Protestant Apologetics: More psychology than theology?

[scriabin]

Why don’t our logical, measured answers to Protestant objections work?

Yes, Catholic Answers are essential in giving a sound, straightforward defense of the truth; but I have convinced others with my witness only when they have been open; if they have been *closed * to Catholicism, no amount of Scripture, history, or logic will influence people, it seems.

How can you fight prejudice?

Overcome ignorance?

How can you change people’s attitudes?

This isn’t just theology, it’s rhetoric and psychology.

An analogy: You can’t convince a skinny, dying anorexic teenage girl she needs to eat by *reasoning * with her. You can’t show her a picture of her condition as proof–she still looks “fat” to herself. Something inside her head is blocking reality.

In a similar way, we can’t reason with certain people; because it’s not a matter of reason or thought—it’s emotion, bias, and feelings.

So my question (finally)

On the surface, it looks as if we’re discussing theology and scripture; but underneath isn’t it oftentimes something else?

 

[DianJo]

I think if we knew the answer to that question, everyone would be Catholic!

All you can do is provide the information and let the Holy Spirit do the rest and not beat yourself up about it. I finally learned to accept that and I find that since I have done that, I am more patient and loving in my explanations - maybe that will help!

 

[PraRFLEsEkHm]

scriabin:

On the surface, it looks as if we’re discussing theology and scripture; but underneath isn’t it oftentimes something else?

Yup. We are fighting delusion - deception maybe is a better word. “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, it is against the powers and principalites of darkness in high places”

How can you convince someone who has been told their whole life that anyone who teaches anything outside of what they have been taught and are believing is EVIL, that what they are believing is wrong?

You can’t.

God does that - we plant seeds, and let the Holy Spirit water them.

Arguing with someone too much, hammering truth home with a sledgehammer, does more harm than good - if they do begin to believe you - then people tend to doubt everything and everyone. Then they become prime candidates for the evil one even more. Although God is still in charge no matter how much we screw things up - we have a responsibility to Love, as well as to Truth…

Dinanjo has the answer - Love.

I learned this the hard way over the weekend - arguing with another poster about mortal sin - what it was and what happens…now they are considering leaving the Church.
I feel terrible.

Peace and Love

John

 

[Tonks40]

Scrirabin, you do have a point…

When I reverted last year, I was very gun-ho on my faith. I downloaded and printed lots of Catholic Answers tracts, read books, did research, did spiritual readings. I was locked, loaded, and ready to present my case to my non-denominational, protestant friends on why the Church is the true Church of Christ!

But when I tried to present these logical, well-reasoned facts (which were obvious to me), I was met with indifference, rejection and disinterest. One of my friends even went so far as to say, “I’ll never be Catholic - something about seeing a cruxifix is just wrong to me.”

It is a battle with emotions, feelings, and ungrounded beliefs drilled into their heads. So, I decided to switch gears, and focus on our common beliefs, instead of what divides us, and just state it calmly, without debate. Now, that same friend is looking into attending a Catholic Mass at one of our local parishes.

Now, I figured it this way - if they state a falsehood about the Church, I correct them briefly with love, charity and understanding. If they want to learn more, I’ll take out my stacks of paper and books, and we’ll sit down have a chat over some coffee…