Catholic Body Language Institute andBook

+JMJ

My name is Oliver J. Olinger, and I am a writer, linguist, and Catholic theologian.   I received training in linguistics and interrogation from the U.S. Marine Corps, where I completed my degree in Arabic Language and Cultural Studies.  I currently work as a freelance copy/web content writer on several online marketplaces.   And I have studied body language extensively for the past 15 years.  I continue to be shocked that virtually no work is being done to define and study body language in the context of Catholicism and Apologetics.  Therefore, I am embarking on a mission to create an institute devoted to the study of body language in the light of Catholic doctrine.  This will include an informative, educational blog, a book, and eventually some educational seminars.

Apologetics almost necessarily involves a tense meeting of opposing forces, one in defense of Catholicism and one in defense of some other creed or belief system.  Defensiveness is the common denominator, regardless.  Since much of human interaction and communication is non-verbal and, more often than not, unconscious, it can be hugely beneficial to the apologist to become familiar with the interpretation of human body language.  We can say all of the right words in an Apologetics situation, but if those words are landing on deaf ears behind a shield of defensive posturing and a mood of general resistance, our “right words” may all be for naught.  The right words can be much more effective if we can successfully lower our opponent’s defenses, break through their worries, and give off the impression (through our own, tailored body language) that we are present not as an enemy but as a friend attempting only to present a personal, heart-felt case and to build a productive rapport.  The proper understanding and use of body language techniques allows the apologist to communicate directly with his opponent’s limbic (unconscious, instinctive) brain.  In this way, the apologist can cultivate positive emotional responses, hone in on and dispel unconscious worries or anxieties, and deliver his or her own words in a way designed to make the most constructive impact possible.

This fundraiser is necessary for me to complete this project, as it is a massive undertaking.  I am a husband and father to a beautiful family of six, and I am the sole earner in my household.  My family depends on the income I generate through my freelance writing activities, so if I am to create a website, coordinate expert contributors, and write a detailed, well-researched book about body language and Apologetics I must first ensure that there is no interruption in that income.  I anticipate that it will take three to six months to complete the book and produce enough content to launch the website/blog.  I will do my best to launch the institute and to finish the book regardless of the outcome of this fundraising campaign, but if I fall substantially short it will take me much longer to complete.  If I raise more than the stated goal, any excess funds will be used to produce educational videos, hold seminars, and to fund research projects.  Those who contribute will get a free copy of the book, signed by yours truly.  I thank you for taking the time to read my plea and I look forward to writing this book for the benefit of Catholics everywhere.  I pray that this book will inspire others to devote time and resources to the Catholic/Christian study of body language sciences.  Attached below is my introductory chapter:

Apologetics and Body
Language

by Oliver J. Olinger

Introduction:

Catholic Apologetics
involves the instructive, systematic defense of Christian principles
and doctrines through the use of carefully constructed, informative
statements and Socratic Method-styled questions designed to stand up
to harsh criticism. By using apologetics correctly, a Catholic
becomes equipped with a variety of effective, dialectic tools
contrived in such a way as to apply correct human reasoning and logic
to the tenets of the Catholic Faith.

For example, in
refuting the concept of Sola Scriptura (the Protestant belief that
all religious authority begins and ends with the Bible), the Catholic
apologist might suggest that the first Christians did not have a
Bible for several centuries, and that the Bible itself was compiled
via Church Authority. How did Christianity survive and thrive
without the Bible for so long if there was no authority outside of
it? And if the authority of the Church was responsible for codifying
the Bible in the first place, why would that authority suddenly end
at that point?

Rather, the original
Church authorities assembled sacred scripture into a universal
arrangement, which would then become a reference for divine influence
and teaching. Since Bibles had to be handwritten at first (centuries
before the introduction of the printing press), the only copies
resided in Churches and were primarily used to support the teaching
authority of Catholic clergymen. It was never meant to supplant
preexisting oral traditions, the writings of the saints and Church
Doctors, and other such sources of Catholic teaching in the realm of
Christian culture, political science, economics, philosophy, art,
literature, etc.

Another good example
of apologetics which can be hugely beneficial in today’s agnostic,
secular environment is St. Thomas Aquinas’s Five Proofs of the
existence of God. Some people claim either that they don’t believe
God actually exists or that His existence can’t be proved through
human reason. But St. Thomas Aquinas, using his highly-developed
faculties of rational thought, proved the very real, very observable
existence of God using five, inarguable proofs. (This is not the
venue to expound on all five proofs, as they have been exhaustively
written about elsewhere. Suffice it to say, there are five proofs,
and they are very convincing. For purposes of this example, however,
we’ll just focus on one of them.)

If you are dealing
with a person who refuses to believe in the existence of God, who
also refuses to deny the Big Bang Theory, you can explain this
concept: “If nothing had ever existed at any point in the
past, then nothing would or could ever exist either before or
after that point.” Nothing can come from nothing, so the “big
bang” that started the entire Universe (if such an event really did
take place) must necessarily have required that something be present
beforehand; one thing that existed and another thing that interacted
with it in such a way as to result in a “bang.” And if something
ever existed, even the total destruction of everything would
leave at least something in its wake; some sort of ruins or debris…
which of course is something, not nothing. That something that is
necessarily always present, regardless of the state of everything
else, is what Catholics call God.

This book, however,
is not about apologetics directly, although many examples of
apologetics (such as the two already mentioned) will be used in order
to illustrate certain points. There are many, many books, websites
and college courses on apologetics, and I cannot hope to add anything
new to such a massive library of information. Instead, this book
will focus on the way in which apologetics are delivered and how one
can tell whether or not that information is being received well by
the listener.

Only a small
percentage of human communication is done through spoken dialog.
Experts often disagree on what that percentage is (I’ve read that
spoken words account for as little as 7% of communication or as high
as 70%). Suffice it to say, body language and non-verbal
communication account for a sizable portion of human interaction and
communication. Our brains have been extensively studied and mapped
through the use of recent technological developments in neurological
science, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Scientists have
discovered that the neocortex area of the brain “lights up” when
we are thinking, speaking, and otherwise operating at a conscious
level. The limbic part of the brain (the part responsible for
instinctual, biological thought) “lights up” when unconscious
events take place. For example, when a person is nervous their leg
may bounce up and down uncontrollably, without that person even
taking notice of the event. While this is occurring, the limbic
portion of the brain will be very active while the conscious part of
the brain remains comparatively calm. Because of this, the limbic
brain, sometimes called the “honest” brain by body language
experts, speaks in a language that can be learned by an astute
observer. And this “language” can also be consciously controlled
through practice, in order to pick and choose what types of
non-verbal information will be communicated by our own bodies.

Even without a
formal education in body language, we are all unconsciously aware of
it to some degree. Have you ever been standing with someone,
chatting with them, and suddenly felt that they were trying to leave
or impatiently attempting to get out of the conversation even though
they continue to act engaged and to converse in a friendly manner?
Next time this happens, look down at that person’s legs and feet.
Are both feet pointed towards you, or is one of them pointed
elsewhere… like towards the nearest exit, for example? Our limbic
brains point us in the direction we wish to go, and feet rarely lie
in these situations. That “feeling” you had was essentially your
unconscious mind catching-on to their non-verbal communication. You
perceived that they were ready to stop talking and go about their
day. Equipped with the proper knowledge and practice, you will be
able to interpret these non-verbal clues consciously and
incorporate whatever information is conveyed therein into your
responses and reactions. The study and practice of apologetics can
benefit immeasurably from the study of body language, non-verbal
communication, and basic Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

First and foremost,
the practice of apologetics involves fickle, unstable emotions and
defensive posturing right from the start. Even if an apologetics
session is approached through the spirit of formal debate and
rational dialog the parties present will be actively defending their
own positions to the best of their abilities. Because of this,
stand-offish behavior and body language is very common in apologetics
and can be easily observed. Observation and translation of body
language, however, is only the first step in a process which can, if
properly used, assist in driving home the various arguments and
theological concepts of the apologist. Once he spots a certain type
of body language, like defensiveness or self-pacifying behaviors, the
apologist must know how he can orchestrate his own body language in
such a way as to break through those defenses and to offer pacifying
support from himself.

If you are seated
across a table from your opponent (for so he is in the context of a
debate) and he is leaning back with folded arms in an effort to
distance himself from the argument, you might want to move around to
his side of the table so you can sit next to him. This will convey
to his limbic brain that he is no longer standing downrange of the
proverbial firing squad, and that you are willing to work with him,
alongside him, as equals. This can result in the lowering of his
defenses and leave his mind more open to your words. If, however,
someone is exhibiting aggressive, domineering body language, it would
be hugely beneficial to know that mirroring such body language is the
best way to convey a non-verbal message of “I will not be subdued.”
Apologetics works best if the opponent sees the apologist as his
equal, not as his tormentor nor his inferior.

In the
aforementioned example of Sola Scriptura, a body language-conscious
apologist can identify when his opponent is turned off by “Catholic”
and “Catholic teaching” terminology. Many protestants are
conditioned over long years to turn their ears off at the very
mention of the word “Catholic.” This may be done unconsciously,
even if the opponent is attempting to approach the apologetics
session with an open mind. If signs of defensiveness, disgust, or
contempt are present the apologist can use the terms “Christian”
and “Christian teaching” instead of “Catholic” and “Catholic
teaching.” As Catholics, we can use these terms interchangeably
without any significant loss in our meaning. Protestants are used to
referring to themselves as Christian, and very few people disagree
with the concept that early Christians were, in fact, Christians.
This small change can also serve to build a sense of camaraderie as
opposed to highlighting the division between Catholics and other
“Christians.”

Concerning the
above, St. Thomas Aquinas example, a knowledge of basic
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) can help you to drive your point
home in your opponent’s mind. When someone claims to be an atheist
on scientific grounds, a competent apologist will turn the
conversation towards science. You can mention some of the
generally-accepted scientific accomplishments of the Church (such as
Augustinian Friar Gregor Mendel’s theory of dominant and recessive
genes, for example), and use an anchoring technique with each new
item in the list. An anchoring technique can range from a soft touch
on a specific part of the hand or arm, to tapping a pen on the table
in a specific pattern. Then, when you mention Aquinas’ Proof, use
the same anchoring technique one more time. This will recall
thoughts of valid scientific accomplishment in the mind of your
opponent.

Some might say that
there is no reason to incorporate the study of body language and NLP
into Apologetics. Apologetics, to some, is about making a reasonable
case for Catholicism and leaving the rest to God. But if there are
certain methods in place that can vastly improve the delivery of that
case so much so that a person who might not have taken the time to
consider your points beforehand, actually finds himself seriously
considering Catholic teaching… wouldn’t that be worth looking into?
At its foundation, the reading of body language is simply a highly
developed form of tactfulness, perceptiveness, charity, and humility.
If you’re trying to sell a car, and you notice that your potential
customer is uncomfortable, defensive, and closed off, you would
obviously want to put them at ease before proceeding. If you see
that potential customer sitting there with arms crossed, leaning away
from you, with expressions of contempt on their face, and you say,
“Well, you’d be stupid if you don’t buy this car. It’s obviously
better than all of the other cars and if you can’t see that, you’re
wrong,” how well do you suppose that will work?

There is certainly
something to be said for “leaving the rest to God.” In the end,
He will either move their heart, or they will deny His guidance. But
I would caution all would-be apologists to be very careful with the
“leave the rest to God” approach. If you have truly tried your
best, and implemented every technique you know to help someone see
the light of Truth, then yes… there comes a point when your
resources are tapped and you must to leave the rest to God. If,
however, you don’t want to put in the necessary effort to become more
skilled and more effective as a Catholic apologist… then “leaving
the rest to God” becomes an excuse for not exerting the time and
effort necessary to hone your skill.

This book is
arranged into three parts. The first section introduces basic human
body language, including an analysis of conflicting theories from a
Catholic point of view. Next, we will look at the types of body
language one is likely to see in a religious conversation involving
Apologetics, and how a practiced understanding of body language can
be utilized and implemented by the apologist. The final section is
more theoretical and will suggest possible methods of
implementing Apologetics NLP in an effort to associate positive
emotional responses with Catholic ideas and imagery. These
techniques are NOT meant to be used in an aggressively manipulative
manner. Rather, they are designed to help the apologist to be
sensitive to their opponent’s mental state, cultural and societal
affiliations, and any other sensitive preconceptions while
maintaining the forward momentum of the Apologetics session, so the
main purpose of this book is to strive to avoid triggering defensive
behavior.

Unfortunately, the
author of this book does not have the resources to run a plethora of
experiments in order to prove or disprove these theories. This book
is meant to assist the apologist in their efforts to lead
non-Catholics to the fullness of Faith. For the more
academically-minded, this book may serve as a starting point for
further research and experimentation, which will hopefully serve to
improve the success rate of Apologetics training over time.