How's your apologetics skills?

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Which “topic” in apologetics are you best at debating/arguing/discussing?

Real presence, Mary, Purgatory, Priesthood, etc.
Which “topic” do you lack apologetics skills in?
 
I had not even heard the word “apologetics” until fairly recently.

I enjoy reading sites like these, to increase my own understanding of the faith. Things I never knew but should have learned as a child, or things to learn in more depth.

But this “apologetics” - defending and debating the faith? Is that something that comes up in real everyday life? I cannot think of a single occasion in my life, where it has.
 
Melman:
I had not even heard the word “apologetics” until fairly recently.

I enjoy reading sites like these, to increase my own understanding of the faith. Things I never knew but should have learned as a child, or things to learn in more depth.

But this “apologetics” - defending and debating the faith? Is that something that comes up in real everyday life? I cannot think of a single occasion in my life, where it has.
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I too had never heard the word apologetics until a few months ago. I actually had to look it up (along with many other theologically-related terms).

Apologetics may never come up in your daily life if you spend all of your time around like-minded people. It is when you get around people that disagree with you, that it comes in handy.

I was raised Fundamentalist, so I have a pretty good handle on defending what C.S. Lewis called “Mere Christianity”. My apologetic skills are still quite green regarding Catholicism. I need to learn more about the Church’s teachings before I will be as effective as I can be.
 
Melman:
I had not even heard the word “apologetics” until fairly recently.

I enjoy reading sites like these, to increase my own understanding of the faith. Things I never knew but should have learned as a child, or things to learn in more depth.

But this “apologetics” - defending and debating the faith? Is that something that comes up in real everyday life? I cannot think of a single occasion in my life, where it has.
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As a Catholic living on the buckle of the “Bible Belt” I can tell you that I am pretty good at defending all aspects of my Catholic Faith.

Mostly out of necessity and reaction to people swiping at the Church while not knowing they were in the presence of one of its members.
 
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GoodME:
As a Catholic living on the buckle of the “Bible Belt” I can tell you that I am pretty good at defending all aspects of my Catholic Faith.
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That’s good, but even living here in Arkansas, Assemblies of God Land, where Catholics are a mere 3% of the population (60,000 out of 2 million), I’ve never had to defend my faith to anyone in person.

I’ve debated on the Internet for several years, but I’ve never met any in-your-face Fundamentalists.
 
My apologetics skills are non-existant, but I’m always willing to learn.

I’m sure that once I stop being a closet Catholic and actually enter the Church, I’ll probably have chances to stand up for the faith.
 
i’m doing great… it’s those that disagree with me that are messed up… how can so many be so wrong… 😃
 
I always have lots to learn, and I don;t cosider myself the sharpest knife in the drawer. But I guess what I would feel most comfortable with is the authority of the Church and Her teachings. I guess I feel that way because I used to be a defender of sola scriptura for years but finally realized it did not add up. To make a long story short I realized someone had to have the authority to determine what is canon and not canon. I have done my homework as far as textual critism and ancient manuscripts, and I feel very comfortable discussing the transmission of the Bible, and why I believe it and the Churchs’ teachings.
 
space ghost:
i’m doing great… it’s those that disagree with me that are messed up… how can so many be so wrong… 😃
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The rest of us enjoy standing on our heads, walking with our hands and thinking that the sky is pink. 😃
 
The Catholic faith is soooo rich that whatever I know for my apologetics are just beans…

As far as my apologetic skills go… I’m still learning like a padawan or an apprentice. 😃
 
I LOVE apologetics 👍 I find defending the Real Presence and of course our Holy Mother to be the easiest to explain to friends and family.

What I find frustrating though (and confusing)…we as Catholic Christians have been around since Jesus founded his church on the Rock of Peter, pert near 2000 years…Why should WE have to defend ourselves, why are WE always on the defensive :confused:

In my simple mind, it would seem, that a system of belief that has been around a mear 500 years, and started by a “created” man, as opposed to the one true faith started by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, should be the ones on the defensive.

It would be nice though, if we could all come together under the name of Jesus Christ and learn to completely love each other, as He loves us. SUCH ARE WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF! :yup:
 
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Southernrich:
That’s good, but even living here in Arkansas, Assemblies of God Land, where Catholics are a mere 3% of the population (60,000 out of 2 million), I’ve never had to defend my faith to anyone in person.

I’ve debated on the Internet for several years, but I’ve never met any in-your-face Fundamentalists.
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There are different kinds of confrontations and “defenses.” My in-laws have all left the Church. We get along great, and the topic of religion is tiptoes around a lot. However, I try to find good ways to slide in a Catholic understanding of certain topics. Occasionally, we will engage in good discussion where it is vital that I have at least a basic understanding of why the Church teaches what it does.

It’s not “in your face,” and usually not all that argumentative. But it is apologetics.
 
Any skills I have are usually lost to lack of charity on my part. Im working on it! 🙂 Im trying to become a little less strident in my wording.

As apposed to most of the others that have responded, I am constantly having to defend the faith, whether its with an atheist, Protestant, or fellow Catholic. The knowledge that I have gained over the last few years in indispensable to me. Maybe I provoke people into these conversations, I dont know, but it comes up a lot.
 
Why should WE have to defend ourselves, why are WE always on the defensive
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I don’t know that “defending the faith” is necessarily “defensive” as the term is commonly used. I think it more as an explanation and understanding of the faith.

I can say that I often turn the questions around to those I am discussing topics with. “Why don’t you believe in transubstantiation when it says in John 6…” Of course, they have a defense, and then in order to argue my point I need to present a defense. So I think any good discussion is a give and take by both sides of offense and defense.

I basically refuse to spend my time with someone who just bombards me with questions, and then when I give a reasonable answer, they don’t defend their position on the subject but instead move to another topic. Uh uh. If you asked me that question, and I gave an answer, then you’d better tell me why you believe what you believe before we move on to the next topic. Fair’s fair.
 
space ghost:
i’m doing great… it’s those that disagree with me that are messed up… how can so many be so wrong… 😃
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Or, as my brother used to say, “There are two types of people: those who think they know everything, and those of us who actually do.” 😃

As for apologetics, I haven’t done anything I need to apologize for. :rotfl: .

John

(Sorry, I couldn’t resist the humor. My wife claims I torture me students; they have to laugh at my jokes to pass the class.)

jhs
 
I am more of an authoritarian. I try to establish the authority of the Church, Pope, etc. and from that the other doctrines logically follow.
 
I think I am pretty well rounded in apologetics understanding but do not feel I express myself as well as I would like. I love listening to Roslyn Moss on www.catholic.com because she is always very charitable to her callers. Head and shoulders above many others.

I also go to the EWTN audio library and listen to teachings while I surf the net. Because of this, I have gained the courage to lead several bible studies. WWW.ewtn.com.
 
I have a long way to go…and am truly humbled by the knowledge of some folks on the forum.

I have encountered many people, from relatives to complete strangers who, when discussing religion, seem to always back the Catholic faith. I hardly ever hear anything about other Protestant religions, nor even non-Christian ones!

My brother-in-law, an Evangelical minister, has provided me, unknowingly, with a true desire to understand my faith well, and be able to defend it! He’s very anti-Catholic, and many is the time, at past family gatherings, he’s made some horrible comments. While I was not prepared for them then, I think that, atleast, I’d be able to hold my own on some topics, now. I think he’s gotten a hint of that from some ‘discussions’ via e-mail. I don’t know how things would go face-to-face (I avoid confrontation when possible)…perhaps it would go badly, but atleast I’d be able to make some valid points now. I remember crying, in the past, over some of the statements he made, and my inability to address them well. It was sooo frustrating. I hated not being able to verbalize my thoughts. I wouldn’t be as afraid now. So, I guess that’s progress.

I love reading apologetic books (among my favorites is our very well known Karl Keating), listening to tapes/CDs, watching videos, watching “The Journey Home”…and basically anything I can get ahold of. It’s enriched my faith, so it’s been a real blessing to me. It’s also something I find fascinating.

I’d say that I’d feel most comfortable discussing the Eucharist. It seems the most easy to approach. Also, learning and mentioning some quotes from the Early Church Fathers is really something that gives substance to a disagreement, I think.

I’ll be happy with whatever progress I make, at whatever pace and to whatever degree. But I can tell you one thing…I’m very proud to be a Catholic!!!

Well, good luck to all of you ‘budding’ apologists out there! God bless you!
 
have encountered many people, from relatives to complete strangers who, when discussing religion, seem to always* back * the Catholic faith
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er, correction…that’s ‘bash’. I wish the opposite were true!~
 
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