Hi--I'm a 32 year old Southern Baptist since birth who over the past 1 to 1 1/2 years has been reading about Orthodoxy and wondering if it is truly the One Holy Church founded by Christ and the Apostles.
Reading on various websites about Sacred Tradition, the Church Fathers, the Sacrements, and the Ecumenical Creeds and Councils, I find it very hard remaining a Protestant. When I sit in my Baptist services, although I am a deacon, I silently critiquing the musical style, the doctrine, and many other things that I've been taught to believe as Truth up til recently. On the other hand, I still very much struggle with the whole idea of praying to Mary and the Saints and with venerating icons. I've read the Orthodox defense of these practices and can see SOME logic to it, but it's still very foreign to me. Explaining all this to my wife is awkward at times too, as she has not read all that I have read. She is surprised that a fire-breathing Southern Baptist is honestly considering embracing something that seems so "Catholic". When she hears or reads about icons she can't help to think about "idols".
So to those who may have come from similar backgrounds, how did you finally come to peace about venerating Mary, saints, and icons? Was it something you embraced later, or did you come to terms with this before converting to Orthodoxy? Was is through being convinced by historical evidence or was it something more emotional?
Any input would be appreciated.
In Him. I
