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SteveVH
Guest
Yep!
- Status
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daler
Guest
… To continue, regarding “The New Heaven and the New Earth”, from what I gather this is not well understood by most Christians who again interpret it to be a physical occurrence, which they align with their understanding of “The end of the world”, which is actually a mistranslation of “The end of the age”, or “aeon”, which has been handed down to them. With unquestioned loyalty, they simply nod their heads in agreement with whatever they have been told, unable to discern for themselves the Truth which shall set them free and recognize the signs of the times in which they do live, even as Jesus declares to the Pharisees in Matthew 16:3
. "But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ "And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away…
. When people leave it always up to the “Officials” in the Church, and the Officials get it wrong, then those people who are simply “followers” get it wrong, too. That is why so few Jews became Christians, even to this day, 2000 years later. It is the same in this day, that so many who only “follow” their leaders should fail to recognize the New Heaven and the New Earth, for they “know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times…”
. Consider how parables work, and metaphors. They are “symbols”, representing a reality above and beyond the meaning of the symbol itself. By “Heaven” is meant the Heaven of Revelation and, as the earth receives the rain from the physical heavens, whenever there is a New Heaven of Revelation there is a New Earth of Understanding the meaning of the Words of God which rain down upon the hearts of men.
. "This is the purpose underlying the symbolic words of the Manifestations of God. Consequently, the application of the terms “sun” and “moon” to the things already mentioned hath been demonstrated and justified by the text of the sacred verses and the recorded traditions. Hence, it is clear and manifest that by the words “the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven” is intended the waywardness of the divines, and the annulment of laws firmly established by divine Revelation, all of which, in symbolic language, have been foreshadowed by the Manifestation of God. None except the righteous shall partake of this cup, none but the godly can share therein. “The righteous shall drink of a cup tempered at the camphor fountain.”
. “It is unquestionable that in every succeeding Revelation the “sun” and “moon” of the teachings, laws, commandments, and prohibitions which have been established in the preceding Dispensation, and which have overshadowed the people of that age, become darkened, that is, are exhausted, and cease to exert their influence. Consider now, had the people of the Gospel recognized the meaning of the symbolic terms “sun” and “moon,” had they sought, unlike the froward and perverse, enlightenment from Him Who is the Revealer of divine knowledge, they would have surely comprehended the purpose of these terms, and would not have become afflicted and oppressed by the darkness of their selfish desires. Yea, but since they have failed to acquire true knowledge from its very Source, they have perished in the perilous vale of waywardness and misbelief. They still have not awakened to perceive that all the signs foretold have been made manifest, that the promised Sun hath risen above the horizon of divine Revelation, and that the “sun” and “moon” of the teachings, the laws, and learning of a former Dispensation have darkened and set.”
Kitab-i-Iqan (Book of Certitude), by Baha’u’llah
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SteveVH
Guest
Are you sure it was a vision, or is it possible that Jesus was actually transfigured before their very eyes and that they actually saw Moses and Elijah with him? This is not the same thing as Daniel or the Book of Revelation, as you have agreed.
Just as the Mormons believe their prophets have done the same thing. With completely different conclusions.
I have already explained the Hebrew meaning of clouds which was quite different from your modern understanding and it was completely ignored. If you are going to attempt to interpret Christian Scripture one of the first rules is to understand the words in the way they were meant to be understood by the author. The Hebrew word “Shekinah” or “holy cloud” represents the presence of the dwelling place of God. They were led by a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. They were led by the presence of God. The clouds do not mean that his coming will be obscured. They mean just the opposite; That he will come in glory. He ascended into the dwelling place of God and he will return in the dwelling place of God to rule a new heaven and a new earth. His second coming will be nothing like his first.
Have you ever known a Christian theologian of any repute that would agree with the Baha’i interpretation that Christ’s second coming will be obscured and many will miss it?
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Jcc1960
Guest
The image of the thief in the night is used by Jesus in Matthew [24:43], and by Paul in 1 Thessalonians [5:2] and by Peter in 2Peter 3:10. I grant you that particularly Paul and Peter juxtapose the Lord coming as a thief with great signs. For instance, 2Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. I submit to you that these signs are not literal. Logical proof being that there are many things Christ will do on earth upon His return according to other prophecies, and if the earth were literally burnt up, those would not be possible.
Still, there is a point to be made from the Christian perspective that the New Testament writers, and the Church have from the earliest period presented the Second Coming as having these supernatural events that result in the physical destruction of the earth, and the creation of a new earth. I grant also that the Catholic Church does not take every word as literal in all the prophecies, many of which are in the form of “visions”, such as Daniel, Revelation, etc., as you pointed out earlier.
I am convinced by faith and reason that the events that are describe in these prophecies are first and foremost spiritual events, the result of a new revelation from God. That means that the fulfillment of the prophecies occurs in a way that will continue to allow people free will to choose to follow or not, that is the only way that spiritual development is achieved, it can not be forced.
So, a very important question is why would God allow Christians to believe for 2000 years something as literal when it really isn’t? Does that mean as was mentioned earlier, either the Apostles were poor students or Jesus was a poor teacher? No, it does not mean that. God’s purpose was not and can never be frustrated by the failings of man. He is the All-knowing. The Apostles and the Church have not failed, they have brought Christ’s Salvation to the world’s people. God has guided them rightly.
But Christ upon His return raises spiritual understanding to a new level. Material knowledge has exploded in the last 150 years, much is known about the universe that could not have been imagined 2000 years ago, At the present time, it can be proved that the earth was not really created in 6 days, the first human did not appear 6000 year ago, it was much longer. The stars are not in a firmament, like a roof over the sky, they extend out in limitless space. We have new medical knowledge and other technologies that can benefit all of mankind. The point is that for salvation of the soul, which is Christianity’s purpose, such material knowledge is not necessary. But for mankind’s future it is part of God’s plan for us to know these things, but they must be matched with spiritual knowledge, otherwise, as Baha’u’llah said, material civilization can be as great a cause of destruction as it can be a benefit if combined with spiritual civilization.
Yes, certainly. Baha’u’llah stated in the Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan) that “sun” and “moon” have different meanings in scripture depending on the context, but in the prophecies regarding the Return in the Gospels the “sun”, “moon” and “stars” are religions leaders that have failed to provide true guidance, particularly with regard to the fulfillment of prophecies and a new revelation from God. That has happened by failing to accept Muhammad, as well ans the Bab and Baha’u’llah by Christian leaders, and also the failure of Muslim leaders to accept the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
Any physical eclipses, meteor showers, etc. that have occurred may be signs that lead some people to search for the truth, but they are not the primary significance of these prophecies.
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SteveVH
Guest
And the Catholic Church has never maintained that the earth was created in a literal six day period or that the first human appeared 6000 years ago.
Yes, and everyone, including the authors of Genesis, realized this as well. This is a perfect example of misinterpreting the Hebrew meaning by not understanding the literary devices used to convey meaning in that culture at that time. The creation narrative was not a science manual. It was written to convey a profound spiritual truth. The earth is described as resting on pillars with a dome above it. The author was describing the earth as a Jewish Temple. And what does one do in a temple? One worships God. By describing creation in this manner we not only know that God created everything, but we also know what man’s role is. To worship God.
Genesis also states that light was created on the first day while the sun, moon and stars were not created until the fourth day. This indicates that the authors were either complete idiots or that they meant something different than the modern, linear reading of the text would indicate.
It would seem to me that the Baha’i have not been very scholarly in their interpretation of the Christian Scriptures when glaring errors like this are present. Have they studied ancient Jewish culture? Are they familiar with rabbinic modes of expression? It appears that this is not the case.
Mankind’s future, subsequent to the second coming of Christ, will be realized. Those that have been faithful will live in the kingdom of God. Those who have not will be removed from God’s presence. We will not depend on man’s acquisition of knowledge for man’s future. We will live in the presence of God and will have knowledge that we cannot now imagine.
Yes, I could have guessed.
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daler
Guest
Steve,
. Of course I don’t know other than what I read and try to understand, as you do. These are very powerful and profound illustrations of something, whatever it is, but what is interesting is Peter offering to build “Three” Tabernacles. So to him, he apparently could not distinguish “normal” reality for whatever the nature of this “vision” was.
Acts 2:17
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams."
. I can tell you that in over thirty years of being a Baha’i I have met many souls who have had visions and dreams, as I have, which confirm not only their beliefs, but mine.
. There were numerous accounts before and during the time of the Bab and Baha’u’llah which are parallel in every way to the accounts given in the Bible. Many, many people were led solely by their dreams or visions into the Faith.
. I personally was present when a Lakota Sioux man and a Yaqui Indian woman recounted a vision from a Medicine man from the SW US unfolded concerning the “two Sprit Messengers” “from the East” who would come to unite all the tribes of humanity.
. This prophecy was specifically given to them some months prior to the eruption of Mt Saint Helens. He told them that “a black cloud would go from the west to the east” and that “they would go with the black cloud and hear of these two Spirit Messengers from the east”
. I met them on the Standing Rock Reservation in December of 1981, just over a year and a half after this happened. Here is part of their story which they told to me in response to being informed of the coming of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
. I was standing in the kitchen of the house of our host after all had eaten and risen from the table except this couple. I was a new Baha’i, less than two years. Something stirred me to say to them (out of the blue): The Bab and Baha’u’llah, the Founders of our Faith, are from the East.
. Both of them looked stunned. Their eyes were wide, and they looked straight ahead.
. Woody said, “From the East?!!?”
and I replied, Yes, from Iran, where they’re having all this trouble now.
. again, he said, “From the East???”
and so I asked if I should find them a map, to point out where it was.
. again, he said: “From the East??!!!???!!!”
By then, everyone in the house had turned their attention to them, wondering what was going on.
“Two years. We’ve been waiting for this!”
They proceeded to tell us about the Medicine man whose vision had told them that they would go with the black cloud, and that they would learn of the two Messengers from the Great Spirit who would heal the nations and unite the peoples.
. They left the SW US and proceeded north, to the vicinity of Mt Saint Helens, to be with the Indians who had gathered there. One evening, while they sat by the fire, a young man beside them was getting very nervous at the rumbling and shaking of the ground.
. Woody said. “Don’t worry. It won’t go off until we leave!”
. He said, I don’t know why. The words just popped out my mouth.
. A few days later an elder gave them gas money to return to South Dakota. They left that night, drove awhile, and camped. In the morning, the sky to the west was black. They didn’t know why, but soon the “Black Cloud” of Mt Saint Helens, which blew up the next morning after they left, caught up to them. They travelled from the west to the east under that Black Cloud and were waiting to hear of the fulfillment of the vision.
. They became two of hundreds of Sioux, and thousands of Indians, who had become Baha’is, entering the Sacred Hoop of All Nations prophesied century before by Black Elk. Numerous prophecies from many tribes have led Indians all over North and South America have been fulfilled “specifically” by the coming of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
The doubter will discount such stories out of pride or prejudice outright, even as such visions have been doubted in the past. These are the tests, the “veils of glory”, which are as clouds separating souls from recognizing the Beauty of God, in “this, His new attire”
I would strongly encourage you to read here about Black Elk, his vision, and history. You will like it…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Elk
PS The town of Manderson is only a few miles from where this vision unfolded of which I speak to you here.
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Servant19
Guest
Steve, its all well and good to express a desire for Baha’is to familiarize ourselves with rabbinic expressions etc etc, but the fact still remains that when God speaks, THAT IS THE STANDARD.
You can argue as much as you like about the validity of Jesus’ Messianic station, yet the reality is that Jesus came and blew away all the “expressive” standards of the Jewish faith Himself when claiming to be the Messiah.
It is clearly obvious that when He came in His first coming, NOTHING was loud, trumpet like or at all CLEAR, for only a small handful believed.
As I said, and will continue to say, NO exploration of Baha’u’llahs validity to be the Second Coming of Christ is complete without a proper exploration of the validity of Jesus being the Messiah.
There are other threads on this and I am happy to hear your reasoning there. Can you convince the Jews of Christ being the Messiah using the standards prevalent in Judaism?
Go ahead, here the thread:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=813144
daler has been extremely generous in providing you a VAST array of TRUMPET-LIKE explanations, yet you are all clinging to your “own” traditions as the standard. Jesus set the new standard for the Jews, He came as His own PROOF. Baha’u’llah is doing the same to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The thief is in the house, “Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
You can argue as much as you like about the validity of Jesus’ Messianic station, yet the reality is that Jesus came and blew away all the “expressive” standards of the Jewish faith Himself when claiming to be the Messiah.
It is clearly obvious that when He came in His first coming, NOTHING was loud, trumpet like or at all CLEAR, for only a small handful believed.
As I said, and will continue to say, NO exploration of Baha’u’llahs validity to be the Second Coming of Christ is complete without a proper exploration of the validity of Jesus being the Messiah.
There are other threads on this and I am happy to hear your reasoning there. Can you convince the Jews of Christ being the Messiah using the standards prevalent in Judaism?
Go ahead, here the thread:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=813144
daler has been extremely generous in providing you a VAST array of TRUMPET-LIKE explanations, yet you are all clinging to your “own” traditions as the standard. Jesus set the new standard for the Jews, He came as His own PROOF. Baha’u’llah is doing the same to Jews, Christians and Muslims.
The thief is in the house, “Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”
S
Servant19
Guest
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
This from Matthew is evidence that when Jesus returns He will NOT provide great signs and wonders, otherwise He would have said "“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, but I will perform something UNDENIABLE.”
Baha’u’llah has of course, in His Revelation totally downplayed the validity of “miracles” and “wonders” as PROOFS of anything Godly.
This from Matthew is evidence that when Jesus returns He will NOT provide great signs and wonders, otherwise He would have said "“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, but I will perform something UNDENIABLE.”
Baha’u’llah has of course, in His Revelation totally downplayed the validity of “miracles” and “wonders” as PROOFS of anything Godly.
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daler
Guest
There were, of course, many miracles attributed to Baha’u’llah. One man, I forget his name, had compiled many of them into a book, which he presented to Baha’u’llah. He then promptly cast them into the river.
Do you remember those stories in the Bible where Jesus would heal someone and then say, “Speak to no man about it.”
. But then, of course, a few of them spoke, and we have a few of the miracles. Some of the miracles of Baha’u’llah are still circulating, but Baha’is are pretty good about honoring His instructions not to mention them.
His greatest miracle is of course the Unity of the entire Human Race.
“Nothing short of the unity of the entire human race will suffice to heal the ills which afflict mankind.” Baha’u’llah
. This is, of course, the miracles being spoken of about the Baha’i activities going on all over the world, which to outward eyes, may not recognize them as such. Humanity is being healed in spite of itself, but ignorance and superstition are hard to heal and take time and God does not remove our “free-will”. Otherwise, it would be an Abra Katabra moment, like the one people still imagine will happen as they continue to make war on each other and trash the planet.
. Why do they do this? Because they believe that when “He” comes, He will make it all better, all by Himself. In truth, that would be a contradiction of the following prophecy of Isaiah 2:3
. “And many people shall go and say , Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
as well as:
Revelation 3:12
. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
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IgnatianPhilo
Guest
The bahai rejection of miracles (to the point where bahai are embarressed by the virgin birth, they hate it as a narrative for it goes against their scientism) is contrary to that of what the new testament and what the Old testament teaches. What was the reason why God got so fed up with the israelites? Its because they continued to reject him after God doing all these wonderful things for him. How did Elijah defeat the priests of Baal? Did he not mock them and demand that their God burn the altar? Did God not burn the altar? Jesus and the new testament writers themselves say of the testimony of miracles, “Jesus a man of God attested to you by God and by Miracles, Peter, second chapter of acts.” Any sort of leader in the world can encourage what seem unlikely things to happen, why should we consider the bahai claim to be everywhere (which I have some doubts about) against the claim of any other? Miracles do account for something, actual miracles, not men with mere words and pretentious speaking.
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Servant19
Guest
This is a lie, again Philo, you make up stuff to suit your own agenda.
Firstly, we are not “scientists”, we are Baha’is, those that take the Word of God, as CLEARLY revealed in the Baha’i Writings as the truth, as provided by God, our Father and Creator. What He says trumps all of science.
Baha’is, while believing in miracles do not see them as something “supernatural”, Baha’is believe in the absolute connectivity of every single part of Creation, those that are seen and unseen. God is not responsible for miracles, His creation is “designed” to produce them. The Virgin Birth is part of the supreme “unknown-ness” of God’s Creation and is a sign of how the advent of His Manifestation creates circumstances which are FAR removed from the intellect of human understanding, bringing together a renewed vibrancy within EVERY SINGLE ATOM in the known universe, miracles, never before witnessed are an outcome of His Manifestation.
So, you’re now saying that the story of Elijah and Jezebel is a historical fact, word for word??? Really?
Yes, there was a time when miracles were needed to establish divinity for certain populations. While miracles, as attested by daler, were performed by Baha’u’llah, not once was it used to establish His Divinity. He has revolutionized the hearts and souls of ALL peoples, and His Throne will be established, with or without any of us:
“Should they attempt to conceal His light on the continent, He will assuredly rear His head in the midmost heart of the ocean and, raising His voice, proclaim: ‘I am the lifegiver of the world!’… And if they cast Him into a darksome pit, they will find Him seated on earth’s loftiest heights calling aloud to all mankind: ‘Lo, the Desire of the world is come in His majesty, His sovereignty, His transcendent dominion!’ And if He be buried beneath the depths of the earth, His Spirit soaring to the apex of heaven shall peal the summons: ‘Behold ye the coming of the Glory; witness ye the Kingdom of God, the most Holy, the Gracious, the All-Powerful!’” - Baha’u’llah
…and again…
"Within the throat of this Youth,there lie prisoned accents which, if revealed to mankind to an extent smaller than a needle’s eye, would suffice to cause every mountain to crumble, the leaves of the trees to be discolored and their fruits to fall; would compel every head to bow down in worship and every face to turn in adoration towards this omnipotent Ruler Who, at sundry times and in diverse manners, appeareth as a devouring flame, as a billowing ocean, as a radiant light, as the tree which, rooted in the soil of holiness, lifteth its branches and spreadeth out its limbs as far as and beyond the throne of deathless glory.” - Baha’u’llah
Yes, as a part-time magician and psychological illusionist, I can attest to the fact that framed correctly, “wonders” and “sorcery” can account to something, I’ve seen it. Were to choose to I could easily perform miracles of an ilk to start my own religion.
But the intellect and human soul demand more than these things. Depth of spiritual message has a much more profound effect than any “wonder”, Jesus warned us of it Himself
S
Servant19
Guest
In relation to all atoms being instilled with renewed vibrancy:
“Deny not Thy loved ones, O my Lord, the sweet savors of this Day whereon the mysteries of Thy name, the Self-Subsisting, were unraveled, and all that had been enshrined within the treasuries of Thy wisdom was revealed. This is the Day, O my Lord, whereon every atom of the earth hath been made to vibrate and to cry out: “O Thou Who art the Revealer of signs and the King of creation! I, verily, perceive the fragrance of Thy presence.”
When the atoms cry out “O Thou Who art the Revealer of signs…” then these “signs” and “miracles” are a common natural phenomenon revealing the ultimate and absolute interconnectivity of God’s Creation.
“Deny not Thy loved ones, O my Lord, the sweet savors of this Day whereon the mysteries of Thy name, the Self-Subsisting, were unraveled, and all that had been enshrined within the treasuries of Thy wisdom was revealed. This is the Day, O my Lord, whereon every atom of the earth hath been made to vibrate and to cry out: “O Thou Who art the Revealer of signs and the King of creation! I, verily, perceive the fragrance of Thy presence.”
When the atoms cry out “O Thou Who art the Revealer of signs…” then these “signs” and “miracles” are a common natural phenomenon revealing the ultimate and absolute interconnectivity of God’s Creation.
J
Jcc1960
Guest
Huh? First you say you agree with the Baha’i understanding that Genesis is symbolic, then you say we don’t understand that it is symbolic? We are in agreement here. It is symbolic.
The prophecies of the Return and Judgement are also symbolic. How is it that you can see Genesis as symbolic but not Revelation? The events depicted are every bit as full of symbolism and if taken literally lead to unreasonable understanding about God and His Creation.
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SteveVH
Guest
No. I am saying that you miss the meaning of the symbols by not understanding the modes of expression in the ancient Jewish culture; i.e. “Clouds” represent “obscurity” as opposed to the actual meaning that they represent the “presence of the dwelling place of God”. Rather than a scholarly undertaking in an effort to discern what the authors meant, according to their own mode of expression, the Baha’i apply modern understanding to these ancient words, and miss the mark in doing so. I would venture to say that there is not a Hebrew or Greek scholar alive who would agree with your interpretation. The words have been twisted to fit the Baha’i paradigm with no regard to their actual meaning.
When have I ever said that the Book of Revelation was not symbolic? In fact, I have said just the opposite.
The account in Matthew, however, cannot be read in the same fashion as John’s vision in Revelation.
R
rinnie
Guest
Okay here is what I think I learned here. Correct me if I am wrong.
Baha’i is God in your faith right? Now If I am right do you agree with our interpretation of the Trinity? If so is Bahai the Father the Son or the Holy Spirit?
I mean Jesus is God the Son. How do you put Baha’i in there. Or am I way off base in my understanding? Thanks for your kindness and patience in this.
Baha’i is God in your faith right? Now If I am right do you agree with our interpretation of the Trinity? If so is Bahai the Father the Son or the Holy Spirit?
I mean Jesus is God the Son. How do you put Baha’i in there. Or am I way off base in my understanding? Thanks for your kindness and patience in this.
S
SteveVH
Guest
He has? That’s news to me and I would guess to the majority of ALL peoples as well. Out of a world population of 7 billion, the Baha’i faith boasts a membership of around 7.5 million worldwide. That is 0.1% of the population. That means that that the hearts and souls 99.9% of the world population have yet to be revolutionized.
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arthra
Guest
Thanks for your post Rinnie…and also for reading this thread!
Allow me to briefly summarize some of our beliefs:
Baha’is do accept a trinity consisting of God, His Spirit and the Manifestations… Jesus in our view was a Manifestation of God and His title was Son of God… God was perfectly reflected in Him.
Baha’u’llah is the Manifestation of God for this day and is the Return of Christ in our belief… Jesus promised He would return and we believe the appearance of Baha’u’llah fulfilled that promise!
A
arthra
Guest
I think if you follow the news today Steve you’ll note that more and more people are coming around to accept the principles of Baha’u’llah … The equality of men and women…A represenattive world government …peace of earth… An international court of arbitration…abolishing prejudice…
so while there may be only seven million Baha’is and we’ve only been around for oh a hundred and seventy years there’s a lot of our teachings being adopted.
But hey the church has been around a lot longer and is far more numerous…!
A
arthra
Guest
It won’t be any time at all and we’ll have reached a thousand posts again… Wow!
S
SteveVH
Guest
What you have said is very telling. The arrogance and elitism present in your statement are unmistakable; Catholics are a bunch of mindless dolts with no ability to think for themselves and the Baha’i are the enlightened ones. Have you any idea of the treasury of writings that belong to the Catholic Church, that have picked apart every detail of every doctrine we hold? Are you aware of the great Catholic councils who have had to defend the deposit of faith given to us by the Apostles against heresy, by explaining in great detail why we believe what we believe? Are you aware of the brilliant and scholarly minds that have explored every aspect of Christian theology? The last thing a Catholic does is mindlessly follow some man’s opinion. I participate in a study group every Friday evening, led by our priest, in which we explore Catholic doctrine in detail, and I mean we tear it apart. I believe through both faith and reason and the more I tear it apart, the greater my faith becomes.
- Status