Door to door evangelization

[Darran]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

 

[Sam_777]

Are they doing that voluntary (for GOD’s sake) or they get paid for each person they convert (a job)

 

[adf417]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

If she came to your door bashing Catholics she could be a Jehovah’s Witness. If so please read the earlier thread "Needing an answer to a Jehovah Witness Question ". There is a lot of good info there and if you need more on this subject please ask. There is much more to be had.

Dont be afraid of heresy, the only way to overcome it is knowledge. We are here for you.

God bless you brother.

 

[stanczyk]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

Best of luck to you, I am sure that will be a frustrating conversation. I will be praying that you are able to maintain your cool. That, I believe, is of the utmost importance when engaging in these sorts of conversations. Debate tends to harden people to their original position, and providing a good example, rather than intellectual argument, is often the best way to win people over to the true Church. You can have the most convincing arguments in the world (and the Church does indeed have all the most convincing arguments in the world!), but if you lose your temper it can just drive the other side deeper into their original convictions.

Now, that said, you obviously can’t let calumnies against the one true Church stand unchallenged, you have to politely, yet firmly, demonstrate their falsity. In such an argument, you have already taken the first step in emphasizing the importance of Holy Tradition. Personally, I have always been confounded by the Protestant fallacy of sola scriptura. How on earth can one understand the scripture without the accompanying tradition? Protestants, after all, have their own tradition, the difference is they don’t believe it is divinely inspired. So a good line of argument might be to question how the opinion of Luther, or Calvin, or Zwigli, or whoever, is any better than anybody else’s opinion. That’s all Protestants have to go on, really, is the Bible and opinion. Christ established the Chruch for precisely this reason, to avoid the sort of anarchy you see in Protestantism.

Be ready to counter the Protestant objection to the deuterocanonical scripture, which they reject. The Christian canon was decided at the council of Nicea, the same council which gave us the Nicene Creed (which the Protestants accept) also gave us the canon. So the reason they reject the deuterocanonical books is based on another of opinion of Luther (and for the more pragmatic reason that the deuterocanonical provide theological books support the Catholic Church).

 

[Darran]

Thank you very much. I assumed they were Jehova’s witnesses at first, but I’m doubtful.

I am fuming! I tore it to pieces and burnt it in the fire. I’m going to need to collect myself big time before they come back, otherwise God knows I’ll drive them out of town.

 

[Darran]

Best of luck to you, I am sure that will be a frustrating conversation. I will be praying that you are able to maintain your cool. That, I believe, is of the utmost importance when engaging in these sorts of conversations. Debate tends to harden people to their original position, and providing a good example, rather than intellectual argument, is often the best way to win people over to the true Church. You can have the most convincing arguments in the world (and the Church does indeed have all the most convincing arguments in the world!), but if you lose your temper it can just drive the other side deeper into their original convictions.

Now, that said, you obviously can’t let calumnies against the one true Church stand unchallenged, you have to politely, yet firmly, demonstrate their falsity. In such an argument, you have already taken the first step in emphasizing the importance of Holy Tradition. Personally, I have always been confounded by the Protestant fallacy of sola scriptura. How on earth can one understand the scripture without the accompanying tradition? Protestants, after all, have their own tradition, the difference is they don’t believe it is divinely inspired. So a good line of argument might be to question how the opinion of Luther, or Calvin, or Zwigli, or whoever, is any better than anybody else’s opinion. That’s all Protestants have to go on, really, is the Bible and opinion. Christ established the Chruch for precisely this reason, to avoid the sort of anarchy you see in Protestantism.

Be ready to counter the Protestant objection to the deuterocanonical scripture, which they reject. The Christian canon was decided at the council of Nicea, the same council which gave us the Nicene Creed (which the Protestants accept) also gave us the canon. So the reason they reject the deuterocanonical books is based on another of opinion of Luther (and for the more pragmatic reason that the deuterocanonical provide theological books support the Catholic Church).

Ah indeed. Thanks a lot. It’s amazing how little effort some can put into researching things of their faith before making accusations, really.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

Why are you going to lose your cool? Jesus did not taught you to forgive?
I usually try to convert them and it is always the same ending: they lose their cool, which is pretty funny. I end with my rethoric question: “Why are you so angry?”
As they are not expecting, the loger the dialogue, the more stupid arguments they raise for they are not prepared for a long fight but for a bief knockout.
Look we are in a free world, so everyone is free to tell the most esoteric theories they like.
In my past dialogues I was too soft, I need to push the sword deep to see their reations.
Take it easy…

 

[JustaServant]

Its always helpful to have your own little booklets on your mantle. When they come to your door, just say: “I’ll take your literature if you take mine”.
I had one guy refuse. I told him “I don’t get it. I’ll take what you have, I’ll even do you the curtousy of READING it. I’m not afraid of what you have…why are you afraid of what I have?”
Never got an answer, or an exchance of booklets.

 

[michaelmas]

What a great opportunity.

When she does come back make sure there is a companion with her or meet in public, just to protect yourself.

 

[JRKH]

Thank you very much. I assumed they were Jehova’s witnesses at first, but I’m doubtful.

I am fuming! I tore it to pieces and burnt it in the fire. I’m going to need to collect myself big time before they come back, otherwise God knows I’ll drive them out of town.

I’m very sorry to hear that you did this as it destroys a great advantage that you had…

When someone gives you a pamphlet they are giving you “documented” statements that cannot “wiggled” out of. Every error contained in that document can then be carefully noted and just as carefully refuted - often times with church documents and references.

If you had retained the pamphlet you could have researched the errors and, when they returned, provided them with a nicely bound set of rebuttals to most, if not all, of the errors contained in their pamphlet. You could then offer to discuss these issues with them and to get back to them with clarifications on any further questions or concerns they might have.

This method is much better when one tends toward emotional outbursts as you seem to. I have this problem as well and struggle with it.

I actually did this with a pamphlet left me by some LDS missioners and it was a fascinating exercise and thoroughly prepared me to talk with them later - but they have not returned…well - I did get pretty wound up while they were here…
Not abusive you understand - but somewhat intense…

Anyway - If you can recall any of the things contained in the pamphlet I’m sure we can help you to prepare clear, documented counters to them so that you can be prepared. Then - if it seems feasible to continue discussions, get another copy of the pamphlet plus any others they might have and bring those here as well…

Peace
James

 

[jlhargus]

Its always helpful to have your own little booklets on your mantle. When they come to your door, just say: “I’ll take your literature if you take mine”.
I had one guy refuse. I told him “I don’t get it. I’ll take what you have, I’ll even do you the curtousy of READING it. I’m not afraid of what you have…why are you afraid of what I have?”
Never got an answer, or an exchance of booklets.

JL: Justa that’s a great plan and answer

 

[Samuel63]

This can be a good exercise of your ability to communicate the truth with love.

Give it a try and make an honest attempt to note where you erred. The goal is to reflect the truth of Christ and help the other person along the journey toward Christ. We are all at different points on this same journey.

Just imagine for a moment if our local parish was filled with people that had the same energy and zeal as this lady does. If you can help her along the way to conversion, even just a little, you are doing God’s work.

You may be able to start a discussion group in your parish based on the outcome. You may save a soul within the parish from being converted away from the one true faith.

I will pray for your success.

 

[guanophore]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

Pray for them. If you can’t meet with them in charity, don’t.

It is the nature of Protestantism to define itself by which Catholic doctrines and how much of them are not espoused. Since all Protestant communities are founded by men, and emanate through departures from Catholic faith, from their inception they had to identify themselves by which part of Catholicism they wanted to reject.

One must be mindful also that most modern Protestants are not even aware that they have embraced heresies. They are just promulgating what was given to them, and believe it is true. They are to be commended for their zeal. They stand in the tradition of Apollos, and are in need of catechesis.

All that being said, you might consider telling them what they gave you is hurtful and destructive. Such material contradicts the teachings of the Apostles. Usually it cannot be supported by Scripture, so if you ask them “please show me where it says this is Scripture” they cannot. Is it Jack Chick stuff?

 

[aicirt]

Don’t get upset and don’t get angry. You might be the only Catholic who is willing to converse with them. You may never know what influence you might have on them, if any. But God may have sent them to your door knowing you might have more to impart to them than they to you.

I went home after meeting a JW and googled JW. I couldn’t find one thing that we could agree on from where we could develope some kind of dialogue. My feeling is they’re pagans. So I say a prayer when I meet her and hope that whatever little tibit should spring from my lips will lead her to question. For instance, I mentioned Raphael for some reason. She asked, “Who’s that?” I said, the Archangel Raphael. She had never heard of him but said she was going to look him up. Who knows where that might lead her?

You might want to check the JW stories of conversion on www.chnetwork.org to give you some insight into their beliefs.

That same site has a very interesting story re. Mormons and their beliefs told by Catherine Canion who eventually came home. And I will say that Mormonism is very pagan.

 

[TeenageConvert]

Well if she tries the whole “The Catholic Church tried to destroy the bible” thing again, ask her that if the Church really wanted the bible to be destroyed and hidden, why would it pronounce scripture to be holy and infallible? Why would it canonize the bible? Why would monks by hand copy it over and over? Why would it be read at every mass? Why would we place Sacred Scripture on the same level as Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium?
Pray for patience, even if they get angry and storm off, or you don’t think they’re listening to a word you say, your efforts might not be wasted. It could plant a seed in thier heart, and they just might one day look into Catholicism and come to realize it is the One True Church. And I like the suggestion the other poster said…give them a Catholic pamphlet or something. The next time the JW’s come by my house I’ll give them the copy of the “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth” booklet I have

 

[Catholic1954]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

You do not have to talk to this lady if she comes back; just don’t answer the door, or tell her that you are not interested. You can be sure that she is not interested in an exchange of ideas or any discussion. She is there to convert you to whatever group she represents, and you will not be able to change her mind either. It is best not to give these people to the opportunity to plant doubts or start you wondering if the Catholic Church is the one true Church. Wish her good day and shut the door.

 

[bz5]

Well if she tries the whole “The Catholic Church tried to destroy the bible” thing again, ask her that if the Church really wanted the bible to be destroyed and hidden, why would it pronounce scripture to be holy and infallible? Why would it canonize the bible? Why would monks by hand copy it over and over? Why would it be read at every mass? Why would we place Sacred Scripture on the same level as Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium?
Pray for patience, even if they get angry and storm off, or you don’t think they’re listening to a word you say, your efforts might not be wasted. It could plant a seed in thier heart, and they just might one day look into Catholicism and come to realize it is the One True Church. And I like the suggestion the other poster said…give them a Catholic pamphlet or something. The next time the JW’s come by my house I’ll give them the copy of the “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth” booklet I have

Exactly! It’s amazing. A Mormon kept telling me that the church ‘fought tooth and nail’ to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people, burning tens of thousands of men, women, and children at the stake, etc…
It seems the simpler way in an almost universally illiterate culture - as Europe most certainly was before a workable printing press was invented - was to have those monks doing something else instead of meticulously copying it.

OP, this might be a good idea to order a bunch of Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth pamphlets to take over to your parish, saving a few to hand out to this kind of ‘visitor’ (who probably won’t read it, but who knows). You won’t be the only target, and some people may be weaker than you are in the faith

 

[guanophore]

 Exactly!  It's amazing.  A Mormon kept telling me that the church 'fought tooth and nail' to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people, burning tens of thousands of men, women, and children at the stake, etc....

It is incumbent upon people making such assertions to produce the historical proof of their claims. The “trail of blood” book does not count as history.

The truth is that the Bible would not be available at all if not for the church producing,preserving, promulgating and canonizing it. Also, the Douey Rhiems predated the KJV by about 200 years, so to say there was no English version is also false.

Most people don’t know that the inventor of the printing press, Gutenberg, was a Catholic,or that the bible was the first book he printed. Before that, no one could hardly afford to own a bible because they took a year of constant labor to produce by candlelight in manuscript.

It is true that there were some Catholics who were horribly oppressive and lethal, but they believed they were preventing the very fragmentation of the Church that has now occurred as a result of everyone interpreting for themselves.

It seems the simpler way in an almost universally illiterate culture - as Europe most certainly was before a workable printing press was invented - was to have those monks doing something else instead of meticulously copying it.

This is an excellent point. It was highly labor intensive. Also the reason the university system emerged from the monasteries - those were the center of literacy.

 

[Kay_Cee]

A woman just came to my door, asking if I am interested in the Bible. She asked me why it has remained despite all the attacks against it. I thought she looked like a protestant, I made a point of saying “because it was contained within the Church”.

She gave me a booklet with intense anti-Catholic lies, blaming the Church for trying to destroy the gospel.

She said she would be back around later to discuss it. Quite honestly, I don’t know how I am going to be able to keep my cool while talking to these people, knowing that they have been around my whole town with this nonsense.

Any suggestions?

Yes. Check out the talks by John Martignoni here: biblechristiansociety.com/download

The first one, entitled “Apologetics for the Scripturally Challenged” is all about technique when engaging in discussion with a non-Catholic. I suggest listening to it several times until you get the techniques and strategies down pat.

 

[Little_Mary]

1 Timothy 3:15 states very clearly that the CHURCH is the pillar and bulwark of the truth.

Not the bible.

A pillar holds things up; a bulwark acts as protection.

The CHURCH holds up and protects the truth.

Not the bible.

The bible says so.

Start there with your front porch friend.