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reggieM
Guest
100% agreed - excellent advice (especially about the old books being preferrable).
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Bookcat
Guest
Yes…one must be prudent in regards to avoiding what would endanger ones faith.
And yes there can be sin to varying degrees…as well as on the other end virtue.
Let us hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ!
In him is true life!
And yes there can be sin to varying degrees…as well as on the other end virtue.
Let us hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ!
In him is true life!
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reggieM
Guest
Oops - I was too hasty with my praise!
Not 100% agreed at all with that. It’s just subjectivism and setting oneself up as a private magisterium, not being led but claiming to know the truth on one’s own by reading books. The Protestant error all over again.Docility – to the teachings of the Holy See. We must have that.
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caoindealbhan
Guest
If you are a rational human being, then certain preconceived notions about social justice may make you think twice. God gave you an intellect to question the world around us in order to bring it closer to perfection, and thus closer to Him. Proceed to read without caution!
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michelleds
Guest
Caoindealbhan, this is the 2nd post of yours that I’ve read tonight and the only 2 that I’ve ever read. Both seem to advocate setting one’s own path, regardless of Catholic teaching or caution. Am I just getting a skewed view? Offering anyone the advice to “proceed to read without caution” is lacking in a certain awareness of the effects of the evil one’s work and influence in the world.
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caoindealbhan
Guest
Are you afraid that you might be swayed by someone? A person of conviction has nothing to fear, but fear itself. Usually, it is a person who has been raised in a “closed society” who is very afraid of dissenting opinion. Our country operates with it on a daily basis. Improvements in life are based on our failures, as we get closer and closer to perfection.
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michelleds
Guest
“Whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever just, whatever holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if anything worthy of praise, think upon these things.” Phil 4:8
I’m not saying that one should be afraid of dissenting opinion. I’m saying that it can be easy to misled down paths which are not helpful, not beneficial or even dangerous if one is not well-catechized or has someone to talk to about things. I can name two priests off the top of my head that are currently very popular and prolific, but who do write in accordance with Catholic teaching. in fact, they write with a distinct new age slant. and while new age seems all pink crystal and honey light, it’s a dangerous and anti-catholic teaching. So, if one is not fully prepared, one should read what is already accepted teaching. If someone is just learning to cook, I’d rather eat their macaroni and cheese than their puffer fish.
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caoindealbhan
Guest
What would you then do with the Catholic who understands only too well the basis for certain teachings and cannot in good conscience follow it, live it, or pass it on to children?
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Credo_in_Deum
Guest
Hello timeandeternity,
It sounds like you’re unsure about this book because you are unsure about your own faith or that you maybe don’t know your faith well enough to not be swayed by Protestant theology? If that is the case what I would do is learn more about your faith and when you feel ready to look at opposing beliefs then to go back to the book. Basically what I’m saying is if you don’t know your own faith then why read about another one?
I would go with your gut feeling about not reading the book at this point in time.
God bless and please pray for me.
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reggieM
Guest
The words I highlighted are important. As a believer, of course, I would seek to help the person understand the basis of Catholic teaching and see the truth in it. I don’t believe the person you’re talking about fully understands what he or she thinks he does – so I would work on that.
What if that person had read skewed histories written by biased, anti-Catholic writers? Thus, he developed a completely false understanding.
That illustrates exactly the advice that we’re giving – bad books can cause a lot of damage.
But again, the Catholic Faith is a Divine Gift. It comes from heaven. Books are helpful, but even the illiterate can receive this Gift.
Once you have the Gift, it needs to be treasured and preserved. It’s not something to treat lightly and toss away based on the speculations of historians or philosophers.
If a person has the Gift … non-Catholic reading is not going to be much of a help and is going to be a huge risk of damage to the soul (and loss of the Gift).
As we walk towards God in the Catholic truth-- our Faith grows. We would die rather than apostasize. That’s what it means to embrace the teaching of Christ.
Who then can we turn to for eternal life? Only the Catholic Church wherein we receive forgiveness of our sins and the life-giving grace of the Sacraments.
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caoindealbhan
Guest
No matter how many convoluted arguments you might want to give for a person to accept “The Truth,” if it doesn’t make sense, then, no matter how much you pray or wish that you thought differently, then it doesn’t make sense.
My father would say, go look at this again. I think you need to think about it again. What is there to think about, if I know I don’t agree.
Would you prefer I lie, and say I agree, to make you happy?
My father would say, go look at this again. I think you need to think about it again. What is there to think about, if I know I don’t agree.
Would you prefer I lie, and say I agree, to make you happy?
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reggieM
Guest
I disagree. People much, much smarter than you or me have changed their minds and accepted the Catholic Faith due to the power of prayer. Through grace, our minds can be open to Truths which we can’t otherwise see.
Usually, you have to think about deeper reasons. You have to reflect and ask God to show you more.
Humility is very essential in seeking to learn.
No, I would not be happy if you just told lies or pretended to believe.
I think we all would want you to be truthful – but also willing to hear our point of view.
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caoindealbhan
Guest
We don’t want to confuse humility with compliance or obedience.
I am a rational man. I watch and see how events and beliefs effect people. If people are hurting and in pain, then the belief is not working. The proof is in the pudding, they say.
I am a rational man. I watch and see how events and beliefs effect people. If people are hurting and in pain, then the belief is not working. The proof is in the pudding, they say.
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reggieM
Guest
Ok, but to be truly rational you can’t just look at one side of the evidence. How about the people who find new life and are healed in many ways?
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caoindealbhan
Guest
If there is an obvious solution, then suffering is in vain. If there truly isn’t any solution then there is no choice but to suffer until one presents itself.
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TimothyH
Guest
It’s your logic which does not flow because it is based on a faulty assumption.
The Catholic faith as handed down from Jesus to the Apostles and given to us through the one Holy Church established by Christ himself is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of divinely revealed truths which God leaves us free to accept or reject.
The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. (Matthew 13:10-11)
Any truth contained in and stated by the Protestant book mentioned in the orginal post is Catholic truth, by virtue of the fact that Christ, himself the fullness of God’s revelation to man, entrusted that fullness of revelation to the Apostles and they, in turn, handed it on in written word and oral tradtion to their successors, who still exist today as the leaders of the Catholic Church.
The revealed truths of God as taught to us by his one, Holy Church, are not matters of opinion.
-Tim-.
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TimothyH
Guest
Another faulty use of logic.
Human suffering is universalm, not confined to one place, time, society or belief system. Christians suffer. Atheists suffer. Buddists suffer. The smartest scientist on the planet is not immune from hurt and pain.
Anyone with eyes can see this.
-Tim-
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caoindealbhan
Guest
Nothing “hurts” more than when a person has a headache and is told they can’t take the aspirin next to them because it is against church teaching.
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reggieM
Guest
Emptyness of soul, lack of faith and hope, despair, confusion, ignorance about the purpose of life, lonliness and isolation from God, sinful and guilty conscience …
Those things hurt quite a lot.
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michelleds
Guest
I think in another thread you indicated that you believed you and God would have a great laugh at the end of time at how far off the mark the Catholic Church was in her teachings.
I guess that I would suggest to you that you are rigid in your rabid fluidity.
another way of saying that is: “so open minded that your brains fall out”.
I hardly know where to begin to discuss theology with someone who makes statements which appear to be based in willful arrogance. You surely can’t believe that you, little ol’ you, understands more about God than the Church, the Bible and the Magisterium, can you? You want to make things acceptable to God because they make you feel good or because they are possible (the hand reaches the penis, i believe you said in another thread). But that’s not in the Bible or the Canon. That’s primarily a late 20th century invention of relativism and egotism.
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