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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Feb 28, 2015 1:44:56 GMT
Recently, I've found in facebook documents written by a spanish-speaking Catholic, that leads the facebook group "Curso de Apologética Católica", Spanish for "Classes on Catholic Apologetics"
He uploads PDF documents on Catholic Apologetics, covering many topics. I have yet to read and study them all, and even share them, but they are in Spanish, and I must translate them for you to understand them properly. Doing this may take lots of work, and even more since I have to take care of my own micronation and high school starts next week. So, I may expect this work to be done in a month or two.
I believe I should share on apologetics for you, because, as staunch Catholics I know we are, we must spread the faith, and with the moral decline in the west, and the spread of Islam and Atheism, we must be prepared to meet heathens eventually as our order grows. I feel studying this apologetics might be useful for us.
Share your opinions and feel free to tell what you think.
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Post by Pan Kristoff Drevo on Feb 28, 2015 16:55:37 GMT
Thank you for thinking of that. I look forward to reading those. I have already had some practice defending Catholicism, mainly from some Protestant friends I have. But I know that what they have against my faith is alot different from what Muslims and Atheists have to say against it.
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Post by Connor Stumperth I on Mar 1, 2015 13:42:55 GMT
I also look forward to reading them. I have never had any experience in defending my faith, since I went to a Catholic school until 8th grade, but I think knowing how to deal with it is a very good thing to know.
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 1, 2015 16:33:01 GMT
It's nice I am seeing a lot of interest! I am glad of it. We will start very well as "spiritual warriors". That fight not with sword, but with their spirit against the Devil, with the help of God. I've begun already to translate the first document from Spanish to English.
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Post by Pan Kristoff Drevo on Mar 2, 2015 17:55:15 GMT
I like that description: spiritual warriors. Yes, just what this world needs.
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 4, 2015 2:23:33 GMT
I've been having issues translating. I get lots of homework on my first days of high school, and I've been having lots of pressure on me. I've not dedicated to translation in two days, and I haven't finished with the first of the documents. I apologize for that and promise that as soon as I'm free from pressure I'll keep the hard work. Everything for our faith! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 15, 2015 1:28:35 GMT
Salve amici! I am doing lots of work again, I am almost done with the first document, 6 pages and 9473 words  |
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Post by Pan Kristoff Drevo on Mar 16, 2015 15:53:17 GMT
Bonum est! I look forward to reading it.
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 17, 2015 0:20:11 GMT
I suggest finding Internet sources in English for now. Something useful to attack Protestant sects. Internet activism could help. We must collect all the ignorant Catholics and instruct them before they fall to the Sects. Also, if we become large enough, convincing the Church itself to help us could do. We could have a cleric or two in our order.
I suggest, not limiting EOST to micronationalism. Trebia will stop being a micronation when we secede. Micronationalism is something I see as a temporary stage. The main reason I started Trebia is to start a Catholic Bastion. EOST needs bigger expectatives. Micronationalism could be a main element, but not the basis of the Order.
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Post by Pan Kristoff Drevo on Mar 17, 2015 15:56:02 GMT
Oh, I don't quite like the sound of "internet activism." We don't want to be raising a bunch of fanatic Catholics who are going to go around beating up Protestants at every turn and think they're doing the right thing. Yes, many Catholics need to know more about their faith, but when they know more about their faith, they shouldn't reject everyone who isn't Catholic. If I did that, I would be very miserable and would have very few friends. As it is, I'm learning the hard way that you can't convince a staunch Protestant of anything. At all.
I see what you're getting at. And in some ways I agree with you. Yes, for secessionists, micronationalism is only a stage before they manage to move, if they ever do.
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Post by Sir Benedict on Mar 17, 2015 17:47:12 GMT
That's not entirely fair to protestants, Kristoff. Above all, protestants value independent thought. While this independence may be what causes them to stubbornly reject Catholicism, it is ironically this same independent spirit that allows them to turn to and embrace Catholicism when and if they see the truth. The thing is, though, that you can't make anyone see the truth, especially a protestant. If someone is to come to a conclusion, they must come to it themselves. While this is true for all people, it is doubly true for protestants because of the way they have been taught to value independent belief. As I have said before, I am open to discussion about changing the fundamental nature of the Order. We are in this together and I want to hear your ideas. However, I'd like to add a quick reflection of my own. There are many catholic knighthoods which are already established and already have large memberships, like the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Malta. The Equestrian Order of Saint Thomas is the only organization in the world that promotes both Catholicism and micronationalism. We've found a niche, a place we can do good work and reach out to others. I'm afraid that if we change that, we'll lose our uniqueness and go from one of a kind to one in a thousand. That being said, Paulus, I'm curious to hear your viewpoint. |
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 17, 2015 21:55:22 GMT
I understand Sir Benedict. Well, I don't know how these orders like the Order of Malta, Knights of Columbus face the Protestant threat. And you? In fact, they are unprepared to face that threat, because the Church isn't ready in Apologetics. Maybe, instead of just saying "Micronationalist Order", it could say "with the objective of promoting the construction of theocracies or Catholic states all over the world via Micronationalism."
Independent thought. Regarding that, most Protestants are former Catholics which were deceived by Pastors that only want money. Therefore, Protestants are either utterly evil, or just deceived people. So far, I've only met of the deceived kind. But, knowing what they do to gain converts, there's only evil in their leaders.
I don't look to beat Protestants, however, as our last solution. I want to try apologetics and ecumenism first. If that doesn't work, then we need to educate Catholics to prevent them from converting, and then if the spread of heresy keeps on, raising a "crusade" army may be the last solution. And we need emotional and persuasive speeches, eager people and power before doing that.
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Post by Sir Benedict on Mar 18, 2015 14:39:44 GMT
I don't know how it is in Panama, but in the United States that is certainly not true. Approximately 10% of the US population identifies as a former Catholic. Compare with the total protestant population, which is about 50%. Even if half of all former Catholics became protestants, that would mean that only 10% of American protestants were once Catholic. (Source: religions.pewforum.org/reports) I think the problem facing the Church is not that Catholics are converting to Protestantism, but rather that most Catholics aren't really Catholic at all. Again, I don't know how it is in other parts of the world, but in the United States it is a generally accepted statistic that only half of all people that identify as Catholic actually go to mass regularly. With depressing statistics like these, it is no wonder that the church is struggling to maintain itself. John 6:53: "So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you...'" In order to live as Christ intended, as a Catholic on fire for the faith, one must have an intimate relationship with God. To this end, the Holy Eucharist is essential, as well as is regular prayer and acts of charity. If we can find a way to help Catholics restore their relationship with God, then the rest will follow. |
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Post by Paolo Emilio I of Trebia on Mar 18, 2015 21:57:50 GMT
In Latin America, these "light Catholics" that aren't aware of how Catholicism works, convert to Protestantism, mainly in Central America. Pastors are deceiving them, for their own wealth. Atheist populations raise too, but not as quick as the sects.
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Post by Pan Kristoff Drevo on Mar 20, 2015 16:08:43 GMT
I would actually much prefer a small hard-core group of Catholics instead of a whole bunch of people who say they're Catholic but really aren't. That way, when people meet a Catholic, they actually get to know what Catholics are like. As it is, many non-Catholics meet the wrong kind of Catholic and get a wrong version of the Catholic Church stuck in their head.
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