How to respond?

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debkas

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Hello - this is my first time posting to this website. I came across this site and decided to post because I feel as if I am being bombarded by anti-Catholics. Both my husband and I were raised Catholic and of course, we’ve decided to raise our two children (ages 1 and 5) as Catholics. I have a friend, several co-workers and even an aunt who are trying to “save” me and my children by “teaching” me the Fundamentalist views. I feel a bit confused by their messages and wish I had a good, solid response for them. I have absolutely no plans on converting, but I do wish I knew what to say in response to these “conversations.” My aunt has even gone so far as to tell my grandmother, a devotated Catholic, that she’s going to hell (naturally, this was VERY upsetting for my grandmother and my whole family). How does one respond to this?
 
Hi and welcome

A good set of books to get hold of a Beginning Apologetics catholicapologetics.com/booklets.htm They are easy to read.

There is also the Catholic Answers library catholic.com/library.asp

You can listen to the Fundamentals of Catholicism trueteaching.net/ and take notes

And not to forget Catholicism & Fundamentalism by Karl Keating.

That’s a start for you. You really need to ‘arm’ yourself to be able to respond to their remarks. Another book I recommend is The Catholic Verses by convert Dave Armstrong. Dave can be found at socrates58.blogspot.com/

All the best
 
Welcome!

Several years ago, I was in the same position as you and today I am a stronger Catholic because of it!

First, do everything possible to learn your Catholic Faith. Buy a copy of the Cathechism and use it to learn what the Church really teaches. Sign up for a Bible Study or classes related to our beliefs.

Next, read *Catholicism and Fundamentalism * by Karl Keating. I found it invaluable years before I heard of these forums.

It is important to seek out strong, faithful Catholic friends. Surround yourself with people who love the Fullness of Truth which exists in the Catholic Church.

Most importantly, pray. God will lead you to the information you need and give you the right words when you need them.
 
Elizabeth B.:
Several years ago, I was in the same position as you and today I am a stronger Catholic because of it!

First, do everything possible to learn your Catholic Faith. Buy a copy of the Cathechism and use it to learn what the Church really teaches. Sign up for a Bible Study or classes related to our beliefs.

Next, read *Catholicism and Fundamentalism *by Karl Keating. I found it invaluable years before I heard of these forums.

It is important to seek out strong, faithful Catholic friends. Surround yourself with people who love the Fullness of Truth which exists in the Catholic Church.

Most importantly, pray. God will lead you to the information you need and give you the right words when you need them.
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W E L C 👋 M E to the forum.

ME too. I converted from a Evangelical family. Reunions are SOOOO much fun.

A book which helped me defend was Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David Currie.

To answer the question, “Are you Born Again?”
Simply respond, “I don’t need to be, I’m Catholic, we got it right the first time.”😃
 
While you are learning more about your Catholic faith tell your Fundamentalist relations that you are not going to talk about religion with them if they are going to attack your faith. You don’t have to put up with that kind of thing nor answer their accusations. Tell them that when they are willing to listen to what the Church actually teaches you will be happy to talk to them about it, but you are not going to field their attacks nor answer their skewed assumptions about what the Church teaches or what it is. In other words, put the shoe on the other foot for a change. Believe me, that will shut them up! 😉
 
Several years ago, I was in the same position as you and today I am a stronger Catholic because of it!
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I want to echo this, I would not be where I am today in my knowledge of the Catholic faith if I wouldnt have been challenge by my own anti-catholic antagonist. In a way, these people are actually doing you a favor, look its got you here now, wanting to dig further into your faith. I would thank them when it is all done, that they have made you a better Catholic than you could have ever hoped to be without their motivation to learn.

God Bless
 
I attended a fundamentalist Church for about 2 years. At first everything sounds good - sensationalism is at its best! I mean really, who can argue with things that sound good??? So they had me on the ropes, at least a little…

Catholic or/and Protestant, I decided to put every doctrine and accusation on trial. I am the Jury I said to myself, to be fair not only must I listen to the Prosecution but also the Defense, then make my call. Everything must be either guilty or innocent of being a true doctrine or not! Do a thorough research and study before forming a verdict.

Put the “Mary was not a virgin doctrine” on trial. Listen to all evidence for this claim, and all evidence against this claim. But always listen to both sides before forming an opinion. Be carefull who you get your information from. Going to the Nazi’s to get an account of Jewish history is not a wise thing, know what I mean? Always no your sources.

By the way, Mary was sinless. Do the research.

I will pray for you Debkas

God bless
 
You need to change the rules of the debate. Right now they keep putting you on the defensive even though their theology is the theology in error, not yours. Now if you told them, for example, that you have no interest in exchanging truth for heresy, that would change the rules of the debate real quick.
 
Just hang out here! After you see the Peter the Rock? thread for the 6.023x10 to the 23rd power number of times, you will quickly see that the anti-Catholic polemic in addition to being flat wrong, is quite tedious.

Scott
 
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debkas:
My aunt has even gone so far as to tell my grandmother, a devotated Catholic, that she’s going to hell
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Nobody knows who is going to hell or who went to hell. That is known by God alone. If you aunt “knows” that your grandmother is going to hell, your aunt better remove the block from her own eye before trying to remove the speck from someone else’s eye.
 
If someone asks you if you’re born again, then answer them this:

“Christian” and “born again” as used/written in Bible could be found in the following verses:

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
-John 3:3

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
-John 3:7

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
-I Peter 1:23

“And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called **Christians **first in Antioch.”
-The Acts 11:26

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let-him glorify God on this behalf.
-I Peter 4:16

From the above verses, we could see that “Christian” is name (noun) and it is an offshoot of the name of “Christ” meaning a “follower of Christ.” The word “born again” however is not a name but a process in which one must undergo to become a disciple or “follower of Christ” or a “Christian.” So the term “Born again Christian” is a misnomer because you can not be a “Christian” without first being “born again.”

Jesus said that no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again. Similarly the adherents of the kingdom of which Christ is king are called Christians. So a man who is born again is also a Christian.

So, in short, the answer is yes, you’re born again, since you were baptized in Christ, and was born anew in Him through baptism.
 
I really recommend some of Patrick Madrid,Scott Hahn, and Tim Staples apologetics debates on CD as well as these guys apologetics books and apologetics stuff (CD’s and Tapes) in general. These guys are awesome at responding to all the classical objections that you’re talking about and facing. Have fun and study hard!!! 👍
 
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debkas:
Hello - this is my first time posting to this website. I came across this site and decided to post because I feel as if I am being bombarded by anti-Catholics. Both my husband and I were raised Catholic and of course, we’ve decided to raise our two children (ages 1 and 5) as Catholics. I have a friend, several co-workers and even an aunt who are trying to “save” me and my children by “teaching” me the Fundamentalist views. I feel a bit confused by their messages and wish I had a good, solid response for them. I have absolutely no plans on converting, but I do wish I knew what to say in response to these “conversations.” My aunt has even gone so far as to tell my grandmother, a devotated Catholic, that she’s going to hell (naturally, this was VERY upsetting for my grandmother and my whole family). How does one respond to this?
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If you have any specific questions just ask and we will answer them.
 
Welcome! Take some time and browse around and you will see many of us have had similiar experiences. There is some great advice and knowledge to be found here…God Bless you as you grow in your faith!
 
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