Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization

[Paphnutius]

Voted yes...2 years of college in philosophy.

[Old_Joe]

[quote name='Paphnutius' date='Nov 22 2005, 08:59 PM']Voted yes...2 years of college in philosophy.
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Well, I should hope so.

[zunshynn]

I don't think I could... but that's because I'm afraid of really trying, not because I don't know the apologetics....

[Paphnutius]

[quote name='Old_Joe' date='Nov 22 2005, 09:04 PM']Well, I should hope so.
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There are lots of people with phil degrees that could not or would not. (not meaning anyone here of course)

[Extra ecclesiam nulla salus]

Latria is a Greek term used in Roman Catholic theology to refer to the highest form of worship of God. It is sacrificial in character, and may be offered only to God. [b]Roman Catholics offer other degrees of reverence to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Saints; these non-sacrificial types of reverence are called Hyperdulia and Dulia, respectively. [/b]

[b]Hyperdulia is reserved for the Blessed Virgin. Dulia is reserved for all the rest of the heavenly host.

[/b]

[jezic]

i voted..

how many people did you need?

[philothea]

Well, I voted when the poll first appeared, but if a text response is useful too...

I, of course, voted "yes." No problem.

My only real problem with apologetics like that is that some of the accusations (like Mary worship) are [i]so absurd[/i] that I kind of stand there, baffled, like someone just said the pope was an alien, or something.

This last happened with the "no personal relationship with Jesus" accusation. I was stunned speechless for about two hours.

How's the thesis going?

[missionseeker]

Living in Bible Belt, (in our Deanery there are 10,000 non-Catholics for every Catholic (4600) I have to know this. I have defended this teaching MANY times. (And they actually understood and said, "oh, that's cool" or "I never thought of it that way")

High School (senior)

[missionseeker]

Oh, and if this helps with anything at all....

My mom was a DRE (director of RE ) for 10 years. She tried to get people to realize that CCD (and home teaching) was more important than football, basketbaal, ect. She say "if a child goes to CCD for an hour and a half every Sunday of the school year every year untill 12 grade, they omly have the equivillant of a single semester in school. A parent would not send a child out in the 'real world' with only one semester of math. Or english, or reading.
Why then should they be sent with so little training in matters of The Faith?

[phatcatholic]

the definition of the word "worship" should not keep you from being able to vote. the question is can you defend against the accusation that we worship mary. can you give a defense, yes or no. the definition of the word "worship" is irrelevant to your ability to give a defense. if part of your response is asking them what they mean by the word "worship", then that is one component of your defense. so you would be starting to make your defense, thus you would vote yes.

[Paphnutius]

I think it is because the word "against" is what is making it confusing. The currect wording, at least first glance to me, makes the question appear confusing. "Can you defend (against) the accusation..."

[avemaria40]

I probably could if i had to. btw, I'm a high school junior

[tojo]

I'm a convert, I had to understand this in order to be willing to convert....

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I'll start with education. I am a Junior At Washburn University (Go Bods!) majoring in Political Science, minor in Philosophy. Before I converted I was a Non-denominational Free Evangelical youth Minister in the Church of Christ.

My defense against the accusation of Mary would change depending on the age, experiences, and general understanding of correct Catholic teaching, but the basic ideas I would draw from are these. The ideas of dulia, hyperdulia, and latria are difficult concepts to explain, because not many people speak latin. So I like to make a little analogy when I'm dealing with some people. I always preface that this in and of itself is a poor example, but the best I have come up with so far. I like cheeseburgers (dulia), I find them nurishing and wonderful, however when I compare it to a steak (hyperdulia) I would take a properly cooked stake anyday over a cheeseburger (I find the "properly cooked" part usefull because then I can talk about Mary's proper role). And if I though this was good then all I would have to do is then think of a Cow (latria), and how the coagulated milk, meat, milk, leather and all of the other wonderful things come from the cow. The cow is the source. I also find the "cheeseburger" analogy funny because hindus consider cows sacred. For some people just explaining the meaning of the words is enough.

I also like to go through the Bible and show the Marian passages. All generations will call be blessed, Mary full of Grace, Mary at the Cross, Mary at the wedding at Cana. And show how Mary's role is important in each story. Then If I still have time, I'll go into Revelations and show Mary there.

I also then explain the definition of the word to pray, and how it differs from worship. Praying may be part of worship but does not make itself worship anymore than singing a song may be part of worship, but in and of itself does not mean that worship is happening. Praying is just to ask, as I could pray to you that you go warm my truck up for me on a cold day.

By this time another statement has been posed "But you don't need Mary."

I will respond that we may not NEED Mary the same way we NEED Christ, or we NEED God, or NEED the Holy Spirit. but we do need Mary because she directs us to Christ, and any proper view of Mary will NEVER take Christ out of the picture and the way we are going. I also like to draw on the idea that we don't NEED music to worship God, but it helps us, the same way Mary can help us.

How did I do?

Peace,
Ben

[toledo_jesus]

I am 21, senior in college.

I have been refuting this since sophomore year of high school. It's a basic concept. The saints are alive, and Mary especially was assumed into Heaven. She goes to her Son for us, and prays for us. Therefore, it is no different than asking someone next to me to pray.

Special veneration to Mary can be confusing for a Protestant, but it is understood by the Catholic that they aren't worshipping Mary. She deserves some accolades, paltry as we humans can provide.

[benedictaj]

I voted "yes"

I have just finished high school, and will start univeristy (probably) next February.

I read "True Devotion to Mary" and then, once when a froupd of friends were bugging me about her Immaculate Conception, I started to research into more about our Lady. She is so lovely. and I don't she is venerated as she should. I agree with what Scott Hahn says in his book, about Catholic worship being different to Protestant worship as well.

[Cathurian]

I'd say yes. I had to understand how Catholics don't worship Mary, because I converted from Protestantism.

I'm a high school senior.

[EncounterWithGod]

i understand how to defend the church on that accusation and im a freshmen in college

[CatholicCid]

I have a High School Education.

I had some trouble with this when I heard it so I've done a lot of reading into it so I could understand it better, so should know enough to defend it now.

[phatcatholic]

lets try to get 100 votes