Gift for Non-Christian friend

[desales09]

Birthday coming up for a friend. She comes from a Unity background (all-affirming church which says all religions are equal). We haven’t discussed religion very much.

Question: Is it a good idea to get a book which led me to faith in Christ to give to her? Is it a good idea to give such a gift to someone who hasn’t expressed interest? Would appreciate (name removed by moderator)ut.

Lee

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Hmm… I think birthday gifts should be something the person enjoys that is not wrong or bad for that person from a Catholic point of view, rather than something “educational” or didactic. If we want to edify them, we should maybe do it at another time and place? That might have more effect.

 

[Catholic90]

Unless she has expressed an interest in Catholicism, get her something for her. Does she like coffee, tea, a particular store, etc. You could offer a lunch date where you buy. Etc.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Does she like coffee, tea, a particular store, etc.

You could order her some Mystic Monk Coffee or Tea. They have gift baskets too!

It’s a subtle way of introducing them to the interesting things of Catholicism. It’s legit too, because it really is by far the greatest coffee available according to my family. They’re not exactly practicing Catholics, and my brother’s wife isn’t even religious. They loved the coffee and my sister-in-law did start asking me questions about Catholicism and monks.

We could start a new evangelization. Conversion by Coffee.

 

[jamaicabraden]

i suggest giving him a bible or the daily bread book. i’m quite sure daily bread book will interest him. you may also try to find other stuff at First communion gifts.

 

[Journey322]

Birthday coming up for a friend. She comes from a Unity background (all-affirming church which says all religions are equal). We haven’t discussed religion very much.

Question: Is it a good idea to get a book which led me to faith in Christ to give to her? Is it a good idea to give such a gift to someone who hasn’t expressed interest? Would appreciate (name removed by moderator)ut.

Lee

I don’t think the book would be a bad idea. You might write something inside or in a card that says something simple like, “This book changed my life. Thought you my enjoy it too.” You can ask your friend what she thought of it in a few weeks, but don’t pressure her.

 

[MinkPink]

You could order her some Mystic Monk Coffee or Tea. They have gift baskets too!

It’s a subtle way of introducing them to the interesting things of Catholicism. It’s legit too, because it really is by far the greatest coffee available according to my family. They’re not exactly practicing Catholics, and my brother’s wife isn’t even religious. They loved the coffee and my sister-in-law did start asking me questions about Catholicism and monks.

We could start a new evangelization. Conversion by Coffee.

I think this is a good idea. When I was non-religious, I would have been VERY put off and weirded out being given a religious book and probably would have tossed it or put it away, never reading it.

So I would do something like the above poster suggests.

 

[desales09]

Thank you all for your suggestions and (name removed by moderator)ut. I think I really see validity in all of them, depending on how I would do it. But what I ended up doing is asking her if she is interested in books concerning religion. She said she took a world religion class and found it very interesting.

Journey 322, along with what I did above, I thought the same thing as you. Seems non-confrontational, and just “Hey, I wanted to share something that I found really good, and had a really positive impact on me.” However, though she said she was interested in studying world religions, it all depends on how off-putting a book with “Christianity” in the title would be to this person. You know how non-Christians often see Christianity - narrow-minded, intolerant, etc. I think I’m going to do it anyway, though I think normally it is probably best to use a more subtle approach such as some have suggested here…

Minkpink, now I’m curious…how did you end up going from non-religious to being religious (I don’t know whether you’re Catholic or something else)?

 

[MinkPink]

Thank you all for your suggestions and (name removed by moderator)ut. I think I really see validity in all of them, depending on how I would do it. But what I ended up doing is asking her if she is interested in books concerning religion. She said she took a world religion class and found it very interesting.

Journey 322, along with what I did above, I thought the same thing as you. Seems non-confrontational, and just “Hey, I wanted to share something that I found really good, and had a really positive impact on me.” However, though she said she was interested in studying world religions, it all depends on how off-putting a book with “Christianity” in the title would be to this person. You know how non-Christians often see Christianity - narrow-minded, intolerant, etc. I think I’m going to do it anyway, though I think normally it is probably best to use a more subtle approach such as some have suggested here…

Minkpink, now I’m curious…how did you end up going from non-religious to being religious (I don’t know whether you’re Catholic or something else)?

In RCIA for reasons I still don’t quite understand. Just woke up one day and had a very strong urge to go to mass. Been following that impulse since

If you are thinking of getting her a book, I would highly suggest something that isn’t really preachy, but that would be an interesting read.

I really enjoy reading Father James Martin’s books so I think any of these books below are good options. Father Martin is not preachy, but thought provoking. Of the three, I think a Jesuit Off-Broadway would be a really good read for someone you want to introduce to faith and Catholicism and is something that a non-Catholic would enjoy to read that might prompt interest or questions. So my suggestion is Mystic Monk Coffee and one of these books.


A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Behind the Scenes with Faith, Doubt, Forgiveness, and More


The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

Between Heaven and Mirth