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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 1227 |
| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Nominal Methodist / evangelical non-denom / "Bapticostal" / Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Nov 8th, 2007 05:05 pm |
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Excerpt from my book: Twin Scourges: Thoughts on Anti-Catholicism & Theological Liberalism:
188. Protestants (who are not anti-Catholic) will often observe often Protestantism is superior to Catholicism in practice. Oftentimes, this is indeed true, and it is a stumbling block for many. It can be discouraging and unfortunate. But it is not grounds for accepting or rejecting a belief system. Nowhere in the Bible does it ever say that the "truth" or the "tradition passed down" or the "Church" can be expected to be perfect in practice. The truth is to be believed even if one person in the world believes it. And sometimes the reality in various circles gets close to that. If a basketball team is awful and pitiful, it doesn't mean that the game itself is to be questioned, or that there isn't a team somewhere who plays the game the way it should be played.
189. The good things in Protestantism still can be (and are) affirmed by the Catholic Church. There is a lot in evangelicalism from which Catholics can benefit. But all these things are truly Catholic in the first place. There is nothing good in evangelicalism which can't be found in Catholic Church history, hundreds of years back. When one inquires as to the one "Church," Catholics must draw the line and state that it is the Catholic Church, because of apostolic succession, and because it possesses the four marks of the Church (from the Nicene Creed) in their undiluted fullness. And it isn't as if Protestant denominations don't have their share of problems: especially moral and doctrinal. They are writing many books themselves about the troubling state of affairs within their ranks. The problems are real, profound, and quite disturbing to many serious evangelicals.
190. God has been obviously working in both camps, because He always uses those who sincerely seek after Him. So evangelicalism has excelled in certain areas where they can teach Catholics, and the fruit of that is starting to happen with the current wave of conversions (and also, ecumenism in general). For instance, Catholics tend to undervalue Bible study, because they have been taught (in practice) to value Tradition and Church Authority. It is a false dichotomy. Tradition and Church are in no way antithetical to Bible study. Protestants tend to undervalue Tradition and Church History because they hold to sola Scriptura. (though the position itself – rightly-understood – doesn’t entail a-historicism). Each side (in practice) has something to offer the other. So converts from one side to the other can help to demonstrate more of a balanced view, which in fact, is the Catholic view: it just isn't always seen in practice. I’m very thankful I was an evangelical for thirteen years, because I learned many things which at bottom are Catholic, but which are currently neglected among Catholics. One might look at it as a common "Christian" heritage. Each side does better in certain individual areas of the heritage, and thus can provide an example to those who lack such a perspective on the other side.
191. Many Protestants (especially evangelicals) play the "ignorance card" sooner or later, in discussions of comparative religion, or polemical and "controversial" endeavors. It is an approach that is quite familiar to Catholic apologists. The question is fair enough, I suppose, and has some weight prima facie. I believe, however, that this argument is fallacious, because there is no direct correlation between a religious body being doctrinally correct and the level of instruction and fidelity of its members. Ignorance, nominalism and heterodoxy can be due to many factors, none of which prove the theological falsehood of any given group. We can only judge by "the books" of a religious body, in order to objectively and accurately evaluate its truth claims.
195. Evangelicals today are not so informed (as a group) as many of them would like to think. Ignorance is not confined to any particular religious category, but is a perpetual problem in all times and places. Thus it is unfair and silly for Protestants to throw stones at Catholics out of their own glass house. For example, George Barna and William P. McKay, in their sociological survey of American evangelicalism, Vital Signs (Westchester, IL: Crossway, 1984, pp.142-143) found that some 75% of evangelicals were “entangled” in two or more of the philosophies of materialism, humanism, or hedonism, and that 40% of "born-again" Christians would not take a position against abortion. This is scarcely different from attitudes of the general public.
196. I would guess from long-term observation and talking to Christian bookstore managers and pastors that only about 10% of evangelicals ever go to Christian bookstores or even the Bible studies of their own church. So, sure, evangelicals (at the layman's level) are presently more "informed" on basic Christian beliefs than the average Catholic, but there is certainly a long way to go. Furthermore, oftentimes Protestant catch-phrases are memorized and repeated over and over, but the knowledge behind the slogan is not particularly deep or impressive. And when Protestant liberals are included in the tallies, there isn't even much statistical difference. If Protestants are to insist that "Catholic" liberals are my problem as a Catholic, then, to be fair, they must admit that Protestant liberals are their problem also.
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2006/07/books-by-dave-armstrong-twin-scourges.html
Last edited on Thu Nov 8th, 2007 05:06 pm by Dave Armstrong
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http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/
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