Posted on 11/11/2015 2:09:40 PM PST by NYer
Some Catholics get apoplectic about apologetics. They argue with atheists and pick fights with Protestants. They not only need to win, they want to bash the enemy. Valiant warriors for Catholic truth, they shout down the unbelievers and shoot Bible verses back and forth like gunslingers in a shootout. As veteran apologist Patrick Madrid has observed, “They end up winning an argument but losing a soul.â€
“Apologetics†is the attempt as St. Peter advised, “to be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have within you†(1 Peter 3:15). To give that answer, one must first gather the information and study hard to understand and master the content. Secondly, one has to identify the person asking the questions.
For apologetics to be an effective part of the New Evangelization the right tone must be established between the Catholic and the inquirer. I often get e-mails from Protestants or atheists who are trying to pick a fight. I have learned to never take the bait. Instead I thank them for the e-mail and explain that I don’t argue with people, but if they have questions about the Catholic faith I’ll take all the time in the world to answer them to the best of my ability.
The approach is never to prove another person wrong, but always to connect with what is good about their belief. Everyone longs for truth, beauty and goodness. That’s the way we’re wired. Therefore, no matter what a person’s religion or belief system, there is some good within it. If there weren’t, they would not be so committed to it. The effective apologist therefore looks for what is beautiful, good and true in his sparring partner’s belief system and connects with that, affirms it and builds on it.
This principle is established in a document, Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, which was published 50 years ago this month.
“The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth that enlightens all men.â€
Catholics are called to recognize the goodness, truth and beauty that is present among those who are followers of Jesus Christ despite their separation from the Catholic faith. The Catechism teaches, “One cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers. … All who have been justified by faith in baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church†[para. 818].
The effective Catholic apologist therefore builds on the positive aspects of other religions, other Christian groups and even on the humanitarian values espoused by atheists. Does this mean evangelization is unnecessary? No. As soon as church documents affirm the presence of goodness, truth and beauty in other religions, they also call for Catholics to be tireless in their efforts to share the fullness of God’s love and life, which is available only within the Catholic faith.
This is done most effectively by combining intellectual arguments and positive answers with real human examples of living faith. Why I’m Catholic is a great website that publishes genuine conversion stories, while the Eternal Word Television Network provides a huge online compilation of biographies of saints. The best “answer to the hope that lies within us†is therefore a combination of reasonable arguments, compassionate answers and the dynamic evidence of lives transformed by the power of God alive in the world today.
Resources:
Training for apologists is available in recognized college courses and informally through personal study. Excellent books, audio and visual materials are available from Catholic publishers, but some of the best resources are available online. Famous Christian and theist apologist William Lane Craig runs the Reasonable Faith website for example, while new-media expert Brandon Vogt provides an internet forum for conversations with atheists and agnostics at Strange Notions. Anglican Wycliffe Hall runs a smart website called Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics, while Catholic writer and blogger Dave Armstrong maintains a huge site called Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, which is full of resources specifically for dialogue between Protestants and Catholics.
Ping!
Has the author ever lived in the real world?
I have never seen Catholics argue with anyone. Even when faced with an agenda that is offensive to any person of true faith most Catholics say nothing.
Liberal Catholics regularly find fault with traditional Catholics but would never dream of opposing the homosexual agenda, the pro-choice agenda or the leftist doctrine that dominates the public forum.
Liberal Catholics regularly find fault with traditional Catholics but would never dream of opposing the homosexual agenda, the pro-choice agenda or the leftist doctrine that dominates the public forum.
They sure enjoy putting down Fundamentalist Protestants, however. And not just the "liberal" Catholics.
I just completed a Ken Burns The Civil War marathon and topped it off by watching the extended version of Gettysburg. I’ve been sick with bronchitis since Friday and we just visited four civil war sites and I read Confederates in the Attic which I recommend. I’m sharing all this because I learned that General James “Old Pete” Longstreet converted to Catholicism before he died. I have way too much info on him. My favorite Civil War general right now.
Oh, and I love Patrick Madrid although my favorite is Peter Kreeft.
Not too condescending, is he? I would hope wanna be FRoman apologists can overcome the false advice he gives WRT the "fullness" of the Christian faith being found only in Roman Catholicism and not insult their opponent has he seems to obliviously do. The fullness of the Christian faith comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the new birth of the Holy Spirit. Not from an elitist religion that presumes a monopoly on Jesus or by sole ownership of the identity of Christian. The Good Shepherd knows His own.
Place Mark
[[They end up winning an argument but losing a soul.]]
Well, we don’t know that souls are lost- Christ said He will not lose even one of those God gives to Him- I’m not catholic, but even in Catholicism, Or any religion that preaches Salvation- the word of God will not return void- meaning someone at some point may infact hear or read what is said and become saved- Those who turn away in anger now, may later in life run into something that reminds them of the argument and turns them to Christ- We just don’t know hos God will work.
There is a time and place for everything- gentle speaking, and harsher truths being told- Some people need gentle guidance, while others need to hear the cold hard facts- Some need to hear rock and roll accompanying their message, some need nothing but hymns- The Spirit Listeth Where He Will.
Intellectuals who argue things like apologetics and theology are often quite passionate people, as are those who are intellectuals who oppose those theologies- and often the arguments get quite heated- but we can rest assured that No Sheep will be lost, and that God works in mysterious ways, and sooner or later, what we say when we present the word will ring true with some- with just the right folks Whom Are God’s chosen (We’re getting into predestination here- which I’ll leave for another thread)
Paul to the Galatians:
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Galatians 3:1-5
Excellent description of the Catholic faith. Thanks for posting it!
Exactly, Paul didn’t hesitate to tell it like it is knowing full well people’s feelings might get hurt
The problem with religion today is that more and more denominations are turning to the ‘never offend anyone’ mantra- claiming the bible teaches us not to judge- however, we know the bible does infact require us to judge, use common sense, and point out error when we come across it-
[[The approach is never to prove another person wrong, but always to connect with what is good about their belief. ]]
Sayings like that are psychobabble nonsense and nothing more than wishy washy feel good reliosity- Ear tickling sermons- it’s humanism plain and simple.
We've been told: one cannot have a personal relationship with Christ.
We've been told: one can only come to Christ through Mary.
So which is it?
**They also call for Catholics to be tireless in their efforts to share the fullness of God’s love and life, which is available only within the Catholic faith.**
Amen!
Thank you, Bob, for a very well reasoned argument! God bless you.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. - John 10:14-16
Huh? Do you have a source for that erroneous statement?
Huh? Do you have a source for that erroneous statement?
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING?
Huh? Do you have a source for that erroneous statement?
Nothing comes to us except through the mediation of Mary, for such is the will of God. Thus, just as no man goes to the Father but by the Son, so likewise no one goes to Christ except through His Mother. Whosoever will not have recourse to her is trying to fly without wings . . . O Virgin Most Holy, no one abounds in the knowledge of God except through thee; no one, O Mother of God, attains salvation except through thee!
Pope Leo XIII
http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/mary18a.htm
Based on your statement are we to understand you disagree with the pope??
Depends on which Catholic one is engaged in conversation with apparently.
Does the CCC settle this or is it every man his own pope time when it comes to Mary’s role in salvation?
Apparently there are rogue catholics who are their OWN POPE!!!!
You can't make this up....oh, wait....yes they can.
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