Michael Easley Incontext

Summary: In this conversation, Michael interviews Dr. Chris Castaldo, pastor at New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois, about his book Why Do Protestants Convert?. Both men share their personal journeys from Roman Catholicism to Protestant Christianity. They delve into the emotional and theological challenges of converting, especially within deeply rooted Catholic families. The conversation centers around the reasons people convert—psychological, theological, and sociological—and discusses the influential figure John Henry Newman, a 19th-century Anglican-turned-Catholic who emphasized sacramentalism and church tradition over personal interpretation.  Dr. Castaldo reflects on the problematic yet often romanticized notion that individual believers can interpret Scripture without broader historical or theological grounding. Michael and Chris examine how conversion decisions are often influenced by a longing for deeper liturgy, structure, or historical continuity—elements people feel are missing in certain