Evangelization Myths (2 of 7)

Eric Sammons authored a new book “The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did” and he cites 7 common myths that deter Catholics from evangelizing. 

The second myth is We Can’t Change Other People’s Minds, Especially About Religion:

Someone might say “Why talk about your religion? You’re not going to change anyone’s mind.” Well, it’s possible that you will annoy people, but it’s not true that you can’t change others’ minds about their beliefs. Otherwise, why would corporations spend billions to change people’s minds about their products? Do you really think anyone would eat at McDonald’s if they hadn’t been masterfully persuaded?

That said, evangelization is not mere marketing: it has the Holy Spirit supplying the grace that can, indeed, change minds.  Eric Sammons was a convinced Protestant when some Catholic friends began to talk about their faith with him. He recalls assuring his sister that he would never become Catholic. A month later, he was convinced the truth was to be found in Catholicism.

Some psychologists suggest the following strategies for changing minds that are as pertinent to evangelizing as they are to secular matters:

1.     When introducing a new idea to someone, try to make them think it was theirs.

2.     Help others let go of erroneous belief without losing face.

3.     Explore the underlying experience(s) that may be contributing to another person's erroneous belief.

These three strategies reinforce the merits of evangelizing by asking questions.  Getting the other person to more clearly think through their assumptions and coming to their own conclusion that Catholicism makes sense; offers the more reasonable explanations for what we see in life.