How to talk to a Catholic friend who

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Hi all! I have a particular question! I was discussing (which turned into arguing) with a devout Catholic friend of mine (whom I attend daily Mass with) about Adam and Eve, and Lutheranism. Originally, we were talking about Adam and Eve, to which he said that they weren’t real people, but a figurative story. I was confused as to whether he supported a monogenism over polygenism (to which he wasn’t familiar with the terms). I am still confused about his stance regarding this. Eventually, this argument led to Lutheranism where he mentioned that they were “close to Catholicism” and that Lutheranism was “close enough” to save. I was quick to reply that there was no salvation outside the Catholic Church to which he ardently rejected (I don’t think he entirely understands the “No Salvation Outside the Catholic Church” Dogma, but I didn’t have ample time to reply to him). Later, we were talking and he said that he is okay if some of his beliefs aren’t in line with Catholic teaching. In the past, he has acknowledged that he believes the Church cannot define indulgences. Since I care about this friend, I do try to inform him of Church teaching. Now, he no longer wants to talk theology since it usually turns into me “lecturing” about Church teaching on these matters. I wanted to know what should I do in a situation where a Catholic supports positions that are openly against what the Church teaches, or am I grossly in the error for attempting to inform him of Church teaching?

Thanks all! God bless!
 
We aren’t called to believe that much of the OT is literal. The players were real…but did it happen exactly like that? ehhhhh.

The rest of it? I’ll let others tackle it.
 
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“Mountie said:
I’ve come across this situation any number of times in my life. My only advice is to speak your truth quietly and clearly, with charity and respect. Don’t force your ideas, even to the point of refusing to refute what you perceive to be errors. You are only responsible to God for yourself in the end, leave the judgment of your friend’s position to God. After all, the tired old adage is germane here; ‘you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’

You are not responsible for his/her salvation. Be a good example and maybe that will be the spark to your friend’s resolution of his/her error.

The church does state that Adam and Eve were reality, even if the Genesis story seems a bit allegorical.
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If your friend doesn’t believe that Adam and Eve existed, your friend is in disagreement with Catholic teaching. Of course, Lutheran’s can be saved, but it’s only through the Church, whether they know it or not.
 
No, you’re doing the right thing. You should make every attempt to correct someone when they’re wrong.

If he doesn’t want to talk about theology with you anymore, I might recommend asking your pastor to take some time with him and address his issues. If he could somehow slip something into a homily, that would also be great.
 
It is the tradition of the holy church that our original parents were Adam and Eve. It is only in modern thought that the Biblical record is not literal.

1 Corinthians 15
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

Douay-Rheims 1899
 
Try not to slot these people into some group belief or ism. Simply just deal with what is or isn’t doctrine. They really don’t know what they are either. Even some established protestant churches have congregations that hold to differing doctrines of their own beliefs, and apparently that is even allowed. It also has us expending energy for nothing, like rearranging file cabinets.

But more to your post, I once had a priest say the best way for him was to ask them questions. Try to frame a question that can only contradict something else he says. Once when he won the argument, someone tried to accuse him of trickery. He simply said no, he came to the conclusion himself. (when the glaring truth is presented, this is very hard for them to take apparently). But you will notice that this charism is a skill that requires a good grounding of doctrine and tact.
 
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I think if the person has told you they don’t want to discuss it any more, and you’ve made your basic points, you need to drop it. If you think it’s really important that this person’s beliefs get corrected, ask a priest to step in.

From a practical standpoint, unless this person is instructing others wrongly in the Faith or is attending/ thinking of attending a Lutheran church because it’s “close enough”, his beliefs, even if wrong, are probably not impacting his daily life or behavior from a “sin” perspective, so this isn’t some dire emergency.
 
I think you mean well but you would be doing more harm than good lecturing him when he has asked you not to.
 
I agree. I would drop it for now and lay low on the lecturing. Pray of course for him and perhaps after some time passes he will address theology again Then you can plant seeds with your answers.
 
The important lesson here is that GOD created man and woman to bring His love about in this world.
The mechanics matter little to those who believe that God creates and loves.
 
Do some googling, look at your own parish bulletin, nearby parishes, the Diocese website, find an interesting study or group (or even find a parish with/buy a subscription to “FORMED”)…

“Hey, friend. There is this Symbalon study or this Lectio study or this Forgiven study going on at blah blah. Let’s check it out together!”
 
Hi all! Thanks for all of the advice! Much appreciated!

I have some more news to add.

So today, I went to Confession and brought up this argument. In the confessional, the priest told me that Adam and Eve were not real people and that believing if they were real or not doesn’t matter. It’s about the overarching theme. When I heard this, I was a little stunned because I always thought and was told that it was Church teaching that they were real. I had my doubts about what he said, but was open to his priestly advice. I was going to confess not entirely believing what he said (even though I tried to remain open to me being wrong), but out of fear, I didn’t confess it (I tend to be scrupulous and didn’t think it would be mortal). I don’t think refusing to confess that would make my confession invalid (if it did, please let me know!), but was the priest correct in saying this? Your answers (and my long-held beliefs) indicated otherwise. Thanks all!
 
Well, we have St. Adam and Eve, but whether or not things played out exactly as the Bible tells…who knows.

They are our first parents. But he’s right. While the fall of Adam and Eve begins the story of salvation, believing or not is such a minuscule part of our salvation that it’s not a hill to die on.

Good source on the Bible and it’s literal and figurative parts:

http://ewtn.com/library/CURIA/PBCINTER.HTM
 
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