How to address "hard questions" from parents about religion?

[Elena321]

I visited my parents tonight and my dad (I’m an adult) said that while he is a Catholic by birth/culture/baptism he,even now at 70 something years old doesn’t know which religion (if any) is right and that they all seem to have some “baloney” in them and that things like the immaculate conception don’t sound realistic/make rational sense and that maybe the story of Jesus and Christianity was made up by some men in some point in history etc…

How would I give a well reasoned response to this?
I,personally also struggle with belief and somedays believe but other times wonder if the concept of God,Jesus,Catholicism etc is just a concept made by our minds and that this understanding of the concept of God or Holy Spirit etc would be “wiped out” if our brain got severe Dementia and our perceptions were wiped out/severely affected.
IOW,is God only real if we can perceive Him/form a concept about him?

I hope that makes sense!

Elena

 

[venite_adoremus]

You pose several excellent questions which cut straight to the heart of adult belief in the message of the Gospel.

First of all, if the good news of salvation was a doctrine/practice created by men, it would have lasted a very short time and extinguished itself. The endurance of the basic Christian message, that sins can be forgiven, loving God and your enemies has merit, and death can be conquered (concepts that fly in the face of the “wisdom” of the world), is prima facie evidence of Something guiding it. Left to human devices, the Church would have failed the first day. Guided by the Holy Spirit, it has endured, and thrived, to the tune of two billion living members.

Your father has doubts. His doubts have been reinforced by life experience. Consider what he’s endured. Wars, economic tough times, race relations issues, the disintegration of values in the face of modern culture. Possibly gains and losses of employment, false promises, personal betrayals. If there is a glimmer of hope in his life, you are it. You are his offspring, his proudest product, the result of his love for your mother. Start here. Let him know how thankful you are for the gift of life.

You have doubts. The first step to resolving them is defining the problem. On what specific issues is your faith weak? Is it a problem with belief in a system, belief in people, disbelief on issues? Forum members, chime in here, and I’ll check back from time to time too. Let not your heart be troubled. In God’s house there are many mansions. You’ll find where your room is.

 

[venite_adoremus]

By the way, look up “existentialism” in your on-line dictionary and see if it sounds familiar.

 

[heidi_storage]

When my mother (I think baptized, but never anything else) asks me questions, I try to tell the truth as simply and kindly as possible. I know this is a vague answer to your question, but although there are many excellent resources and reasons for belief in Christianity, it is rarely such reasons that people are seeking when they ask hard questions. God is objectively real, whether you believe in Him or not, and believing in Him and in Christianity leads to a coherent, defensible worldview.

It sounds like you wish to address questions and doubts within yourself. By all means, do so! Standing firm in your convictions will present a powerful testimony to your father, and such convictions are best developed through exploring your faith, backed by Scripture, prayer, and the help of other Christians. Perhaps a meeting with your priest would be helpful, and certainly delving into the Bible and praying to God will be useful to you. Good luck! I pray for the conversion of your father and my mother, alike.

 

[Elena321]

By the way, look up “existentialism” in your on-line dictionary and see if it sounds familiar.

I looked it up and I think it does to a degree.
Sometimes I think culture plays a lot into it too,like perhaps if I was born a Muslim I’d still believe according to the Islamic religion,or if born a Buddhist same thing etc…?

 

[Viki63]

Sometimes I think culture plays a lot into it too,like perhaps if I was born a Muslim I’d still believe according to the Islamic religion,or if born a Buddhist same thing etc…?

Perhaps so, but that wouldn’t mean either was true.

Christianity has lasted two thousand years because so many have found it to be true over the centuries.
The disciples, who first spread the news about Jesus dying for our sins and rising from the dead, all went on to become martyrs for their beliefs. Why would they have died excruciating deaths for a fable they had made up? That’s one very strong reason that convinces me.

There are ongoing miracles, if those are helpful, that have convinced many atheists of God’s existence. The miracle of Lanciano, the tunic with the Virgin of Guadalupe on it, the shroud of Turin, the incorruptibles, the miracles at Lourdes.

I’d encourage you to read the gospels again, to get the picture of what Jesus is trying to convey.

God bless.