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To: Das Outsider
By that reasoning, faith is more powerful than truth, or else the truth cannot be known beyond something that is divine and honors what man honors.

No, that's not what I meant. I believe that truth is absolute and can be known, by reason and revelation. However, the fact that a person believes something in error does not diminish that person *as a person*. He still has the capacity to know the truth, and to engage with the truth through faith, according to his personal conditions.

We should accept people where they are right now, but not hesitate to speak to them of Truth, in love and genuine concern.

I think we should hesitate, long enough to consider the circumstances and the potential benefit or harm. My discussion of "Undead Thread Religion Etiquette," so to speak, was situation-specific. In this immediate situation, we have a gentlemen's-and-ladies' agreement to avoid religious disputes, because there are other places for that, while this is "a space apart."

We know we have differences, but when we discuss them, it's in the way of exchanging information, rather than attempting to persuade. For example, a person with a question about Catholic belief or practice can ask it here, and get an answer from several informed parties, and then disengage, without being asked whether he accepts what the Catholic Church teaches. The same with a Protestant, any type; a Jew, any variety; an Asatru (that's Dead Corpse, I googled it!), or anything else.

3,359 posted on 04/16/2006 5:44:13 PM PDT by Tax-chick ("Life is too short to drink bad wine." ~ The Captain)
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To: Tax-chick
No, that's not what I meant. I believe that truth is absolute and can be known, by reason and revelation. However, the fact that a person believes something in error does not diminish that person *as a person*.

Ok, so we're saying essentially the same thing. As I warned earlier, I do use kinds of statements to draw out a person's beliefs if I perceive them to be stated in an unclear way.

He still has the capacity to know the truth, and to engage with the truth through faith, according to his personal conditions.

One thing: What are these personal conditions you're talking about? I want to better understand what you're getting at.
3,365 posted on 04/16/2006 5:52:02 PM PDT by Das Outsider (Are Marxist academics and apostate bishops trustworthy enough to tell you about the *real* Jesus?)
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