to my Catholic friends

[fpb]

Don't waste your time trying to defend the Church. There is no point: the haters don't want to be set straight - it is too convenient to them to recycle the filth of the New Jerk Lines and its repulsive accomplices. If anyone comes at you with the kind of excrement that has been coming through the wrong orifice of media persons in their jolly progress towards Hell, just dump them on the spot and save yourselves some grief. Remember the parable of the pearls and the swine; there has rarely been a clearer case of swinishness in human behaviour. So leave them strictly alone to damn themselves in their own time.

Comments

[eliskimo.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, this interview crossed my computer screen a couple days ago -- about how people don't/won't change their minds even when presented with contrary facts.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

Alas, the vast majority of people believe what they believe because they simply want to, not because of examination/study, reflection, and adjustment. Revising one's beliefs is seen as an admission of being "wrong", and people desperately (and I mean desperately) don't want to be "wrong".

Sad. But true.

[cheyinka]

I just... I can't, I guess. I have people on my reading list whom I know I will always provoke an angry reaction if I post stuff like this, and to some degree that's a purpose in itself, as I have many fewer readers than you so I don't need to worry about getting zergrushed or anything.

On the other hand I use my journal sometimes as a trial run of arguments I know I'll need to make IRL; I don't have any Catholic friends IRL, and honestly "I guess you have a point" or "well I don't want to argue with you any more" are sufficient victories for me, as long as I feel that I've been well-prepared.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have more patience in your little finger than I in my whole body, and for that I honour you. All the same, I would not even approach someone I know will be prejudiced against the Church to the extent many people are thanks to the vile media.

[mentalguy.livejournal.com]

It depends on the person and the situation. I am also more likely to try in a one-on-one setting where there isn't an audience to be played to.

As I think Mark Shea put it though, out of the spiritual works of mercy, instructing the ignorant is one of those that isn't necessarily appropriate for everyone. I don't attempt it in a situation where I know the limits of my patience and charity are likely to be severely tried, and everyone has their own limits.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

If a person starts with "the Church is a cult of paedophiles", as one person did to me recently, I cannot think that there is much of any way to break through to him. I just place him in Our Lord's swine and keep my pearls for those who will not trample them underfoot.

[mentalguy.livejournal.com]

Indeed; that is prudence.

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Online I do not, but I have found that in real life I can be pretty convincing in changing minds (or at least attitudes). Or maybe it just makes people uneasy to insult a religion in a devotee's face, but the anonymity of the Internet is liberating.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you. But remember the pearls and the swine. Swine will not just trample on peals, they will turn on you and tear you apart, as Our Lord said. Be prudent.