Protestants DENY Tradition?

[crai7]

Number one, what is the relevance of “bi directional flow of information?” Are you saying that prayer only has significance when one person is speaking? Moreover, the fact is that Jesus spoke to the departed as an earthly man and did not tell us in scripture not to do so, especially since he had an opportunity to do so.

Prayer itself is a supernatural occurrence, consider that. “Supernatural powers” are possible with us as well. I hope you haven’t ruled that out.

By ‘bi-directional’ I mean a conversation between two or more people. What is described in those verses seems to be a conversation between three parties - Christ, Moses and Elijah - not prayer.

In response to “Prayer itself is a supernatural occurrence” I would say that prayer is only supernatural in that God can hear our prayers and we don’t understand how that is possible from a scientific point of view. As humans we are not capable of doing supernatural things - not unless God enables it, as was the case with the apostles when they received the Holy Spirit.

 

[pablope]

“They are there…” well I would like to know where, because so far I’ve not come across anything indicating a direct command, instruction or even an indication of a common practice in scripture.

As far as early church tradition goes - I looked at the article in the first link - and I first noticed the reference to Augustine. Augustine is already 4th century, extremely late.

 

[Jubilarian]

By ‘bi-directional’ I mean a conversation between two or more people. What is described in those verses seems to be a conversation between three parties - Christ, Moses and Elijah - not prayer.

In response to “Prayer itself is a supernatural occurrence” I would say that prayer is only supernatural in that God can hear our prayers and we don’t understand how that is possible from a scientific point of view. As humans we are not capable of doing supernatural things - not unless God enables it, as was the case with the apostles when they received the Holy Spirit.

I didn’t ask you what “bi directional” meant, just what the relevance of it is. My question remains and seems to have gone unanswered. And that is, are you saying that prayer means only a one sided act?

Nothing that you have said changes the fact that Jesus communed with “dead people” while on earth and did not tell us not to.

I also disagree with you that prayer is “only supernaturall in that God can hear our prayers and we don’t understand that from a scientific point of view”. WE are doing a supernatural act as well when we pray because as you said “God enables it”. God is allowing us to perform a supernatural act. I will say this though, the word “prayer” is not used in the Tranfiuration story, however the act of communing with the dead is shown, and that is what Catholics do.