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Samoana90

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If people are so adamant in their beliefs (e.g. Catholicism,) then why aren’t there thousands of street preachers and door knockers?

Now you can say that these methods can be in your face and perhaps may scare people away. But, aren’t they the methods used by the apostles and early church? and aren’t there mass conversions to religions like the LDS and JW’s?
 
If people were so convinced by the truth of Catholicism, I would imagine them running down the street screaming out ‘praise the Lord.’ Well… something like that.
 
I heard Fr. Corapi discussing a similar topic on the radio the other morning. His advice regarding evangelization was “preach less, pray more.”

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Samoana90 said:
If people are so adamant in their beliefs (e.g. Catholicism,) then why aren’t there thousands of street preachers and door knockers?

Now you can say that these methods can be in your face and perhaps may scare people away. But, aren’t they the methods used by the apostles and early church? and aren’t there mass conversions to religions like the LDS and JW’s?
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I thinkt he reason we don’t see this anymore is that everyone out there has basically heard the message. At least, the major bullet points of it. This wasn’t the case back in the day. Going from door-to-door or taking up street preaching is hardly effective anymore and is likely to turn more people off than on.

People know the message, and have likely chosen something else due to the way they see Christianity being used. They see it as a tool to judge and belittle others because so many people seem to use it in that way. I think it’s our goal now to show them the love of Christ, and the peace and joy that comes from believing. This is actually a much harder task than street preaching and door-to-door evangelism. Words are easy, actions are not. We have to grow closer to God if we are going to evangelize. I know that this is how I was won in. I learned the truths from a college classroom, and when I started asked questions I wasn’t bombarded with “repent now and be saved!” but rather level headed discussions and answers. There was no pressure to become Catholic and it took me about 2 years before I took the plunge. I was brought in when I felt ready, rather than as a result of pressure.
 
Samoana90 said:
If people are so adamant in their beliefs (e.g. Catholicism,) then why aren’t there thousands of street preachers and door knockers?

Now you can say that these methods can be in your face and perhaps may scare people away. But, aren’t they the methods used by the apostles and early church? and aren’t there mass conversions to religions like the LDS and JW’s?
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I have some friends who do door-to-door evangelization in St. Louis, MO. I’m actually going to try to join them this weekend.

In the first half of the twentieth century, Frank Sheed had an entire ministry, the Catholic Evidence Guild, that did street corner preaching.

This is important work, and I would encourage everyone to find time to do this. Let us all pray for the growth of Holy Mother Church. Open wide the doors to Christ!

-Ryan Vilbig
ryan.vilbig@gmail.com
 
The last time I checked, Jesus didn’t go around hitting people over the head with a 2 x 4.

There are many ways to share a message, especially these days…think landline, cell phone, email, website, internet community, internet forum, prayer groups, radio, instructional classes, bumper stickers, chance meetings, strange cloud formations etc. etc.

Just because Catholics don’t always go knocking on doors doesn’t mean God isn’t spreading His message through them. You’re in this forum, aren’t you? Me too! I’m sure there’s a lot that we can learn together:)

Teresa
My Catholic blog
 
If people were so convinced by the truth of Catholicism, I would imagine them running down the street screaming out ‘praise the Lord.’ Well… something like that.
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Yes. And then night comes, and the next day. Do you want them to go on running up and down the street every day? Or may they go to work like normal people?

Now a question for you. Do you think about these things before you post them?
 
I do think about them. That’s why I asked. Thank you for the pinch of sarcasm. It really helps in bringing people like me to the faith.
 
It’s a pinch of sarcasm wrapped around a real question for you.

What is it you want people to do? Run up and down the street all day yelling? Or not?

I believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead, is present in the Eucharist, and will judge me at my death. I still have to go to work tomorrow and move boxes into the warehouse. You think I should do something else? I have a mortgage, you know. I’ll eat lunch with my co-workers. They’ll probably want to talk about baseball. OK with you there, Cochise? Or should I preach at them? Let me know, I’m all on pins and needles about your opinion.
 
No, but I would expect to see Catholics at the train station on a Saturday morning handing out miraculous medals or pamphlets. Answering questions. I know many Catholics leaving their religion to join different Christian groups and other religions because of an encounter they had on the street or from door knocking. As much as I think Hare Krishna’s are a bunch of hippies trying to find something to fulfill their lives that isn’t Christianity, I think they’re doing a better job of promoting their cult than Catholics are of evangelisation.
 
And, so, this means what to you? You’re shopping and want someone to put the hard sell on you? Nope. We don’t really do that. If my local parish starts sending people out to knock on doors on Saturday morning and all the rest of that stupid B_ I’m going to an SSPX Catholic chapel the next Sunday. The Mormons who come to my door are the next thing to brainwashed and the JW’s are just pitifully lost and ignorant people. Anyone with a working neuron can see this.

No, what you are seeing is a post-modern culture where the idea of intellectually apprehendable philosophical truth has been divorced form religion. Catholicism claims not to be the coolest or the best-marketed, but simply true. If someone leaves Catholicism to be a Krishna, I’m sorry, but you are talking about an idiot. you and I can debate about the best things the Church can do for the souls of idiots, but knocking on doors…that’s not my favorite idea. Then we get into a door-knocking contest with the biggest idiots in American culture. I think I’ll just keep inviting people to Mass, thanks.
 
I’m 19 years old. The majority of young people I went through the sacraments with have left the church to join other denominations and religions. Blame it on the culture, catechesis, whatever. But I think a bit of pamphlets on a street corner aren’t going to hurt a soul.
 
Who said I believe what the church teaches? you were the one who said you believed.
 
So, you don’t believe it, but you have an interest in convincing other people to sell it?

Does this seem sensical to you?
 
Is you’re faith merely for social reasons? you want to keep your friends? something like that. If you’re so convinced by the ‘truths’ of the church, then why don’t you become a street preacher? that’s where I’m heading with this post. I know you have to work and all. Maybe you can do it on the weekend like the other Christians.
 
See, here’s where you go wrong. You didn’t ask me what I do on the weekends. I teach Catholicism. I linked you to the Evangelism forum. You can ask them what they do on weekends, too. I don’t run down the street yelling, though. You seemed to want that earlier. I’m not really a yelling kind of person.
 
Thanks for your posts. There is this one problem where I live. There’s a huge protestant church that runs on Friday through to Sunday, and it attracts massive crowds- mostly consisting of young people. The area where the services are held is full of the main Catholic schools. So after school on a Friday, hundreds of young Catholics go to this church, and most of them eventually leave Catholicism to join this or a similar church. I’ve done a bit of research, and the average person stays there for around a year and a half before going off to another church or religion. People have tried to get the bishops to do something, but the local ordinary said, ‘at least they’re still with Jesus.’
 
So, you’ve left the Church, and your complaint is that there aren’t enough good Catholics left in it? OK, I mean…I can see one solution here…
 
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