Non-Catholics, whom should I know?

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Peter_J

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Hi NCs. To clarify the question in the title, it has many many many times happened that an NC friend or acquaintance will say to me – knowing that I’m Catholic – “So, you must be familiar with so-and-so, right?” (I could give a specific name instead of saying so-and-so, but I don’t want to bias the results.)

With that in mind I would like to ask all of you together: which Catholics do you assume that I’m familiar with because I’m Catholic?
 
Peter_J said:
Hi NCs. To clarify the question in the title, it has many many many times happened that an NC friend or acquaintance will say to me – knowing that I’m Catholic – “So, you must be familiar with so-and-so, right?” (I could give a specific name instead of saying so-and-so, but I don’t want to bias the results.)

With that in mind I would like to ask all of you together: which Catholics do you assume that I’m familiar with because I’m Catholic?
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😃

Would that be the Pope? A wild guess as I am not NC. 😛
 
Peter_J said:
With that in mind I would like to ask all of you together: which Catholics do you assume that I’m familiar with because I’m Catholic?
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Aquinas, Augustine, modern popes, etc… but to illustrate the point I think you are trying to make I would throw out someone like Mother Angelica or Scott Hahn (though I don’t actually assume all Catholics know them).
 
Peter_J said:
Hi NCs. To clarify the question in the title, it has many many many times happened that an NC friend or acquaintance will say to me – knowing that I’m Catholic – “So, you must be familiar with so-and-so, right?” (I could give a specific name instead of saying so-and-so, but I don’t want to bias the results.)

With that in mind I would like to ask all of you together: which Catholics do you assume that I’m familiar with because I’m Catholic?
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Apart from the C Answers team, I was under the impression you have the entire College of Cardinals on your email distribution list.:eek:
 
Hi. This is the first time I’ve been back here since starting this thread a few hours ago, so very nice to see responses already. 🙂

Like I said, I didn’t give an example in the OP because I wanted to give people a chance to think about the question au natural, presumably yielding unbiased answers. But now that it’s a few posts later I’ll tell you that, just in my personal experience, NCs often assume that I know who Jimmy Akin is (though I see he hasn’t been mentioned yet so maybe my experience isn’t representative) … and I typically don’t contradict them (partly out of politeness and partly because I’m afraid they might not still want to talk to me) but in my mind I think “Um, why? Because he’s Catholic and I’m Catholic do you assume that I know him?”
 
Peter_J said:
Hi. This is the first time I’ve been back here since starting this thread a few hours ago, so very nice to see responses already. 🙂

Like I said, I didn’t give an example in the OP because I wanted to give people a chance to think about the question au natural, presumably yielding unbiased answers. But now that it’s a few posts later I’ll tell you that, just in my personal experience, NCs often assume that I know who Jimmy Akin is (though I see he hasn’t been mentioned yet so maybe my experience isn’t representative) … and I typically don’t contradict them (partly out of politeness and partly because I’m afraid they might not still want to talk to me) but in my mind I think “Um, why? Because he’s Catholic and I’m Catholic do you assume that I know him?”
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Yes, it’s like going to another country and having someone ask, “Oh, you are from Los Angelos? Do you know my cousin? He lives in Philadelphia!”

See, Catholics comprise 24% of the US population, and while Protestants comprise a much bigger percentage altogether, each denomination is 6% or less (I think), and they don’t realize that there are many more in our “denomination” than in theirs.
 
St_Francis said:
Yes, it’s like going to another country and having someone ask, “Oh, you are from Los Angelos? Do you know my cousin? He lives in Philadelphia!”

See, Catholics comprise 24% of the US population, and while Protestants comprise a much bigger percentage altogether, each denomination is 6% or less (I think), and they don’t realize that there are many more in our “denomination” than in theirs.
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Good point you have there. That being said, you must understand I was even more confused then when a Catholic here on CAF wanted my opinions on D.L Moody and went on as if I knew exactly what he was talking about.🤷
 
Peter_J said:
Hi. This is the first time I’ve been back here since starting this thread a few hours ago, so very nice to see responses already. 🙂

Like I said, I didn’t give an example in the OP because I wanted to give people a chance to think about the question au natural, presumably yielding unbiased answers. But now that it’s a few posts later I’ll tell you that, just in my personal experience, NCs often assume that I know who Jimmy Akin is (though I see he hasn’t been mentioned yet so maybe my experience isn’t representative) … and I typically don’t contradict them (partly out of politeness and partly because I’m afraid they might not still want to talk to me) but in my mind I think “Um, why? Because he’s Catholic and I’m Catholic do you assume that I know him?”
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I would expect someone who was on these forums regularly to be familiar with Jimmy Akin, Tim Staples and others who are part of Catholic Answers. I guess some people may only use these forums and not read any of the other material from this website, but if someone was interested in Catholic Apologetics then they would likely know who they are. I don’t think I would expect a random Catholic on the street to be familiar with Catholic Answers Apologists. I imagine many Catholics have never heard of them.
 
Peter_J said:
Hi NCs. To clarify the question in the title, it has many many many times happened that an NC friend or acquaintance will say to me – knowing that I’m Catholic – “So, you must be familiar with so-and-so, right?” (I could give a specific name instead of saying so-and-so, but I don’t want to bias the results.)

With that in mind I would like to ask all of you together: which Catholics do you assume that I’m familiar with because I’m Catholic?
Click to expand...
I’d like to know what kind of “results” you are looking for?? God Bless, Memaw
 
On two occasions, when a person found out I was Catholic, they have complained to me about something the arch-bishop said or did. I told them I would pass it along next time I see the bishop. 🤷
 
Memaw said:
I’d like to know what kind of “results” you are looking for?? God Bless, Memaw
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Well I thought about making this thread a poll, with ten different Catholics that respondents could vote for. But I felt like that would defeat the point, so instead it’s more of a “write in” poll. (Respondents could just write a name, or they could choose to explain.)
 
MichaelP3 said:
Good point you have there. That being said, you must understand I was even more confused then when a Catholic here on CAF wanted my opinions on D.L Moody and went on as if I knew exactly what he was talking about.🤷
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You don’t know D. L. Moody?
 
Peter_J said:
You don’t know D. L. Moody?
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Well obviously I googled him. I still have to this day absolutely no idea why he/it was relevant. Still, the poster seriously expected me to know who he is… Just because my religion said Protestant. Anyway, I get your feelings.

Maybe I must learn to let things go 🤷
 
Peter_J said:
Well I thought about making this thread a poll, with ten different Catholics that respondents could vote for. But I felt like that would defeat the point, so instead it’s more of a “write in” poll. (Respondents could just write a name, or they could choose to explain.)
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Do you just want the opinions of non Catholics?? God Bless, Memaw
 
susanlo said:
… but if someone was interested in Catholic Apologetics then they would likely know who they are. I don’t think I would expect a random Catholic on the street to be familiar with Catholic Answers Apologists. I imagine many Catholics have never heard of them.
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Well I guess that’s the thing: Protestants may not actually assume I’ve heard of so and so because I’m Catholic; more likely they’d figure that if I’m not familiar with so and so then I’m not the right sort of Catholic for them to be dialoguing with (or that I’m not “interested in Catholic apologetics” or however they might phrase the conclusion).

Of course, I say “I” just as an example.
 
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