I'm going to debate a Protestant and I need some good "stumpers."

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I’m going to debate a Protestant and I need some good “stumper” questions.

I saw a list of “stumpers” on catholic.com for Mormons and JWs, but no counterpart list for more conventional sola scriptura/sola fide-type evangelicals.

Of course, I don’t plan to embarass my opponent, but I’d really like to ask him some tough questions that he may not have ever heard…and hopefully won’t be able to answer from his Protestant perspective.

Please post your “stumpers” for Protestants!
 
Check out Steven Ray’s website…he has a litany of excellent questions.

Remember that the truth is for embracing and edification not bullets to leave embarassment and bitterness in its wake.

Pray for the person you’re talking to that the truth ring in their hearts…it will also help you to be more charitable. I’ve had my share of pummeling someone over the head with truth and that’s just wrong.

Thanks and God bless your apostolate.

in XT.
 
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lepanto:
I’m going to debate a Protestant and I need some good “stumper” questions.

I saw a list of “stumpers” on catholic.com for Mormons and JWs, but no counterpart list for more conventional sola scriptura/sola fide-type evangelicals.

Of course, I don’t plan to embarass my opponent, but I’d really like to ask him some tough questions that he may not have ever heard…and hopefully won’t be able to answer from his Protestant perspective.

Please post your “stumpers” for Protestants!
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Prove the Trinity Doctrine … ALL of it

the Father is 100% God
the Son is 100% God
the Holy Spirit is 100% God
All are co-equal
All are co-powerful
All are co-existing
All are omniescient (IOWs exist inifitously and outside of time and space)
That All live in All time and space

Prove that without using Tradition of the ECFs

Next Prove that Sola Scriptura is not a man made Tradition in itself …

They will often use this Scripture first as their defense
2Ti 3:15 And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures which can instruct thee to salvation by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice:

No one denies that it is PROFITABLE, but this verse does not say that it is the only way as then if this were true then this Scripture would be in direct opposition to it

2Th 2:15 (2:14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.

This is directly telling us to hold fast to our Traditions … oops
 
It would be really hard to give you unanswerable “stumpers” if we don’t know this man’s educational background or what Protestant denomination he belongs to. I’m not trying to avoid giving you actual stumpers, but pretty much every Catholic question to a Protestant has an answer just as every Protestant question to a Catholic has an answer. That is, there are no true stumpers against either.

If you were going for the classics, then certain passages about the primacy of Peter, Sola Scriptura, the teachings of Jesus about unity, and “where’s your authority” questions would be what you are probably looking for.

Like I said, depending on this man’s scriptural background, he very well could have pretty well thought out answers to any question you ask him.

One tactic I have found particularly useful are the early church fathers. I believe St. Cyprian’s writing on the meaning of “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” where he describes how Jesus was emphasizing Unity is one very good example. Many of the early fathers had views very similar to Catholicism.

Good luck
 
Well, an honest question would be this.

Most claim that the Catholic Church is wrong, so I ask this.

You go by the Bible alone, right?

They say yes.

If you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit will guide you to the truth, right?

They say yes.

The Holy Spirit guides in ALL truth, right?

They say yes.

So, tell me, why is there 30000+ Protestant denominations who all claim to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and ALL claim to use the Bible ALONE?

They will probably say something along the lines of “Well, they are incorrect.” or “They agree on the essentials”.

The Holy Spirit can not give different interpretations, since he guides in ALL truth. A whole lot of truth with even a little bit of error is no longer truth.

So, in reality, I am wrong because I don’t agree with your PERSONAL interpretation of Scripture. In fact, the Holy Spirit must of appointed you as the only correct Scriptural interpretor. Where is your name in the Bible? In fact, Jesus prayed for unity that his believers would be one, just as he and the Father are one. That would mean…they agree on ALL doctrine.

The “essentials” and “non-essentials” are no where to be found in the Bible. In fact, all doctrine is essential.

So, I do not believe in Faith Alone, or whatever else, and you cannot say I am wrong because that is MY interpretation. As long as the Bible does not list “essentials”, you cannot condem me for not agreeing, no matter what the doctrine is.

The point I am trying to make here is, that is the fatal flaw of Sola Scriptura. You can pretty much believe whatever you want, and no one can say you are wrong because you are using the Bible alone. Just like the other 30000 people who disagree on almost everything, but are all using the Bible alone.

Then go on to explain the authority of the Church. You can disagree on everything all day long, but what it ALWAYS comes down to is authority. As long as the preacher is his own authority, you can never prove him wrong. History, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit are on our side. Never forget that. Nothing in Scripture disagrees with Catholic doctrine.

Of course, you can always go with the classic line “Where did we get the Bible?”

Just my two cents.

Adam
 
If you don’t know the ‘stumpers’ BEFORE you agree to debate then I would say you lost the dabate when you agreed to it.:eek:
 
Another good one to ask is where the Bible says what belongs in it–after all, if the Bible is the only thing we are to use, we’d expect that it’d have a divinely-inspired table of contents to instruct us.

Bottom line on sola scriptura is that it doesn’t make sense (yay the Chewbacca defense). The Bible is not set up as a sort of religious handbook or catechism. The Bible is a collection of rather diverse works, each with their own purpose.

-ACEGC
 
Is there anyone that actually knows someone who entered into a debate with an evangelical or fundamentalist (who was not seeking) who actually became convinced of their error after one of these hash-it-out type of debates?

I have been doing this for about 6 years now, and have won most of the debates, IMO, and still haven’t converted anyone by debating them with prooftexts.

People’s hearts need to be changed by an experience. There are very few people who will be converted strictly by academically showing them where their theology is wrong.
Being in RCIA for a couple of years now, no one entered into the program because they were convicted by doctrinal head stuff. It was always a change of the heart first.

Just my humble experience here.
 
Birth Control is my ultimate stumper, use it only at the end to avoid an explosion.

Protestant pastors and our priest regretably are teaching young couples birth control. Ours at least do it against church teaching that our couples still have access to.

My experience is birth control takes life out of marriage effectively destroying it. If you take God out of the bedroom you take them the trinity out of your life.

If the Popes are right then we are the true church. It is just now coming out that scientists are proving dangerous unknown side effects to humans and enviroment from birth control pills.

Case closed bible, church, science and personal conscience informed all in agreement. One church in truth. The Catholic Church.

Brother John
 
Some suggestions. First of all pray about it, and pray a lot so that you can ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Why not ask Him, what you should say.

Do your research. But not only just about the subject but what the person involved actaully believes. For exampe of he believes in free will, point out that free will was a big part of the debate. Does he believe in the rapture, mention that the rapture isn’t clear in Scripture either (if he’s attacking your idea on purgatory).

But honestly pray, and listen to what the guy actually has to say, so you can respond correctly.

I find that something that works well is talking about how people interpert the Bible. How we interpert the Bible is really the real issue. So, I would point out that no where in Scripture does it say in a dispute each person turn to Scripture and see what it says. It doesn’t say that, we are to rely on our own opinions of Scripture, in fact we are told not to lean on our own understanding. Honestly Protestantism involves “quite a bit” of the individual leaning on their own understandings.

Its the issue of interpertation which led me into the Catholic Church. Catholicism I think has the Biblical “hermneutic.”
 
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MysticRose:
Prove the Trinity Doctrine … ALL of it

the Father is 100% God
the Son is 100% God
the Holy Spirit is 100% God
All are co-equal
All are co-powerful
All are co-existing
All are omniescient (IOWs exist inifitously and outside of time and space)
That All live in All time and space

Prove that without using Tradition of the ECFs
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Some protestants will quote a verse from the King James Version which says, The father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This however is a gloss (a late alteration made to the manuscript the KJV was translated from.) It does not appear in the older Greek Texts or modern translations.

Other good questions.

How do you know what books are in the Bible Hew testament?

How do you know the Bible contains the true writings of the Apostles?

If God established a Church that He said He would remain with until the end of the Age, that meant it would teach the truth continually for all ages. How can protestantism be this church when protestant teachings have not been taught continually through all ages since Pentecost? Only Catholic teachings have.
 
Hello Lepanto,

Ask them, “What must I do to share in everlasting life?”

After they give the wrong answer, ask them, “No, what is the perfect answer to the question? What was Jesus answer?”

Evangelical Protestants really hate Jesus’ answer to this question and they will refute it as not true and impossible to accomplish. To obey God is love for God and God does not ask that we love Him perfectly but only with all our heart with all our soul, with all our strength and with all our mind. One does not have to love God through obedience perfectly but Jesus tells us to love God with all our strength through obedience, to go to heaven through Him.

Please visit Jesus, What Must I Do To Share In Everlasting Life?
for more supporting scriptures and concepts.

NAB MAT 19:16

“Teacher, what good must I do to possess everlasting life?” He answered, “Why do you question me about what is good? There is One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." “Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied “You shall not kill”; ‘You shall not commit adultery’; ‘You shall not steal’; ‘You shall not bear false witness’; ‘Honor your father and mother’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
NIV 1JO 5:3

This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.NIV JOH 14:15

"If you love me, you will obey what I command."
NAB LUK 10:25

"Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?" Jesus answered him: "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He replied:

**"You shall love the Lord your God **
**with all your heart, **
**with all your soul, **
**with all your strength, **
**and with all your mind; **
and your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you shall live.”
 
Cancel the debate…

If it were truly a “debate”… then the topic would already be known, and you would either be supporting or denying the premise.

It sounds like you are headed for a " …my stumper is tougher than your stumper…" night. After all, the protestant will get to ask questions too, won’t he/she?? Are you prepared to answer with the simple approach of what the Catholic Church really teaches, and how it is a reasonable teaching. That is ALL you can do. God does all the rest in His time.
 
Another thought:

Reading Matthew 25 31-46 should also stump most Protestants.

.
 
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Dan-Man916:
Is there anyone that actually knows someone who entered into a debate with an evangelical or fundamentalist (who was not seeking) who actually became convinced of their error after one of these hash-it-out type of debates?

I have been doing this for about 6 years now, and have won most of the debates, IMO, and still haven’t converted anyone by debating them with prooftexts.

People’s hearts need to be changed by an experience. There are very few people who will be converted strictly by academically showing them where their theology is wrong.
Being in RCIA for a couple of years now, no one entered into the program because they were convicted by doctrinal head stuff. It was always a change of the heart first.

Just my humble experience here.
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Actually, my conversion has happened through studying theology privately; not by debate, granted, but through studying the doctrines of all the Reformers (I am a former Evangelical, Baptist, Pentecostal mixbreed!) I knew someone out there must have stumbled upon the TRUTH at some point in time, if I could only locate them. And then not being satisfied with what I found with the Reformers and all their confusion even battling each other, I kept going back, and back, and then back some more, and behold, there was what appeared to be the Catholic Church, right there in the beginning of it all! Imagine my surprise! So then, after alot of prayers and alot of tears and then more prayers, I am currently in RCIA to be confirmed at the Easter vigil.

So what I’m saying is, although probably rare, sometimes the Holy Spirit can prick someone’s heart like a burning arrow, when least expected, maybe through one doctrinal comment that gets right through the crack in the wall. My experience is, if a person is really looking for TRUTH above all else, not just zealous for it’s own sake, the Holy Spirit will lead him/her home. If TRUTH is not really the issue, remember the verse about not casting your pearls before swine, it’s a waste of a precious possession!

I say pray and let the Holy Spirit be in charge of the rest! (That’s what he does best, after all!)

God Bless,
Jeanette
 
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Axion:
Some protestants will quote a verse from the King James Version which says, The father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This however is a gloss (a late alteration made to the manuscript the KJV was translated from.) It does not appear in the older Greek Texts or modern translations.
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Are you referring to this Scripture

**1Jo 5:7 And there are Three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. **
1Jo 5:8 And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit and the water and the blood. And these three are one.
1Jo 5:9 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son.
1Jo 5:10 He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son.
1Jo 5:11 And this is the testimony that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in his Son.
1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son hath not life.
1Jo 5:13 These things I write to you that you may know that you have eternal life: you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have towards him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us.
1Jo 5:15 And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of him.
1Jo 5:16 He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask: and life shall be given to him who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death. For that I say not that any man ask.
1Jo 5:17 All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death.

This wouldn’t happen to be the Scripture you are talking about would it?

Well yes it does say they are one but it says they are one in TESTIMONY …

How does this prove that all three are One Being tht is the part of the Doctrine I forgot to put in actually?
How does this prove many of the other aspects of the Trinity as well like that they are co-equla and all-powerful, ect ect … If one reads the Scripture in context do you see where it does that? I don’t … I said to Prove the Trinity using Scripture ONLY without extrenuating, that would mean NO use of logic and therefore no Tradition … They cannot do this
 
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lepanto:
…“stumpers” …for more conventional sola scriptura/sola fide-type evangelicals.
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Taken from a John Martignoni presentation (offered for free on biblechristiansociety.com):
  • If faith alone saves, then we don’t need to love anyone do we?
  • If you have faith without works, can your faith save you?
  • If having faith is the sole criteria worthy of salvation, why does every NT judgement verse refer to being judged by works?
  • What is the pillar and bullwark of truth for christians?
  • When Jesus says “Labor for the food that leads to eternal life.” (John 6:27), does he mean we should actually do something?
  • Jesus Christ paid the price for all man’s sins - yet not all men are saved. What’s the difference between those redeemed, and those who are redeemed and saved? Is this something Jesus did or something the individual did?
Again, these are taken from one of his CD’s. I believe he posed a few other questions for protestants .
 
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jim1130:
I side with Malachi4U on this matter, but if you pursue it then try this site:

scripturecatholic.com/my_top_ten.html

Good luck.
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Gods peace be with you theophilus Iepanto,

While I was reading this post, which refered to my somewhat sarcastic and negative post - though very true;) , the Holy Spirit spoke to me from His temple - my body. He said to wish you

***GOOD LUCK!👍 ***
From a prisoner of Christ,

JMJ

PS, just let the Holy Spirit do the talking from within you. You’ll do fine!
  1. You ask the questions! Take charge of the questions from the start.
  2. If he asks you a question you don’t know the answer to just answer his question with a question.
  3. Never let him get away without stating a source and proving it.
  4. Allways read at a minimum the section before, including and after the verse he quotes as proof. This gives you time to think, to see if his proof is out of context, to prepare a response.
  5. When stumped, just say “I’ll get back to you on that one”.
  6. Don’t let him use the Bible till he proves his version the one sent from God and preserved and correct. The source of Scripture is itself the subject for an entire series of debates. Protestants have NO leg to stand on when justifying the Bible they use except to say it comes from the Catholic Church.
PS, What sect/denomination is he/she from? This will help on stumps to bring up.
 
Ask him if his Church fulfills the prohecy of Malachi 1:11.
This is the prohecy of a pure offering to God, from the Sun’s rising to its setting. We say and do this at each Mass.

If you think about it, every split second in time there is a Mass going on somewhere in the world.

It makes the phrase “Eternity here on earth” and “heaven meets earth”, phrases often used to describe the Mass.

Some would say that God’s hand of justice in destroying the world for its sins is held back by the offering of the Mass.
 
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