The "Ask a..." Threads

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BobDanners

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I’m curious about all of these “Ask a…” threads. Are these really helpful for evangelization? It seems to me a way for people of other faiths to evangelize on a Catholic forum, instead of the other way around.

I’m just confused on the matter, any help would be appreciated. 🙂
 
BobDanners said:
I’m curious about all of these “Ask a…” threads. Are these really helpful for evangelization? It seems to me a way for people of other faiths to evangelize on a Catholic forum, instead of the other way around.

I’m just confused on the matter, any help would be appreciated. 🙂
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Hi Bob.

I think people start the threads to encourage dialogue. Only a guess on my part, though. 🙂
 
I am tired, and my brains are on idle right now but I assume you mean threads like “Ask A Pagan” and so on? (If not, I am sorry and I have made a error.)

IMHO theese kind of questions will not in any way help spreading The Gospels. I personally think they do not belong on a religius forum.

And now out with the dog and then many hours of ZZZZZ.
 
Marie5890 said:
Hi Bob.

I think people start the threads to encourage dialogue. Only a guess on my part, though. 🙂
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That’s what I would guess. I’m sure there are probably those who think that they’ll sway people to their belief system by doing so. But I think many are just interested in offering an opportunity for Catholics to ask honest questions and come to a better understanding “from the horse’s mouth” rather than relying on second-hand information.

That’s how I always view them, anyway. 🤷
 
Personally I don’t understand them and find them contrary to the purpose of Catholic Answers. I try to remember that the information is coming from one source. It makes me nervous to think there is an ABC practicing, woman priest supporting Catholic out there representing Catholics on a different religious forum. I try to take these threads for what they are: One person’s opinion on their faith.

Granted, some of the participants are knowledgeable, but they are hardly authoritative sources for their faith. Then you have those faiths that can’t even agree with themselves. That’s like having an “Ask a Christian” thread. You could get 30,000 “correct” answers from all of the different denominations.
 
Boulder257 said:
Personally I don’t understand them and find them contrary to the purpose of Catholic Answers. I try to remember that the information is coming from one source. It makes me nervous to think there is an ABC practicing, woman priest supporting Catholic out there representing Catholics on a different religious forum. I try to take these threads for what they are: One person’s opinion on their faith.

Granted, some of the participants are knowledgeable, but they are hardly authoritative sources for their faith. Then you have those faiths that can’t even agree with themselves. That’s like having an “Ask a Christian” thread. You could get 30,000 “correct” answers from all of the different denominations.
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Very good point.
 
I usually avoid those threads. From what I have seen very few questions are answered and many of the questioners ask questions lacking in charity. I prefer to read more scholarly articles by scholars, clergy or clergy equivalents from their religion.
 
FireFromHeaven said:
I usually avoid those threads. From what I have seen very few questions are answered and many of the questioners ask questions lacking in charity. I prefer to read more scholarly articles by scholars, clergy or clergy equivalents from their religion.
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Precisely. Besides, most Hindus would probably disagree with my understanding of Hindu customs and beliefs anyway. If there is a person in the forum with a specific question on Hinduism, they can always start a thread themselves. In any case, there is plenty of information available on the web.

Why should I volunteer/propagate my personal beliefs to a Catholic audience who may or may not be interested?
 
ANY question asked on a religious forum can be looked at as propagating a personal belief.
Our mods can tell if they are not.
I think they are good venues for dialogue.
 
BobDanners said:
I’m curious about all of these “Ask a…” threads. Are these really helpful for evangelization? It seems to me a way for people of other faiths to evangelize on a Catholic forum, instead of the other way around.
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I find that it gives Catholics an opportunity to evangelize as well. Most of the “Ask a _____” threads are started by people who have very little knowledge of the Catholic faith. You never know what will grow from the seeds being planted.
 
I started an “Ask a Pentecostal” thread. It wasn’t to proselytize though. I just find that many (not just Catholics) don’t really understand all the nuances of Pentecostalism. I often hear or read very misinformed statements and just wanted to give people the opportunity to get more information from a practicing Pentecostal.

Also, I’m interested in hearing Catholic arguments against what I or other Pentecostals believe. It makes me think more thoroughly about what I believe and why I believe them.

I assume the purpose of the non-Catholic religions forum is for Catholics to receive information about non-Catholic religions. So, I feel that its perfectly ok to offer that information while I’m hear reading all the great threads and learning so much about Catholicism.
 
I have learned a lot from reading these types of threads. I enjoy the dialog. 🙂

If you are afraid they are contrary to the purpose of Catholic Answers, think of it this way:

At some point one of us will be questioned on our Catholic faith by a member of one of these other faiths being discussed. Being as knowledgeable as possible about the beliefs of those we converse with allows us to know in advance the weakness in their positions, and gives us the ability to see the perspective from which to best answer their questions about us.
 
BobDanners said:
I’m curious about all of these “Ask a…” threads. Are these really helpful for evangelization? It seems to me a way for people of other faiths to evangelize on a Catholic forum, instead of the other way around.

I’m just confused on the matter, any help would be appreciated. 🙂
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I agree
 
There has been, of late, a flurry of these “ask a pagan/heathen” threads, I believe that they should simply not be tolerated on a Catholic Forum for some members have had difficulty in the past with the occult/witchcraft it could also tempt them back to these accursed practices.
 
ltwin said:
I started an “Ask a Pentecostal” thread. It wasn’t to proselytize though. I just find that many (not just Catholics) don’t really understand all the nuances of Pentecostalism. I often hear or read very misinformed statements and just wanted to give people the opportunity to get more information from a practicing Pentecostal.

Also, I’m interested in hearing Catholic arguments against what I or other Pentecostals believe. It makes me think more thoroughly about what I believe and why I believe them.

I assume the purpose of the non-Catholic religions forum is for Catholics to receive information about non-Catholic religions. So, I feel that its perfectly ok to offer that information while I’m hear reading all the great threads and learning so much about Catholicism.
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I am sure you dislike having your beliefs misrepresented or reduced to caricature the same as Catholics do. Knowledge is our way to avoid this.

I find this entire section of the forum to be very useful. The more we know about each other, the better we can communicate about the real similarities and real differences between us.

Besides, some of us need access to knowledgeable people of other faiths. My wife and kids are GO, so I am very thankful for all the Orthodox posters here. The same goes for the rest of you too, even if the connection isn’t as close to home.
 
After taking a look, just at page 1 on “Non-Catholic Religions” I have found the following:
  • Ask a Human
  • Ask a Young Catholic
  • Ask a Friend
  • Ask a Pentecostal
  • Ask a Pagan ( I think there are at least three of these)
  • Ask a Scientologist
  • Ask a Gnostic
Good or bad, this is getting ridiculous.
 
SteveVH said:
After taking a look, just at page 1 on “Non-Catholic Religions” I have found the following:
  • Ask a Human
  • Ask a Young Catholic
  • Ask a Friend
  • Ask a Pentecostal
  • Ask a Pagan ( I think there are at least three of these)
  • Ask a Scientologist
  • Ask a Gnostic
Good or bad, this is getting ridiculous.
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What’s ridiculous about those? (the Human one is a professed stab at humor, but the rest are legit)
 
Alizarin said:
What’s ridiculous about those? (the Human one is a professed stab at humor, but the rest are legit)
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The sheer number of them. Next we’ll be seeing “Ask a Christopher.” “Ask a Jane.” “Ask a Robert.”
 
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