Jump to content
An Old School Catholic Message Board

What are the best arguments for Catholicism?


Ziggamafu

Recommended Posts

Not Bible-based.
Not history-based.

I'm talking about arguments based on practicality and meaningfulness. What do you think is the psychological genius of Catholicism? What makes it so inspirational? What are the arguments from culture and sociology?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

this is just the first thing that popped into my head......

i like how catholicism is the best example of the Lord meeting us where we are, taking the very thing that we are enslaved to (the world) and using it as the means with which to lift us back up to him. catholicism is a sensual religion, and i think that, in a sensual world, this can be appealing. the Lord effects every way in which humans perceive and take in their world (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) in order to effect real change in our lives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Ziggamafu' date='Feb 22 2006, 08:42 PM']Not Bible-based.
Not history-based.

I'm talking about arguments based on practicality and meaningfulness. What do you think is the psychological genius of Catholicism? What makes it so inspirational? What are the arguments from culture and sociology?
[right][snapback]895164[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Practicality, meaningfullness, psychological genius, inspiration, culture and sociology...... hmmmm

Our faith/church is [b]sacramental[/b]. The images and signs we have that express our beliefs are universally significant. (The Gospel message is universal!!!) Likewise, those same images and signs have the capacity to take on further significance for each individual person.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd recommend Chesterton's "Orthodoxy" for some good ideas. He wrote it before converting to the Faith, but he nevertheless presents a good defense of Christianity based on reason and common sense (or at least the reasons that moved him to convert).

You can read it [url="http://www.leaderu.com/cyber/books/orthodoxy/orthodoxy.html"]online, here[/url].

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have seen eyes opened to the glory of the church by good confessions, practice of NFP and marital chastity, Theology of the body, our roll before God (Lumen Gentium and other sources). VII documents hold lots of astonishing things.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Confession is psychological genius - even if one were an athiest, going through "the motions" of Confession would bring relief and peace from one's own accusing conscience.

The notion of Mass as Family Supper is also genius. It allows civilization to become "One Family" and transcend petty arguments through ritual family practice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Era Might' date='Feb 25 2006, 03:39 PM']Who churns out holy people like the Catholic Church?

Coincidence? I think no.
[right][snapback]897659[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]


Well, to be fair we do have a black list of SOB's

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='jswranch' date='Feb 25 2006, 11:02 PM']Well, to be fair we do have a black list of SOB's
[right][snapback]897845[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Yes, we do, but that only goes to support the Church's claims. 2,000 years of Scoundrels, and yet the Saints have prevailed, and the Church has remained what she is through it all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Era Might' date='Feb 26 2006, 06:37 PM']Yes, we do, but that only goes to support the Church's claims. 2,000 years of Scoundrels, and yet the Saints have prevailed, and the Church has remained what she is through it all.
[right][snapback]898406[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]



Amen.

Does anyone have the interview with thePontif formally know as Ratzinter and EWTN's Raymond Arroyo from a few years ago? Ratzinger really hit the ball out of the park talking about the sex scandal. First he stumbled with english, then switched to italian. He summed up with a scripture about how Jesus promised the fallen would always be with us in the church, the that the church would prevail.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Era Might' date='Feb 25 2006, 04:39 PM']Who churns out holy people like the Catholic Church?

Coincidence? I think no.
[right][snapback]897659[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
I've asked people this question before, it really is an intriguing question.

Name the protestant/non-Christian equivalent to:

Mother Theresa
John Paul II
Maximilian Kolbe
Fulton Sheen
Mother Angelica

These are more or less our contempories. If you were to reach back into history the list grows quickly.

Who are the protestant equivalents?

What was it about these people that enabled them to live lives of such extraordinary holiness?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='OLAM Dad' date='Feb 27 2006, 05:07 AM']I've asked people this question before, it really is an intriguing question.

Name the protestant/non-Christian equivalent to:

Mother Theresa
John Paul II
Maximilian Kolbe
Fulton Sheen
Mother Angelica

These are more or less our contempories.  If you were to reach back into history the list grows quickly.

Who are the protestant equivalents?
[right][snapback]898697[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

protestants dont get the pub that catholics do. So as far as fame is considered it is a bias discussion.

Mother Theresa
-I know of a handlful of people from my college alone that have dedicated their entire life to a people group from the philippians or africa. Thus the same intention and lifestyle is there. Mother Theresa is a great woman, but she is known as an icon. There are others who are doing the same thing

JPII
-Obviouslly the protestant church doesnt have a visiable leader in the camera and the position to make the impact of JPII. We can leave that simply to a result of eccesiology. But if you are asking for a pastoral church leader that can seek unity, hyper-intell, charistmatic on some levels. Once again an iconic figure. Most protestants consider JPII to be an amazing christian. But based on the structure of the protestant church there is not a center-figure out there. Yet the protestant church brings Billy graham, Robert Schuller, and other leaders and pastors.

I dont know enough about Kolbe, perhaps if you share? Same with Mother Anglicia. DIdnt she start EWTN?

Fulton SHeen? All respect due friends, but CS lewis, Greg Boyd, Max luciodo, NT Wright, John MacArthur, John Eldridge, William Lane Craig, Craig Blomberg, JP Moreland.

You need to remember, friends, Most protestants use catholic theologians/people the same way they use their own theologians. They dont give either authority, yet use them to infulence and develop faith.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hauerwas for sure, Volf is important, John Milbank has been very important. I dunno, any such list is pretty personal depending on the believer and the topic. My current favorite writer is William Cavanaugh, who is Catholic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...