Thursday, April 4, 2013

Becoming Catholic Makes You Smarter

Since coming into the Catholic Church in 2008, I have found something miraculous happen. I seem to understand things better, as if a fog I didn't even know I was in has lifted, as if colors and sounds have become sharper, not to my eyes and ears but inside my brain. Concepts that were too complex for me to fully grasp now make sense. Things that were beyond my imagination and my understanding now seem obvious, even simplistic. 

My personal change is dramatic enough to write about. I am wondering if other Catholic converts have had this happen. 

For a concrete example: I have always been a voracious reader, mostly theology, history, philosophy and self-help books. I have never read a 250 page book in a few hours though. Lately I have been able to get through books--deeply theological books--in a few hours.  (I'm not speed reading.) And my comprehension has skyrocketed. Weird. 

What is going on?

I have always heard that sin makes us stupid. If so, then here's my analysis: 

1. I am going to confession regularly. 
2. I go to communion weekly, often more. (Partaking of the divinity of Christ has GOT to make one wiser!)
3. I am reading the Catholic Catechism (which is brilliant and can improve one's IQ just reading that!)
4. I am reading Catholic theology and history. 
5. My prayer life is full of Catholic prayers which don't dumb anything down. 

Doing all these things, especially partaking of the Eucharist often, must be raining down grace upon me, cleansing me of my sins that I may see more clearly, hear more clearly and understand. The process of sanctification given freely through merits of Christ and through my seeking first the kingdom of God in obedience of faith must be slowly pulling me out of the stupor of sin. My "stupid" is decreasing while Christ in me is increasing! Surely, that has to make one wiser!

Can becoming Catholic make one's IQ increase? I actually believe being obedient to my faith has opened my eyes that I may see, fulfilling the words of Christ found in Matthew 13:10-17:

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'You will keep on hearing, but will not understand: You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they would see with their eyes, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."



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