A couple weeks ago I gave a presentation on the existence of God. The following Monday I was asking some follow up questions at Bible Study.
Here was one of them:
"OK, so let's suppose this God you've described does exist. How do you know the Christian revelation is the valid one? Especially when there are other people like Jews, Muslims, and Zoroastrians who say its their religion?"The kids who've gone off to college will tell you this is the most common question they get asked. And yet, the response I got that evening from the high schoolers... was mostly silence.
They're not ready for college.
The Bubble:
As Catholic parents, we want our kids to grow up in a supportive Catholic environment. The problem is... when you're in the Catholic bubble, it's hard to know what you don't know.
Every week I invite - (beg) - the kids to ask any questions they want. But unless someone else has probed their weaknesses, they really don't know what they need to be asking.
So today I wanted present 15 Bubble Bursting Questions. Ten from a secular perspective, five from an Evangelical perspective. Here we go:
1) Why do you believe in God? What evidence is there?
2) How do you know that you Christians are right about God, and not the Muslims or Zoroastrians?
3) How do you know that the Bible isn't just all made up? How do you know its any better than the Quran or other religious texts?
4) How do you know that all the Apostles died for their faith and none recanted?
5) Why does your Bible have the books it does, and not other books like the Gospel of Thomas?
6) How do you know your interpretation of the Bible is correct when there are so many other Christians who think THEY are right?
7) Why isn't it enough to just be a good person? Why wouldn't that be good enough for God?
8) What does it mean to say that "Christ died for you?" How does that work, exactly?
9) If God knows in advance everything that He's going to do, and already knows what you need… what exactly does prayer do?
10)Why doesn't God step in to prevent the grave evils in the world? Wouldn't you do that if you had the power?
11) Where in the Bible does it say there should be a Pope?
12) Why do you have to confess to a priest and not straight to God?
13) Where in the Bible does it say you have to go to Church on Sundays?
14) Can you explain to me what Catholics believe about how one is saved?
15) If you died tonight and met God, and He asked you why you should get into Heaven… what would you say?
What Shall We Do?
Also, recognize that we youth ministers really don't have the venue to fully educate kids in how to answer all these questions. Personally, I lead an open forum / discussion group. It isn't structured enough to cover these things in depth.
And if you think your kid is learning how to answer these questions at his/her Catholic School.... that's not happening. Catholic School is the institutional manifestation of the Catholic Bubble.
No, it's got to happen at home.
Therefore, if I could recommend a few resources, here's five:
Watch them with your kids. Ask them questions. Prep them for college.
And let we youth minister be there to help you.
This may just be the most important post that you have ever written.
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