Hi Santosh, I assume your questions are genuine and you are seeking some answers. I am not into some "gotcha" exercise here and I trust you are not into some esoteric discussion. Thanks for asking me about the CONTEMPORARY issues that the "Church thinkers" are involved with. This, rather than discussing / referencing some 200-1000 year old theology, philosophy or practice patterns. I am obviously not an authority on the Church. As a practical person, and as I see it, the Church today is into LIVING THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST rather than developing some theoretical concepts of God, angels, heaven, hell, devil, sin, etc, and that itself is a BIG CHANGE. Of course some outstanding and outspoken Christians and non-Christians are still "STUCK" on those issues.
Your religion questions should have best been directed to and answered by persons who have spent their career in the field. It is like asking a theologian / philosophy professor about the advances in the last few decades in cancer. Likely they will tell you that there are no advances; as many many patients are still dying from cancer. There is obviously some humor here. Yet, the critics of religion are very similar to critics of medicine. I am going to do my best to be helpful. However if you or others keep rejecting my explanations, that is your choice. It is not my job to educate you about the Church or religion. While I'd like to help, I have neither the time nor the interest to convert you and them. My response (GL) follows each of your Santosh Helekar (SH) questions. --------------> GL: The Church too has "an expanding body of knowledge" and continues to do so. SH: Can you give me one or two specific examples in which our knowledge of something has been expanded by the Church in the last decade? GL's response: I have already given you a list of texts that you can refer to. The latest one is Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) of 2006. From a practical perspective, the church has developed very thoughtful PERSPECTIVES on "web-of-life" concerns such as: Issues of social justice, immigration, just wages, discrimination, death penalty, conduct of wars, right to basic health care, dignity of dying, right to life and prolongation of life (separate issues), right to die and prolongation of death (separate issues), euthanasia, protection of the unborn, protection of the environment, etc. Many of these issues have been expanded on several occasions in the Catholic literature on "Orthopraxis" and "Canons" on social justice, and other issues which theologians call "Epikeia". Also the Church IMHO no longer holds to the belief that the Catholic Church is the only path to heaven. The church has changed its attitude toward suicide. If one does not believe in God, one may or may not understand and appreciate these perspectives of the Church. ------------------- > GL: Like in science and medicine, some concepts in theology, philosophy, and ethics survive the test of time and others do not. SH: Which concept in theology has survived the test of time? And in which theology? GL response: Many teachings have survived the test of time and form the basis for new thinking in keeping with the advances in the sciences and society. From where I work, I am aware of much new thinking on "Prolonging Life" and "Prolonging Death". The importance of this was well demonstrated in the recent Terry Schiavo case in Florida. She of course is just one example. Similarly there has been much thought into the ethics of the fate of unused In-Vitro fertilized ova. More recently the religious thinking has expanded into the philosophy, safeguards and ethics into the nuances of cloning, stem cell research, gene manipulation and genetic bioengineering. While these are new issues, the original theology of sanctity of life endures. On a social level there are continuing issues of moral culpability and moral justice on which numerous popes and conferences of bishops have written many encyclicals and produced many documents. The latest is the Catholic Church's stand on helping immigrants, even if they are illegal, as spearheaded by the Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles. Once again, the Church is living its theology and philosophy. --------------------------> GL: So perhaps you need to keep an open mind just like the rest of us. SH: Open mind about what? Please explain. GL response: There is much shift in interfaith understanding and acceptance. This involves working through the theology, rituals, social practices and finer points of the tenants of different religions. Your closed mind mirrors some of those of the fundamental right. This, though you and OTHERS at times MAY THINK you-all are more concerned and knowledgeable about religious, social and morals issues than the Church. :=)) In summary, religion like medicine is a large encompassing field with a long history. So any superficial and critical statement can be made; which can make the authors of those statements "look and sound intelligent".:=)) Yet, religion like medicine is not above criticisms and close evaluation. However there is a forum to do that by knowledgeable individuals who have made a serious study of the subject rather than as we say in Konkani any "haltur faltur".:=)) Having answered your questions, perhaps you can do some answering of your own. What is the purpose of life - human, animal and plant? Just to procreate, and then be warm food and / or fertilizer. If there is no God, as you believe, then you are OK after death. However what if there is a God, will you and others with anti-religion beliefs be OK? _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)
