Advice on engaging a vociferous anti-Catholic religious forum poster

[Saul_DelTarso]

I’m pretty much the only Catholic on a religious forum, and I often discuss my faith, and the Church. Recently, I seem to have found an “admirer”. Without a lot of explanation and background, I’ll post the most recent, somewhat related to my conversation with another poster about the role of the Catholic and Protestant church in pre-War and WWII Germany, and on another point in passing, about purgatory.

My question for the sagacious among you, is whether to bother to engage this person on the merits and points of his arguments, or let it go as lunacy. I’m inclined to the latter, but it continues, unabated, for a couple of weeks almost every time I post anything related to Catholicism, and brings up every tired anti-Catholic myth and misinformation you can imagine. I would answer, because not to seems to give him some kind of credence by ignoring him, or asking him to simply tone it down, so…What would you do? I’ve been praying for guidance, but one thing to do is ask good Catholics, I think.

Most recently, In response to my assertion of the scriptural basis of Catholic doctrine and dogma, and my thoughts on saints, recognized and otherwise by the RCC or not, to another mild and reasonably eloquent, if somewhat adversarial poster:

I only have this to say. The RCC’s doctrine and dogma are entirely scriptural.

To which the fellow in question posts, verbatim:

PS: don’t get me wrong, I know adequate answers to the “challenges”.

The question is not how or what, the question is *whether to bother. * and if not, how to explain why I don’t defend against the points he raises…ad nauseum. Thoughts?

Rome demands that we suffer in flames of PURGATORY…after we die…

.BUT YET…

.we are ALSO to PRAY to THE DEAD…/ SAINTS…

SO …ROME TAKES A 10 - 20 Year ~ WORLD WIDE OPINION MEDIA style consensus VOTE…

.PRE JUDGING ALL WHO WILL CANNONIZED…AS
SAINTS…

.The POPE finalizes it…

and BEFORE we ARE JUDGED…BY GOD…Rome has already Judged…ALL people…as either purgatory,bound and OR sainthood bound,…?

…JUDGING all …MAN KINDS …SOULS : …after they die…?

. BEFORE GOD JUDGES THEM AT THE GREAT DAY OF JUDGMENT AS BIBLE DECLARES…

Y do catholics CLAIM to POWER to judge…PEOPLES ~souls / AFTER LIFE…

& TO PUT them in…DAMNATION in FLAMES ,

TORTURE & suffering …IN Romes purgatory ?

Y do catholics CLAIM to POWER to judge…PEOPLES ~souls / AFTER LIFE…& TO PUT them in HEAVEN…

WHERE THEY PRAY TO THEM before RESURECTION and jugdment DAY ?

The bible is CLEAR…THE DEAD saints …DEAD in CHRIST…will ARIZE in the RESURECTION…

.WHERE IS PURGATORY ?

ROME IS …THE JUDGE of the DEAD…or in charge of ones SOUL / judgment…. after they die…?..

its all junk theology…

CATHOLICS CANT FIND THEIR CHURCH IN THE BIBLE ANYWHERE,

,THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS,

~
Just 70 years ago ROME & Catholic Italy had just attacked & launched a massive, hellish WAR on its neighbors.

Butchering & murdering Millions & MILLIONS of innocent peacefull people…

.JUST for not JOINING up with HITLER ~

for NO REASON… other than to KILL and distroy and take other peoples land and property/.

MURDERING Thousands of Africans, Egyptians , Greece and others …

ROME and Catholic Italy had JUST Joined up with Hitler,

IT took 22,000 { twenty two thousand}…]
US American tooops DYING, IN ITALY,

for
the USA to defeat Catholic Italy…

… murdered Millions of OTHER CATHOLICS

& Non Catholics round the planet…

Simply for not joining up with The Catholic Hitler…

This was just 70 yrs ago…

What is the Lure & thrill and unified UNBROKEN chain of unity

and love and respect that the catholic church has bestowed upon the earth…

Are we missing something… ?

Where is puratory in The bible >?
Reply With Quote

 

[Saul_DelTarso]

and no, although one might think so, it’s not on CARM. That…is a lost cause.

 

[stephe1987]

Haha. CARM. I used to listen to the radio show almost daily because I thought it was interesting. And then they started bashing Catholicism heavily. Now MS is going to teach a course on Catholicism? More like anti-Catholicism. I don’t think they understand the Bible or the Catechism based on the stuff I see on those anti-Catholic websites. They even claim Catholics are not Christian. What the heck?!

I think the problem with Protestantism (at least the ones that post on certain religious forums; of course I can’t speak for everyone) is that it is too easy to fall into relativism when it comes to interpreting Sacred Scripture.

1. Everyone is his/her own Pope.
2. They say something about if something “feels” right or wrong for the things not specifically mentioned in their Bible. But some people think everything is a sin, and that is one kind of problem (scrupulousness) that needs to be addressed. And then other people seem to think that nothing is really a sin, it’s just a sin for those specific people Jesus was talking to. There are the two extremes and then every possible position in between. That’s why IMO we need the Catechism and the Catholic Church (with apostolic succession and valid holy orders) to guide us. We are of course allowed to read the Bible, but we need to make sure we’re interpreting it correctly. But if there is no Church then who is correct? Too many denominations for people to choose what they want to believe (church shopping) rather than seek the fullness of the Truth.

 

[Timothy17]

I’m pretty much the only Catholic on a religious forum, and I often discuss my faith, and the Church. Recently, I seem to have found an “admirer”. Without a lot of explanation and background, I’ll post the most recent, somewhat related to my conversation with another poster about the role of the Catholic and Protestant church in pre-War and WWII Germany, and on another point in passing, about purgatory.

My question for the sagacious among you, is whether to bother to engage this person on the merits and points of his arguments, or let it go as lunacy. I’m inclined to the latter, but it continues, unabated, for a couple of weeks almost every time I post anything related to Catholicism, and brings up every tired anti-Catholic myth and misinformation you can imagine. I would answer, because not to seems to give him some kind of credence by ignoring him, or asking him to simply tone it down, so…What would you do? I’ve been praying for guidance, but one thing to do is ask good Catholics, I think.

Most recently, In response to my assertion of the scriptural basis of Catholic doctrine and dogma, and my thoughts on saints, recognized and otherwise by the RCC or not, to another mild and reasonably eloquent, if somewhat adversarial poster:

To which the fellow in question posts, verbatim:

PS: don’t get me wrong, I know adequate answers to the “challenges”.

The question is not how or what, the question is *whether to bother. * and if not, how to explain why I don’t defend against the points he raises…ad nauseum. Thoughts?

Purgatory in scripture. But reason itself dictates that we be “purged” of all sins and sinfulness before spending eternity in Heaven, and entering into the Presence of Almighty God.

As for his timeline error (that is, that Rome cannonizes people before the Last Judgement), ask him how God is confined to a timeline. Inform him after whatever answer (if any) he produces, that the Catholic Church believes the Church is in heaven (Triumphant), on earth (Militant) and in purgatory (Suffering) all at the same time, and this is called the communion of saints.

Generally speaking, asking questions is better, because over time the wonkiness of their beliefs is shown, and a lot of private opinion and erroneous history, facts, etc., are flushed out. Then the observer/audience sees how unreasonable the accuser is, and in good conscience cannot put much stock in their accusations. Of course, it is necessary to impart the Truth about Catholic teaching, and not depart from it. The Church Fathers, Saints and Catechism are good sources for this, and shows others the unity and antiquity of Catholic belief.

Pax Christi,
Tim

 

[The_Old_Medic]

You just label someone like this are a vicious anti-Catholic, who has no ability to discuss anything. All he/she wants to do is lay charges, and fan the flames of attack. There is no sense in even attempting to refute what he says, because it will fall on totally deaf ears.

Just respond to those messages with a comment along the lines of, “Well there he goes again, attacking everything with no real facts, and no ability to discuss”.

 

[Saul_DelTarso]

Well, as of yesterday, it’s almost moot, since his now second persona has been banned from the forum for violations. That said, one of the points made by others was that I seemed not to be willing to address the questions he brought up.

After he was banned, I explained to those folks who asked why I had waited, and have asked anyone who wanted to talk about any of those issues, concerns, and charges to go back and dig them up or restate them, saying that I was eager to address them. Of course, dealing with them as you suggest, Timothy. thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. This is hardly the end of it, I’ve been accused of not being a Christian by those who are still around, so I still have work to do.

Stephe, one of the things we are dealing with is that among the many doctrines or non-doctrines in that forum are many many disagreements, It’s fairly a laboratory for what you mention. Thanks.

Old Medic, something to that effect had been what I was doing, which brought charges of avoiding the issues, etc. He’s gone now, but there are others who think the same way, but with greater self control…we’ll keep at it!

 

[illmatic]

Don’t engage. At best: you won’t change their mind and it’ll end in disagreement. At worst: you’ll give them ammunition against Christians if you slip up.

 

[FCEGM]

I’ve made this comment before, but what you witness with those deluded folks is akin to someone addicted to pornography. While they would be loathe to touch such material, they have no difficulty becoming addicted to the spiritual pornography of distortions, half-truths and outright lies - the more lurid the better - about the Catholic Church. An ill-formed mind, nurtured on its own inadequacies, easily falls into the seduction of the pornographic of either sort. Such folks find more illicit pleasure in promoting their anti-Catholic agenda than in promoting the love of Christ, both in themselves personally and in their fellow man.

 

[Saul_DelTarso]

Good advice, illmatic. Well taken. I’ve invited asnyone who would like to discuss the issues calmly to do so.

Interesting insight, F. I think I’ve had a sense that this was true, but you clarified it well. Thanks!

An indication of the truth of that observation is that he has now been banned under a third name. His writing style, as you can see is very distinctive, so it’s always apparent. He seems to reset his cookies and get back in…so we haven’t seen the last of him yet.

 

[catharina]

Well, as of yesterday, it’s almost moot, since his now second persona has been banned from the forum for violations. That said, one of the points made by others was that I seemed not to be willing to address the questions he brought up.

After he was banned, I explained to those folks who asked why I had waited, and have asked anyone who wanted to talk about any of those issues, concerns, and charges to go back and dig them up or restate them, saying that I was eager to address them. Of course, dealing with them as you suggest, Timothy. thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. This is hardly the end of it, I’ve been accused of not being a Christian by those who are still around, so I still have work to do.

Stephe, one of the things we are dealing with is that among the many doctrines or non-doctrines in that forum are many many disagreements, It’s fairly a laboratory for what you mention. Thanks.

Old Medic, something to that effect had been what I was doing, which brought charges of avoiding the issues, etc. He’s gone now, but there are others who think the same way, but with greater self control…we’ll keep at it!

Similar to Old Medic, but more concise in my response -
I’d respond:
"I understand that you embrace a very strong anti-Catholic
sentiment, and I recognize that I can NOT help you with that.

So wishing you peace, I am user-name."

Never open the door to lunacy and welcome it in,
regarding the Faith. It’s counterproductive.

 

[CB_Catholic]

It sounds like, in this case, Matthew 7:6 might be applicable. He is not going to change.