GAH! I didn't start this...

[Catholictothecore]

The township I live in is under 500 people. I'm part of the the largest Catholic family, and there is only one other. Most of my friends all go to the same church, which is lead by the same, untrained, unordained, anti-(as well as ex)-Catholic. I don't want to convert any of them at the risk of hurting their feelings, and we just don't do that tactlessly. But this "preacher" is really making them all anti-Catholic; it seems to be the only thing they can agree on! I just want to calrify for them what the Church actually says, instead of what he says the Chuch says.

Also, I have a tendency to talk a lot. I have a problem where I know what I want to say in my head, but I have trouble verbalizing, so it takes me much longer to say something that it should. Also, I don't think I read my CCC enough to really be doing this, talking to them, I mean. Should I just stop? How can I when no one else Catholic seems to be willing to talk, and this preacher is making them so narrow-minded to what I'm saying?

[thessalonian]

Don't stop. But pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and the words and to the blessed Mother daily for their converion. And get studying!

[Catholictothecore]

I've tried to study before, but the CCC just seems so dauting! I know it shouldn't be, as I've read the 5th Harry Potter book, and that's even longer than the CCC! Pray for me.

[journeyman]

sounds a little like modern day nativism

throw in a point of agreement every once in a while.

it can be as simple as "thou shalt not kill" . . . Catholics have that commandment too! wow, I wonder what else we have in common?

if it turns out that 60-70% of what is taught is shared by all faiths, the pollyanna in me thinks there will be less picking on a particular faith, especially in a smaller town where everybody knows everybody anyway . . . your actions are going to speak louder than your words

this style probably won't work too well with the preacher, but save the hardest nuts for last!



study sounds like a good idea too - pick your topics - hopefully in advance - so you're prepared, and if conversation strays beyond what you've got mastered, tell them you're still learning, but you'll go look it up and tell them what you learn - and then do it - not all of us have the Lord's promise to put words in our mouth, as he did for the apostles when they were under trial, but pray for that gift as well, and then study some more!

Edited February 23, 2005 by journeyman

[Catholictothecore]

thanks...

I guess I should pray for them all, the preacher in particular; I've used the times he's confrotned me to be angry to much.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Though my town isn't that small, the majority are Prostestants... and many very anti-Catholic (and the Catholics that are around usually aren't very knowledgeable and/or don't admit they are Catholic). I learned quick to be on the ball and how to keep my mouth shut about things I didn't know about--because it sometimes made things worse (ex. once I retorted that purgatory was in the Bible-- not the word, but evidence for it, but couldn't remember any passages, except one "somewhere in Corthinthians", and my friend pulled out a Bible and slapped it down in front of me, and said "where"... and I looked through Corinthians for a while, but it took too long, so they laughed and gave up on me... ... it was sooo humiliating/humbling).

However, I find I am much better at writing. So I made up a "blog" where all I did was explain Catholic things and provided links to my sources (i.e., Dave Armstrong and Gary Hoge, among others), and posted the link at the bottom of my e-mails as a 'signature'. But, after I "officially reconciled" to the Church the summer before my senior year... I was practically a reference dictionary for the Church (apologetically speaking)... during the previous year, all the mistakes and mumbled attempts to defend my faith paid off.. because I actually began retaining information in a pretty awesome way-- I have a lot of the "highlights" of Scripture memorized, can flip to exactly what I'm looking for, and can explain myself and my faith a lot better than I could then.

Just keep reading, keep talking... try writing a few "apologetic articles".. you don't have to show them to anyone if you don't want.. but the writing will help you learn and remember.

And when you get really good, you can sit down the protestant pastor and ask him to explain why the Bible says one thing, but he teaches another (i.e., the Eucharist, Confession, Mary's role, etc.)...

(lol, most of the protestant pastors of my friend's churches won't talk to me because I went there as an agnostic/atheist (way before I reconciled) asking questions and "got too nosey"!!! (as if asking WHY they believed a certain thing, and where it was supported and how they know it was meant in that sense was a troubling question... ) I forget who said it, but it basically boils down to the fact that every protestant pastor is his own "pope"-- he lays down the law for his church based on his own interpretation (however informed that may be scholarly-wise)-- and because those people agree with him, they stay.

Edited February 23, 2005 by Fides_et_Ratio

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Catholictothecore' date='Feb 22 2005, 06:49 PM'] I've tried to study before, but the CCC just seems so dauting! I know it shouldn't be, as I've read the 5th Harry Potter book, and that's even longer than the CCC! Pray for me. [/quote]
you could try our Bible and Catechism reading plan

[url="http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=10"]http://phorum.phatmass.com/index.php?showforum=10[/url]

[thessalonian]

In all honesty I don't find it very easy to read the Catechism page by page. I have done better readign the scirptures and other books and then reading bits and pieces of the Catechism when issues arise. I have after 6 years I think pretty well covered it all.

One thing I should mention. It takes years to become an Apologist. The Apostles had the master with them for three years and they still did not fully get it until after the resurrection. So be patient about what you don't know. God will feed it to you know faster than you can grasp it. He will give you the grace to take the next step. Also always look toward the Church and be patient with the answers. They don't always come when we want them to but they will. Set long term goals and you'll be fine. I honestly think that most important is to read the Bible. Do the daily readings for three years and you will have read the whole thing. Jeff Cavins study, the Great Adventure Bible Study available at relevantradio.com is a good place to start with the Bible. Also have you read Karl Keatings "CAtholicism and Fundamentalism". From the sounds of it that will help you a great deal as well as a starting point to get you up and running, knowing some arguements you can use.

DAily rosary is a must. The mother will lead you to her son!


God bless

Edited February 23, 2005 by thessalonian

[argent_paladin]

I used to be a "Bible Christian" so here's my take:

1. Pray
2. Try reading [url="http://shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0121.html?L+scstore+lbdj4219ff8c188c+1109271561"]this book[/url].
3. Be polite. Be friendly. Be open.
4. Invite people to mass. Offer to pray for people. Go to a bible study (once).
5. You can just read the "In Brief" summaries at the end of ever section of the CCC. That gives you a quick look at the whole thing. And if your are interested in a certain part, you can go back and read the whole section.
6. Read the bible.
Basically, be the best Catholic you can be and be an example of a good Christian. Then they will realize that what their pastor is telling them isn't true.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Feb 23 2005, 03:38 AM'] 2. Try reading [url="http://shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0121.html?L+scstore+lbdj4219ff8c188c+1109271561"]this book[/url]. [/quote]
Is that a good book? I've been thinking about getting it.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='Feb 23 2005, 12:40 PM'] Is that a good book? I've been thinking about getting it. [/quote]
Yes, it is a very good beginners apologetics boo,.

The only caution I would have with it is that one might tend to broadbrush Fundamentalists as I did after reading it. Other than that it has good arguements. Let me emphasize also that it is a beginners book.

[Catholictothecore]

[quote name='argent_paladin' date='Feb 23 2005, 03:38 AM']
2. Try reading [url="http://shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0121.html?L+scstore+lbdj4219ff8c188c+1109271561"]this book[/url].
[/quote]
OHH! I WANT IT!!!

[Guest thomas aquinas]

You also might want to check out Karl Keating's website, Catholic Answers, at www.catholic.com. Catholic Answers has a lot of good apologetic tracts and magazine articles available that you can study that might be easier to understand. After you get a get an understanding of a topic from one of the Catholic Answers article's (for example Mary's Immaculate Conception), then use the subject index ( ex. Mary) in the back of the Catechism to broaden your understanding of a particular Catholic doctrine. That way, you are using the Catechism as a reference instead of trying to read complex subjects in their entirety without having a little background information first. Good luck and God bless.

[phatcatholic]

good call t.a......................welcome to phatmass!!

[phatcatholic]

......oh, and another thing i noticed about Keeting's book. the chapters are basically his website (catholiic.com) in print. i could tell that one came from the other. also, you can tell its a reactive work. he almost seems bitter as a result of all the anti-catholic carp that is out there, and he certainly takes the offensive. so, as a beginner you have to make sure that, after reading the book, you don't assume that every non-catholic has alterior motives for believing what they do.