Difficulty: convincing a multitude of people

  • Thread starter Thread starter ESMDHokie77
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

ESMDHokie77

Guest
Hey CAF,

How can an amateur apologist defend the faith when there are so many different types of people to defend it against? Atheists, fallen-away Catholics, protestants, agnostics… I feel like it’s overwhelming trying to be prepared for all that could be thrown at me in a debate. 😦

I can’t argue for the Real Presence with an atheist and I don’t need to argue for the Trinity with trinitarian protestants. There’s so much subject material that I feel like I need to know. If anything, I want to focus on apologetics with protestants.

Peace,
Phil
 
Hi Phil, first you need to stop using the word protestant since that is a rude or derogatory term.

You may want to give Karl Keatings’ book a read.

check this out too,
theworkofgod.org/Library/Apologtc/R_Haddad/Course/Contents.htm

You also, need to distingish High Church vs Low Church vs Individualism.

High Church — recognizes the first 8 Ecumentical Councils with this level you need only discuss the Papacy.

Low Church — recognizes some of the doctrines from the Councils like the Trinity. These would be the people above Baptist and below Lutheran or Church of England.
And, still understands the 5 solas as being a unit, starting with Christ Supreme.

Individualism – this is where Jack Chick, many, not all Baptists falls. Pentecostal groups go here too.

Cults — those outside mainstream Christianity like mormons and Jws.

Also, you may want to read the well know “protestant” evangelists, apologetists so you know first hand what they really teach — William Webster, James White comes to mind.
 
You don’t have to convince a multitude of people all at once. Know your faith well. Know the history of Christianity and the history of the Bible. You don’t have to be an expert in all areas. You will develop knowledge and skill as you engage different people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

You can learn the history of the Bible here, in one small book:

catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/wbible.htm

You can get apologetics materials free here:

biblechristiansociety.com/home.php

Sign up for John Martignone’s newsletter at that same website. He gives lessons in apologetics – free. Read his previous newsletters.

Ignore Big Dummy’s advice about Protestants:D. Only a few object to the name and, after all, Christians are categorized as either Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant.

Jim Dandy
Former Protestant
 
Big_Dummy said:
Hi Phil, first you need to stop using the word protestant since that is a rude or derogatory term.

You may want to give Karl Keatings’ book a read.

check this out too,
theworkofgod.org/Library/Apologtc/R_Haddad/Course/Contents.htm
Click to expand...
I think you’re the first person to tell me that ‘protestant’ is rude. Perhaps we should come up with a new name for the reformation! Thanks for the link, and yes a own Keating book, but which one are you referring to?
Jim_Dandy said:
catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/wbible.htm

You can get apologetics materials free here:

biblechristiansociety.com/home.php

Sign up for John Martignone’s newsletter at that same website. He gives lessons in apologetics – free. Read his previous newsletters.
Click to expand...
Yep, I have that booklet by Graham! Thanks for the reference to Martignoni’s newsletter, I can always use more apologetic newsletters!
 
Big_Dummy said:
Hi Phil, first you need to stop using the word protestant since that is a rude or derogatory term.
Click to expand...
I’m curious, who’s told you that “Protestant” is derogatory? I was a Protestant for the first 27ish years of my life and always identified myself as such. I never once felt it was in any way derogatory. It’s just a fact. They protest Catholic teachings - some more of them than others - which is how they got themselves called Protestants.

I definitely liked your distinctions between High Church, Low Church, Individualist, and Cults, btw. It’s a very helpful way to mentally catagorize your plan of apologetics. (Though I doubt the LDSs or JWs would appreciate being called cult members, even if that’s what they are… ;))
ESMDHokie77 said:
Yep, I have that booklet by Graham! Thanks for the reference to Martignoni’s newsletter, I can always use more apologetic newsletters!
Click to expand...
I’m subscribed to Martignoni’s newsletter, but, as you said, I can always use more apologetic newsletters, so I’m curious, which other ones are you signed up for?
 
ESMDHokie77 said:
Hey CAF,

How can an amateur apologist defend the faith when there are so many different types of people to defend it against? Atheists, fallen-away Catholics, protestants, agnostics… I feel like it’s overwhelming trying to be prepared for all that could be thrown at me in a debate. 😦

I can’t argue for the Real Presence with an atheist and I don’t need to argue for the Trinity with trinitarian protestants. There’s so much subject material that I feel like I need to know. If anything, I want to focus on apologetics with protestants.

Peace,
Phil
Click to expand...
Don’t worry about what they believe. Just know what you believe, and if someone asks you something you don’t know the answer to, say “I don’t know.”

In RCIA, we use the Ligouri pamphlet series as our starting point, and it works with everyone, no matter what their background, because the focus is not on proving the other point of view wrong, but rather, on presenting the Catholic point of view, in a way that is interesting, funny, and easy to understand.
 
ESMDHokie77 said:
While not quite apologetics in nature, Scott Hahn’s SalvationHistory.com offers a weekly reflection based on the bible readings for that week; salvationhistory.com/homily_helps . Any others that you’re signed up for?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately not. I’m always excited to get John’s newletter when it shows up, but… for some unknown reason it never occurred to me to take the time to go out looking for more Catholic apologetics newsletters to sign up for… I just signed up for Scott’s reflections, though. 👍
 
I ask the question rhetorically, why do all these things/miracles always/only happen in this one Church? Is someone trying to tell me something?
 
ESMDHokie77 said:
Hey CAF,

How can an amateur apologist defend the faith when there are so many different types of people to defend it against? Atheists, fallen-away Catholics, protestants, agnostics… I feel like it’s overwhelming trying to be prepared for all that could be thrown at me in a debate. 😦

I can’t argue for the Real Presence with an atheist and I don’t need to argue for the Trinity with trinitarian protestants. There’s so much subject material that I feel like I need to know. If anything, I want to focus on apologetics with protestants.

Peace,
Phil
Click to expand...
Do not worry about what to say, for the Spirit will give utterance in thatmoment. Just know your stuff.
 
Wildkit said:
I ask the question rhetorically, why do all these things/miracles always/only happen in this one Church? Is someone trying to tell me something?
Click to expand...
I remember when I had not yet caught it’s signifigance, I realized that I kept getting surrounded by Catholic stuff:p Hmm… My only problem now is that it takes so long to join the Church:( But I’m not really ready anyway.
 
josephback said:
My only problem now is that it takes so long to join the Church:( But I’m not really ready anyway.
Click to expand...
That’s exactly why it takes so long… 👍 But yeah, I know what you mean; it feels like forever when all you want is to embrace Jesus in the Eucharist and you can’t. But don’t worry; you’ll get there. 😃
 
It’s also important to remember that the aim isn’t to convince others, but rather to give a good defense of the faith.

It’s the Holy Spirit’s mission to convince, not yours. 😉
 
Big Dummy, for my benefit, would you please tell us the non-offensive term for our brother Christians who are outside of the Catholic church. I would hate to appear ignorant in public.
 
Protestant is a rude term, but referring to Mormons and Jews as cults is not?

Please!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top