Any Former Baptists Out There? [edited]

[Anthony_Joseph]

Could someone please help me? I have a very dear friend who is a Baptist and is also a firm believer in complete individual interpretation of everything dealing with faith. How can I address her and how can I discourse rationally with her, or even irrationally as long as its calmly? I can never get her to agree with anything I’ve been taught Baptists believe, yet she has agreed with me a number of times on Catholic Teachings. Any and all insights are appreciated.:banghead::takeoff:

 

[Love_is_Patient]

Sorry, not a Baptist, but I did want to jump in and say that, as a Catholic, I hate it when people use the phrase “recovering Catholic.”

You don’t have to agree with the Baptists, but “recovering” is kind of rude.

Love is Patient

 

[Anthony_Joseph]

I sincerely hope that no one is offended by the title of this thread. Its all meant in jest.

And thanks for reminding me that love is patient. I need to keep that constantly in mind.

 

[YinYangMom]

I highly recommend Steve Ray’s “Crossing the Tiber”. It’s available in book and DVD formats. It really helped my husband and me understand our in-laws better. We won’t be able to convert them, they are so set in their ways, but Steve’s story provided insight we wouldn’t have otherwise which helps us tolerate their point-of-view. It helps us not get so insulted with the things they say or do.

catholic-convert.com/

 

[petr]

I just visited with my priest on this same issue. He had several information pamphlets that outlined specific arguments to these issues. I have found the best (easiest to understand and concise) information to come from the church itself. It is well written.

There are many reasons your friend acts this way. Catholics are threatening. It is what they have been taught. You are the enemy and frankly the devil in disguise. This is what I have been taught anyway, and I am a baptist.

I am having these discussions with many of my baptist friends as well and the printed information from my priest has been the most helpful.

I should add though, that most often many Baptists do not fully understand their own belief system to defend it. They usually don’t have to defend “why”. I know that I did not. I thought I did, but I had to do my homework to understand the differences b/w each system. I am having to become a better Baptist before I can become a Catholic.

Good luck, you’re going to need it.

 

[weddy]

depending on your friends understanding of the Bible & Theology I would challenge her to study the Catechism with you (or alone), just for the experiance & understanding of “what the Church teaches.”

That is one of the things that really helped in my conversion & is still quite the challenge w/ plenty of excitement to go around:thumbsup:.

I’ll pray for both of you.

 

[legaleagle]

I was a Baptist. One thing you could point out is that chaos will result if everyone individually interprets the Bible. How can 30,000 denominations all claim to be inspired by the Holy Spirit if they’re saying conflicting things? There needs to be authority somewhere. I know Baptists are big on the fact that the individual church doesn’t answer to a Bishop or someone similar, but where are the checks and balances? That’s all I can think of at the moment. Hang in there!