What is it they believe?

[Col40]

Help me out…new neighbors, guy in his 40s, three kids, came by, trying to “invite” us to their church…did some preaching at the door, even after I told them I was Catholic. They gave us a pamphlet for some baptist church—but most baptists I know are not into door to door recruiting. Wife and another child at home.

The girls–pre-teen, were dressed like prairie girls—full, long skirts. Still dressed like that when I drove past their house later on that day and they were out playing. All of their kids are homeschooled.

Is this some sort of fundamentalist faith? If so, what else should I know about their beliefs, in case our kids (the same age as ours) should strike up a friendship—we live about 10 houses away, so it’s a possibility.

 

[yellowbird]

I think it’s hard to know what they believe because there are so many varieties of Baptists…

I’m also not sure that the long dress thing means anything… I know lots of homeschooled kids who ignore the latest trends and excercise their freedom to wear whatever they want. Maybe those girls like long dresses?

I would be friendly to the new family … if your paths cross again, why not invite them to mass with you? As far as what their children might tell yours, so long as your children know what you believe and why, I doubt anything their children say will cause any damage. But if their children become really obnoxious in pushing their views… have your children give them prayer cards or something totally “Catholic” - that ought to scare them away? I predict you won’t find their children hanging out around your house though.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

Sounds like LDS, but I might tell your kids to be careful so as not to get caught up in their beliefs.

 

[yellowbird]

Sounds like LDS, but I might tell your kids to be careful so as not to get caught up in their beliefs.

They wouldn’t be LDS if their church pamphlet said Baptist Church…

 

[ralphinal]

Sounds to me like they might be part of the Quiverfull movement. I did not think that they were baptist, but I am not too familier with them.

 

[OneTrueCathApos]

They wouldn’t be LDS if their church pamphlet said Baptist Church…

I don’t think the pamphlet said Baptist church, perhaps the OP thinks the church is a Baptist one…just speculating…

 

[Col40]

Sounds to me like they might be part of the Quiverfull movement. I did not think that they were baptist, but I am not too familier with them.

That’s what I was thinking! Except that their children seemed more spaced in age.

 

[JonNC]

Help me out…new neighbors, guy in his 40s, three kids, came by, trying to “invite” us to their church…did some preaching at the door, even after I told them I was Catholic. They gave us a pamphlet for some baptist church—but most baptists I know are not into door to door recruiting. Wife and another child at home.

The girls–pre-teen, were dressed like prairie girls—full, long skirts. Still dressed like that when I drove past their house later on that day and they were out playing. All of their kids are homeschooled.

Is this some sort of fundamentalist faith? If so, what else should I know about their beliefs, in case our kids (the same age as ours) should strike up a friendship—we live about 10 houses away, so it’s a possibility.

Where I lived in Texas there was a Baptist Church like this- Bible Baptist or something along those lines. Long skirts/dresses, high neck lines, no dancing, and I think they did do some door-to-door, though they never vistied me.

Jon

 

[Col40]

I think it’s hard to know what they believe because there are so many varieties of Baptists…

I’m also not sure that the long dress thing means anything… I know lots of homeschooled kids who ignore the latest trends and excercise their freedom to wear whatever they want. Maybe those girls like long dresses?

I would be friendly to the new family … if your paths cross again, why not invite them to mass with you? As far as what their children might tell yours, so long as your children know what you believe and why, I doubt anything their children say will cause any damage. But if their children become really obnoxious in pushing their views… have your children give them prayer cards or something totally “Catholic” - that ought to scare them away? I predict you won’t find their children hanging out around your house though.

I plan to be friendly to them like I am the atheists across the street (I would have loved to see how that went over when they knocked on their door–they’re as firm in their “beliefs” too–and the “husband” can be rude about it.) I did invite the new neighbors to check out our Catholic school… I think they pretended not to hear me. I doubt they’ll be joining us for neighborhood “Friday Happy Hours” this summer though. Somehow, I think they wouldn’t approve of neighbors who like to party on the deck and start the weekend with margaritas and Coronas and eat nothing but appetizers for dinner. Not that we wouldn’t offer equally fun non-alcoholic drinks (we make non-alcoholic slushies for the kids and anyone else that wants one) nor do we drink irresponsibly, but I just have a feeling that this is one of many things we all do that is probably against their beliefs. And judging from this man’s “invite” to me for him to show me EXACTLY where in the bible it says he’s going to heaven for sure, I just don’t think we’re going to mix much.

I sort of left it with the guy that the kids could maybe ride bikes together when the weather gets warmer. I’m not anymore comfortable with my kids going over to their house than I’m sure they’ll be about their kids coming to ours.

 

[yellowbird]

Your summer deck parties sounds like so much fun!!

 

[Col40]

I don’t think the pamphlet said Baptist church, perhaps the OP thinks the church is a Baptist one…just speculating…

It was a baptist church…I threw out the pamphlet this morning. That’s why I was kind of taken back because I would expect the prothletizing from LDS or JW or Scientologists–not the local baptists! And most of the ones up here that I know are not at all into trying to convert. Even most of the Born Agains I’ve met around town are respectful that the Holy Spirit works through each of us differently and don’t try to “save” anyone.

 

[August_Ambrose]

Where I lived in Texas there was a Baptist Church like this- Bible Baptist or something along those lines. Long skirts/dresses, high neck lines, no dancing, and I think they did do some door-to-door, though they never vistied me.

Jon

Wow, I always thought, was taught that the luthran prayer service was just a spiritual communion with unordained ministers. That the line of ordination was abandoned by the lutherans. STraighten me out on this.

 

[August_Ambrose]

It was a baptist church…I threw out the pamphlet this morning. That’s why I was kind of taken back because I would expect the prothletizing from LDS or JW or Scientologists–not the local baptists! And most of the ones up here that I know are not at all into trying to convert. Even most of the Born Agains I’ve met around town are respectful that the Holy Spirit works through each of us differently and don’t try to “save” anyone.

Invite them over for cards, teach them how to play pinochle or bridge. monopoly is a great kids game too. Be friendly and show them how catholics live. Have the criufifix and picture of our Lady present too.

 

[Col40]

Your summer deck parties sounds like so much fun!!

Oh they rock! It’s not just about drinks, either. We usually cook up something on the grill—like ribs or chicken or steaks–something that can be cut bite sized so we can dip it in different sauces, and everyone brings something fun to eat…like brushetta or whatever…it’s a blast! If it’s cool enough, we have fire pits we can light later on. If it’s too hot, we take a swim. They started off spontaneous and just became a tradition whenever possible in the summer.

The best one was during that East Coast power outage about 6 years ago…not because of the power outage–that was kind of scary. But it was so hot, so I called the neighbors over, told them to grab their suits, and we took a swim, then opened a bottle of Merlot, grilled up some meats that were starting to defrost and made big steak and chicken salads for dinner! By the time the lights came on, we had cooled off, and had totally unwound.

 

[Col40]

Invite them over for cards, teach them how to play pinochle or bridge. monopoly is a great kids game too. Be friendly and show them how catholics live. Have the criufifix and picture of our Lady present too.

We like cards…not just poker.

I have a crucifix just inside my entrance to our home, along with an Irish cross, the kids have Jesus and Blessed Mother mini-statues in their rooms, as do DH and I. My curio contains an award we received for promoting NFP (when our diocese actually had a department for it!), and a beautiful porcelian figure of the Holy Family that is very precious to me. There’s about 15 rosaries floating around our house…let me put it to you this way…we don’t have HUGE flags that say “we’re Catholic” but there are enough signs throughout our house that show we are, as we are…very strong in faith yet not ostentatious in show.

It’s funny—when our priest came for dinner—we hadn’t yet agreed on a crucifix to hang in our home (after 15 years of marriage). That didn’t phase him much…actually, we had to remember to say grace before dinner. Probably because we ate so late because my husband forgot to check the gas in the grill…and I was refilling the wine glasses, a lot.

 

[JonNC]

Wow, I always thought, was taught that the luthran prayer service was just a spiritual communion with unordained ministers. That the line of ordination was abandoned by the lutherans. STraighten me out on this.

August,
I sent you a PM since your request was off the OP’s topic.

 

[1ke]

Help me out…new neighbors, guy in his 40s, three kids, came by, trying to “invite” us to their church…did some preaching at the door, even after I told them I was Catholic. They gave us a pamphlet for some baptist church—but most baptists I know are not into door to door recruiting. Wife and another child at home.

Remember, Baptist churches are all independent. They have no central authority. Even those that affiliate with specific groups such as the Souther Baptist Convention are ultimately independent.

Just because you have not experienced Baptists who evangelize does not mean they do not. Most people would say that about Catholics, and yet the Phoenix diocese (to name one) has an active door-to-door evangelization campaign as part of the Catholics Come Home campaign.

Baptists are independent. Some may focus more on door to door evangelization than others.

The girls–pre-teen, were dressed like prairie girls—full, long skirts. Still dressed like that when I drove past their house later on that day and they were out playing. All of their kids are homeschooled.

Again, all Baptist churches are independent. They loosely share a set of beliefs, but you will find a lot of variety within specific congregations. There are indeed Baptists who dress as you describe-- women do not wear pants. They dress modestly, wear only long skirts, and the women have long hair. Other Baptists do not require women to wear only dresses.

Is this some sort of fundamentalist faith?

That depends upon what you mean by “fundamentalist.” What do you mean?

If so, what else should I know about their beliefs, in case our kids (the same age as ours) should strike up a friendship—we live about 10 houses away, so it’s a possibility.

You will have to find out from them what they believe. Baptists come in many varieties, and vary from congregation to congregation. You can look up some websites such as the Southern Baptist Convention to see their outline of beliefs, but these neighbors of yours may attend a church that is independent of any group.

You’ll just have to ask them.

 

[liz26]

We have a similar faction of the Baptist Church in our city…they call themselves Independent Fundamental Baptist. Living in the south, I’m used to the typical Southern Baptist, however this group seems to be very different. They kncoked on our door one evening and I answered, unfortunately with a cocktail in my hand…it was not pretty. I had to call the police to remove them from my property because they were trying to “rid my house of evil”, by setting up a protest in my front yard…aparently when you drink a cocktail you allow Satan into your soul.

 

[1ke]

We have a similar faction of the Baptist Church in our city…they call themselves Independent Fundamental Baptist. Living in the south, I’m used to the typical Southern Baptist, however this group seems to be very different. They kncoked on our door one evening and I answered, unfortunately with a cocktail in my hand…it was not pretty. I had to call the police to remove them from my property because they were trying to “rid my house of evil”, by setting up a protest in my front yard…aparently when you drink a cocktail you allow Satan into your soul.

But we shouldn’t paint them all with the same brush b/c I also know some independent Baptists who dress as the OP describes and believe in the Fundamentals. But, they did not behave that way. I got to know them doing sidewalk counseling at PP. They were very faithful in praying at the abortion clinic. They never said anything derogatory to us Catholics, and even socialized with us on occasion.

 

[liz26]

Agreed…That was just my own personal experience with them. I’m sure that they are not all like that.