Different Approaches to Apologetics

[franciscanheart]

I find it interesting that in certain situations I am very calm about talking about our faith, explaining it and not defending it, and that in certain other situations, I am very on edge, anxious, and doubtful of my abilities.

I personally work better when I am talking to a person face to face. I generally feel more comfortable too if I already know the person and we both respect each other. I get very anxious when I know someone has no respect for me because I am Catholic. It is not so much that I am hurt by it, but that I know they have preconceptions which makes my side of the conversation a bit more difficult.

I personally am not as hardcore apologist as others here (not to say it in a negative way) and I've learned to like it. Those here who do practice that way have 100% of my support. I commend you and the work you do. It's just not me. I am very comfortable with my small ways of doing things. I am comfortable with my non-confrontational, very slow-moving and cautious approach.

I think it has taken quite a while to really get to this point and I think it's important that everyone remembers that we are not all alike. I believe it was aloysius who said (i think) yesterday in open mic that not everyone is called to be a theologian or great apologist. he said there is freedom in the simpleton way of life. I think that is beautiful.

I really wanted to just share my thoughts about my own progress not only as an apologist but as a person. I also wanted to throw this out there for those who may lurk (as I once did and occasionally still do) and are unsure of 'if they are capable'. Everyone is capable. Approaches and settings are going to vary by person. It's okay to be simple. It's okay not to be an amazing apologist. Every win, big or small, is a win for Christ in the end.


God bless the obviously militant and God bless the unseen believer. Both are winning hearts for Christ! (Together... the world is His again!)

[Nathan]

Here's a question: What do you do when you get stumped?

I was evangelizing a Bible-only Protestant acquaintance the other day, and he threw a question at me that, at the time, I had no answer for. (He was basically using Gospel quotes by Jesus to justify his not having to go church; that he can be a perfect Christian by himself, on his own, with his Bible.) [i]Now[/i] I have great answers for that in abundance, after going home and doing a little basic reading, but at our meeting I was stumped. I was like, "That's a good question. Hmm... you're wrong, of course, but let me get back to you on that."

It wasn't a KO for him, and in my heart of hearts I do believe that this young gentleman will develop an interest in the Church soon enough -- he's a true intellectual, and he's only been into Christianity, on his own, for a few months -- but I wasn't feeling so confident in my Catholicity on the walk home.

[franciscanheart]

I personally try not to get too discouraged about that kind of thing, especially right there on the spot. I certainly never deny being unsure. I generally say something along the lines of what I believe it would be (a lot of things are explainable through common sense) and say that this is what I would believe based on the teachings I know. I tell them honestly that I don't have anything specific at the time but that if they would give me a little time to produce some information from other sources that we could revisit the topic at another time.

i dont see that as a downfall anymore. i see it as a stepping stone not only for myself but for the other person. they see that we dont try to appear to know everything. we know we dont know everything and we're okay with admitting it. they also see that we're committed to finding Truth. we research carefully, give it careful consideration, and revisit the topic at another time. i personally see it as saying "hey you know what i dont really know. let me take the time to learn myself on it instead of trying to impress you or throw out something just to save my pride or my image."

i also think that it helps you to be better prepared next time. i dont think its good to beat ourselves up over a few topics that we are less familiar with. i used to sometimes think that i was pushing people away from catholicism because i didnt know all the answers. the way i see it now is this: i will admit when i do not know the full answer. i will admit when i cannot say it as eloquently as someone else (and then i will provide something more eloquent). i will recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in myself and others to do good. i will not blame myself for a 'loss' when I am doing nothing wrong. I will recognize that it is the Holy Spirit that converts their hearts, not me. i know that as long as i do my best to find the answers for them that the Holy Spirit is more than capable of converting their hearts.

[phatcatholic]

[quote name='hugheyforlife' date='Nov 15 2005, 03:16 PM']I find it interesting that in certain situations I am very calm about talking about our faith, explaining it and not defending it, and that in certain other situations, I am very on edge, anxious, and doubtful of my abilities.

I personally work better when I am talking to a person face to face. I generally feel more comfortable too if I already know the person and we both respect each other. I get very anxious when I know someone has no respect for me because I am Catholic. It is not so much that I am hurt by it, but that I know they have preconceptions which makes my side of the conversation a bit more difficult.

I personally am not as hardcore apologist as others here (not to say it in a negative way) and I've learned to like it. Those here who do practice that way have 100% of my support. I commend you and the work you do. It's just not me. I am very comfortable with my small ways of doing things. I am comfortable with my non-confrontational, very slow-moving and cautious approach.

I think it has taken quite a while to really get to this point and I think it's important that everyone remembers that we are not all alike. I believe it was aloysius who said (i think) yesterday in open mic that not everyone is called to be a theologian or great apologist. he said there is freedom in the simpleton way of life. I think that is beautiful.

I really wanted to just share my thoughts about my own progress not only as an apologist but as a person. I also wanted to throw this out there for those who may lurk (as I once did and occasionally still do) and are unsure of 'if they are capable'. Everyone is capable. Approaches and settings are going to vary by person. It's okay to be simple. It's okay not to be an amazing apologist. Every win, big or small, is a win for Christ in the end.
God bless the obviously militant and God bless the unseen believer. Both are winning hearts for Christ! (Together... the world is His again!)
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i think that's beautiful laura, and as a "hardcore apologist" i find it very endearing. the "little way" is a wonderful one, and sometimes i wish i could just have faith like a child, w/o analyzing everything and w/o this responsibility of defending and explaining the faith on such a regular basis. its hard for me to believe sometimes that the majority of catholics just live their catholic lives, they go to mass every sunday, and they pray every night, and they raise their families in the faith and they just love God and other people. they don't ever worry about the relation between justification and sanctification, or the tripartite makeup of man, or standing vs. kneeling after the Agnus Dei.

that's what's great about Catholicism, it has something to offer to every type of mind and personality that embraces it. don't ever be ashamed of being the Catholic that you are. its a beautiful thing.

pax christi,
phatcatholic

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Nov 15 2005, 07:16 PM'] i think that's beautiful laura, and as a "hardcore apologist" i find it very endearing. the "little way" is a wonderful one, and sometimes i wish i could just have faith like a child, w/o analyzing everything and w/o this responsibility of defending and explaining the faith on such a regular basis. its hard for me to believe sometimes that the majority of catholics just live their catholic lives, they go to mass every sunday, and they pray every night, and they raise their families in the faith and they just love God and other people. they don't ever worry about the relation between justification and sanctification, or the tripartite makeup of man, or standing vs. kneeling after the Agnus Dei.

that's what's great about Catholicism, it has something to offer to every type of mind and personality that embraces it. don't ever be ashamed of being the Catholic that you are. its a beautiful thing.

pax christi,
phatcatholic
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thank you, nick. that means a lot to me.

[Snowcatpa]

[color=purple]I thought that was just lovely hugheyforlife It reminded me of a quote from St. Edith Stein that I think you might like. She talks about not necessarily needing to be the militant apologist, but, espeically with your feminine gifts, finding the right words, even little words, your little actions, your ways of being, that show Christ to that person, at that period in time.

She writes: [From The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life (1928)]

"The teacher thus needs a basic education in dogma and asceticism. Apologetics is certainly also good, but the former seems more important to me: [i][b]ready arguments, as right as they may be, often do not have penetrating force. But she whose soul is formed through the truths of faith - and I call this ascetic formation - finds words which are proper for this human being and for this moment respectively[/i][/b]."

You are using your gifts in your own way to help others find God, and that is just as valuable Slow-moving, cautious and non-confrontational can truly be beautiful [/color]

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Snowcatpa' date='Nov 16 2005, 03:30 PM'][color=purple]I thought that was just lovely hugheyforlife It reminded me of a quote from St. Edith Stein that I think you might like. She talks about not necessarily needing to be the militant apologist, but, espeically with your feminine gifts, finding the right words, even little words, your little actions, your ways of being, that show Christ to that person, at that period in time.

She writes: [From The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life (1928)]

"The teacher thus needs a basic education in dogma and asceticism. Apologetics is certainly also good, but the former seems more important to me: [i][b]ready arguments, as right as they may be, often do not have penetrating force. But she whose soul is formed through the truths of faith - and I call this ascetic formation - finds words which are proper for this human being and for this moment respectively[/i][/b]."

You are using your gifts in your own way to help others find God, and that is just as valuable  Slow-moving, cautious and non-confrontational can truly be beautiful   [/color]
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[/quote]wow. that is a really awesome quote. i really like that. it sort of validates for me what i have already discovered for myself. thanks for sharing that and thank you for your kind words!

this reminds me of something i didnt mention in my original post...
i believe that the witness of a true person is one of the greatest testimonies to God. being myself, allowing my inner being, the one created by God Himself, to shine through in me at all times allows me to be more effective in communicating Christ's love for all of mankind. the burden does not then seem a burden but a joy to share Christ with the world. it is peaceful to be yourself. in this way, i communicate what i believe at all times and 'use words when necessary'. what a relief this is! [...please forgive me if that seemed prideful. i didnt mean to come across that way. i am a sinner in need of much mercy. these are just some things ive discovered about myself and my faith...]