T
TMC
Guest
Do you suppose that the things that worked in the 6th century are still the best way to do things today? Are you suggesting that Benedict should declare holy war and put the pagans to the sword? You realize that in those times the Popes were elected by the acclaim of the laity, not by a clerical vote. Should we go back to that, too?Do I blame him directly for the dissention? Not especially. For not stamping it out? Without question. There is a time for fraternal forebearance and then there’s a time to, for lack of a better word, smite.
Shall we look at the difference between JP II and the namesake of the current pontiff, in their approach to evangelization?
JP II: Hosted South American brujas and participated in a “smoke exorcism.”
St. Benedict: Destroyed the Apollonian worship of a whole region, cut down and burned the trees in their “sacred” groves, and out of the ashes of that temple, built a Church.
scratches head One of these things is not like the other, I’m thinking.
But your story dodges my point on internal dissent, I think. In Saint Benedict’s time, there was still significant disagreement within the Church on basic points of Christology, and believers in both monophystism, and nestorianism were within the Church. Monthelitism wasn’t to be settled for another hundred years. In other words, today Catholics debate how the priest should stand at Mass. In Saint Benedict’s day they were debating much more serious issues. The Church grew and was strengthed through those early trials. I think we will get over a flap about the liturgy, and, yes, these little controversies over how polite one should be to non-believers.
As far as protecting and extending the faith, what portion of the human population do you suppose was Christian in the sixth century? One percent? We could be doing better, but one billion souls in the Church is not a bad start.
Yes, the world has changed in 1400 years. Mostly for the better.