2017 Class

Class date: 6/3/18

Here's the handout from the final class of this academic year, covering some important distinctive beliefs and general information on the Mormons and on the JW's.

Class date: 6/3/18

Founded: 1879 by Charles Taze Russell

Background:

Before he got his religious career well underway, Russell promoted what he called "miracle wheat," which he sold at sixty dollars per bushel. He claimed it would grow five times as well as regular wheat. In fact, it grew slightly less well than regular wheat, as was established in court when Russell was sued. Later he marketed a fake cancer cure and what he termed a "millennial bean" (which a wag has said probably got that name because it took a thousand years to sprout).

~ History of the Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholic Answers tract

Class date: 6/3/18

Founded: 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr.

Background: As a young man, Smith was confused by all the competing varieties of Protestantism (apparently Catholicism was out of the question for him).

Founding:

Class date: 6/3/18

Class dates: 5/6/18 and 5/20/18

If you missed class or want to review:

• “How to Make Sound Arguments for the Faith” by Matt Fradd, Catholic Answers Magazine, Mar-Apr 2012 **
• Also see class notes post, below.

More helpful articles and sites:

Class date: 5/6/18

Class dates: 4/8/18 and 4/22/18

To catch up or review, please read the class notes plus the ** articles.

• "We Can Work It Out" By Tim Staples, Catholic Answers Magazine, Nov-Dec 2009. **

• "Are Good Works Necessary for Salvation?" By Tim Staples, Catholic Answers Magazine, Online Edition, April 30, 2015.

Class date: 4/22/18

Not only was "sola fide" one of the slogans of the Protestant Reformation, the differences in understanding the closely-related concepts of justification and salvation often lie at the root of other disagreements, for example the necessity and value of Purgatory.

A quick word on terminology: Protestants tend to prefer the term “justification” but Catholics usually say “salvation” when speaking of this topic.

Class date: 4/8/18

The class watched and discussed several sections of the Tim Staples video Defending Your Faith: How to Counter Standard Objections to Catholicism. Tim is a dynamic speaker who covered several hot topics, including Confession, statues, the role of works, and calling priests "Father."

He also shared some insights into his own conversion, including the story of the Catholic Marine who helped him on the way through his knowledge of the Scriptures.