I think the point about triumphalism is good. One may sincerely believe (with the confidence of what Christ told us) that the Church is the true body of Christ, and yet not be smug about it. After all, we were just fortunate to come into this tradition - it wasn't anything we (well, most of us) actually did.
AB | 01.30.04 - 2:25 pm | #

Dear Law School Student:

The Same Old Song (Four Tops, 1965.) Catholic in atmosphere where some Christians pray and give witness and what to do.

Be you. Share your faith. Don't shove it under their throats. But it's possible that some of them grew up in the Protestant equivalent of a 'Catholic ghetto-' I grew up in a neighborhood where the small non-denominational church two blocks was called the "Public Church." They may not have met this odd specimen called "Roman Catholic." Be prepared for questions about good topics- Eucharist, infallibility, Mary- and bad ones- pedophile priests, why women aren't ordained. Don't get upset, refute remarks that straddle the fence between ignorance and bigotry. And if they start yelling at you for both the good and bad stuff, just walk away. Not everybody has to be your friend.

Sincerely in The Faith,
Gerard E. | 01.30.04 - 3:29 pm | #

When I first became Catholic, I was very "eager" to convert my brother who is Baptist. I tried to get into apologetics arguments whenver I could. I beat him over the head with my "superior" arguments. It got us nowhere. Only created tension. It's best to just love and know a person first for being a person. Let the dialogue of Truth come gradually, as it may. Prayer works more wonders than great arguments. The Holy Spirit will make opportunities for sharing and defending the faith. Let it be a natural opportunity, not forced.
Jason | 01.30.04 - 4:38 pm | #

Suggest that you all read "Mere Christianity" and discuss it.
Kath | 01.30.04 - 4:43 pm | #

"Just ask them to join you in saying a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Voila! I matters very much to them that you *not* believe such things. "

Yes, this technique works very well- it does not convince anyone of the catholic faith, but it does (usually) give understanding as to why more than "mere" is necessary.
Melvis | 01.30.04 - 5:21 pm | #

So you are suggesting some approach other than my normal "I'm a Catholic. We don't read the Bible." reply followed by pulling out a picture of the head of St.Catherine of Sienna?
Mark in Texas | 01.30.04 - 5:37 pm | #

"Just really" prayers aren't exactly unknown in the Catholic world.

"I just ask...that you just..." is the Charismatic equivalent of what the Roman collects try to express through words like "quaesumus", "respicere digneris", &c.
Robert | 01.30.04 - 9:33 pm | #

Gerard, that is so true. I knew nothing of Catholic beliefs until I took Catholic Life and Thought in college. And that only was a tip of an iceberg.

Most protestants and most evangelicals know almost nothing true about Catholic beliefs. And usually we don't realize that. Even some highly educated evangelicals I know think that the Catholic church teaches that you have to earn your salvation by works of the law, and that the mass is a -re- sacrifice of Christ over and over again in violation of Hebrews teaching that Christ died once for all. And there are many other misconceptions.

Unfortunately, a good number of Catholic laypeople have the same beliefs, in this country and in others.
Steve | 01.31.04 - 11:18 am | #

As a former Evangelical, I have some ideas that might make it easier for you. When it comes time to "give your testimony" why not just tell about a time when the Mass really touched you, or how you feel at the Easter Vigil, when adults become members of the Catholic Church.

As far as prayers, suggest either the Divine Mercy chaplet or a very prayerful version of Our Father (they would probably call it the Lord's Prayer)

I would be open to their questions, trusting that they are out of lack of knowledge rather than spite.
Anna | 01.31.04 - 4:18 pm | #

"The paradigm Catholics must grasp is that Catholic Faith *is* "mere Christianity"."


I think that Mr. Lewis, were he alive to do so, might take issue with you on this point....


"One needn't be obnoxious about that. There's no need to beat wonderful Evangelical people over the head with triumphalism."


....and yet some might construe your previous remarks as doing just that.
Stephen Hopkins | 01.31.04 - 9:59 pm | #

Much of non denom Christianity can fall to the mere level.
Lewis was a high Anglican and it is obvious in much of his writing in beyond "Mere..." that he takes a reasonable level of theological and moral development for granted. It must be kept in mind that Lewis wrote 40-60 years ago and that his cultural assumptions drew on a society with a higher base level of Christian knowledge. Non denom churches tend to live in the "corridor" that Lewis describes and fail to move into a "room". Over time the corridor is seen as a room.
Gregory Bourke | 02.01.04 - 4:18 am | #

Disputes over religion Labels..... when does Spirituality come in? When does one convey what their Self has learned, rather than reciting scripture (poetrty) or memorized prayers (intent with positive focus)...??? What is theis need to prove to others "how much you know" about your religion? When will the ego give up the idea that it NEEDS to be "right" or they need to be "wrong"? Illusions will keep you distracted.... the Light will open your eyes. Until then, be well.

With love and light..... blessings!
kelly | Homepage | 02.01.04 - 1:44 pm | #

When will the ego give up the idea that it NEEDS to be "right" or they need to be "wrong"?

Well, of course they don't need to be wrong. What they _need_ is to be right, and that is what the ego needs, too.

Assuming, of course, that you are talking about being right and not being conceited.
Mary | 02.01.04 - 3:00 pm | #