Defending the faith now a days

[AnnRob11]

So I went through the RCIA process this year and was baptised, confirmed and received my first communion. During the process, I learned a lot and fell in love with the Catholic faith! I lost family and friends on this decision and still hurts. Anyways, we had a discussion one night about back in the day about there would be classes about defending the faith and got me thinking. The other week, I had left my family and friends early from dinner to attend mass. Well, someone said to me about going to attend my “cult meeting.” I expressed that if he wanted to discuss the faith or come to mass to get some information, I’d love to, but I was not going to argue with him. So my question becomes, how do you respond to things like that?

 

[CRV]

Welcome to the Family!

I too had a falling out with a close family member over the Faith. The majority of my relatives are lapsed Catholics. So it happens. It hurt, yes, but that’s a cross we bear being disciples of Christ. (Or in my own case, in trying to be).

In a general sense the Catholic Faith is sometimes viewed as a cult by others. In fact some years ago when talking to a close family member about some topic on the Faith, they asked me if I was sure I was in the Catholic Faith and not some cult. Problem is, they are lapsed and because what I was saying they hadn’t heard of before or even understand it, they assumed it wasn’t Catholic. I assure you it was.

Anyway, in your situation I think you did the right thing. I find these types of comments come from a place of derision from the other person and is meant to put you and your faith into question, mock or ridicule or belittle it.

There are some great apologetics books you can buy. Perhaps that might be of interest to you.

Personally when a family member and I butted heads over the Faith, I just responded “It’s what I believe.” You could add something along the lines of “Please respect me and my Faith as I respect you.”

 

[PBWY]

I think you responded perfectly. And you could also kindly remind this person that a “cult” is a religion that is regarded as unorthodox and spurious, and given that the Catholic Church is the original Christian Church which all Protestants later separated from - much in the name of convenience - it is hardly a cult, and esp at 1.2 billion followers.

 

[nightshade]

Mark 13:13 And you shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake. But he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved.

Mathew
10:34 Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword.
10:35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
10:36 And a man’s enemies shall be they of his own household.

Know that you are not alone. I have also been accused of being part of a cult by an ignorant family member. My dad has regularly talked bad about me behind my back because of joining the Catholic Church. I was baptized and received into the Church this Easter too. These verses above have given me great comfort when this sort of thing arises.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Actually, I think your response was good.
In your relatives defense, who knows what propaganda they were exposed to to make them feel the way they do? It’s better to ascribe behaviors to ignorance and not malice.
However, what they said was rude and uncalled for. But a calm and neutral and non-emotional response was the best thing to do.

 

[po18guy]

Isn’t it strange that ‘cults’ are normally 1) easy to join and 2) hard to leave. Hmmm…let’s see… easy to join (Invite Jesus into your heart) and hard to leave, i.e. family members shunning, disfellowshipping and mocking you… Hmmm…

Didn’t they just describe themselves?

The one clear mark of the true Church is that it is difficult to join and easy to leave. Ask them to name a Church that is harder to enter and easier to leave than the Catholic Church.

Can’t.

Forgive them and pray for them. What else can you do?

 

[angel12]

Well, someone said to me about going to attend my “cult meeting.” I expressed that if he wanted to discuss the faith or come to mass to get some information, I’d love to, but I was not going to argue with him. So my question becomes, how do you respond to things like that?

I think your response was great. People who say something like that are generally trying to upset you. When you refuse to take the bait, it’s not fun for them anymore.

 

[Sbee0]

I always find it interesting that even atheists can be more accepting of Catholic believers than fundie protestants.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

AnnRob11, I think the way you handled it was absolutely perfect.

People who say things like that are just trying to get a rise out of you. They don’t want to have a serious discussion. Don’t waste your breath or time on them.

 

[Bluebright]

I liked your response actually. Firm and fair. I think it’s a good idea to listen to the other person’s opinion if they should respond with something after what you have said about being ready to discuss your faith. It’s quite difficult to listen when you are thinking ‘that’s nonsense’ and they are talking badly about your faith, especially if that old chestnut about worshipping statues or saints is silly stuff like that which we all know is utter nonsense. The hardest thing is to keep emotions in check, the ‘cult’ comment is very much an emotional trigger as you start getting upset/annoyed. It’s great you didnt. You can go far by not getting upset, listening and responding. I went to a talk one year and an apologist recommended going back to a point that you had in common. Like if you are both Christians belief in God. Jack Valero was the speaker of Catholic voices, he talked about reframing the argument. Here’s an article on him. https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2...by-reframing-arguments-rather-than-retorting/

 

[rosejmj]

I think you responded well. You didn’t start an argument but at the same time you offered to talk to him about it. Other than that I would just try to learn some apologetics so you know how to defend your faith if they decide to have a discussion. However I would not want to have a discussion if the other person is rude and not even open to listening

 

[Sbee0]

Isn’t it strange that ‘cults’ are normally 1) easy to join and 2) hard to leave. Hmmm…let’s see… easy to join (Invite Jesus into your heart) and hard to leave, i.e. family members shunning, disfellowshipping and mocking you… Hmmm…

Didn’t they just describe themselves?

The one clear mark of the true Church is that it is difficult to join and easy to leave. Ask them to name a Church that is harder to enter and easier to leave than the Catholic Church.

Can’t.

Forgive them and pray for them. What else can you do?

Yeah, the use of the word “cult” when referring to Catholic faith is a good tell that it came from the mouth or keyboard of a fundie protestant.

Plant the seed and let it grow from there. That’s all we can do.

 

[awesomecatholic]

Welcome home! I am sorry to hear about your problems with your friends and family. I know how hard it is because I am experiencing the exact same problems with my family. I know before I told my parents I wanted to become Catholic, I read the Catechism and made sure I understood the faith completely. I think you did the right thing and I don’t blame for not wanting to argue with him. Getting angry and emotional is not the thing to do. Sadly, many people think Catholicism is a cult. All we can do is pray for those people who believe that. I would have added, “I believe it’s true, I respect you and what you believe, so I would like you to respect me.”