Apologetics with the chinese

[Zen]

My recent reading of the book WELCOME HOME has sparked in me a great interest in apologetics.

I’m teaching in a university here in Macau where I deal with both local and mainland Chinese, mostly pagans.

Could you give me tips on how to initiate them to the Catholic faith? Where should I begin? Any “map” you can share with me, especially those out there who have experience in dealing with the Chinese?

 

[trogiah]

I can’t say I have any personal experience. Have you heard of Matteo Ricci? A Jesuit missionary who went to China, I think around 1600.

He spent a great deal of time learning the Chinese language and customs. He was an outstanding scholar and some of the Chinese monks he hung out with were impressed with that.

He wrote a book titled “The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven” in which he writes favorably of Confucianism (and less favorably of Buddhism) as leading any person of good will to recognise the value of Christ’s message.

That book and others about Matteo Ricci might be of some assistance.

peace

Jim

 

[Maccabees]

I think you have to establish the basic apologetic that there is one ominicient God. I would avoid Jesus and soteriology and the church for now. This is a weakness for evangelical protestants converting pagans they are far better at converting catholics and other christians then they are pagans although the Jesus story is so powerful that they do have some success with it. But not as much as the the Jesuits and Franciscans back in the day. The five arguments for God by Aquinas is a starting point. Remeber your dealing with people who aren’t sure there is one God who is ominicient.

How many Indians did the Pilgrims convert in the Americas?
Not many.
The Jesuits and Francicans in the Americas - entire countries many times.