T
thestudentAD
Guest
To whomever this may concern,
I’m a catholic. My Dad and Stepmom don’t always go to church every other week. However, my brother is getting his first communion this weekend. I’ve been considering going into apologetics. I’ve read several articles and seen several apologetics videos. And, I guess I’m starting evangelizing.
Here’s how it goes (Sorry if this all doesn’t seem relevant to you), I was doing my taxes at the library and I noticed two missionaries from the LDS Church. I asked them what they were, they confirmed who they were. We started talking about religion. Now, I’ve read several articles from disfellowshipped, excommunicated, and disillusioned mormons to know that when they are saying ‘We just want to talk with you,’ it really means ‘You’re going to hear our side of the story’. Sorry, if this offends any Mormon reading this. I explained to the missionary a few things about our faith. A question slipped my mind at the time abotu Joe Smith and the Angel. Had to ask another guy about that.
Overhearing this was another Catholic and her daughter. THe woman contacted me and asked me to help her, asking me several questions thinking I was an apologist. I explained to her what I was and I thought that she would help me in apologetics. The lady asked me to talk to her daughter as her daughter is leaving the faith. I can understand that, personally.
So, I’ve started talking with this young woman, a high schooler, and she’s okay. I explained to her why I’m now a bit more of a practicing catholic in recent years than when I was in High School. (Technically, in High School, my anxiety disorder was in overdrive). I even gave her the original copy of my first book. So, the Mother and I ,unbeknownst to the daughter, are communicating, setting up a date where I can further talk to the mother and the daughter…
As I was doing all this, I couldn’t help but wonder ‘What constitutes imposing your beliefs on people’. Several people I talk to say that it constitutes talking excessively about religion, or your particular faith. One guy I know of is an agnostic. His parents are extremely religious and have been trying to force him into their faith.
So, what constitutes imposing your beliefs and how do we not do it? How do I evangelize people without imposing my beliefs? Is it like this: (Chit chat for a bit then religion).
"Hey, I’m a catholic, here’s what I believe, what do you believe? Here’s what I believe because of such and such.).
Personally, I don’t want to be forced to evangelize. Michael Voris, a Catholic reporter or commentator, claims a man on the way to sainthood said this: Whoever is not of the business of evangelization will not enjoy the beatific vision. I can understand opposing and proposing viewpoints.
I would really love to hear your thoughts.
Also, I’m a science fiction author, thinking of putting in christian themes and morals into my stories like Tolkien and CS Lewis (Been trying to read Narnia Chronicles, on the TWo towers in LOTR). Again,I’d love to hear your thoughts on these matters.
With regards and God bless,
theStudentAD
I’m a catholic. My Dad and Stepmom don’t always go to church every other week. However, my brother is getting his first communion this weekend. I’ve been considering going into apologetics. I’ve read several articles and seen several apologetics videos. And, I guess I’m starting evangelizing.
Here’s how it goes (Sorry if this all doesn’t seem relevant to you), I was doing my taxes at the library and I noticed two missionaries from the LDS Church. I asked them what they were, they confirmed who they were. We started talking about religion. Now, I’ve read several articles from disfellowshipped, excommunicated, and disillusioned mormons to know that when they are saying ‘We just want to talk with you,’ it really means ‘You’re going to hear our side of the story’. Sorry, if this offends any Mormon reading this. I explained to the missionary a few things about our faith. A question slipped my mind at the time abotu Joe Smith and the Angel. Had to ask another guy about that.
Overhearing this was another Catholic and her daughter. THe woman contacted me and asked me to help her, asking me several questions thinking I was an apologist. I explained to her what I was and I thought that she would help me in apologetics. The lady asked me to talk to her daughter as her daughter is leaving the faith. I can understand that, personally.
So, I’ve started talking with this young woman, a high schooler, and she’s okay. I explained to her why I’m now a bit more of a practicing catholic in recent years than when I was in High School. (Technically, in High School, my anxiety disorder was in overdrive). I even gave her the original copy of my first book. So, the Mother and I ,unbeknownst to the daughter, are communicating, setting up a date where I can further talk to the mother and the daughter…
As I was doing all this, I couldn’t help but wonder ‘What constitutes imposing your beliefs on people’. Several people I talk to say that it constitutes talking excessively about religion, or your particular faith. One guy I know of is an agnostic. His parents are extremely religious and have been trying to force him into their faith.
So, what constitutes imposing your beliefs and how do we not do it? How do I evangelize people without imposing my beliefs? Is it like this: (Chit chat for a bit then religion).
"Hey, I’m a catholic, here’s what I believe, what do you believe? Here’s what I believe because of such and such.).
Personally, I don’t want to be forced to evangelize. Michael Voris, a Catholic reporter or commentator, claims a man on the way to sainthood said this: Whoever is not of the business of evangelization will not enjoy the beatific vision. I can understand opposing and proposing viewpoints.
I would really love to hear your thoughts.
Also, I’m a science fiction author, thinking of putting in christian themes and morals into my stories like Tolkien and CS Lewis (Been trying to read Narnia Chronicles, on the TWo towers in LOTR). Again,I’d love to hear your thoughts on these matters.
With regards and God bless,
theStudentAD
But these are just my two cents.