Catholic apologetism

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RepentantOne

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Hello new guy here with questions,

Where do I start with reading Catholic apologetism? I am lapsed Catholic that fell into Seventh day Adventist church, even got baptised, but I started having doubts several months after that act. Reading scriptures and researching claims made by people like Walter Veith and stuff like clean and unclean, alcohol made me question the whole doctrine. I have several good adventist friend and a pastor that baptised me. They are good people I believe, but I want to defend my stance well when the time comes to stand for my faith, I really don’t want to leave bad taste in their mouths and end this in bitter conflict of words.

Been reading this collection of articles that genuinely make sense to me.

ht tp://blo g.theoto kos.co.za/ebook/Cat holic_Discussion_of_Seventh-day_Adventism_-_Stephen_Korsman.pdf
 
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RepentantOne said:
Anyone? Sorry for bumping the thread up.
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A couple of thoughts: it’s the Triduum. It’s kinda a busy time for Catholics. That no one has replied in a day’s time isn’t that surprising for Easter weekend.

Also, you referenced a 300-plus-page essay! Were you expecting someone to read it in an hour or so and get back to you? 😉

Finally: I’m not certain that apologetics is the right tack for you to take in this case. Apologetics, in a sense, is a toolkit for those who already know the faith to be able to defend the beliefs they know. It’s not really a set of proof-texts to be memorized or handed out. (In fact, it kinda works worst when it’s used that way.)

So… if you lapsed from the Catholic faith and went elsewhere, would it be unreasonable for me to suspect that you really didn’t know the faith well when you went SDA? And now that you’re beginning to doubt their doctrines, you’re still kinda searching for the Catholic answers yourself? Don’t try apologetics, then. It’s kinda like not knowing how to fix your car, but reading a page or two out of a repair manual and then attempting to expound on it to a garage full of mechanics. You end up confusing yourself and convincing your audience that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Now, I don’t know who Korsman is, or what his bona-fides are, but I see that he says that he doesn’t have professional credentials yet has read the Bible. I would think that, for your first foray into Catholic doctrine, you might want to stick to more authoritative sources, but hey… what do I know? (By the same token, how do you know that I know what I’m talking about? 🤣)

And, to be honest, I’m not about to wade through 300 pages of Korsman’s document. However, if there’s a particular question you want to ask, or a particular page of his essay that you’d like to discuss… maybe that might lead to more activity in this thread?
 
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You don’t need to defend anything. And even if you tried to, some people are not willing to listen.
If you come home to Catholicism, you will be welcome. No need to explain, but no need to leave on bitter terms either. Just say that your heart is drawn home to where you belong. Period.
 
Apologetics covers more than simply defending
which, is important if one knows the score.

Apologetics can instruct and explain…
 
Yes, but the OP stated they wanted to defend their stance, that is why I mentioned it.
 
EndTimes said:
Apologetics covers more than simply defending
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Apologetics literally means “word in defense” in Greek (apologia - ἀπολογία). It’s not, strictly speaking, “instruction” or “explanation”.
 
Gorgias said:
Apologetics literally means “word in defense” in Greek ( apologia - ἀπολογία). It’s not, strictly speaking, “instruction” or “explanation”.
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I wasn’t speaking strictly. . 😃
 
You could watch some of the Journey Home videos on Youtube. Each episode features Catholic converts, and some are from Adventist backgrounds. They may help you frame the issues.
Here’s one:
 
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RepentantOne said:
Hello new guy here with questions,

Where do I start with reading Catholic apologetism? I am lapsed Catholic that fell into Seventh day Adventist church, even got baptised, but I started having doubts several months after that act. Reading scriptures and researching claims made by people like Walter Veith and stuff like clean and unclean, alcohol made me question the whole doctrine. I have several good adventist friend and a pastor that baptised me. They are good people I believe, but I want to defend my stance well when the time comes to stand for my faith, I really don’t want to leave bad taste in their mouths and end this in bitter conflict of words.

Been reading this collection of articles that genuinely make sense to me.

ht tp://blo g.theoto kos.co.za/ebook/Cat holic_Discussion_of_Seventh-day_Adventism_-_Stephen_Korsman.pdf
Click to expand...
Steve Ray and Scott Hahn are good writers from the Protestant-to-Catholic perspective, even though I think they were both Baptists rather than SDA. A lot of overlap still exists as both those traditions are mostly 19th century restorationists (little “r”) in their present approach. Nonetheless, there may be a few parts that don’t resonate as strongly. But good reads. I still have a lot of their books gathering dust in my basement.

Steve Ray and Scott Hahn. Also, stop by your local parish and see if they have any copies of one of the Why We’re Catholic books or something of that sort. Basically a mini-primer on the faith from a high-up, more general view.
 
Thank you for the replies, will check the link posted and think about them. I just don’t want to end up wrong and . . . put myself in spiritual peril.
 
Scott Hahn’s books are helpful with Catholic apologetics. Also Jeff Cavins has some good study material.
 
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