Thread by @MilitantThomist

On the Errors of Young Internet Catholics (Pt. 1, On Faith):

I have frequently spoken against individual errors I have encountered in being around internet Gen Z Catholics, whether trad, moderate, or liberal (this also applies for Protestant and "Orthodox").

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In this thread, I would like to summarize these critiques and order them for ease of reflection.

In order to better order these errors, I will list them as they contradict the theological virtues: 1. faith (lex credendi), 2. hope (lex orandi), 3. love (lex vivendi).

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I will split this into separate threads so as not to burden the reader (hope and love will come at a later date).

First, errors against faith. These errors are many, but, we can draw a general sketch of principle errors.

First, the error of probabilistic belief.

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In the first error, the young Catholic, rather than basing the assent of faith upon the firm foundation of God revealing, bases his belief on the weak foundation of his own reasonings.

The young Catholic believes that it is his duty to inquire into the evidence behind

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each proposition proposed by the church for our belief (n.b., while this is the case with the motives of credibility before the assent of faith, it is not true for Catholics who have assented to the faith) and ONLY assent to said proposition after becoming adequately

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convinced of the proposition's foundation in the sources.

Rather, the magisterium of the church has a divine mission to propose objects for our belief and that which she presents for our belief ought to be assented to BEFORE any inquiry into its foundation in the

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theological sources (loci).

Second, the error of rationalism. In this, we have something that very much mirrors the first error. Yet, it is even worse. In this, the young Catholic wishes to base the assent of faith on the same foundation as he would any other belief that

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he has. He wishes to seek some sort of intrinsic evidence that makes the claim true, e.g., he assents to the mystery of the Trinity because he views it as more logically sound than a pure monad.

Third, the error of crypto-indifferentism. This error has the greatest ruin

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of souls as any on this list. In this error, while certainly proclaiming the truth of the Catholic faith, the young Catholic, out of pride or ignorance, treats the Catholic faith as “one among many” in his religious studies. The young Catholic will frequently watch material

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that is heretical (e.g., Protestant videos attempting to debunk Catholic dogmas…I saw this with Dr. Ortlund’s recent video) in order to “get both sides.”

This is foolish pride. St. Bellarmine trembled to read Calvin and Luther, yet, you, a young person with

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no theological training, believe that it is prudent for you to watch hours of material striking at the foundation of our faith? Many of you have never read through the Catechism, yet you believe that you are ready to debate heretics? Our fathers would be in anguish over

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the stupidity of such a thought if they did not have perfect beatitude already. The demons rejoice at such a thought.

Fourth, the error of intellectual laziness. In this, the young catholic sins against his duty to study the articles of the faith. Rather than engaging

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in basic catechetical reading, basic theological/philosophical study, spiritual reading, etc., the young Catholic believes he is fulfilling his duty through the outlet of YouTube videos and Discord/Twitter fights.

While video can be a good tool, answering occasional

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questions, covering certain topics you wish to begin to study, providing sermons (audio exhorts better than reading), lectures, etc., it is not a normative means of study. The catechism of the church and the writings of the saints/doctors of the church are the normative

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means that the church uses to communicate truth to us.

Many young catholics live in the world of apologetics. This leads us to our next error.

Fifth, the error of intellectual disproportionality. This is an effect of intellectual laziness. These young Catholics would

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not be able to explain the basics of the articles of the faith from the Apostles Creed, but they can tell you about the most obscure minutia concerning certain pet topics. Others believe (practically) that certain liturgical truths are as profound as the fact that

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"the Word became flesh"

Yet, these errors are all connected. Due to the lack of faith in the proximate rule of faith (the magisterium of the church), the young Catholic believes it is their duty to seek intrinsic evidence for the claims of the faith in order to base their

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assent on. This leads them to seek out easy sources of information in order to patch the great epistemological anxiety they have about the verity of the faith. This finally leads to catholics who are poorly formed in their intellectual life, only knowing how to debate

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about the certain narrow topics on the internet in order to make up for their lack of the virtue of faith. This eventually leads to a religious breakdown and apostasy, whether to Orthodoxy, Protestantism, or, in the worst cases, nothing.

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The solution? A true notion of Fundamental Theology. I wish there was something out there that presented this in easily accessible form, but there isn’t.

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