Catholics Belong To A Cult

[Quietfire]

[quote]Sadly, I once considered Catholicism a non-Christian cult . One of the worst kind, too. The "whore of Babylon." Thankfully, I now stand corrected . However, the Protestant seminary I am a student believes that Catholicism is a cult or cult-like, at least most of the professors and students. I am afraid for others to find out that I am seriously looking at Catholicism now! They may think I am crazy . I can only imagine how this man in the article felt as he went through the conversion process!

In Christ,
Neal[/quote]

Fear not, Neal. Christ will guide your steps.
I would ask your Professors what their definition of 'cult' is. Like I stated in my earlier post, because of the whole incident with Jim Jones in the 70's, the word has a new negative meaning. BUT, that meaning is incorrect. Is it possible that your professors are using the original meaning? (somehow I doubt it)

Still fear not. Its scary for me. No one in my family is a practicing ? anything.
My dad is Catholic, but hasnt been to Church since my parents divorced, and honestly, I dont remember him going even before that. (see my signature!) And since in all honesty, my dad is not the finest example of a good practicing Catholic, none of my sibs and I ever put much thought into Catholicism. This is something I have to face alone, I can only imagine my sister's reaction when I get confirmed in the Church. I can imagine it, but I cant put it here, it isnt a very nice thought. Really.

It bothered me for a while, but I let it go. I have (or will have) something that she is sorely missing and although I grieve for this, I can not put my life on hold hoping she will "come to her senses". She is choosing her path, I have chosen the very narrow one.

Peace :peace:

[RandomProddy]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Jun 28 2004, 06:08 PM'] Then ask him why doesn't he consult you on the teachings of the Catholic Church since you ARE a Catholic? [/quote]
That might intone you think yourself as an expert on the church which, forgive me, might come off as arrogant?

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='RandomProddy' date='Jun 28 2004, 02:19 PM'] That might intone you think yourself as an expert on the church which, forgive me, might come off as arrogant? [/quote]
Yes it might. But it also might get the point across you don't go ask non-catholics what the Catholic Church believes any more than a quack to cure your cancer.

The point is to interrrupt their set spiel and get them to actually think.

Edited June 29, 2004 by cmotherofpirl

[VeraMaria]

[quote name='Crusader_4' date='May 30 2004, 02:58 AM'] Everytime i hear about this sort of Cult like thing i am always reminded of this famous article by Chesterton about why people see Catholicsm as a cult and such check it out its awesome

[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHRIST/CONVERSI.TXT"]http://www.ewtn.com/library/CHRIST/CONVERSI.TXT[/url] [/quote]
WOW.

Thanks for posting that!!

That was AWESOME

Chesterton rocks! I was going to post some excerpts since it's rather long but in the end you need to read the whole article to fully get it...

It's worth it!

[MorphRC]

[quote name='MC Just' date='Jun 29 2004, 01:36 AM'] i got family members like that. I can't stand it, they are so ignorant. They claim all this carp about the catholic church, then when I go to defend it they change the subject. I can tell em over and over what the catholic church teaches and they will not even listen to me, they insist they know everything, although they dont, they act as if they do. The insist "I'm a christian, Im not Catholic" Christians arent suppose to do the stuff catholics do. I can show them biblical proof, and historical proof on Church teachings and it's almost like they get scared and run from it. [/quote]
The same goes for Muslims, they just move on, or most of all, which both prots, fundies, muslims do is make 4 topics run at the sametime, to cause confusion. Their was a guy on my msn mess, like that, he'd ask for proof of Christ's divinity, Id give him the biblical verses explain them, give a quote from my commentary [NJBC 2nd edition] then he'd argue it, but add another topic..lol by the end of the hour he'd had 4-5 differing topics. Its ridiculous!

[MorphRC]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' date='Jun 29 2004, 05:54 AM'] Yes it might. But it also might get the ponit across you don't go ask non-catholics what the Catholic Church believes any more than a quack to cure your cancer.

The point is to interrrupt their set spiel and get them to actually think. [/quote]
Its kinda like Poker, you gotta bluff it, unsettle them, and make an attitude in your tone, and 90%, they'll skip to another subject.

* Around and around the rose bush we go * :ph34r:

[phatcatholic]

Pointers for Debate at a Vehemently Anti-Catholic Forum:
(aka "Lessons I Have Learned the Hard Way") by phatcatholic.

1. completely ignore ad hominem attacks. don't even respond to them. pretend they never existed. they use these attacks to throw the catholic off topic and make him look bad when he tries to defend himself against them. plus, when u don't respond they hardly ever call u on it b/c their attack really wasn't meant as a legitimate post--just something to rile you up and allow them to vent.

2. if someone posts alot of opinion w/o backing it up, don't give those posts much thought either. at the MOST, i reply by saying "passion w/o proof"........b/c that's essentialy what it is

3. INSIST that the thread remain on topic at all costs. they will do everything possible to bait you into changing the subject. they will even use arguments that appear to be on topic but aren't. for example, in my debate on the Queen of Heaven, one person replied by defending why we shoudln't pray to mary. although this is about mary, it is OFF TOPIC b/c we're really talking about her existence as the queen of heaven. so, don't even reply to that. if most, reply by saying "this is off topic."

4. remain charitable at all costs. the kindness kills them. be so loveable and nice that its sickening. they hate it, but its truly the only way to be. of course, they hate charity b/c it goes against what they do there: hate.

5. people will say things there that will offend you immensely. they will cal the Eucharist a "crazy cookie" and Jesus our "wafer God." you must remind yourself NOT to get insulted by these remarks. blow them off. they mean nothing b/c they come from the truly ignorant.

6. do not show them that they have offended you. do not show the hurt that you feel. they feed off of it like rabid dogs.

7. you must use the King James Version w/ any scripture that you quote. they freakin adore this version of the bible, so if you use a verse from another version, they will automatically discredit it b/c its not KJV. plus, its powerful when you can use their own bible to support catholic doctrine.

8. if you do see a non-catholic there who actually posts w/ charity or usually has substantial things to say make sure you compliment them for that. thank them for their charity. let them know you appreciate it and be especially charitable in return. this will make them more inclined to continue the charity that they have presented.

9. don't forget the threads that you are involved in. some members like to spam the board w/ 50 million articles so that all the substantial debates get pushed back to previous pages. so, write down the titles of the debates you are engaged in b/c you may have to go thru a couple of pages and find them.

10. make sure you respond to every post written directly at you. if not, they will assume that you are dodging the subject.

11. pick your battles wisely. if you attempted to respond to every thread, you would have to quit your job and neglect everthing you hold dear. so, choose the ones you feel u will be the most effective at. i suggest engaging in 5 or 6 threads at a time at the most. don't go beyond that or u will wear urself too thin and u won't be able to keep track of them all.

12. pray constantly. they need prayers. you need prayers too. this is a hostile environment and it takes alot of patience and charity to spread the truth. implore the Lord to give you the wisdom and charity to spread his truth w/ love and to persist in the face of insurmountable odds.


i hope this helps........pax christi,
phatcatholic

[MorphRC]

Yep All Good stuff!

[quote]2. if someone posts alot of opinion w/o backing it up, don't give those posts much thought either. at the MOST, i reply by saying "passion w/o proof"........b/c that's essentialy what it is[/quote]

Another one for this, is to flood them with historical quotes, Scripture verses WITH Interpretation from an official scholarly book. Give links and sources. Put up about 15-20 atleast. There would be to much information [usually] for them to bother replying, but you still get your point across and avoid the usual 'topic-swapper ploy'. Also 98% of the time, the usual answer you get back is 'Its all made up, or its not Scripture', dont worry cause of those historical quotes will be like a thorn in their brain..lol Poking them whenever they try and remember something that is connected to one. I had some good results with that style.

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='MorphRC' date='Jul 1 2004, 12:32 AM'] Yep All Good stuff!



Another one for this, is to flood them with historical quotes, Scripture verses WITH Interpretation from an official scholarly book. Give links and sources. Put up about 15-20 atleast. There would be to much information [usually] for them to bother replying, but you still get your point across and avoid the usual 'topic-swapper ploy'. Also 98% of the time, the usual answer you get back is 'Its all made up, or its not Scripture', dont worry cause of those historical quotes will be like a thorn in their brain..lol Poking them whenever they try and remember something that is connected to one. I had some good results with that style.

[/quote]
i haven't had good results w/ that method. usually when i provide a large list of info like that, they just don't bother reading.......or they read until they find something they don't agree w/ and then quit. so, i try to either

1. divide the info into chunks w/ my commentary in between
2. provide links to the info, and then only paste the paragraphs from the info that i want them to focus on the most
3. go ahead and provide the whole thing, but bold the really important parts.

i find that more effective, but then again, everyone has their own apologetic style.

you say to-MAY-to, i say to-MAH-to

pax christi,
phatcatholic