and I am still learning about my Religion

[@thereselemire1711]

Enjoying your story, Thank you. I must share that I was very disappointed when I found out that Alan Watts was CIA. He was la big part of my life for a number of years.

[@mrwiggiewoo]

Loved it, beginning to end. Found parallels to my own journey even though I'm 65 yrs old. Grew up in through the 60s and 70s,and became a Christian during the time of the "Jesus Revolution". After all this time of 5 decades of being a Christian, I'm still evolving and learning so much. I find it odd and funny that as a grandmother in her 60's, I find you so relatable! 😂 Faith is like that, it binds people of different age groups and cultures. We are The Church, His love knows no bounds.