Online Apologists Needed!

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PioMagnus

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Hello,

I am a member of an online nation simulator game.

This game has forums that one can post in. One of the newer topics is a "Understand Your Faith! Christian Conference on Truth."

It looks good when you look at the title, but as soon as you read down a post or two you find that it is going to end up being a Catholic Bashing Conference.

I am a very inexperianced apologist, and would like the help of any apologists around here. (maybe even Karl?)

The game’s website is www.nationstates.net , and this particular thread is at forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=343298 .

I will be signing up, but I don’t think I will be able to hold my own. Please, anyone who can, help me out!

In Him, through her,
Pio Magnus
 
In my opinion you are far better off not to have anything to do with these people. They don’t intend to change their minds; they just want to shake the Faith of Catholics. You could spend hours finding rebuttals for their claims and they would just move on to another topic.

Why do you wish to participate in this game? To win souls for the Faith or to beat them? If the former, it aint gunna happen! If the latter , pride is a sin.

You would be better off praying or developing your spiritual life. 🙂
 
If I were you, I’d proceed with caution.

For years, while I worshipped with the Anglicans (great to be back home 😃 ), I opposed a liberal, revisionist bishop and his minions. I was not alone, but it proved pointless. They had their opinions and presuppositions; don’t bother them with the facts.

Anti-Catholics are much the same way. One-on-one, where there is an established relationship of some kind, there is hope of progress. But in a pack, all they want to do is feed, not listen.

God bless you for your willingness to contend for the Faith. Do some reading on apologetics – Karl, and Peter Kreeft are two sources that come to mind – and when the opportunity presents itself, go for it! But there’s nothing to be gained by offerring yourself as bait for bears.

Blessings,

Gerry
 
You are absolutely correct, they are trying to shake the faith of Catholics. Catholics will stumble upon this board, and will be confused and mis-lead. It is our responsibility to present the truth. That is why I want apologists to come and present Catholic teaching, and show the proofs for it.

If it is pride that is causing me to do this, it is pride in my Church. If I was ashamed, I wouldn’t be risking looking like a fool in front of all of those people.

Will there minds be changed? probably not. But we are to present the Truth as best we can. I am just hoping someone better suited then me will help.

In Him, through her,
Pio Magnus
 
I peeked in on the links. Seems like a pretty gamey place, all right (sorry about that :o ). The link to Ian Paisley’s website tells all.

Frankly, I’m no computer gamer (except for Hoyle cribbage), and would be utterly lost in a sim-game environment.

But I’d be willing to be a resource (such as I am) for someone who knew their way around such a sim-world.

If that might help, send me a private message through this forum site with your email, and I reply offline with mine.

Blessings,

Gerry
 
From chapter 7 of the gospel of Matthew

6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, 4 or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

It seemed appropriate.

-Jim
 
40.png
trogiah:
From chapter 7 of the gospel of Matthew

6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, 4 or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

It seemed appropriate.

-Jim
Click to expand...
It is.

And the first question to ask when engaging a situation of potential hostility is not “can I win” but “can I survive.”

They really can get quite vicious, and should seldom be engaged alone…

Blessings,

Gerry
 
Gerry Hunter:
It is.

And the first question to ask when engaging a situation of potential hostility is not “can I win” but “can I survive.”

They really can get quite vicious, and should seldom be engaged alone…

Blessings,

Gerry
Click to expand...
Exactly right.I take part in a secular Message Board,the BBC’s
Scottish Soapbox,and i sometimes have to swallow my pride and
withdraw when i want to continue.Recently,there has been a debate when the majority were objecting to separate catholic schools being paid for out of their taxes.I told them i was quite prepared to pay for our own schools,providing i got a rebate on the tax i had paid towards divorce.That was met with a stony silence,except for one character who latched on to one aspect
of my post.Someone had made a remark about scandal in the Church and i responded about the difference between gay priests
and the commonly used term “paedophile priest”.I reminded the individual concerned the topic was about separate catholic schools and accused him/her of having a fit of road rage.The response was such that i realised i was dealing with a “not very
bright individual” who was ignoring most of what i was saying.
Intelligent debate was not “on the cards”.I have decided to withdraw in case i end up losing my temper,so i suppose i am learning.I have tried unsuccessfully to get others to help me out
There are catholics who visit that site,but appear to be cafeteria
catholics.The best of them is liable to tell a dirty joke.If i could
get some proper help,topics on the Faith could be kept going.
My knowledge is limited,but it is obvious the non-catholics are in the same boat as they back off from debate and topics can die.
I suggested to another poster that he had a tendency to start a topic and then start another similar one when the original is not going the way he wanted.Of course,he denied he intended a topic to go in a specific direction.There doesn’t seem to be any
real Fundamentalist Protestant,it is more about right wing atheists and left wing atheists sharing the same bed. 😦
 
I think that the answer is that apologetics are not intended for missionary effect. You can’t argue someone into a proper faith in Catholic doctrine and in Jesus Himself. It is one thing for us to correct each other and other people with arguments, but you cannot convert people with them.

If Jesus is an example at all, He didn’t convert anyone by engaging in arguments, but He sure shut some of them up that way. You should decide what your intention is.

The Church is in harmony with the truth because, guided by the Holy Spirit, She is in harmony with the life of Christ. If you preach the words of Jesus from the Gospels and get them to profess a willingness to live properly, the doctrines of the Church are not far behind. But in any situation, if you pick a fight, you will get a fight.

I think we are called to make a missionary effort, however. Even if that does cost us a few black eyes. Don’t invest yourself to the extent that you can be “defeated”. What is the worst they can say or do? The worst of it cannot erase the Gospel written on your heart.

Walk with Him.
 
I wouldn’t look for conversions. The best you can hope for is for a recognition from the more reasonable among them, for example, that "I disagree with the interpretation you give of John 6 of the Real Presence or the Peter was the Rock or whatever… but I think I can understand how someone could get that from that passage.

A seed might be planted…I don’t know.

dream wanderer
 
They are like far left (political) libs…the minute you refute, prove and defeat their allegations…they REFUSE to concede or admit they were wrong…they simply flit to the next ridiculous allegation…
 
Faithful 2 Rome:
They are like far left (political) libs…the minute you refute, prove and defeat their allegations…they REFUSE to concede or admit they were wrong…they simply flit to the next ridiculous allegation…
Click to expand...
F2R, actually if you looked at the game forum, it would appear to be fascist or right wing conservative.

peace
 
Actually it seems weighted in the other direction. But I wouldn’t expect you to see that. The tactic he described should be familiar to you as you use it often.
 
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