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To: Fifthmark
"Catholic theology teaches that heresy is a mortal sin and that those who die in the state of mortal sin are damned to Hell for all eternity. Protestantism is a heresy; thus it is "damnable.""

Then, if I want to be "damned to hell", I have the right .. at least here in the United States .. to go to hell in my own way. If Catholicism cannot "compete" for my soul in the Marketplace of Ideas, you and your brethren in the church have no right to either try to force me to adopt your beliefs or to kill me if I don't have those beliefs.

Additionally, if I can convince others, in the fair Marketplace of Ideas, that my beliefs are superior/more rational (or for whatever rationale) to yours, then I have the right to attempt to prosyletize them.

You, sir or madam, are no different than those out there killing unbelievers because they won't kneel to Allah. Fanatics of all stripes should be ridiculed and then ignored.

115 posted on 06/18/2004 11:05:27 AM PDT by BlueLancer (Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmändø (EMØØK))
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To: BlueLancer
If Catholicism cannot "compete" for my soul in the Marketplace of Ideas, you and your brethren in the church have no right to either try to force me to adopt your beliefs or to kill me if I don't have those beliefs.

If I didn't think our fallen nature and resulting tendency towards ignorance was an impedement to discovering the truth, then I would be all for Mill's notion of the "Marketplace." As it stands, however, our poor souls are in need of guidance and authority to help us attain that truth - the need for a Church - and the State should assist this need inasmuch as they are primarily concerned with the welfare of its citizens. You should really stop putting words in my mouth with the "going to kill me if I don't convert" talk - that is not how the Inquisition worked, not how Christendom worked, and it is not how I envision a Catholic State. The idea is to defend the truth, not simply make it one of many options. To what extent that defense is made is an arguable point, one that would depend upon your views of the severity of straying from the Doctrine of Christ. We could have that argument, but I'd rather go and discuss my opinions with those who wouldn't just label me "Taliban" and run. Good day.

125 posted on 06/18/2004 11:38:01 AM PDT by Fifthmark
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To: BlueLancer

If you could also convince those same people in that Marketplace of Ideas, that someone was born of a virgin and came back from the dead, just for you...then???


127 posted on 06/18/2004 11:44:42 AM PDT by stuartcr
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