Apologetics, it's Biblical!

[Genesis315]

I just came across this passage (1 Peter 3:15-16):

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame.

This reminded me a lot of these forums. I’ve seen many an anti-Catholic put to shame.

 

[Maccabees]

Well we catholics better start following our first Popes words influnced by the holy spirit of course.

Just look at the tripe anti-catholics come up with.
born-again-christian.info/the.passion.of.christ.movie.htm

This article and the whole website is dripping with hate for catholics.
It’s truly sad. I doubt these people are truly christian. They wouldn’t spew venom like this if that were the case.
Questioning teaching one thing but denounced 1 billion catholics to hell is another thing.

 

[teresas1979]

Personally, it is the gentleness and reverance I find severely lacking. As soon as I questioned Catholicism, people couldn’t wait to attack any views I had not in line with Church teaching. Anything that didn’t make sense to me was my fault, even when the teachings were clearly contradictory: e.g. The Sacrament of the Sick is not necessary for salvation, but my mother not receiving it meant she was damned.

Outside of the Catholic Church, many people were very helpful to me with answers to questions. I always think you should ask a Catholic what the Church teaches, and go straight to the literature provided by Catholics. But the constant personal attacks made it necessary for me to look outside. I have no intention of becoming anti-Catholic and am horrified at some of the sites I see mentioned here. But the egotistical and often hypocritical nature of the majority of Catholics (including various clergy) from whom I have sincerely asked for help makes me doubt the institution is worthy of the trust so many place in her.

 

[Genesis315]

teresas1979:

Personally, it is the gentleness and reverance I find severely lacking. As soon as I questioned Catholicism, people couldn’t wait to attack any views I had not in line with Church teaching. Anything that didn’t make sense to me was my fault, even when the teachings were clearly contradictory: e.g. The Sacrament of the Sick is not necessary for salvation, but my mother not receiving it meant she was damned.

Outside of the Catholic Church, many people were very helpful to me with answers to questions. I always think you should ask a Catholic what the Church teaches, and go straight to the literature provided by Catholics. But the constant personal attacks made it necessary for me to look outside. I have no intention of becoming anti-Catholic and am horrified at some of the sites I see mentioned here. But the egotistical and often hypocritical nature of the majority of Catholics (including various clergy) from whom I have sincerely asked for help makes me doubt the institution is worthy of the trust so many place in her.

Well, explanations can be gentle, but sometimes the truth hurts. That being said, personal attacks are always bad. You can attack the validity of the belief, but not the person. Who told you your mother was damned? That’s terrible. No one can know such a thing. No one can even say for sure whether someone who was anathematized was damned. Remember, there are egotistical jerks no matter where you go. Don’t let the fact that sinners exist take away from the truth of the Church and her teaching. I think it’s a testmanet to the Church and the Holy Spirit that the deposit of faith and morals has remained constant, despite all the sinners who have been Catholics. Sometimes its hard to see the the Magisterium separate from individuals in the hierarchy. Remember, the Church is infallible, but its members are far from impeccable (sinless). You seem to have had a real bad experience. I pray you don’t let a couple bad apples drive you away from Christ’s Truth.

 

[Maccabees]

I am afraid that you find in the protestant world that the majority there are hypocrites also. That’s human nature we are all sinners and hypcorites. On the surface protestants have evangelical outreaches and such are trained to be superfriendly but I have been in those churches after awhile you will see the infighting and backbiting. What will you do then when you see the humanity in these churches.

All churches have goats among the sheep. The arbriter of truth should not be the goats you happen to meet. To miss the holy eucharist because of goat is no way to chear yourself out of a sacramental life. Protestants can be just as judgemental if you don’t accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior in a particular way you are damned to hell as well. Protestants don’t have anything over Catholics in being judgemental of being hypocrites we all fall short in that category. It is Jesus and the truth that you should be seeking not the exteriors I know that can be hard to do but only the truth shall set you free.