Oops! I just realized I missed this one. Did you miss my number 386?
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No, I am saying that through Baptism, Christians receive the Holy Spirit who instructs us throughout our lives increasing our knowledge as we mature in faith.
Well,this is sort-of true. Baptism is a sign, it is a sacrament. A sacrament is a sign that something has happened, will happen in the future, or is happening in the moment. Baptism is only one part of the sacraments of initiation, and those sacraments are not “complete” until Confirmation. It is at Confirmation that we complete the “sign” that we have invited the Spirit to come in and guide our lives. I have it first hand that many (if not most) who go through Confirmation do not make a mature decision to dedicate their life to Christ, and in this respect, they have not invited the Spirit either. Jesus does not impose Himself, he knocks very vigorously, but He does not “take over” without invitation.
We are born with a certain “knowing” in the sense that Natural Law, Divine Law, is imprinted within us giving us some basic sense of universal right and wrong actions. Murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, etc. This “knowing” is important but incomplete. It will be enlarged upon throughout our lives.
I agree, and this aspect is within every human. It is there, but it is through experience (and guidance from others around us) that we gain access to it.
Sin is not a lack of relationship. We have that from the time of our Baptism. Sin is a break in that relationship. We couldn’t break what we didn’t have.
We do not have the relationship through baptism unless it takes place in the original sense, that Baptism is all-inclusive, that it includes First Communion and Confirmation. Relationships are not a one-way street. Yes, God is in relationship with us, He is in relationship with every human walking this Earth. For us to be in relationship with God, we have to
intend such in some way. Arguably, all of us intend some type of relationship with God, though the vernacular might be different for an atheist. For example, since God is within all of us, a relationship with each other is part of a relationship with God. Atheists values relationships with other people, generally speaking.
We have it from St. Paul that nothing separates us from the love of God. God does not stop loving us when we sin. We do “break” from our God-given consciences. We violate our consciences, and our consciences normally punish us for such violations. Our conscience does not “love” us when we sin. The man is tormented by his God-given conscience, and that is a good thing. He is experiencing hell.
“Options” as a factor in knowledge is a topic for another time. For me, it is not necessary beyond the simple option of choosing to follow the law of God or to reject it.
So, Fred is watching a train headed toward five people on a railroad bridge. He does not realize that he is standing next to a switch that will veer the train away from the people. He does not know the option. He knows that it would be a sin not to do all he can to save the people, but he does not
know the option of how to do it.
Knowing options is rather important. Oliver North, remember, followed his conscience. He failed to know the better options. He did not K or W reject. Knowing options is not “necessary” for what?
We’ve kinda played out the “option” aspect though, I agree. What is important is
intent, (simple choosing) and I think we have already demonstrated that people
intend some good in every act they do, albeit people often intend with eyes of ignorance and/or blindness.
Now, please, can the man answer #386?