Why won’t all other Christians recognize the Roman Catholic Pope as their leader?

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“My thoughts are that you have none of your own…You simply repeated back to me Catholic rhetoric which I’ve heard many, many times.”

Thank you for the compliment, you have just called me a “Good Catholic”.

If that’s being a good Catholic thank heaven I am not one. One of an atheist’s favourite jibes at Christianity is that Christians can’t think for themselves. In the case of some Catholics it would seem they are absolutely right.

“The Catholic Church is the One True Mould, and you are damned well going to fit into it.”

It is the voice of oversized human egos I hear speaking there, and not the voice of God at all.
 
If that’s being a good Catholic thank heaven I am not one. One of an atheist’s favourite jibes at Christianity is that Christians can’t think for themselves. In the case of some Catholics it would seem they are absolutely right.

“The Catholic Church is the One True Mould, and you are damned well going to fit into it.”

It is the voice of oversized human egos I hear speaking there, and not the voice of God at all.
Hello mathematician,

Thank you, I do try to fit the “Catholic Mold”. Are you bothered by my Faith as a Roman Catholic? Do you consider Roman Catholics, Christians?

To the contrary, a belief that, “I know better” is formed in the mind of the one who has a “big ego”, because they believe that their own intellect is greater than all others who have proceed them and are in essence say “I know everything” when it come to theology.

Where is “ego” found in the man “surrendering” to his faith?

So, are you saying that you reject aspects of your own religion?

I believe that once one rejects any part of their particular denomination, by definition they have for themselves, created a “new” denomination. They have created in their own mind, using their own intellect, based on their own values, a “new” way to have “God on their terms”.

Religions, Churches, Denominations, Faiths etc… are defined by a particular “rule-set” and by specific identifiable beliefs.

People can call themselves what ever they would like but that does not mean that that is “their” religion. I cannot, for instance say, as I Catholic that I do not believe what the Catholic Church teaches. At that point, I become my own religion or a "religion of one becasue atr thatt point I have my own beliefs…

Please tell me where you disagree with this comment.

God Bless You.

Take Care 👍
 
If that’s being a good Catholic thank heaven I am not one. One of an atheist’s favourite jibes at Christianity is that Christians can’t think for themselves. In the case of some Catholics it would seem they are absolutely right.

It is the voice of oversized human egos I hear speaking there, and not the voice of God at all.
Here let’s try this again without all the typos…

Hello mathematician,

Let me start by saying that the Catholic Church has never said, "“The Catholic Church is the One True Mould, and you are damned well going to fit into it.” Where did you get this nonsense from?

Thank you** mathematician**, I do try to fit the “Catholic Mold”.

Are you bothered by my Faith as a Roman Catholic? Do you consider Roman Catholics, Christians?

“It is the voice of oversized human egos I hear speaking there”

What aere you talking about? Whose ego’s, be specific.

To the contrary, a belief that, “I know better” is formed in the mind of the one who has a “big ego”, because they believe that their own intellect is greater than all others who have proceed them and are in essence saying, “I know everything” when it come to theology.

Where is “ego” found in the man “surrendering” to his faith?

So, are you saying that you reject aspects of your own religion?

I believe that once one rejects any part of their particular denomination, by definition they have for themselves, created a “new” denomination. They have created in their own mind, using their own intellect, based on their own values, a “new” way to have “God on their terms”.

Religions, Churches, Denominations, Faiths etc… are defined by a particular “rule-set” and by specific identifiable beliefs.

People can call themselves what ever they would like to but that does not mean that is “their” religion. I cannot for instance say, as a Catholic, that I do not believe what the Catholic Church teaches. At that point, I become my own religion or a "religion of one” because at that point I have my own beliefs, which are different than Catholicism…

Please tell me where you disagree with this comment.

God Bless You.

Take Care 👍
 
Thank you, I do try to fit the “Catholic Mold”. Are you bothered by my Faith as a Roman Catholic?
It bothers me insofar as it warns me to steer well clear of the Roman Catholic Church. What you are describing is called idolatry; in this case it is the Church which is being seated upon God’s throne.
Do you consider Roman Catholics, Christians?
The World Council of Churches’ definition of a Christian is that it is somebody who professes belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. So I guess Roman Catholics would qualify.
To the contrary, a belief that, “I know better” is formed in the mind of the one who has a “big ego”, because they believe that their own intellect is greater than all others who have proceed them and are in essence say “I know everything” when it come to theology.
I admit to being fallible; not an admission you are likely to hear from the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
So, are you saying that you reject aspects of your own religion?
Anglicanism is not nearly so prescriptive as Roman Catholicism.
I believe that once one rejects any part of their particular denomination, by definition they have for themselves, create a “new” denomination. They have created in their own mind, using their own intellect, based on their own values, a “new” way to have “God on their terms”.
If you think that somebody has got to believe exactly what you believe before they can belong to the same church as you, it sounds to me as if you are well on the way to becoming a one member Church. With such a narrow conception of orthodoxy, no wonder the word heresy is so freely thrown around on this site.
Religions, Churches, Denominations, Faiths etc… are defined by a particular “rule-set” and by identifiable beliefs.
That is what the Pharisees thought religion consisted of. Turn to any page of the NT, where they are putting their spoke in, and you will find them complaining because somebody isn’t sticking to the rules.

The other day I was listening to a conversation between a Jesuit and an Anglican priest. At some point it was quipped that the problem with the Catholic Church in America was that it was an Italian Church run by Anglo-Saxons. In other words, rules which are supposed to be aspirational get treated as if they are prescriptive.
 
It bothers me insofar as it warns me to steer well clear of the Roman Catholic Church. What you are describing is called idolatry; in this case it is the Church which is being seated upon God’s throne.

The World Council of Churches’ definition of a Christian is that it is somebody who professes belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. So I guess Roman Catholics would qualify.

I admit to being fallible; not an admission you are likely to hear from the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

Anglicanism is not nearly so prescriptive as Roman Catholicism.

If you think that somebody has got to believe exactly what you believe before they can belong to the same church as you, it sounds to me as if you are well on the way to becoming a one member Church. With such a narrow conception of orthodoxy, no wonder the word heresy is so freely thrown around on this site.

That is what the Pharisees thought religion consisted of. Turn to any page of the NT, where they are putting their spoke in, and you will find them complaining because somebody isn’t sticking to the rules.
Read the Acts and Pauls letters and you will find the the early Church was correcting their owm people from the very beginning. 👍
 
It bothers me insofar as it warns me to steer well clear of the Roman Catholic Church. What you are describing is called idolatry; in this case it is the Church which is being seated upon God’s throne.

The World Council of Churches’ definition of a Christian is that it is somebody who professes belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. So I guess Roman Catholics would qualify.

I admit to being fallible; not an admission you are likely to hear from the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

Anglicanism is not nearly so prescriptive as Roman Catholicism.

If you think that somebody has got to believe exactly what you believe before they can belong to the same church as you, it sounds to me as if you are well on the way to becoming a one member Church. With such a narrow conception of orthodoxy, no wonder the word heresy is so freely thrown around on this site.

That is what the Pharisees thought religion consisted of. Turn to any page of the NT, where they are putting their spoke in, and you will find them complaining because somebody isn’t sticking to the rules.

The other day I was listening to a conversation between a Jesuit and an Anglican priest. At some point it was quipped that the problem with the Catholic Church in America was that it was an Italian Church run by Anglo-Saxons. In other words, rules which are supposed to be aspirational get treated as if they are prescriptive.
**It bothers me insofar as it warns me to steer well clear of the Roman Catholic Church. What you are describing is called idolatry; in this case it is the Church which is being seated upon God’s throne. *

Do you even know what “Idolatry” means? I don’ think so. Practicing one’s faith within the guidelines prescribe by his religion, is not Idolatry. Catholics do not worship the Roman Catholic Church, what are you basing this comment on?

The World Council of Churches’ definition of a Christian is that it is somebody who professes belief in the doctrine of the Trinity. So I guess Roman Catholics would qualify.

What is the *World Council of Churches’ anyways? * Isn’t this an American organization and not truly a “world” organization? Besides that, you are referring to the definition of a religious body, why would you do that, if you believed that accepting the religious body’s definition on theology is “idolatry”?

I admit to being fallible; not an admission you are likely to hear from the Roman Catholic hierarchy.
Do you even know what Papal Infallibility is? If you believe that your interpretations of the Bible are the true interpretations and you believe in concepts like “once saved always save” are true, are you not claiming to be infallible?. Only the Catholic Pope is infallible and only on issues of Faith and Morals.

Anglicanism is not nearly so prescriptive as Roman Catholicism.

I don’t believe it, says who, show me where it says that Anglicans can do or think as they please within the context of their faith.
  • If you think that somebody has got to believe exactly what you believe before they can belong to the same church as you, it sounds to me as if you are well on the way to becoming a one member Church. With such a narrow conception of orthodoxy, no wonder the word heresy is so freely thrown around on this site.*
You still don’t get it, it isn’t what I believe, it is believing in Church doctrine and what my Church teaches, which by the way is based biblically and on what Jesus Christ said. … All organized religions require that their members comply and believe the teachings of their Church, in order to be a member.

That is what the Pharisees thought religion consisted of. Turn to any page of the NT, where they are putting their spoke in, and you will find them complaining because somebody isn’t sticking to the rules

Rules are a good thing, read the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 5:1-11 and then talk to me about Church rules.

When the writers of the Bible wrote about the Pharisees, they were not talking about themselves they were talking about the Pharisees. Is this some more personal interpretation? This doesn’t make any sense what so ever, show me the verses…

Thank You, Take Care 👍
*
 
Retraction
Disregard my previous comments regarding the World Council of Churches, I looked them up, I know what it is. I was thinking about another American organization. 👍
 
Do you even know what “Idolatry” means? I don’ think so.
It means worshipping something other than God. Simple as that.
Practicing one’s faith within the guidelines prescribe by his religion, is not Idolatry. Catholics do not worship the Roman Catholic Church, what are you basing this comment on?
Catholics treat anything which emerges from the mouth of the Roman magesterium as if it emerged directly from the mouth of God. Therefore for all practical purposes God and Magesterium are synonyms so far as they are concerned.
World Council of Churches’ Isn’t this an American organization and not truly a “world” organization?
Is it? How come we in Britain have heard of it then?
Besides that, you are referring to the definition of a religious body, why would you do that, if you believed that accepting the religious body’s definition on theology is “idolatry”?
I don’t accept it uncritically and, more to the point, I don’t think they are possessed of a Godlike infallibility.
Do you even know what Papal Infallibility is? If you believe that your interpretations of the Bible are the true interpretations and you believe in concepts like “once saved always save” are true, are you not claiming to be infallible?. Only the Catholic Pope is infallible and only on issues of Faith and Morals.
Infallible means that you can’t be mistaken, even if that is limited to a particular area (such as faith and morals). I make no such claim, and if I did I would rightly be ridiculed. “Once saved always saved” is a Calvinist slogan; I am not a Calvinist.
Anglicanism is not nearly so prescriptive as Roman Catholicism.
I don’t believe it, says who, show me where it says that Anglicans can do or think as they please within the context of their faith.

All right, I will give you an example. Within Anglicanism

Transubstantiation
Transignification
Consubstantiation
Sacremental Union
Memorialism

are all acceptable understandings of the Eucharist. Nobody has a gun held to their head and told, “You have got to believe this, or else you are a heretic.” I can understand that it is not a religion which is likely to appeal to somebody who craves a certitude which is not there to be had. Anglicans believe in a God who is prepared to indulge our human weaknesses.
All organized religions require that their members comply and believe the teachings of their Church, in order to be a member.
See above.
When the writers of the Bible wrote about the Pharisees, they were not talking about themselves they were talking about the Pharisees. Is this some more personal interpretation? This doesn’t make any sense what so ever, show me the verses…
Quite right, they were talking about the Pharisees, who thought that holiness could be achieved by following a religion based upon rules, and who earned themselves the sharp edge of Jesus’ tongue.
 
Hi, Jimmy B, and if you don’t mind I’ll put in a few cents worth.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mathematician
Becausde infallibility sounds like a good way of talking yourself into a corner out of which you cannot subsequently get. I suppose a good example of that is the doctrine of transubstantiation, which relies upon a theory of matter which simply is not tenable any more.

Quote= OneNow1. God did a fine job of conneting the spiritual with the physical when God became man.> [Jesus ]. Science is of little use hear.End

Quote= Jimmy. Great!..So if I can “explain” or define “Infallibility” and “transubstantiation” within the Roman Catholic Church’s definition, then you’re OK with the Roman Catholic Pope as the Christian leader for All Christians?

Quote= Mathematician. “Transubstantiation” Is the fancy word for the process in which the bread and wine is transformed into the Real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, or the “Real Presense”.

Quote = OneNow1. The word is Jesus !

Quote= Jimmy. There are other non-Catholic Christians who believe in the “Real Presense”. And all early “Protestant” denominations accepted “transubstantiation".

I’m guessing that you reject this and accept communion as merely symbolizing the Body and Blood of Christ. Am I correct.

Stand by for some more detailed posts on this topic.
.
BTW, I’m sure that these are not your only Catholic “stumbling blocks”.

Be back to you soon with the answers.
Quote:
Jimmy B. –

“I am a Roman Catholic, so I am not afraid of the Truth nor am I afraid of any Bible verse.”

“The Bible is a “Catholic
Quote= OneNow1. AMEN !

Quote= OneNow1. John Chapter 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life

How this above verse is misinterpreted by Many.
  1. He is not talking about His flesh, as some believe !
  2. When Jesus says Spirit, he is connecting His spirit with or his divine nature in a reality we cannot possibly fathom. So the best thing to do is believe Jesus when he says in: John 6: 55, For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink !
    3.The word spiritual is not figurative, it is a reality. Unfortunately the figurative is what some believe!
Peace,OneNow1
 
Read the Acts and Pauls letters and you will find the the early Church was correcting their owm people from the very beginning. 👍
Rome’s self-proclaimed infallibility is the very thing that prohibits the Roman church from comprehending any of its errors and allowing the Holy Spirit to correct them. That which is infallible is, by definition, never in need of correction.

Your statement: "…the early Church was correcting their own people" is a good example of how in “Romanism” Christ Himself has been replaced by what is called “the Church.” “The Church” (Rome’s hierarchy, headed by its “Pope”) is now King and its clergy and laymen are its subjects. The Roman church is a monarchy, and no one questions the King, especially when he’s considered infallible. The RC “faith” demands first from its devotees (subjects), belief in the infallibility of its “Church,” its governing authority.
 
I’m guessing that you reject this and accept communion as merely symbolizing the Body and Blood of Christ. Am I correct.
If that is addressed to me, no you are not correct. I accept the Real Presence; what I reject is a metaphysical theory called transubstantiation.
 
Same could be said of other people’s beliefs after reading and referring only to the Bible. Where is that Bible verse again that supports this practice?
Quite right, you can make an idol out of anything if you forget that, as helpful as it may be, it isn’t God…
This leads into another question: Are you infallible in saying the Gospels are the inspired Word of God? How do you know? What verses from those books can you use to support your beliefs?
There you go again. Looking for a certitude which isn’t there to be had. I believe that God exists. Can I prove it? No - I might be wrong in believing him to exist. It is called fallibility, and it is called (the risk of) faith.
 
If your faith was sufficiently strong science wouldn’t be so in interesting to you regarding the Eucharist. It’s about faith, not science.

And BTW, science doesn’t prove anything about transubstantiation.
**Your comment is totally out of context of what was being described, you have just put your own words in my comments. I forgive you, this mistake is common among those who take things out of context.

I was not proving the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist scientifically, I was simply stating to another that The science of cause and effect describes what happens in the Eucharist. from anothers post using science to discredit the true presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity in the conscecrated **Eucharist.
 
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onenow1:
God did a fine job of conneting the spiritual with the physical when God became man.> [Jesus ].
Man himself was created both spiritual and physical. It didn’t take the incarnation for this phenomenon to occur. What occurred in the incarnation was the “connecting” (to use your word) of divinity and humanity.

But not the blending of the two. In Christ the human did not become divine, nor did the divine become human. Christ was/is one Person with two distinct natures. Such has been the faith of the church universal, as stated in the early creeds, adopted by the Greek, Latin and Protestant churches, which declare that Christ, as to His humanity, is consubstantial with us and, as to His divinity, consubstantial with the Father.

And for this reason the divine attribute of omnipresence cannot be applied to the humanity of Christ, to which His body and blood belong. The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation requires that the humanity of Christ be omnipresent - a doctrine which, by its definition, must deny that Christ was truly human - became one of us. Hence, He was not truly our “Kinsman Redeemer,” as prefigured in the O.T.
 
Man himself was created both spiritual and physical. It didn’t take the incarnation for this phenomenon to occur. What occurred in the incarnation was the “connecting” (to use your word) of divinity and humanity.

Just for clarification: Man was created with a body and a soul, God breathed life into the man with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not get revealed or given to humanity until pentecost.
Spirit = life, not to be confused with soul and Spirit.


But not the blending of the two. In Christ the human did not become divine, nor did the divine become human. Christ was/is one Person with two distinct natures. Such has been the faith of the church universal, as stated in the early creeds, adopted by the Greek, Latin and Protestant churches, which declare that Christ, as to His humanity, is consubstantial with us and, as to His divinity, consubstantial with the Father.

**For clarification between what is defined as incarnation = Jesus fully human, fully divine and Trinity which is One, we do ont confess three God’s but One God in three persons, The “CONSUBSTANTIAL TRINITY”.The divine persons do not share the one divinity among themselves but each of them is God whole and entire.The Father is that which the Son is, the Son that which the Father is, The Father and the Son that which the Holy Spirit is, i.e, by nature one God. There is much more to be said of this mystery. But so as one not to confuse consubstantial with the incarnation, I thought clarification was in order so as not to confuse the Catholic Teaching with protestant definition.

The Catholic church confesses that Jesus is inseperably true God and true man. **He is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother. CCC#469

And for this reason the divine attribute of omnipresence cannot be applied to the humanity of Christ, to which His body and blood belong. The Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation requires that the humanity of Christ be omnipresent - a doctrine which, by its definition, must deny that Christ was truly human - became one of us. Hence, He was not truly our “Kinsman Redeemer,” as prefigured in the O.T.
**Please moondweller keep it simple, you are mingeling terms that do not describe Catholic teaching, and making them to appear to ancient heretical explanations, your definitions are walking a very thin line of Gnostic Docestism, Nestroian and Monophysites heresies that the Catholic church has already defeated. Now dont miss quote me, I state your definition walks a very thin line between these heresies. Please dont state what the Catholic church teaches unless you are absolutely sure, maybe quote from the CCC so as not to misinterpret her definitions.

Example: Your definition of the omnipresence is confusing for the Parousia, and Transubstantiation. I must inform you, your above statement does not define Catholic belief in these, only what you suppose they do. I must inform you that Transubstantiation has nothing to do with denying Christs humanity or divinity. It only has to do with a description of what happens to the species of bread and Wine, From the Words of Jesus Christ himself in the persona Christi. Again please be more clearer with your definitions about how I a Roman Catholic believes, these mysteries can cause much confusion between Catholics and Prostestants if they are not labeled correctly and correctly defined by Ones own tradition or teaching.**🙂 Peace be with you
 
Man himself was created both spiritual and physical. It didn’t take the incarnation for this phenomenon to occur. What occurred in the incarnation was the “connecting” (to use your word) of divinity and humanity.

But not the blending of the two. In Christ the human did not become divine, nor did the divine become human. Christ was/is one Person with two distinct natures. Such has been the faith of the church universal, as stated in the early creeds, adopted by the Greek, Latin and Protestant churches, which declare that Christ, as to His humanity, is consubstantial with us and, as to His divinity, consubstantial with the Father.

**Quotes from the Roman Catholic Nicene Creed;
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us man and for our slavation he came down from heaven:; By the power of the Holy Spirit… he was born of the virgin Mary, and became man… We believe in the Holy Spirit, THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets…

John 1:1… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.14 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of Grace and truth.

A Catholic dogma is Mary is mother of God.Theotokos, defined in the council of Ephesus 3rd century, to defeat heresies of Jesus divinity and humanity, concluded to define an already believed faith as Mary being Mother of God.

these are stated just for clarifiacation:**
 
Moondweller: Man himself was created both spiritual and physical. It didn’t take the incarnation for this phenomenon to occur. What occurred in the incarnation was the “connecting” (to use your word) of divinity and humanity.

But not the blending of the two. In Christ the human did not become divine, nor did the divine become human. Christ was/is one Person with two distinct natures. Such has been the faith of the church universal, as stated in the early creeds, adopted by the Greek, Latin and Protestant churches, which declare that Christ, as to His humanity, is consubstantial with us and, as to His divinity, consubstantial with the Father.

**Quotes from the Roman Catholic Nicene Creed;
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through him all things were made.

For us man and for our slavation he came down from heaven:; By the power of the Holy Spirit… he was born of the virgin Mary, and became man… We believe in the Holy Spirit, THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets…

John 1:1… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.14 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of Grace and truth.

A Catholic dogma is Mary is mother of God.Theotokos, defined in the council of Ephesus 3rd century, to defeat heresies of Jesus divinity and humanity, concluded to define an already believed faith as Mary being Mother of God.

these are stated just for clarifiacation:**
What’s your point, Gab? I don’t understand what you’re driving at. I never said you didn’t believe in all of the above. However, none of it has any relevance to the content of my post regarding your doctrine of transubstantiation. :confused:
 
I posted this in another thread, but it goes here as well:
Jesus said his church would not err, however, 2,000 year have passed and the original church has been divided many, many times. The assertion that today’s Catholic church is the same church founded by Jesus is simply that, an assertion. Without Jesus here to confirm that this is the case it is simply a claim that can not be substantiated. It is indeed possible that one of the churches that separated from Rome hundreds of years ago is the true chruch. Apostolic succession proves nothing other than a continuing priesthood in the same institution - continued by man, it says nothing about that insitution’s continued teaching of, or possession of, truth. Further, anyone can claim to be infallible when it comes to issues such as religion since there is no “proof” that can be offerred other than opinion. To state that one is infallible is, indeed, a perfect way to stifle inquiry and discussion. The church is the body of Christ, made up of all believers and God works within us all. 🙂
There is the possibility that the Peter/Rock statement referred to Peter’s faith being like a rock and had nothing to do with the founding of a church, and it applied only to Peter - no successor was ever mentioned. Indeed, Jesus says nothing at all (unless you count Peter/Rock) about founding a Church. And even if he had, churhces at that time were very small, self-contained groups of believers, no megalithick, monarchial, institutions (I just don’t think that’s what he had in mind). And while it is true that Peter was in Rome and probably martyred there, there is nothing to back up the claim that he was head of the church there, or even a “bishop” at all. I have also read that the earliestlist of bishops, in Irenaeus of Lyons, according to which “Linus” was selected as leader by Peter and Paul has been proved to be a 2nd century forgery.

One more thing: Jesus said you will know them by their friuts, by which I can only surmise that the centuries of corrupt Church leaders were ineed that: corrupt. Since truth cannot come from corruption, the theological teachings of these men must also be corrupt. Certainly not infallible.
 
To state that one is infallible is, indeed, a perfect way to stifle inquiry and discussion.
The freedom to inquire and discuss was the vehicle by which the early church quenched heresy. Self-proclaimed infallibility is very dangerous by the fact that heretical teachings can no longer be challenged by that means.

Peter himself warned:2 Pet 2:1 "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,"Can false teachers in the church be challenged at all if men blindly accept them as infallible? A very dangerous and potentially destructive doctrine, indeed.
 
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