This is a
very good point rinnie! Yes, free will is compromised by our own ignorance! If I don’t know, for example, the practice of forgiving my enemy instead of getting even with him, then such lack of awareness puts a real damper on my freedom to choose. How does one know what one does not know? One does not. So yes, we can assert “free will” but free will is limited by many things, limitations in human skill, physical capability, intellect, knowledge base, a number of different things. It only makes sense to me that all of this gets worked out, in the Light of Love, between the individual and his Creator.
Yes, that is why I have had to repeat many times that the Church is not wrong. What I am saying is that doctrine needs clarification. Yesterday, I was talking with my son about the CCC, of which I hadn’t realized he read much. He and a bunch of other upper-degree Philosophy students who were practicing Catholics got together and read the CCC on a regular basis. They concluded that the CCC needed some good philosophers to iron out some issues. I did not plant this idea in my son’s head; we differ a good deal on many issues and he far from takes my word for anything. However, concerning the CCC needing clarifications, we agree. (I think some
theologians, not philosophers, though should tackle the issues)
In addition, I think it is time for the CCC to line out the difference between differing spiritual journeys, which lead to differing views of God, and heterodoxy. We can have people with differing views of God belong to the same Church, why not? Why does every person have to be a round peg that fits into a round hole? Do we not have an enormous variety in relationships with Abba? Why not have the CCC reflect this reality by being
less specific instead of more? Every word added to every doctrine can be read in a nearly infinite number of ways, as many ways, theoretically, as there are people on Earth. If anything, the doctrine perhaps could be simplified to allow for more differences in peoples’ relationship with God.
It is the creed that unites us, it is ultimately the Eucharist that unites us. Anyone who seeks to divide us based on doctrinal interpretation, well, that is their issue. I, for one, find nothing that divides me from anyone else who calls himself Christian. I, for one, find nothing that divides me from anyone who calls himself
human. The Eucharist
unites. Love unites!
True that. But while I am obeying, there is nothing wrong with investigating and trying to work out the contradictions.
To me, doctrine is to make sense in light of an unconditionally loving God. It is by knowing that God loves unconditionally that we can learn to forgive others without condition. It is through forgiving others that we continue to be involved in creating the Kingdom. It is through understanding that we are enabled to forgive in the more mature way, a way that for adults erases all resentment. Included in that understanding of others is the observation that people do not know what they are doing when they sin. All sin can be seen to occur in this context, in the context of lack of awareness.
But I didn’t say that the Holy Spirit divides, rinnie. Revelation unfolds, and as it unfolds, some items appear to contradict until it all works out.
All of have access to God within, though, regardless. Nothing excludes the Spirit from speaking to every individual in some way, and yes, we rely on the Spirit to work out the differences with the hierarchy as
revelation unfolds. Doctrine evolves in history, right rinnie? Doctrine is not the same now as it was hundreds of years ago. God does not change, Jesus does not change, but we learn more over the ages. Remember all the clarifications that had to be made in the first few hundred years? To me, much is yet to be worked through.
Thanks for your response!
When all is said and done, that is all that matters. There is no conflict between divine mercy and divine justice.