the way to 'win debates' with non-catholics

[rinnie]

Are you sure those trying to convince you you are wrong don’t feel the same way?

Actually Dokimas the opposite is true. I am sure they feel that way. That is why we have to work together and go back to the beginning which is History.

Remember God did not hang us out to dry in the O.T. THere are 2 things in this world that we have, Reason and History.

Even an Athiest will agree with that. Reason in understanding and History. So we must use Human Reason to understand, we agree that without History how could we learn.

Now Jesus came to fullfil the O,T. The O.T is History. It is the O.T that God showed us that a Savior would come. The same that the N .T has showed us that Jesus will come again in glory. It is by history that we can see the truth.

So while we agree on that, now we must use that same History of the teaching of the Church to see the truth.

That is what amazes me of an athiest most of all, they will accept that George Washington was our President because of History, and how it is History preserved by books and teaching. But will take that same History and deny God?

But where we have the advantage as Christians we agree on History, so that is how we can go back and discover the truth. But it has to be with an open mind.

Where I can show that the Pope could never be the Anti-Christ is quite simple. Jesus promised us the gates of hades would never prevail.

Now History shows that the RCC has been here for over 2000 years and is still here. History can show Peter leading the RCC from the time of Pentecost. Now if the Pope is the devil then either History is wrong and Jesus lied and then there is No God. Or the RCC is the Church that was led by Peter and still is, and God has kept his promise.

See what I am saying. But if a person refuses to go back and review History and the true Teaching’s of the Church there is no way to reveal the truth In God’s word. See what I am mean?

God revealed to us in History that Christ was to come. The reason we can agree as Christians on that is simple. History the word that was written in the O.T. It is by the O.T they we can prove that Jesus is indeed the Son of God that was to come.

That is something that others faiths cannot do. How can any other faith show us when their God was indeed Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the only one who did every single thing the O.T said he was going to do.

 

[Saul_DelTarso]

The person wasn’t actually interested in hearing anything that was true, or verifiable. He wanted to continue to believe what he does, so I stopped trying to remove the mote. I figured it was best to let it go. He seemed more than a little unstable, more than a little unhinged, not just argumentative. There’s not much I could have said to even get him to consider a Catholic point of view, let alone convince him. This is often the case There are those who are truly open to hearing and understanding what we have to say, and there are those who are simply looking for a Catholic to attack. I had more to say, but as far as I know, he hasn’t been around much after the two verses I mentioned earlier. IT’s up to the Lord, I’m not prepared to work with people who seem mentally unstable.

Thanks for the excellent (name removed by moderator)ut though. I agree with your points.

 

[John_Carlton]

For the Sola Scripturites, or those who argue with them; if we neglect the Bible speaking about the Sacraments endorsed by what has become the Orthodoxy… if the Bible doesn’t mention the Catholic Church, it sure doesn’t mention any of the Protestant heresies or modern apostates. Just saying…

God bless,

 

[seeker57]

I think the use of the term “debate” is somewhat misleading, based on what has been discussed here.

To debate means to present opposing points of view and present arguments supporting your position that, you hope, will outweigh those of your opponent.

The problem is, most religious debates are circular in nature.

Quoting the Bible may be useful if you are debating other Christians, but, as has been demonstrated many times, excerpted quotes from the Bible can be used to justify just about anything.

Also, the Bible is not particularly useful when debating those of other faiths.

I would think demonstrating your faith by example would be a better inducement to those of other beliefs than waging an endless war of words.

Seeker

 

[GaryTaylor]

I think the use of the term “debate” is somewhat misleading, based on what has been discussed here.

To debate means to present opposing points of view and present arguments supporting your position that, you hope, will outweigh those of your opponent.

The problem is, most religious debates are circular in nature.

Quoting the Bible may be useful if you are debating other Christians, but, as has been demonstrated many times, excerpted quotes from the Bible can be used to justify just about anything.

Also, the Bible is not particularly useful when debating those of other faiths.

I would think demonstrating your faith by example would be a better inducement to those of other beliefs than waging an endless war of words.

Seeker

I hear what your saying, but for example in your case how would you do this?

 

[seeker57]

I hear what your saying, but for example in your case how would you do this?

Hmmm, that is a good question.

But, for example, I recently donated money to a local Catholic organization. It is a charity run by one of the local Catholic parishes that has built and operates a school for AIDS orphans in Africa.

Now, they are trying to build decent homes for the children’s grandmothers, who are often raising them, to make their lives better and make it easier for the kids to get to and from school.

To me, what this organization does demonstrates what I think would be best described as the Christian ethic of loving your neighbor. What really impacted me is they didn’t try to do it in words, but with deeds.

That is why I donated to the organization, even though I am not Catholic. It allowed me to see a side of Catholicism that I don’t always get to see. Too often, all I hear about the Catholic Church is what I read here or hear in the press/media, which can sometimes give the wrong impression.

Of course, being a UU, helping others is something I hold in high esteem. If, as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, than a deed or kind act must be worth many times that amount.

That was what I was trying to say, in a rather ham-handed way, I’m afraid.

Peace,

Seeker