My thought....

[cuore]

Last year, a neighbor approached me, asking me what school my daughter attended when she was in Kindergarten. I found myself thinking back to her first day of school and the lovely Kindergarten teacher she had. When I mentioned that it was a Catholic school, he smiled and said, “Well, I’m not Catholic. In fact, I’m an atheist… anti-religious. I’m anti-Catholic, really.”
The strange thing about the conversation was, I had seen him at Church with his wife and son, so I was thrown off by the last remark. At any rate, I stood there smiling and said, “Well, what are you worried about, that he might become a priest?” He laughed a little, but answered, “No, just that I think he should form his own opinions as he grows up and not be told what to believe.” I paused for a moment, thinking to myself, “Now, listen, are you a Catholic because you are told to be one, or are you a Catholic because you choose to be one?” After a minute or two, I replied, “There are no options if you remove the options, right?”
How do you all help the non-believer to see that believing in something CAN be a choice?
I kind of get the feeling they think that religion equals, what, stupidity?

 

[bisco]

those were great replies, i wish i were as quick on my feet! the only thing i can tell people is, it took me 60 years, and 20 years of bible study and prayer, to choose to become catholic. thanks be to God.

 

[cuore]

those were great replies, i wish i were as quick on my feet! the only thing i can tell people is, it took me 60 years, and 20 years of bible study and prayer, to choose to become catholic. thanks be to God.

Aww, thanks! See, that’s what I’m talking about, Bisco. It took you 60 years, Bible study and prayer to choose and stay a Catholic, which I’m not sure my neighbor ever thought of.
I should of said to him, “Come back when you have spent some time in it, then let me know how you feel about it.” At the very least, he did the leg work, you know? lol
Yes, thanks be to God!

 

[OneSmallFlower]

Just because you grow up Catholic doesn’t mean Catholicism was forced on you. It also doesn’t mean that Catholicism is bad. You’re an American, but is anyone “forcing” you to be a patriot? No, of course not. Your parents probably raised you to be a patriot, to take off your hat during the anthem or salute the flag, but that doesn’t mean that being a patriot is something you’re “forced” to do, nor does it mean that patriotism is a bad thing.

Moreover, the argument of “just let your kids decide on their own” is silly. We teach our kids objective truth all the time. What about science? I’m pretty sure this guy would balk at the idea of not teaching your kid science, in order that they may have the “freedom” to choose between believing in geology or the fundamentalist notion that the earth is only 6000 years old. If you asked this guy whether kids should be taught about the theory of evolution or the Big Bang Theory, he’d say of course. Why? Because educating our children in the truth is part of a parent’s job. If we teach our kids about science (which is a strictly temporal subject- when we die, science no longer matters to us), why wouldn’t we teach them about that which is most important- i.e., God?

Finally, children when they come of age DO get to decide whether to embrace the Faith or not- at Confirmation. When you accept your Christian mission as an adult, that’s when you’re making that decision “for yourself,” based on the knowledge you’ve learned from your parents, your education, and your own personal experiences.

As a note, however, I wouldn’t actually recommend saying such things directly to his face, or at least, not in the tone I’ve used here. This is pretty blunt logic; remember that a spoonful of sugar helps medicine go down (pardon the cliché), and most people usually respond better to gentleness and understanding than hard truths.

(Sorry if any of you guys are anti-evolutionists or believe in a strict interpretation of Genesis. As adults, that’s your own choice to make. But personally I’d want my kids to learn about the major plausible theories of our day.). God bless you all!

 

[ClearWater]

Last year, a neighbor approached me, asking me what school my daughter attended when she was in Kindergarten. I found myself thinking back to her first day of school and the lovely Kindergarten teacher she had. When I mentioned that it was a Catholic school, he smiled and said, “Well, I’m not Catholic. In fact, I’m an atheist… anti-religious. I’m anti-Catholic, really.”
The strange thing about the conversation was, I had seen him at Church with his wife and son, so I was thrown off by the last remark. At any rate, I stood there smiling and said, “Well, what are you worried about, that he might become a priest?” He laughed a little, but answered, “No, just that I think he should form his own opinions as he grows up and not be told what to believe.” I paused for a moment, thinking to myself, “Now, listen, are you a Catholic because you are told to be one, or are you a Catholic because you choose to be one?” After a minute or two, I replied, “There are no options if you remove the options, right?”
How do you all help the non-believer to see that believing in something CAN be a choice?

I kind of get the feeling they think that religion equals, what, stupidity?

Well, there are arguments. That’s what apologetics is all about, but it’s been my experience that it’s really hard to change people, especially when they already have made up their minds.

 

[cuore]

Just because you grow up Catholic doesn’t mean Catholicism was forced on you. It also doesn’t mean that Catholicism is bad. You’re an American, but is anyone “forcing” you to be a patriot? No, of course not. Your parents probably raised you to be a patriot, to take off your hat during the anthem or salute the flag, but that doesn’t mean that being a patriot is something you’re “forced” to do, nor does it mean that patriotism is a bad thing.

Yes. Very true.

 

[pianistclare]

Told what to believe?
I guess he lets his child touch a hot stove, and THEN he’ll know that it burns?
Honestly. the stuff some people say without even thinking it thorough.
I also suppose the child couldn’t really attend any school eh? I’m pretty sure they still tell you what to believe about math, history, science…

I guess the in thing now is to just not parent at all.

 

[cuore]

Told what to believe?
I guess he lets his child touch a hot stove, and THEN he’ll know that it burns?
Honestly. the stuff some people say without even thinking it thorough.
I also suppose the child couldn’t really attend any school eh? I’m pretty sure they still tell you what to believe about math, history, science…

I guess the in thing now is to just not parent at all.

Here’s the silly thing about this whole story…The child was baptized in the Church I attend.
WOOHOO!!!