Help! Dad got ambushed by a Baptist!

[eddieloudog]

I need help. I have been ambushed before by Evangelicals and took my lumps and get educated by reading The Book and using places like Phatmass and Catholic Answers. I can handle myself, but i'm not the topic of this post here. My dad is.

Here is the scenario. My Dad and Mom went on a cruise (finally, Dad has a hard time slowing dwn) with my Mom's two sisters and their husbands. My one uncle (no relation, except by marriage) is a Baptist Deacon. My Dad is a cradle Catholic and he is practicing. They were at dinner on the boat and started talking. One thing led to another, and two drinks later, Dad and Uncle Wess were at each other’s throats. I wasn't witness to this, but Mom says that they think that we Catholics are worshiping the devil and blah, blah, blah. - you know the rest.

Well, I want to impart some of the truth that I have been so blessed to receive recently. But, I don't know how. The man is computer illiterate, so the websites are out. I am going to give him 'The New Catholic Answers Bible' and some tracts that I bought. My only question is, how can I do this and have him ingest it? I mean, I know that I can't overload the man. I just want to pepper him with Truth and give him back that little bit of certainty that my Uncle took away from him while strengthening him in his Catholic roots of Truth.

Any suggestions? I will see him for Christmas - first Christmas home in 4 yrs!

Pax Christi!

PS prayers are needed too!

[Paphnutius]

Are you trying to help out your dad or your uncle?

If it is your dad I would recommend simply talking with him and then giving him the tracts. Go for a walk with him, show him your faith in the Faith. Praying with him is a great aid as well.

Scott Hahn is a good place to start in strengthening one's faith in Catholicism. Books work better than tracts in my opinon.

[eddieloudog]

I am trying to help my Dad. I will talk with him and tell him of my faith, but I think that he may be better off reading stuff too. This way he can do so searching on his own.

[Norseman82]

First, try to make him computer literate. Give him a fish, he eats for a day; teach him to fish, he eats for a lifetime. This is because of the abundance of resources on the internet and the fact that we are right now communicating over the internet. You can start by actually sitting down at the computer with him, finding out his questions, and looking it up with him either here at Phatmass or at www.catholic.com and printing out what is necessary.

Some additional resources:

1) "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating. Goes over the majority of the major complaints made against Catholics.

2) A pamphlet "Top Ten Questions Catholics are Asked" can be a starting off point for topics of discussion. We based our parish young adult activities on that pamphlet last season.

Also, I would advise tackling the issue of "sola scriptura" first and educating both yourself and your dad as to why "sola scriptura" itself is unbiblical. "Sola scriptura" is the root of Catholic-Protestant differences and once that root is eliminated or proven wrong, your dad will at least have more peace of mind when dealing with anti-Catholics.




































Oh, and don't serve alcohol at family religious discussions.

[eddieloudog]

Dad, computer literate!? Easier said than done. But I will try. He only has a dial-up and he's like me. We both have the attention span of a fruit fly.
I may be able to set him up with an email, so that he has to check it every so often. This way he gets more comfortable with it.

Where can I find that top 10 questions tract? Is it @ OSV? I guess I could check myself - duh.

[eddieloudog]

Oh yeah, no alcohol, right........

[homeschoolmom]

What was a Baptist deacon doing with a couple of drinks?

[phatcatholic]

i would suggest the book "Rome Sweet Home" by Scott Hahn. i think that "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" is too apologetical in nature for him to start with (there's actually an under-current of resentment in the book). Hahn's book will help him to grow in appreciation of his faith by reading how one person struggled to embrace the bark of Peter. it usually makes Cradle Catholics feel much more appreciative for the gift that they have been given. plus, it too will answer alot of questions about why Catholics believe what they do.

[eddieloudog]

Rome Sweet Home, wasn't that written by the guy on EWTN? That's cool. I really wish that some more non-Catholics had a chance to see that show.

I do agree with your point about starting him off with a slow start Apologetics book. I don't wanna freek the old man out with too much on the differences before I can give him a good refresher on why we do what we do.

Oh! link to the Top 10 Questions Catholics are asked! Hopefully I put it in right

[url="http://www.trueknights.org/TopTen.html"]Top 10[/url]

Thanks for all your help! Phatmass Rocks!

[djc08]

I have the first version of the Catholic Answers Bible and I love it. I'm sure he will too.

A similar experience is a really good friend of mine who is a Catholic Deacon had a Baptist Deacon come up to him and go all "I'm right your wrong" on him.

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

worship the devil?

my uncle used to be catholic and is now a hard core pentecostal. but at least he is respectful and doesn't think we worship the devil.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Dave Armstrong's "Biblical Evidence for Catholicism" and "More Biblical Evidence for Catholicism"

Ludwigg Ott's "Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma"

Bishop Donald Wuerl's "The Teaching of Christ"

[thessalonian]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Dec 17 2005, 09:27 PM']Dave Armstrong's "Biblical Evidence for Catholicism" and "More Biblical Evidence for Catholicism"

Ludwigg Ott's "Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma"

Bishop Donald Wuerl's "The Teaching of Christ"
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Ott's book is too heavey. TofC is good. Haven't read Dave's book but I have heard good things about it. I agree with phat that there is some bitterness in keating's book that is not good. But it would still be my first recommendation. Haven't read Rome Sweet Home but I am sure it is good. The Surprized by the Truth series is particularly inspiring.