Need help defending the faith

[AaronK88]

I’ve been posting at another forum for over a year now, called (Link removed as per CAF “board swarm” policy).

They have a religious area, where people with different world views can post. A lot of protestants post here, and I’ve recently been trying to debate with these people. However, some of them are so anti-Catholic and come up with stuff that is hard to defend against. I’ve become increasingly aggressive and rude as I see the same stupid posts posted over and over again. I know it is futile to try and debate people over an internet forum, but sometimes I can’t help it because of the ignorance I see.

How do you recommend I go about trying to rationalize with these people? Sometimes it seems like no matter how many times I repeat something, they still believe we worship idols, worship Mary, etc. I explain the differences, and even have one or two people helping me out, but they just ignore our claims. I think I need more help.

 

[By_His_Mercy]

I’ve been posting at another forum for over a year now, called (Link removed as per CAF “board swarm” policy)

They have a religious area, where people with different world views can post. A lot of protestants post here, and I’ve recently been trying to debate with these people. However, some of them are so anti-Catholic and come up with stuff that is hard to defend against. I’ve become increasingly aggressive and rude as I see the same stupid posts posted over and over again. I know it is futile to try and debate people over an internet forum, but sometimes I can’t help it because of the ignorance I see.

How do you recommend I go about trying to rationalize with these people? Sometimes it seems like no matter how many times I repeat something, they still believe we worship idols, worship Mary, etc. I explain the differences, and even have one or two people helping me out, but they just ignore our claims. I think I need more help.

I’ve been in that arena for years…on the protestant side (before I came back home last October). List some of the issues you need help on. I might be able to help…at least a little!!

God bless you,

 

[ForMary]

The important thing is to be firm in your faith. Invite others to learn more about Catholicism rather than attempting to be the sole defender of the faith. You don’t have to have all of the answers, what you have is faith.

…but…if you let us know some of the stickier topics you run across, perhaps we can offer some substance for you.

There was a man I worked with who used every opportunity to belittle the crucifix. I chose to ignore him, just smile and nod. He claimed to be a devout Christian. Finally, I asked him if he knew what real passion was. He said that he thought he did. So I asked him if he had any idea of the passion of God the Father who sent His son to be sacrificed and passion of the Son for the Father’s will. He said that of course he did. So I asked him, why would you remove; however grotesque YOU think it is, the sign of that passion? That pure and perfect LOVE and PASSION? He never made another remark about the crucifix. (BTW, I do not wear one outside of my clothing, nor do I have one in my office, but he knew I was Catholic…so…)

 

[Michael_Francis]

Hi AaronK88,

Your post has been edited due to the inclusion of a suggestion for other forum readers/members to visit someone else’s website for the purposes of apologetic debate.

We suggest that you will be better equipped to deal with the arguments against the Catholic faith if you perhaps posted the arguments that you face here (without naming names of course) and ask for help as to how to respond.

Also you may find helpful information by searching the Ask an Apologist forum for the topic you need and by looking over the articles in the Catholic Answers Library and using the search feature there.

In an effort to illuminate and explain the Catholic faith, CA makes every effort to provide our participants with a pleasant and informative place on the internet where Catholics and non-Catholics may gather.

It is our hope that respectful dialogue and discussion will lead to better faith understandings. And so in charity, we ask that our forums not be used for encouraging mass visits to other websites. In the past these kinds of efforts, although perhaps well intentioned, leave participants at other websites with negative impressions.

Your cooperation in helping promote these aims of faith exposition, hope for fruitful discussion and charity in implementation are sincerely appreciated.

Very sincerely,

 

[MarcoPolo]

If you feel called to respond, you will have to follow some recommendations. Here’s what I think:

• Do not respond to snotty comments. Only respond to actual substance. (e.g. ignore all fluff comments like “the Pope in his arrogance,” or “Catholics just don’t know how to interpret Scripture”. Only respond to actual allegations of substance like, “Catholics added 7 books at the Council of Trent”.) Learn to ignore posts altogether that are nothing but venom.
• Be as brief as you possibly can in all of your posts.
• Use links and references whenever possible when correcting a false representation of Catholic teaching. The Catechism will be invaluable when refuting false representations of Catholicism.
• Always be on defense. Defend the faith. Be a shining light for the faith. Don’t attack another’s faith. Feel free to say “Catholics understand it this way” or “As Catholics, we believe”.

 

[Artemus86]

There are a lot of things that we cannot change…Just leave “them”.

You don’t need to argue or debate with “them”.

 

[ckempston]

I’ve been posting at another forum for over a year now, called (Link removed as per CAF “board swarm” policy).

They have a religious area, where people with different world views can post. A lot of protestants post here, and I’ve recently been trying to debate with these people. However, some of them are so anti-Catholic and come up with stuff that is hard to defend against. I’ve become increasingly aggressive and rude as I see the same stupid posts posted over and over again. I know it is futile to try and debate people over an internet forum, but sometimes I can’t help it because of the ignorance I see.

How do you recommend I go about trying to rationalize with these people? Sometimes it seems like no matter how many times I repeat something, they still believe we worship idols, worship Mary, etc. I explain the differences, and even have one or two people helping me out, but they just ignore our claims. I think I need more help.

I began debating Catholics on discussion forums almost 10 years ago, and I fit the mold of what you are describing here. Although those Catholics I debated undoubtedly felt as you do now, their efforts were not totally unfruitful. Although I am not Roman Catholic, I have, over the years, had my views corrected and have moved from a “The Pope is the AntiChrist” type of Evangelical, to considering Catholics (including the Pope) my brethren in Christ, although I still have many differences.

I point that out only to illustrate that you are “planting seeds” as best you can, and only God can make them grow.

Ditto to the suggestions of others. Just persevere.