There are so many things in this post that are true—and true also for me even as you express yourself.
“..take a flying leap”. Yes, I have experienced that temptation as well.
“...criticized because we did not all leap to the task of finding words to suit our challengers” Yep—been there.
“...very little effort will be made to understand what we say.” Yep
“The temptation to strut around disparaging the other side is just too great.” It certainly seems so. It’s something that I’ve made every effort not to do, following the counsel of “do unto others....”
“It’s not so much the constant insult and derogation....as it is the sense of futility” True. That’s why I don’t respond (anymore) to some posters, nor do I read their posts anymore, all the while exercising my right to be part of the forum.
“...I think it self-indulgent to abuse people with whom one disagrees and then excuse the ineffectiveness of the approach by calling them thin-skinned.” I agree that some posts actually are verbally abusive; and/or they are cuttingly sarcastic all the while trying to parade as some sort of twisted humor.
And now for the sake of brevity:
“I am confident the Catholic Church is the ‘true Church” “ Yes
“...arguments against that proposition seem to me to confirm it” Yes
“...prompt me to prayer” Yes
“...endless cycles of disparagement” Yes
“...not one new argument has been made” True
“I’m left wondering what the goals and objectives are here” Yes
Heavens to Betsey, I found so many things to agree with in this post.
While I already know the perils of making an “opus”, I am certainly convinced—now—that there are many reasons and a certain genre of postings here that have slowly turned me away from believing in the efficacy of these sort of exchanges. And it has informed me, to my surprise, just how many truly anti-Catholic people there are and how easily the put-downs and disparagements and hostility can be framed as their duty in the Lord to “save us”.
I am Catholic. I am Roman Catholic. I am grateful to be Catholic. I belong to the Lord and He has me in His Sacred Hands. That is sufficient for me.
Thanks for your post, MD
Protestants don’t think that they can save anybody. Only that Jesus can.
Thank you! W00t!
THANKS for reminding me.
NO. THAT WAS NOT IT.
Suiting Prottys or any other mortals is NOT the issue.
Conforming to the image of Christ and His Word, IS.