What to Say and How to Say It, Volume II: More Ways to Discuss Your Faith with Clarity and Confidence

by Brandon Vogt

Overview

Winner of a third-place award for popular presentation of the faith from the Catholic Media Association.

Are you hesitant to discuss issues such as faith and science, homosexuality, or the Resurrection with your family, friends, and coworkers because you’re afraid you’ll say the wrong thing or forget what to say altogether?

Bestselling and award-winning author Brandon Vogt, senior publishing director of Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, is back with more straightforward, practical guidance for any Catholic who wants to engage confidently with today’s culture. In this second volume of What to Say and How to Say It, Vogt tackles seven more of today’s most pressing (and controversial) issues, giving you all the tools you need to be clear and convincing as you share your convictions with those around you.

You will find essential resources for speaking with clarity and confidence about the critical issues of faith you face in the world today. This book is an indispensable resource covering seven hot-button issues and pressing questions in the area of

• faith and science;
• the Resurrection;
• heaven, hell, and purgatory;
• relativism;
• Islam;
• homosexuality; and
• Mary.

Each chapter offers an overview of the topic and a clear explanation of what the Church teaches. Then you’ll learn about the most common contemporary arguments against the Church’s teachings followed by step-by-step instructions for responding intelligently and confidently.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646800490
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	02/05/2021
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Brandon Vogt is a bestselling and award-winning author of ten books, including Why I Am Catholic (and You Should Be Too) and What to Say and How to Say It, volumes I and II. He is the founder of ClaritasU, which trains Catholics in how to talk about their faith, especially hot-button issues. He works as the senior publishing director for Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.

Vogt is the cohost of The Word on Fire Show with Bishop Barron, and The Burrowshire Podcast with Fr. Blake Britton. Vogt runs several websites including StrangeNotions.com, the largest site of dialogue between Catholics and atheists, and ChurchFathers.org, the go-to resource for people wondering what the earliest Christians believed.

Vogt's work has been featured by media outlets including NPR, Fox News, CBS, EWTN, America magazine, Vatican Radio, Our Sunday Visitor, National Review, and Christianity Today.

Vogt has served as a consultant to the US Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis and on the board of the Society of G.K. Chesterton. He serves as president of the Central Florida Chesterton Society and founder of Chesterton Academy of Orlando, a new classical high school.

Along with his wife and children, he lives on Burrowshire, a small farm outside Orlando, Florida.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 Faith and Science 1

The Origin of the Conflict between Faith and Science 2

Responding to Scientism 5

Answering the Big Myths 9

Expert Interview with Stacy A. Trasancos 14

The Galileo Affair 15

Evolution 20

Talking Tips and Strategies 24

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 27

2 Jesus' Resurrection 31

Why the Resurrection Matters 33

Three Crucial Historical Facts 36

How Do We Choose the Best Explanation? 40

Examining the Alternative Theories 43

Expert Interview with Carl Olson 51

Answering the Best Objections 52

Talking Tips and Strategies 57

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 60

3 Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory 65

Why It's Hard to Talk about the Last Things 66

What We Know about Heaven 68

What We Know about Hell 71

Expert Interview with Msgr. Charles Pope 74

What We Know about Purgatory 75

Answering the Best Objections 80

Talking Tips and Strategies 82

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 85

4 Relativism 89

What Is Relativism? 90

Is There Objective Truth? 93

Is Morality Relative? 96

Expert Interview with Francis J. Beckwith 99

Relativism's Seven Fatal Flaws 100

Answering the Best Objections 104

Talking Tips and Strategies 109

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 112

5 Islam 115

Islam 101 116

Christianity versus Islam 122

How to Evangelize a Muslim 127

Expert Interview with Derya Little 131

Answering the Best Objections 133

Talking Tips and Strategies 138

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 141

6 Homosexuality 145

What the Church Teaches about Homosexuality 146

Two Key Distinctions 152

Talking with Same-Sex-Attracted Loved Ones 154

Expert Interview with Fr. Philip Bochanski 157

Talking Tips and Strategies 159

Answering the Best Objections 162

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 166

7 Mary 169

Why Is Mary So Controversial? 170

The Key to Understanding Mary 171

Who Mary Really Is 173

Expert Interview with Brant Pitre 177

Getting Marian Dogmas Right 179

Answering the Best Objections 185

Talking Tips and Strategies 187

Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 190

Conclusion 195

Notes 197

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Few people can explain Catholicism as well as Brandon Vogt. He fearlessly tackles even the most difficult issues, and does it with grace and kindness.” —Jennifer Fulwiler, Author of Something Other Than God

“Brandon Vogt has given us practical, rational, and compassionate responses to the most challenging arguments against Catholic teachings. Everyone should be ready with these responses. Everyone should read this book.” —Rachel Bulman, Catholic speaker, writer, and retreat leader

“With truth in charity, Brandon Vogt does a masterful job of handling many of today’s hot-button issues. I highly recommend this book!” —Curtis Martin, President and founder of FOCUS

“This book is the perfect tool for anyone seeking to understand the Church’s teaching on key contemporary issues. With his usual clarity, Brandon Vogt offers a concise and formative series of reflections that strike all the right notes.” —Fr. Blake Britton, Word on Fire contributor

“Brandon Vogt is great at breaking down the defense of the faith into easy-to-understand lessons. This is a great starting point for anyone who wants to learn how to explain some of the most criticized aspects of our Catholic faith.” —Trent Horn, Author of Why We’re Catholic

“I know few Catholics who have studied the arguments for and against the existence of God more thoroughly than Brandon Vogt. If you’re looking for a book of apologetics that is as practical as it is theoretical, you won’t find a better one than this.” —Matt Nelson, Assistant director of the Word on Fire Institute

“Brandon Vogt’s book is pure gold for anyone hoping to have better, more fruitful conversations about these vitally important issues.” —Holly Ordway, Author of Apologetics and the Christian Imagination

“In an insightful, practical, and very readable way, Brandon Vogt presents reasons for belief in God, and for several teachings rooted in reason and faith that our secular society rejects. I highly recommend it. This book fully delivers on what its title promises.” —Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto

“Crisp and brisk, but never trite or brusque, this is a clear, useful, up-to-date guide that will help you defend the faith and address hot-button issues relating to sex, marriage, and identity. A book that is balanced, reasonable, practical, and, best of all, charitable—‘speaking the truth in love.’” —Michael Ward, Coeditor of The Cambridge Companion to C. S. Lewis

“If you long to have charitable conversations about hot-button issues with friends and loved ones, this book is for you. If you want to be equipped to defend Church teaching with logical reasoning and avoid a heated argument, Brandon Vogt can be your guide. He takes you step-by-step through some of the most emotionally charged topics of today so you can find common ground with those who disagree and communicate truth with clarity and kindness.” —Haley Stewart, Author of The Grace of Enough