Apologetics - need some help

  • Thread starter Thread starter catholicgamer
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

catholicgamer

Guest
Hey All.

I need some wisdom on this issue I’m having.

Like I said before, I’m trying to “sharpen the sword” so-to-speak, but I find I get very anxious and stressed if I stay in an environment that is hostile to the faith. I feel like I’m fighting on multiple fronts sometimes and it just wears at my nerves. I’m an anxious person by default…but I want to get better at it.

I’m wondering if you veterans out there have any mental tips or tricks you use to keep the stress of debating down? Or…is it just a matter of not staying in that hostile zone for very long? I know some people do this for a living, and I’m surprised they don’t develop ulcers…lol.

Thanks,
 
catholicgamer said:
Hey All.

I need some wisdom on this issue I’m having.

Like I said before, I’m trying to “sharpen the sword” so-to-speak, but I find I get very anxious and stressed if I stay in an environment that is hostile to the faith. I feel like I’m fighting on multiple fronts sometimes and it just wears at my nerves. I’m an anxious person by default…but I want to get better at it.

I’m wondering if you veterans out there have any mental tips or tricks you use to keep the stress of debating down? Or…is it just a matter of not staying in that hostile zone for very long? I know some people do this for a living, and I’m surprised they don’t develop ulcers…lol.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Sorry, I can’t help. I’m with you. However, I’ll be curious to see how everyone responds. I need help in this area, too. I get very worked up when defending my faith and eventually end up screaming or getting way too excited, and that is no way to get your point across.
 
catholicgamer said:
I find I get very anxious and stressed if I stay in an environment that is hostile to the faith.
Click to expand...
You don’t give us enough information to make an informed recommendation. What sort of environment are you talking about? Are you going to some fundamentalist Bible study? (don’t do that.) Are you encountering this hostility in your workplace? (for your employer’s sake, I hope not.) Is this happening at family gatherings?

Are you actively and overtly trying to engage in apologetics in these situations?
 
Oh…environment. Good point.

It’s a forum on a gaming site. They have a “politics and controversy” part of their forums where people talk about things that are a bit more controversial…and religion comes up a lot. So, I decided to participate in a couple of the threads.

Mostly agnostic audience. Quite hostile…but very curious and honest at the same time. Very little malicious intent…but with text, you know how it goes: it feels like I’m being yelled at a lot even though that may not be the case…but the hostility is there.

I’m, of course, try to be as Christian as I can, but in me there is a war going on.
 
In any situation where you are defending the faith, take a minute to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you and give you the words to speak, or in this case type. Study apologetics so that the Holy Spirit will help you recall what you have learned and can defend the faith with appropriate scriptures, quotes from the Catechism and saint quotes. You can also pray to our Blessed Mother for guidence and to bring them closer to Jesus.

We don’t want to just debate, we want to teach the faith, even at a time of persecution.
 
catholicgamer said:
Hey All.

I need some wisdom on this issue I’m having.

Like I said before, I’m trying to “sharpen the sword” so-to-speak, but I find I get very anxious and stressed if I stay in an environment that is hostile to the faith. I feel like I’m fighting on multiple fronts sometimes and it just wears at my nerves. I’m an anxious person by default…but I want to get better at it.

I’m wondering if you veterans out there have any mental tips or tricks you use to keep the stress of debating down? Or…is it just a matter of not staying in that hostile zone for very long? I know some people do this for a living, and I’m surprised they don’t develop ulcers…lol.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Good evening , I see your big problem is with Agnostics (and ?I am assuming atheists )depending on what forum your on they can be the harshest . On youtube you have everything in its category from the intellectual to the immature pothead making little comments here and their about your comments. There are other forums where they are more respectful . Now I have a blog that may help you . It gets them to think a little .You will hear many of them tell you that America was not founded on Christian morals . I got a blog that proves their statements wrong about that . I have a blog on the pagan historians like Pliny the younger and Thallus that make statements that are consistent with the confirmation of the life of Christ and his following . And also their statements are consistent with the Bible accounts as well . I also have a blog countering Evolution . I have a special miracle blog as well . And besides the atheist arguments , I have a blog defending the faith of the catholic church . I make the connections between Pauls teachings in the bible and the Catholic church teachings . You have any questions let me know . Also their are two books out there that I would like to recommend to you: “The Godless Delusion” (Patrick Madrid) and "Answering the New Atheism "(Scott Haun) Both of these books were written directly to counter Dawkins (famous atheist) "God Delusion "
My blog is defendingthefaith-frankie.blogspot.com (if it does not work then substitute - for / )
 
catholicgamer said:
Oh…environment. Good point.

It’s a forum on a gaming site. They have a “politics and controversy” part of their forums where people talk about things that are a bit more controversial…and religion comes up a lot. So, I decided to participate in a couple of the threads.

Mostly agnostic audience. Quite hostile…but very curious and honest at the same time. Very little malicious intent…but with text, you know how it goes: it feels like I’m being yelled at a lot even though that may not be the case…but the hostility is there.

I’m, of course, try to be as Christian as I can, but in me there is a war going on.
Click to expand...
That’s a pretty tough environment, particularly because such folks tend to be hostile at worst and skeptical at best. If they don’t even accept the authority of Scripture (as Protestants do), then your job will be tough and results limited.

Engaging such people will likely wear you out, frustrate you, and even open you up for various troubles (e.g. you will be spiritually worn out and thus open to sinful temptations). I’ve had to leave rabidly anti-Catholic forums in the past for this reason.

That is not an environment in which people are open to hearing spiritual truths, since the atmosphere is that of secularism, materialism, and hedonism.
 
Hi Catholicgamer:

I won’t call myself a veteran of the faith, but I never back down when
It come to my faith; I am sort of shy by nature, though and not very
confrontational unless terribly provoked…

So here is what I think: Everyone has the right to voice their opinion and as you know Politics and Religious conversations always lead to arguments even in relating among your own. I think that if you stand back listen to what people are saying and answer as honestly and to the best of you knowledge and, of course, without losing it, people have the tendency to listening to you. In other words when you say what you know or give your opinion and say it calmly; people may not seem to agree with you at that moment, but just may they will think about what you said when they are alone and have taken the time to digest the whole going on of what was said at the time.

I know that after having a heated conversation with people, later when am alone I go through the whole conversation in my mind; I know that happens to a lot of people, too. And maybe, just maybe what you said may make sense to them or give them something to think about. Opposite reaction that people have when they go into a screaming match. I come from a very tight nit on both sides, from my Mama and my Papa (both RIP) one side of the family is very Pentecostal and the other is very Catholic, yikes, can you even imagine what goes in all our family when we get together. And I dare say that thought we all care about each other, sometimes it’s like a battle zone, hahahahaha. This is where I learned that if I keep calm and keep my wits about me, that I won’t have of back down or get ulcers. This is easier said than done. Given the fact that I am patient and easy going, it is easy for me to do. I also fully understand that everyone has the right to believe what want or what they have learned… Well this is my humble opinion. I pray that this helps you even if is in a small way
God Bless.

May the Comforter, Who proceeds from You, enlighten our minds, we beseech you, O Lord, and guide us, as Your Son has promised, into all truth. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
 
You might be best served to plant a seed and then be on your way. In life there are a good number of people far too obstinate in their beliefs to confront a solid apologetic in their face. You can’t worry about them too much. Take your own advice and avoid hostility for long. :o
 
catholicgamer said:
Hey All.

I need some wisdom on this issue I’m having.

Like I said before, I’m trying to “sharpen the sword” so-to-speak, but I find I get very anxious and stressed if I stay in an environment that is hostile to the faith. I feel like I’m fighting on multiple fronts sometimes and it just wears at my nerves. I’m an anxious person by default…but I want to get better at it.

I’m wondering if you veterans out there have any mental tips or tricks you use to keep the stress of debating down? Or…is it just a matter of not staying in that hostile zone for very long? I know some people do this for a living, and I’m surprised they don’t develop ulcers…lol.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
The best weapon you can use is the facts. If you know the facts, you have no rreason to get emotional. Have the Catechism of the Catholic Church on hand, a Bible, especially one with good commentary, and always be sure your comments are irrefutable. Let them get emotional.
 
Thanks everyone…all of those really do put things into perspective and do help a lot.

Going to think about your comments some more, but ultimately I think I’ve done enough on that particular forum. Time to charge my batteries, and absorb what I learned about the encounters.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top