What are ways that Catholic and Evangelicals can have better and more respectful dialogue?

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GrantKlentzman said:
Not really. I think that regardless of whether or not either side thinks the other side is not Christian, we can still have true dialogue.
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If all Christians are part of the body of Christ that makes us all family members. If one family member denies the membership of another member when this member is infact a true member then by definition dialogue has certainly ceased to exist.

Peace!!!
 
One way I like to have dialogue is by saying I believe I’m saved as long as I keep my faith in God. Sadly, their once saved, always saved theology is dangerous.
 
I guess we have different definitions of dialogue. Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
I think your suggestions are so good that I might use this the future as a guideline.
 
Absolutely. We should always be loyal to the truth and not the way we grew up or what we have been taught.
 
I think that you may be right. However, some may argue that the differences between Catholics and Protestants are so significant that we should avoid doing things that would make it appear that the differences don’t matter. Prayer breakfasts and getting involved with social issues could be seen by some to be compromising. Just something to think about
 
Besides trying to understand what the other side actually believes, I think giving a taste of culture helps. For example, inviting an Evangelical to a Catholic house blessing. They can see Catholics in a religious setting, albeit informal, hear their conversations, eat good food, and see a priest in person outside a church engaging in casual conversation! When I was still in the process of converting, priests and religious seemed a bit out there. Sure, they’re people just like you and me, but… they’re priests and nuns! Seeing them with their hair down, in a manner of speaking, chatting, laughing, and having a good meal really helped humanize them in a way.
 
:+1:t3: no doubt. I guess this could go toward your list of things that could help improve dialogue. 😀

Peace!!!
 
Are you suggesting that not only do you not believe we are your fellow Christians, but you think you don’t think you should pray, eat breakfast or help those in need alongside us because of how it would look? Apologies if this is not what you are saying but if it is, it never fails to feel like a horrible punch to the gut.
 
Although this discussion is not about whether either Evangelicalism or Catholicism is true nor is it about whether or not Catholics are Christians, I will reluctantly give my opinion because you asked. I think that Catholics and Protestants cannot both Christians in the sense of having the same gospel because both have different views on what it takes to get to heaven and to be justified. Having said that, that does not mean that we cant love each other nor does it mean that we can’t respectful dialogue. I respect Catholics who are courageous enough to tell me that I am on the wrong path i.e not going to the true church that saves. I would never be offended by someone warning me in love that they think I am on my hell. It shows me that they care about me. As for praying, I think if it is done in the context of one friend praying for another friend that is fine. However, I think Catholics and Evangelicals praying with an expression that they are doing this as fellow believers is a bit too far for me personally. But again this is not about my opinion on whether Catholics are in my opinion Christian but rather about how we can dialogue better considering the fact that evangelicals and Catholics are different from one another and considering the barriers that both sides have to one another. I respect that you may have differences of opinion but please stay focused on the subject of how Evangelicals and Catholics can better dialogue. Thank you.
 
GrantKlentzman said:
please stay focused on the subject of how Evangelicals and Catholics can better dialogue. Thank you.
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Thank you for answering. I feel it is on the subject as it effects your willingness to interact so much. If my fellow Christian won’t join me or allow met to join them in charity work, or finds it inappropriate to pray so much as say grace or the Lord’s Prayer with me because they think I’m not Christian, that affects dialogue tremendously.
 
DisorientingSneeze said:
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GrantKlentzman:
please stay focused on the subject of how Evangelicals and Catholics can better dialogue. Thank you.
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Thank you for answering. I feel it is on the subject as it effects your willingness to interact so much. If my fellow Christian won’t join me or allow met to join them in charity work, or finds it inappropriate to pray so much as say grace or the Lord’s Prayer with me because they think I’m not Christian, that affects dialogue tremendously.
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I can appreciate how it would make you feel. I feel the same way when I read that it is a sin for a Catholic to attend a Protestant worship service.
 
Be careful what you read here. These forums have a whole smattering of things. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but we can attend your services, we just should not participate in your communion and it doesn’t count as filling our Sunday obligation so we still need to go to mass too.

I have experienced what you are saying. There are times I went to a protestant service to support a friend being baptized, confirmed or married. They would get confused and insulted when after a few hours at the afterparty I had to leave to go to the evening mass. I wish I knew what to do about that to make them feel less insulted.

Edit: go to the Saturday vigil so I don’t have to leave the party is the answer now that I’m looking at it.
 
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DisorientingSneeze said:
Be careful what you read here. These forums have a whole smattering of things. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but we can attend your services, we just should not participate in your communion and it doesn’t count as filling our Sunday obligation so we still need to go to mass too.

I have experienced what you are saying. There are times I went to a protestant service to support a friend being baptized, confirmed or married. They would get confused and insulted when after a few hours at the afterparty I had to leave to go to the evening mass. I wish I knew what to do about that to make them feel less insulted.
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I can’t see why that would insult them. Today there was an open house birthday party for a 90 year old lady we know well. It started at 2pm so my wife and I arrived right at 2pm and immediately went to the birthday girl and greeted her and explained that we had to leave right away before any program because we had relatives arriving in the next hour. She did not appear insulted but seemed grateful that we took the time and drove 25 miles to wish her a happy birthday.
 
Discussions between Catholics and non-Catholics comes down to a single point: what is the TRUTH? Catholics are Catholic because they are are certain it is the truth. There is no such thing as compromising or having dialogue - you either accept the truth or you don’t.

As an analogy, I believe 2+2=4 and I am absolutely certain of it because it can be proven through calculation. If you believe 2+2=5 or ANY other answer, no matter how comfortable that belief makes you, you will always be wrong, and I will always tell you so. There is really no need for dialogue - in such a case you either accept the answer is 4, or discussion can’t go any further.

Just like 2+2 can be confirmed without a doubt as 4, the Catholic Church can be proven as the true Church of Christ through miracles. No other religions have major miracles (that are observable through the senses), so as a Catholic I have no need for dialogue with non-Catholics, and if dialogue does occur, I’m not backing down an inch because I have zero doubt that the Catholic Church is the true church of Christ - it’s proven. That would be the same as asking me to reconsider the answer to 2+2.
 
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Can’t dialogue just be learning more from eachother about what the other person believes?

It doesn’t compromise truth to know your neighbor’s core beliefs or what generally motivates them.
 
GrantKlentzman said:
I think that Catholics and Protestants cannot both Christians in the sense of having the same gospel because both have different views on what it takes to get to heaven and to be justified.
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Would you care to elaborate? Depending on what you mean by this, this would probably be a great example of how not to dialogue.
 
Being certain about the truth doesn’t mean ramming it down someone’s throat.
 
The way I look at it is, what can I expect to learn from someone who insists 2+2=5? They are wrong and always will be. I’m not interested in knowing that person’s core beliefs they are obviously erroneous.
 
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