Posted on 12/10/2009 9:37:32 AM PST by Patrick Madrid
I ran across this post today from an Evangelical Protestant commentator named Michael Spencer. He described how he spent the better part of a day recently listening and thinking about Catholic radio and the greater and lesser degrees of effectiveness of the men and women who host shows on major Catholic radio networks like EWTN and Ave Maria.
Though I don't agree with all his observations (Scott Hahn is indeed the intellectual heavy-weight Protestants make him out to be), I found myself agreeing with some them and, on one or two points, agreeing wholeheartedly.
But even in the areas where I do not agree with Mr. Spencer, I can surely sympathize with his situation as a Protestant who admits to being "very open to what Catholicism has to say," and I can see how he might come to some of the conclusions he reaches, even if I, a Catholic, might disagree with those conclusions. . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at patrickmadrid.blogspot.com ...
Actually, I am unaware of any Catholic radio where I live in Tennessee. To be honest, I haven’t really sought it out either. I am curious about the distortions you refer to.
EWTN is orthodox and very solid, a refreshing presence where one may hear the Truth.
I frequently watch Corapi’s broadcast, and have seen you on TV as well.
I frankly don’t look at it as catholic-versus-protestant issue. I don’t see us as in competition.
As a Christian discussing your Christian walk, you have things to say that will be useful or uplifting to other Christians. I don’t expect to agree with everything that comes out of anyone’s mouth, but I have the ability to discern as anyone does, and if someone says something I don’t agree with, it doesn’t distract from the rest of what he has to say.
If I agree with you it doesn’t follow that I’m a catholic, or if you find yourself agreeing with me it doesn’t make you suddenly an evangelical, it means that we are both Christians, and brothers in the faith. I have met many catholics who “get it” in the way that I do, in a way that is for me very recognizable. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t catholic, or that I am. It does mean that we’ve both tapped into the same Spirit and the same faith. I never expect to agree with everything any human says, even me. But I know a fellow Christian when I meet him.
I disagreed on what he had to say of Dr. Scott Hahn, though perhaps my husband would agree with him. Dr. Hahn is a heavyweight on theology, though he doesn’t hold my husband’s interest as much as he does mine.
The broadcast of the Mass is very much appreciated, especially when I am looking for adoration. There are other times when I am looking for apologetics or understanding of scripture or inspirational music. These cannot be satisfied at a whim as there are not enough stations to choose from. If I continue to listen, usually I can be drawn in, but not always. Since he listened for a whole day, the broadcast would have satisfied all of these things.
I agree that at times some of the answers given are weak, but since I am a Catholic, I am not looking for a gotcha moment and it forces me to look up the answers myself. I do retain information much better when I put more effort into my search for the truth.
This is one Catholic who deeply appreciates EWTN and Catholic Radio. I just don’t tune in often enough!
Evangelical Protestant commentator named Michael Spencer.
Micahel Spenser strikes me as a bit of a loose cannon with personal issues. Interesting, worth listening to, but don't hang everything on what he says.
Perhaps so, though I had never heard of him until today when I read his post. Is he controversial in the Protestant world?
And as for “hanging on his every word,” I’m not sure what you mean. I simply posted some comments about his comments on a subject that interests me. I don’t see how that could be characterized as hanging on his every word.
Thanks! You’re my kind of listener. In fact, tune in to my show today if you can at 3:00 p.m. ET. I take calls from all over the theological landscape on the general theme of the Church and the world. You can tune in online here: http://ewtn.com/radio/index.asp
Do you have a ping list, Patrick? I admire your work. If so, would you please put me on it?
“EWTN is orthodox and very solid, a refreshing presence where one may hear the Truth.”
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Indeed.
And, by far, the most conservative programming on television.
This is an interesting observation, simply because he noticed something "askew," as it were. I grew up as a Protestant (Presbyterian), but I didn't experience any sense of discontinuity in the areas he mentions when I became a Catholic.
Maybe many Protestants, just like many Catholics, don't ruminate about "how the church itself and the mysteries of Christ, the church and personal faith are experienced." They just go to church on Sunday, pray, read the Bible, attend Sunday School, volunteer in the nursery, visit the sick, etc., and don't spend much time contemplating the abstractions.
My mother does as a Protestant what I do as a Catholic. We're aware of some major doctrinal differences - the Eucharist, for example - but I don't think we experience Christianity, life as Christians, in radically different ways.
Michael Spencer, the "Internet Monk," who calls for the collapse of Evangelicalism?
Is that good or bad? My friend in Alaska, who rather flipped out when it became clear her husband was an obsessive-compulsive megalomaniac, links to this guy sometimes.
Would I be wrong in saying that people who have to have a blog about their spiritual cogitations might be a little funny, not that there’s anything wrong with that?
He was cited as an Evangelical authority figure, but calls himself a monk and also calls for the downfall of Evangelicals. Somebody’s confused, here.
There’s more than just a tad bit of peculiarity, yes. Suffice it to say, that he’s not exactly representative. He’s entitled to his opinion, but he’s not entitled to misrepresent himself or others.
I get a sort of WCC (World Council of Churches, very leftist) impression from him, but I can’t back that up with specific cites. If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it, but that is how he comes across to me.
I missed your show today, but I did bookmark the page. I didn't realize that I could pick up the radio at EWTN. Thank you.
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