At what point do you get abrupt with someone when they are trying to convert you away from catholisism

-- kat (riesoracle@hotmail.com), January 11, 2005

Answers

Depends ont e situationa nd person. som are genuinely well meaning, others are just tyrig to score points.elaborate pelase.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), January 11, 2005.

Often these are the best opportunities to show them the Truth of Catholicism. Find the flaws in their belief system and ask how they deal with this.

Eg. For Sola Scriptura people, There is no verse in the Bible that supports this teaching! Ask them for one and they will fail to find one every time.

Since I am converting to Catholic from Protestant, I had some encounters with Protestant friends who wanted to bring me back. I think that they were all well meaning and sincere. But if these people are approaching you, they are asking to talk about it. Perfect opportunity to share your faith!! Get knowledgeable. I know it's difficult to answer their points sometimes, and you don't always have an answer right away. But if you can tell that they seem sincere, say you will get back to them on what you don't know and then follow-up.

Since they are the ones challenging, answer them with a challenge or question. They came prepared and you were caught off-guard, so the decks are a little stacked. Don't let them make presumptions (eg. Sola Scriptura).

God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com"), January 11, 2005.

emily, as a side note...

what's the name of that line of thought that exclaims "if it's not in the bible it's not true?" you could say that the assumption of mary is not in the bible, therefore it is not true. why would the bible have to tell its readers that the only way to the truth is only through the bible? it seems that it would be self evident, wouldn't it? whereas, the assumption of mary is not self evident...

not knocking you here, just pointing out that throwing little phrases like that out there makes ya sound like sdqa.

-- rina (hellorina@aol.com), January 11, 2005.

“why would the bible have to tell its readers that the only way to the truth is only through the bible? it seems that it would be self evident, wouldn't it?”

Sorry Rina but it’s YOU, not Emily who sounds as irrational as sdqa. If it’s “self-evident” from the Bible itself, how come millions of sincere dedicated Christians pored over the Bible for 1500 years without one of them ever coming up with the idea that “the only way to the truth is through the Bible”? (Oh, yeah, don’t tell me, the one about how every single Catholic priest, monk and nun for 1500 years was a wicked anti-Christian who “hid” the Bible from the people!)

It was the 16th century inventors of Protestantism who invented the novel idea that “the only way to truth is through the Bible”. Not because it was self-evident, but because, having rejected the authority which Christ gave to the Pope and bishops, they had ONLY the Bible to fall back on as Plan B to try to justify their own usurped authority. If it’s so “self-evident” how come it is NOT evident to the vast majority of people who have read the Bible?

And yes, the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into Heaven IS evident, even from the Bible alone, when you think about it.

Kat, it depends on the personalities and the situation whether it's better to be abrupt or to try to engage them to think about the issues. Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), January 12, 2005.

"And yes, the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into Heaven IS evident, even from the Bible alone, when you think about it."

Not according to New Advent Steve. Check the link here

From this page we can read the following:

Regarding the day, year, and manner of Our Lady's death, nothing certain is known. The earliest known literary reference to the Assumption is found in the Greek work De Obitu S. Dominae. Catholic faith, however, has always derived our knowledge of the mystery from Apostolic Tradition

Furthermore, if you would really go so far as to say that it's evident from reading the bible alone, then I'm afraid you're making the same mistake as Gerry Matatics. Once you start going down that path, you are giving yourself room for personal interpretation. I don't think you really want to start doing that do you?

Any comments?

-- Oliver Fischer (spicenut@excite.com), January 12, 2005.

why would the bible have to tell its readers that the only way to the truth is only through the bible? - rina

Maybe I misunderstand exactly what the doctrine of Sola Scriptura is, but isn't the basis of it that everything we need to know for salvation is found in Scripture? If that is true, then shouldn't the doctrine itself be found in Scripture? If it isn't, then the doctrine itself is in error based on it's own premise.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), January 12, 2005.

With regards the topic at hand, I also think it depends on the situation and the personality. If the person's heart is truly hardened and our discussions aren't bearing good fruit, then it's time to step back and pray. Of course, wisdom is needed to discern that.

-- Andy S ("ask3332004@yahoo.com"), January 12, 2005.

Oliver, there is nothing on the page you link which contradicts what I said. The Assumption of Our Lady is a different thing from “the day, year and manner of her death”. I said that the Assumption is evident from the Bible when you think about it (and given 20 centuries of theological reflection). That does NOT mean that it has always been or is now evident to everyone. Of course our knowledge of it is derived from Apostolic Tradition, as is our knowledge of all true Christian doctrine. But like many other true Christian doctrines, it CAN be derived from the Bible alone if one wishes to do so. I am NOT inviting people to invent their own personal interpretations of Scripture. All authentic interpretation of scripture must be guided by apostolic Tradition and the authority of Christ’s Church.

-- Steve (55555@aol.com), January 12, 2005.

oliver, perhaps it would be more apparent if you understood WHY it is evident... steve can correct me if i'm not exactly on his same page, but heres where i see it...

Jesus was without sin, was raised up. elijah was without sin (reasonably), was raised up. Mary was without sin... why should she get the short end of the stick?

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), January 12, 2005.