Why a person would convert from one religion to another is always an interesting question, and the answers to the question quite insightful on several levels. This post presents four common reasons given for conversions from Protestant Evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism. These reasons were presented in a larger article here, and are based on reasons given by Evangelicals who have actually converted to Roman Catholicism (ERC’s). Direct excerpts from the aforementioned article are presented, with particular points deserving discussion emphasized.

1) Certainty

First, the desire for certainty and a full knowledge of truth spurs many ERC’s (Evangelicals who converted to Roman Catholicism) to reject what they consider to be the “doctrinal mayhem” and “choose-your-own-church syndrome” of Protestantism. ERC’s often have a desire for certain knowledge, something they believe is possible within Catholicism but not within Protestantism.  For . . . ERC’s, when Rome speaks on an issue, that’s it. There is absolute certainty.

The desire for certainty and full knowledge of truth is, I think, a characteristic of human nature, and an admirable desire. The belief that full knowledge of the truth resides within Catholicism but not within Protestantism deserves further investigation and discussion. First of all, orthodox Protestantism claims that full knowledge of all truth resides in the mind of God, and what truth God has chosen to reveals to us resides within scripture and its explicit teachings, not within Protestantism itself.

Secondly, we must ask , “From whence comes the thought that real truth resides only in Catholicism?” Well, it comes from the Roman Catholic Church, not from the explicit teaching of scripture (Deut 32:4, John 14:6, 2 Tim 3:16-17). That scripture is the ‘gold standard’ of truth is not questioned by the RCC. That the RCC, with the Papacy and Magisterium, is God’s representative on earth and God’s interpreter/teacher of scriptural truth, is the claim of the RCC.

(2) History

Second, ERC’s often feel a “historical disenfranchisement” with Protestantism. They have a desire to be connected to the entire history of the Christian church and not just the period since the Reformation. In addition, ERC’s often see the early church Fathers as “the aristocrats of the Church, the elite thinkers, and the inner circle who knew best.” This desire to be connected with church history leads many ERC’s to Rome.

This is an interesting argument with Catholic and Protestant roots.  That Catholic education/teaching forums will provide church history that includes all things post-apostolic is without question. At the same time, Protestant history traces it’s origin to the 16th Century Reformation. For the average layman, it can certainly appear that Protestant doctrine originated with the ‘Reformers’, and that the existing church at that time had always believed differently. At least that is what is presented by many RC apologists.

What Protestants are not told by Catholics who would convert them, is that orthodox Protestant doctrine was believed in, and articulated by some of their own beloved Church Fathers! For example, with regard to the Biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone taught by Paul, there was a divergence from it early in the post-apostolic era, a return to it principally due to St. Augustine, but it was lost again, only to be regained by the Reformers. They were called reformers, because they sought to return the existing church to it’s apostolic roots.

Thankfully, the access every layman has to volumes upon volumes of objective church history texts, just via the Internet, is phenomenal! If you want to discover what was believed and taught by whom all the way back to the Apostles, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home or office.

(3) Unity

Third, ERC’s emphasize unity and are disturbed by the divisions and countless denominations within Protestantism. McKnight quotes Peter Cram who describes Protestantism as “one long, continuous line of protesters protesting against their fellow protesters, generating thousands of denominations, para-churches, and ‘free churches,’ which are simply one-church denominations.” ERC’s try to transcend this disunity by seeking refuge in the perceived unity of the Roman Catholic Church.

Typically, Catholic apologists overstate (I’m being kind) the number of denominations and usually forget that the vast majority of Protestant ‘denominations’ agree on the essentials of the Christian faith and that it’s the non-essentials, things in which there is some liberty, that there is disagreement leading to lack of complete unity in all things. Granted, it is wrong to be divided, rather than ‘agreeing to disagree’ on non-essential matters, but is also wrong to overstate the issue.

Also, the alleged unity throughout Catholicism is, as stated, perceived only. those who might be drawn to the RC because of the ‘unity’ there, need to do some homework.

(4) Authority

Fourth, many ERC’s reject the “interpretive diversity” found within Protestantism, opting for the authority of the Catholic Church. Instead of trying to sort through the numerous interpretations of Protestant pastors and theologians, ERC’s believe they have found their authority in the Catholic Church’s Magisterium. For them, “The [doctrinal] issues are now settled: the Church can tell us what to believe. And it does so infallibly.”

This point is closely related to point one, above, but deserves it’s own category. The ‘interpretative diversity’ that resides within Protestantism is not however, due to scripture being so unclear to the average layman that an outside source must be consulted to ascertain what is true. The same Holy Spirit resides as an ’embedded teacher’ within every true believer. However, since the truth to be obtained from scripture sometimes takes personal study and somewhat developed interpretative ‘skills’, we would rather just take someone else’s word for things. Sadly, false teachers and ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ with their own agendas abound. Having a sole-source authority is very comforting, especially for the lazy among us who trust in what men say and do not apply the aforementioned ‘gold standard’ to what they tell us.

When the trade off is between ‘multiple’ self-proclaimed authorities and a ‘single’ self-proclaimed authority, and the ‘single’ authority brings to the table a gospel that is not the gospel of Christ found in scripture, all we have is self-deception with greater ‘conviction’. Adherents to Catholicism are taught to rely on their works for ‘merit’ before God; works that complement God’s grace (synergism) for their justification. The Apostle Paul gave a rather dire warning to those who rely on their works (See Gal 3:10).

In summary:

The reasons given above for Evangelical Protestant to Catholic conversion are by no means exhaustive, but only provide main categories in which can be found much greater detail.