How do we reach the non-religious?

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How do we reach the people who are not religious, but who are not explicitly atheists? They just live their lives as if God doesn’t exist, they may be agnostic or have some vague belief in God, but they don’t really know or understand the message of the Catholic Church or don’t really care about religion?
 
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In general, by living out your life in a Christlike manner; being charitable, honest and friendly; and being open about your faith and the reason for your happiness.

Think that was pretty effective in the first century.
 
It could be that they are just apathetic to the question of God and the ultimate fate of things. It would likely take some life-changing event or existential crisis to get them asking questions. It’s not so much something someone else can do.
 
Jesus told us!!

Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Be the salt of the earth.

We are to be joy filled salt and light!!!
 
Read evangeli gaudium by Pope Francis. A good tip he gives is to show the non religious how happy we are as catholics and make them want to know more. But don’t proselytize.
 
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I’ll be handing out booklets the first chance I get. No one is ever forced to take one.
 
We cannot convert anyone. Only the Holy Spirit can move them to the truth. I only say something to them if I discern that it is the right time and place.
 
True.
However it does happen.
And those people are some of the greatest testimonies when they do convert.
I met a guy who came into the Church a few years back, never even stepped into a church in his life, dad was a drunk, mom was always working, he didn’t even graduate high school until he got a GED. Said one day he just was walking by a Church and got this feeling to go in and felt a peace he never felt and ended up being received.
He still has some issues with drinking and some other things but he has come a long way since I first met him.
 
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Dan_Defender said:
We cannot convert anyone. Only the Holy Spirit can move them to the truth. I only say something to them if I discern that it is the right time and place.
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True. But we can plant seeds here and there. People remember that, and it helps them know what they’re getting into when the spirit moves them. Therefore, we can’t be quiet and ashamed about living, sharing, and publicly practicing what we believe in. It’s hard in a world of social media, where people will cut you off forever for saying one thing they disagree with. The consequences are harsh, especially when all we Christians want to do is connect and be kind.
 
Bishop Barron says they will not usually be swayed by truth (“Who’s truth?”) or goodness ("What is good?), but they can be drawn by beauty. Peter Kreeft says something similar.
 
edwest211 said:
Can you give an example of beauty?
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Me personally, I was brought back to the Church by the beauty of chant and polyphony. Others have started their journey through the beauty of a great church or cathedral. Regarding the beauty of great Catholic music, I have read many youtube comments, including many from professed atheists or muslims, remarking on the unearthly beauty of this music.
 
I agree wholeheartedly. The traditional aesthetic of the Church was a major factor in drawing me in.
 
I compiled a 31 page document of youtube comments on Catholic chant and polyphony. This music (as well as other forms of Catholic beauty) has tremendous power to draw people towards the Church and towards God. I’m happy to send a copy of the file to anybody who would like to see it.
 
Through our actions.
They will know we are Christians by our love.
 
I was talking to a neighbour I have just met, about her plants. She gave me a couple of cuttings, then asked me if I was the Christian that lived in this large complex.

It took me by surprise, but pleasant surprise. Be that person people talk about as the Christian. We might think our living and actions are insignificant, but others notice.
 
We begin with numero uno. Ask the Lord to make you a saint. To come into your heart and expose, heal and transform all that is displeasing to Him. Frequent the sacrements and ask our Lord to provide you with a disposition pleasing to Him. Ask Him to direct your faculties, guide your conduct and guard your tongue. Everyday ask Him to draw you closer to His sacred heart. Ask Him to place His own love for your neighbor in your heart. Then you will desire as He does- that all mem be saved and come to the onowledge of the truth. If you allow yourself to be made His instrument souls will be saved. Pray for the graces of conversion and deliverance(bc the enemy will re-up his attacks) for those we pray for. Then wait on the Lord asking Him to increase your confidence and help your unbelief. Ask the Lord to help you run the race. Jesus himself will go before you and place those He is drawing toward Himself in your path. Remember always that God’s timeline is not ours. Finally ask for the grace to bear patiently with the defects of others.
 
_Abyssinia said:
How do we reach the people who are not religious, but who are not explicitly atheists? They just live their lives as if God doesn’t exist, they may be agnostic or have some vague belief in God, but they don’t really know or understand the message of the Catholic Church or don’t really care about religion?
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Death.

That’s what did it for me. Coming home to find my husband dead of a sudden heart attack made the Meaning of Life the most important topic in the world.

Obviously, I’m not suggesting killing. I’m suggesting reminding people that we all face death. So many people are deluded about that - some are so deluded that they even think they can beat aging!

Mortality. Meaning. These are the topics which wake people up.

And once mortality has sunk in - the truth. The rational reasons for staking one’s bet on the Catholic Church. There is no religion which has a better bunch of logical answers than the Catholic Church.

Anyone who really, really, really wants to avoid Hell (which is pretty much everyone who comes to acknowledge it as a possibility) will want to hear convincing answers since so many groups claim to have the answer. We have the answers. We need to learn them and present them when the time is right.
 
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