"trick knee" Fundamentalism

[tomch]

I had the opportunity tonight to talk to a close friend about the Catholic faith. He’s not Catholic. In fact, he’s quite anti-Catholic.

He’s kinda a mix of a bunch of different things - (mostly Baptist, and also whatever his “trick knee” tells him sounds reasonable.) He knows almost nothing about the Catholic faith (although he thinks he’s an expert!), and has a ton of misinformation.

He’s of the opinion that there are many “truths” out there. And that he and I can believe opposite things, and yet we can both be right. He thinks that it doesn’t matter who is technically right and who is wrong… the only thing that matters is how firmly you hold your particular belief, whatever it is, and that you “accept one another’s beliefs,” whatever that means. The sad thing is that he’s very proud of himself for having such an “enlightened” view of religion.

I challenged him not to reject the Catholic Church until he at least investigates it thoroughly - it’s the Church that Jesus founded and promised to protect. I also told him that he was in “dangerous territory” if he was wrong about his own “personal” beliefs. Of course, this makes no difference to him, since he believes that he can still be “all wrong” and still be “all right.” Yeah… I know… that makes no sense at all, does it?!

I wonder what else can be said to someone with this mindset? I was thinking that electric shock therapy might be of some help, but I couldn’t find an outlet.

 

[1ke]

If a person is determined to hold on to Orwellian doublethink, there’s not much you can do for them.

 

[chrysostom15]

Jesus Christ said, “I am the way the truth and the light” – all singular.

 

[scylla]

There is not much you can do with this type of thought as truth doesn’t matter to this type of thought.

What can you do when someone believes that truth doesn’t matter?

Point out to him that God knows his heart and knows if he is really being honest. He wont be able to tell God that since he wasn’t sure he did the best he could.
Many people with this type thought process believe that God will allow them to keep their dishonesty since they fool everyone else.

Maybe you can appeal to their heart, fast and pray. Prejudice cannot be changed with logic as it is illogical and is usually based upon emotion.

Maybe you can just insult them into thinking about their beliefs by pointing out that they are acting like a high school girl who likes something because it is appealing and makes them feel good, “I thought you were a grown man\lady, I have no respect for you now, maybe when you mature in your beliefs we can talk”
Something to that effect.

God Bless
Scylla

 

[tomch]

Maybe you can just insult them into thinking about their beliefs by pointing out that they are acting like a high school girl who likes something because it is appealing and makes them feel good, “I thought you were a grown man\lady, I have no respect for you now, maybe when you mature in your beliefs we can talk”
Something to that effect.

Well, knowing this friend, insulting him would be a mistake - I’m pretty sure that I’d damage the friendship that I have with him, and do damage to my witness to him. I FEEL like telling him this, though!

You’re correct when you said that he’s basing his faith on emotions instead of truth. He’s a very emotional guy, and almost every argument was started with “I FEEL that…”. I challenged him on this… I told him that feelings can be wrong, and asked him what he KNOWS from the pages of Scripture.

I’m a relatively new convert, so I have a tendency to be a bit too outspoken, I think. So when I talk to others about my faith, I’m trying my hardest not to come on too strong - it puts them “on the defensive” and seems to turns off the “logic” part of their brain (although I’m pretty sure that the “logic” part of his brain was already turned off before I talked to him!).

I am fasting and praying for him (and his family, who have similar beliefs). I’m sure that he’s noticed the change in my life since I converted from Baptist to Catholic. Maybe God will use this to “reach” him eventually.

 

[ricmat]

He’s of the opinion that there are many “truths” out there. And that he and I can believe opposite things, and yet we can both be right. He thinks that it doesn’t matter who is technically right and who is wrong… the only thing that matters is how firmly you hold your particular belief, whatever it is, and that you “accept one another’s beliefs,” whatever that means. The sad thing is that he’s very proud of himself for having such an “enlightened” view of religion.

I just finished a good book, and your friend has an entire chapter talking about him. Really.

"The Great Divorce" by CS Lewis. I’d tell you which chapter, but I already loaned the book to a friend, who loaned it to a friend…

It’s a short book - you can read the whole thing in 2 hours.

 

[Mordocai]

One Lord, one baptism, one faith…

see how sin darkens the intellect? not calling him a sinner, just pointing out a plain truth.
sin makes us dumb (again, not attacking the man, but his opinion is ridiculous and without logic or reasonable support, it refutes itself and then says “nuh uh!”)

 

[tomch]

I just finished a good book, and your friend has an entire chapter talking about him. Really.

"The Great Divorce" by CS Lewis. I’d tell you which chapter, but I already loaned the book to a friend, who loaned it to a friend…

It’s a short book - you can read the whole thing in 2 hours.

I like short books! I’ll have to read that one, and maybe pass it on to him. Thanks for the info!

 

[tomch]

One Lord, one baptism, one faith…

see how sin darkens the intellect? not calling him a sinner, just pointing out a plain truth.
sin makes us dumb (again, not attacking the man, but his opinion is ridiculous and without logic or reasonable support, it refutes itself and then says “nuh uh!”)

Yup…you’re absolutely correct. In his case, he sees himself to be very wise, but the sin of pride has made him a fool. And according to the book of Proverbs, a fool is not open to correction.

 

[tomch]

I just finished a good book, and your friend has an entire chapter talking about him. Really.

"The Great Divorce" by CS Lewis. I’d tell you which chapter, but I already loaned the book to a friend, who loaned it to a friend…

It’s a short book - you can read the whole thing in 2 hours.

Just bought “The Signature Classics” of CS Lewis - which includes “The Great Divorce” along with 6 other books. Thanks for the tip!

 

[ricmat]

Just bought “The Signature Classics” of CS Lewis - which includes “The Great Divorce” along with 6 other books. Thanks for the tip!

I forgot to tell you the basic premise of the book - it’s about heaven, hell, and purgatory. And why it is that some people actually prefer hell to heaven. A modern parable. (Or modern at least at the time CS Lewis wrote it.).