” First, I was reacting to your irritation toward the proselytizers. That is generally unfounded, as Christians are called to proselytize.
I don’t believe so. Christians are called upon to live their lives as Christians, which is in itself giving evidence of the teachings. Knocking on doors and accosting people at work is not a requirement, imo.
That doesn’t mean, as I said before, that a discussion of beliefs and reasons isn’t a wonderful thing, provided it’s in information-gathering mode and not just scriptural jai-alai.
“...it becoems your duty to at least point out that the Catholic Church has existed for 2000 years....”
I haven’t said that I was a Catholic, but I’d be happy to point that out, if asked.
Indeed, -- but at the same time I cannot be irritated if someone interprets the Grand Commission that way.
I like to tell this story. Two Mormon teenager boys appeared at our door on bikes. I said that we were both Church going Christians, I was Catholic and my wife was Protestant (Baptist) at the time. They politely asked when it would be possible to witness to us both and assured me that they were not going to drag down our faith. I asked them to come Saturday afternoon, and they showed up. We had a pleasant conversation, they explained how the Mormon faith was different, and quoted some canonical scripture where they thought their Christology is more correct, then showed the Book of Mormon and gave us the outline of Joseph Smith's revelations. Ann and I expressed why we remain sceptical and we pointed out that the scripture translation they used was different from both King James and Douay. They said that this discussion was over their heads technically and that they could send someone better equipped to argue with us. We told them that it would be mutual waste of time.
Before departing, they asked us to sing a hymn for us, and they sang it, beautifully, a capella, with their breaking boy voices.
Here is the point of it: these kids were admirable. I wish my kids had the courage of their conviction to go door to door like that. We should learn from them, -- not their doctrines but their character.
This encounter made a deep impression on my wife Ann, especially. It showed us how easy it is to construct mythical theology out of a few misunderstood Bible verses. She was firmly on her way to become Catholic after that, and she came to the Catholic Chruch last Easter.
I am very thankful to these boys. It showed us the mystery of faith in its most fragile, where a bit of fake authority and a bit of fake history adds up to severe yet deeply held heresy. It made us better Catholics.