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PluniaZ
Guest
I was inspired by this post to consider that nearly all attacks on Catholicism are false dichotomies - presupposing that 2 related statements are disjunctive rather than conjunctive. Some examples of false dichotomies used to attack Catholicism:
Faith and works: If I’m saved by faith, then my works don’t affect my salvation.
Bible and Tradition: If God inspired the writing of the Bible, then tradition must only be the product of men.
The Holy Spirit and the Magisterium: If God gives the Holy Spirit to every believer, then I don’t need to be told what to do by anyone else.
Priesthood of all believers: If I’m a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest, then I have no need for any other priest.
God and the Saints: If I am to worship God alone, then I shouldn’t venerate or pray to the saints in Heaven.
The Pope and the Bishops: If all bishops are equal, then the Pope has no authority outside the Diocese of Rome.
The Pope and the Patriarchs: If all patriarchs are equal, then the Pope has no authority outside the western patriarchate.
The Eucharist: If our physical senses tell us it is bread, then it can’t be Jesus.
Jesus and Mary: If Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, then Mary is not the Mediatrix.
The Hypostatic Union: If Jesus is God, then he can’t be man.
The Trinity: If God is one, then the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit cannot each be God.
Atheism: If I can’t physically sense God, then He must not exist.
Faith and works: If I’m saved by faith, then my works don’t affect my salvation.
Bible and Tradition: If God inspired the writing of the Bible, then tradition must only be the product of men.
The Holy Spirit and the Magisterium: If God gives the Holy Spirit to every believer, then I don’t need to be told what to do by anyone else.
Priesthood of all believers: If I’m a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest, then I have no need for any other priest.
God and the Saints: If I am to worship God alone, then I shouldn’t venerate or pray to the saints in Heaven.
The Pope and the Bishops: If all bishops are equal, then the Pope has no authority outside the Diocese of Rome.
The Pope and the Patriarchs: If all patriarchs are equal, then the Pope has no authority outside the western patriarchate.
The Eucharist: If our physical senses tell us it is bread, then it can’t be Jesus.
Jesus and Mary: If Jesus is the one mediator between God and man, then Mary is not the Mediatrix.
The Hypostatic Union: If Jesus is God, then he can’t be man.
The Trinity: If God is one, then the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit cannot each be God.
Atheism: If I can’t physically sense God, then He must not exist.