On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 7:20 PM, Joe <[email protected]> wrote:
> That troubles me deeply, and I can only consider that I have failed,
> miserably, to be both the example and the teacher my Lord wishes me to
> be. I have let you down and I have let Him down. I am sorry for
> both.
>
Joe, I want begin my response by thanking you for the tone of your post
which is noticeably more conciliatory than I've been accustomed to seeing
from you. I gratefully acknowledge and accept your contrition.
I want to humbly note that my comments were apparently shared by others here
(viz., e's kudo), so your efforts at reconciliation may potentially have
greater effect than with me alone. Good on ya!
Let me know when you find any Scriptural support for it.
I'm finding that there is an abundance of support for the concept of the
sufficiency of Scripture ('Sola Scriptura'), both from the Scriptures and
from early Church fathers.
I am a faithful Catholic. That means that, for me, the teachings of the
> Church are not up for debate. Now, the question is, is it possible that God
> has so clearly revealed His Mind? I submit that, if He is God, then it must
> be possible. Is it appropriate that He should, given that He is all-good?
> I submit that,
> it is most certainly appropriate that an all-good God who has the power to,
> to reveal His Mind so clearly that there can be no question.
I respect that you're a faithful Catholic, and I respect that your
faithfulness to Catholicism mandates that you hold firmly to certain tenets
of Catholicism.
I furthermore agree with the notion that God not only can but *has* revealed
himself...but suspect that it may be necessary to more specifically define
my meaning as follows:
I believe that God has revealed enough of himself to provide man with
everything that is needed to critically evaluate the claims of Christ as the
singular, all-sufficient propitiation for the wrongdoings of all who so
believe, and to rationally trust him with our individual eternal destinies.
I respect that you don't consider the teachings of Catholic Church to be up
for debate, but I suggest that if you intend to engage others not likewise
convinced you cannot expect them to accept your assertions without
challenge. If you don't view that it's appropriate for others to challenge
your beliefs (because you believe Catholic teachings to be sacrosanct), then
the appropriateness of your participation in a debate forum might be
something you should reconsider.
I regard Biblical Christianity as intended for critical evaluation, and
honest questioning. I personally could not consider its truths to be
reliable if I didn't believe that they could withstand the most intense of
honest scrutiny. I furthermore personally believe that the God of the Bible
is not impressed with 'blind' (ignorant) acceptance, but rather welcomes and
even demands our sincere and rigorous inspection of truth.
---------------------------------------------------
It was late when I got started on this so I'll have to leave the rest of my
response for another time.
Cheers.
