Sure!

Let's see. I was a convert from Protestantism. My cousin was a convert from Mormonism and the others in our class were converts from varying Christian denominations. We had to wait nearly six months before classes started so I studied independently prior to attending (something which was discouraged by our Director. She said I would be 'ahead' of everyone else).

Our first three-four classes were all about journalling! And introductions. That's three/four hours spent just talking about how to write in a journal... it was BRUTAL. After the fourth meeting I told the Director straight up that I wouldn't be journalling. I don't journal. I make comics. I don't journal. The next week she finally dropped the subject.

We then moved onto who Jesus is and who the Apostles were. Our table was nearly dead silent when it came to 'question time'. What questions could we possibly have? We were all Christians and/or raised in Christian homes. There wasn't any new or shocking information in this segment.

The next meeting after that one of the instructors started asking simple pointed questions like: "How can Jesus be both God and man?" None of the candidates were even REMOTELY interested in this topic but we would end up spending HOURS diving into the most SIMPLEST points of Christianity (that one being an example). It was brutal but I didn't know if the others at the table knew these things so I held my tongue and toughed it out.

Then they started in on the personal digging. How do you FEEL? How can you use this passage in your life? What does THIS make you feel? We would state our opinions and even if the opinion was not in line with Catholic teaching NO ONE was challenged or corrected. EVER. The CLOSEST the Director ever got to 'correcting' someone was to say; "Well, that's not my personal opinion."

Throughout all of this my cousin refused to speak. She just doesn't like speaking in groups. Until one night they started babbling about how all suffering is good and once it's over we'll look back and say: OH WASN'T THAT WONDERFUL! To which she snapped. She was sexually molested as a child and she informed them that she would NEVER see it as a good thing. That pretty much inspired the most awkward pause ever. Poor thing was so distraught after class that she didn't want to go back.

She DID go back. And we were subjected to week after week of Bible gazing. "Look at this verse. Read it. Read it again. Tell us how it makes you feel. Wonderful. Right, see you next week." Except the 'how does it make you feel' part would go on for two hours. Two very painful hours.

FINALLY we hit the sacraments. They explained that if we don't know something is a sin we're not sinning. If you don't know it's a mortal sin when you do it, you haven't sinned at all!

They skimmed over Baptism, marriage, holy orders, the eucharist and anointing of the sick as quickly as they could and went right back to Bible gazing.

We never once discussed morality from a Catholic viewpoint. What we learned about the sacraments was so superficial that my cousin left RCIA not knowing that she couldn't receive the Eucharist if she had committed a mortal sin (but she also left believing that as long as she doesn't know it's a mortal sin she's not committing any sin at all - so she's opted never to read an Examination of Conscience. She figures if she starts reading about sins this whole Catholic thing will get 'too hard' for her) and really not knowing anything about the sacraments except that she can name what they are.

Because I did all my research on my own, despite RCIA, I felt ready to join the Church when Easter rolled around. They did NOT tell me I had to go to Confession. I approached the priest myself to arrange for that a week before I was received because I had read that it was required (as I was baptized prior to converting). If I had not studied on my own I would not have been prepared to join the Church because all I learned is that Catholic's really have no idea how to do a bible study .

After we were accepted into the Church we had two more classes where we engaged in more Bible gazing (usually we would discuss that week's coming Scripture reading).

Oh! And I forgot the best part. Every week she would make us read a poem or listen to a song and then we had to go through it LINE BY LINE and share how every single line made us feel. That part made me hate Dan Schutte (do believe that's his name).

I know we were a tough class in a way because no one ever wanted to ask questions but the few times I DID speak up I was dismissed and told: "That's too theological." and then the subject would be changed.

PHEW! RANTY! But that was my RCIA experience. All in all highly disappointing in many ways BUT on the plus side I made lovely Catholic friends who check in on me even now.

PS: I FORGOT THE ABSOLUTE BEST PART! We were encouraged NOT to read the Catechism because it was 'too complicated'. >.<

Some of the younger folk in our parish started a 'young adult group' for ages 18-35. We just started Father Barron's series!

And I look back at my RCIA experience with bemusement. It was a really weird experience. The good part was learning patience, and meeting people who I still have a relationship with. So that was nice.

I have thought about helping out with a Bible Study or some such but when I brought it up I was pushed aside so now I just do what I can where I'm allowed to. I'm okay with that.

Nicole, maybe you can start a small group to go over Catholic Christianity by Peter Kreeft. Have you read that one yet?

We do have a group going! They're doing Father Barron's series. I'll suggest Catholic Christianity when we're done that.

As for me I'm working my way through some Scott Hahn books (Understanding the Scripture), The History of the Church (from the Didache series), and I'm STILL working on the Catechism (two years! And I'm not done! Haha).

And you know what my 'light' reading consists of. Aristotle and Confucius. I think I'm pretty good but I ALWAYS love more book recommendations. I'll add them to my list for when I'm done the others.