Debating non-Catholics

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SusanL

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I guess my problem is different than simply apologetic information. My brain shuts down when talking with non-Catholics on scripture and Catholic teachings. I have read scriptures since childhood. It’s not like I’m unfamiliar with their quotes but their interpretation of them is, of course, different and they argue forcefully. It’s the emotional aspect. I stand there and look at the “cloud” of passion and vehemence pouring out of them and I am overwhelmed. I sense that their minds are going to be closed and I don’t know how to counter-act that.

I have heard Jimmy Aiken, Scott Hahn and Karl Keating handle these people with calm as if they had asked a loving, caring, friendly Christian question when in fact, they had not. How do these guys do it???
 
Dear Susan,
I think it’s a temperment thing. I’m the same, I am not a good debater. I always think of a million great comebacks the next day! My mind just doen’t work that way, I don’t think quickly on my feet. I’m better with the written word. So, I’ll leave the debating to others.
 
I think that it also has to do with professionalism. These men think, write, speak, and debate for a living about the Catholic faith and its relationship to the beliefs of other Christians and those of other religions.

To be sure, they also have their own selves invested in the Catholic faith. But in being good professionals, they recognize that the most effective way to promote the faith is to be calm but firm in their dialogue with those who do not share it.
 
I think a good debater is always a good listener. If we listen to what the other person is saying, and are sincere about the truth for everyone, then we can join the dialogue. All debates are a living dialogue with another living soul, and I think that it is ok to come back the next day, the next week, or whenever we think that God is inspiring us to continue the dialogue. I think we must always remember that we are here to do God’s will, and sometimes He may want us to debate with words, other times He may want us to debate with our actions and lives.
In Christ,
Charlie
 
I’ve run into this problem, as well, with a friend who is Lutheran (and, as many Lutherans are, very defensive about it). Thank goodness the Internet can be the big equalizer in some situations.

After our most recent discussion, in which I held my own but fell short of what I felt should be the standard), I e-mailed him a few links from Catholic.com on some topics we had discussed.

He backed off.

It’s a very helpful site in defending the Church.
 
Susan, I have been in that position also as well as many here. The thing to remember is if you can’t think of a reply at that moment it does not mean what they are saying is the final authority. The truth is what it is. If you don’t have a reply right away then tell them you’ll get back to them later. Speed is not what is important, accuracy of the truth is. Yes this means that the conversation could go on for days but you have a great wealth of information on you side. Take the time to get it right and in the long run you might be leading someone to the real truth. The Catholic Church.

"For where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God, there is the Church and every grace. The Spirit, however, is Truth." St. Irenaeus “*Against Heresies * 3, 24, 1.”
 
One thing that helps me is if I can remember that nothing I say will change a person’s mind or heart. That is the work of the Holy Spirit who knows the person’s heart far better than I ever will. But I keep at it, at the very least maybe when they do have questions they’ll come to me instead of consulting someone who isn’t Catholic. Sometimes I find myself SOOOOOO ready for a debate and so none ever happens. The Holy Spirit knows my heart & soul as well.
 
The secret to engaging in a fruitful apologetics discussion, is to not let the other party dominate the conversation. If you allow them to pour out citation after citation of Scripture you will soon be buried and have no chance to formulate an articulate response. Even if you could match verse for verse it would turn into a verse slinging contest and little would be accomplished.

When they bring up a verse or a challenge, say something like “Hold it right there. Let’s take a look at what you just said and examine it.” That way, you can take their challenges one at a time and it keeps their juggernaut of zeal in check.

Make sure you develop some controlled zeal for the subject yourself. People are much more amenable to a message if it is delivered in a confident, sincere, friendly and enthusiastic manner. If you don’t know something, don’t try and fake it, but say you don’t know but will find out. Then follow up. Above all, keep the conversation, cool, friendly, and charitable.

Two great books that may help you are Patrick Madrid’s Search & Rescue, and How Not To Share Your Faith, by Mark Brumley, which I believe is available on this website.
 
Debating begins with the “problem” of the Pope as our standard for understanding.

As a convert to Catholism, it is this issue and that non-catholics act as their own pope with limitations of education, training, and mental skills that really brought me to the Church.

I always remain reassured that God wants non-catholics to believe in the Church more than I do and this gives me peace during debates.

Chuck 👍
 
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STJOMO:
Thank goodness the Internet can be the big equalizer in some situations.
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I completely agree. Several of my friends and I claimed some random message boards and had a theological discussion about a year ago…and I am a lot like White Dove in the sense that I’m not as quick on my feet as I’d like to be when it comes to face to face arguments. I am, however, very good at giving rebuttals when given enough time, especially when I can read over and think twice about what I’m going to “say”.

Plus, it’s just easier in general when you have all of the great apologetics sites on the internet at your disposal.
 
Try this wonderful web site for the formula for handling yourself when defending the faith and many two minute apologetics subjects biblechristiansociety.com
 
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SusanL:
I guess my problem is different than simply apologetic information. My brain shuts down when talking with non-Catholics on scripture and Catholic teachings. I have read scriptures since childhood. It’s not like I’m unfamiliar with their quotes but their interpretation of them is, of course, different and they argue forcefully. It’s the emotional aspect. I stand there and look at the “cloud” of passion and vehemence pouring out of them and I am overwhelmed. I sense that their minds are going to be closed and I don’t know how to counter-act that.

I have heard Jimmy Aiken, Scott Hahn and Karl Keating handle these people with calm as if they had asked a loving, caring, friendly Christian question when in fact, they had not. How do these guys do it???
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I cannot do it either!!! The “cloud of passion” you described is the same dispostion you will find when debating pro-abortionists. It is derived more from hate than from love and I am always too tempted to lower myself to their level. Ah! forget tempted, I aways DO end up lowering myself to their level and I don’t like it when that happens. Hey, nobody said it was going to be easy!
 
Little Mary:
Go to www.biblechristiansociety.com You can order tapes that explain things clearly so that you can apply them yourself when put in situations where you have to defend your faith.
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Hi. Thanks. I think that Strider mentioned this site on another thread. I went on and ordered the freebies for a start. There are so many wonderful things to spend your money on in learning the faith. I have to watch myself. :getholy:
 
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SusanL:
Hi. Thanks. I think that Strider mentioned this site on another thread. I went on and ordered the freebies for a start. There are so many wonderful things to spend your money on in learning the faith. I have to watch myself. :getholy:
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Yes, Strider certainly did. It’s a veritable well of information, which leads to confidence.
Another thing you might try, if you are face-to-face with an emotional fundamentalist, is to respond very quietly. If the debator has to slow down and pause to listen, sometimes it diffuses the cloud. And always keep to one topic until you’ve said all you want to say before allowing the other to move on (Martignoni 101).
Listen to the tapes, look up the Scriptures and pray, pray, pray.
God bless
 
Scott:

You are very correct concerning Dave Armstrong’s web site!

He really has much material which both explains Catholicism and derails the argumentation against Catholicism.

His web site takes a little bit of work to explore, however, every faithful and dedicated Catholic newbie to mature will benefit.

Incidentally, my web site “able college” is mentioned in there.
able college is listed as a non-Protestant, non-Catholic web site.

Inspite of my often incompleteness in discussion boards, able college has managed to remain neutral to all four Groups within Christendom 🙂

I’m very very happy to be listed in such a quality web site as Dave Armstrong’s, to me, personally, it’s close to receiving an
imprimatur for even-handedness and fairness!

God bless you Scott, my new-found friend for mentioning Dave Armstrong, and for giving me a chance to brag on Dave 🙂
[yep, yup, and to mention my web site]

Roland
AmbassadorMan
 
SusanL:

I certainly can relate to your thread starter!

I too am very reluctant to debate and argue much.

I have done so in CO and DCF – with very mixed success!!
[No wins; mixed as to: how much damage control I managed and how much I managed to explain away incomplete postings]

Now, unlike you and the others, I have a different reason for not debating and arguing:

I want friends and relationships amongst all four Groups so badly that I will “swallow differences” publically even though I may disagree privately.

I would much rather we simply play in the sandbox as fellow little children of God than to adult-wise be at odds intellectually with each other on a steady basis.

Roland
AmbassadorMan
[BC here too can verify this!]
 
Dear Susan,

I too stumble many times when confronted, especially if they come at me out of left field! I have read some great books, “Search & Rescue” and a series called “Beginning Apologetics”, can’t remember who wrote or published that one. Anyways, it has caused me to study much harder, and in turn I have a deeper love and appreciation for the faith, but still get caught off guard.

I was visiting a couple and they just had their first child, and the husband asked (after getting into a small debate), “So my son isn’t baptized, does that mean if he died he would go to hell?” How do you quickly answer something like that? I was at a lost. This fellow went on into several topics including the Pope, confession etc. I finally said, whoa! These are great questions, but to give you full and fair answers let me do some homework and get back with you and give you some web-sites to browse. I did write him and sent him this web-site and CA’s main site too. And one called, “The Coming Home Network”. I still didn’t know what to tell him in regards to the infant baptism thing.

Guess I have more homework to do. I did start doing one thing though…when I start to answer I try to calm down, and then say, “Let’s start by asking the Holy Spirit to join us so that we can do this in a spirit of love and friendship”, that seems to settle them down, and me too! Good Luck!
 
Nana Rose:
Dear Susan,

Guess I have more homework to do. I did start doing one thing though…when I start to answer I try to calm down, and then say, “Let’s start by asking the Holy Spirit to join us so that we can do this in a spirit of love and friendship”, that seems to settle them down, and me too! Good Luck!
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Excellent. That would seem to put things back into perspective and not turn it into just a Catholic-bashing opportunity.
 
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