[D-fendr]

Thanks very much for your reply. I realize that suddently it's your time in the dock. And I appreciate very much your willingness to engage. So, on with it:

1) What did scripture rule should be done in Galileo's case?***

"And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?"

Huh? So what is the answer?

Christians weren't called to right every wrong or chase every goose in the world.

The birth of the scientific method; the role of science and reason and spirit? The enlightenment, the age of reason, and the church? A goose?  Huh? again.

Have your forgotten that scripture came from (errant) tradition?***
Scripture is the product of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, and...

Forgive me for my following sarcasm (no, don't forgive me, consider my way of communicating a point.)

Did the scripture you read today appear miraculously in your lap? Do you have a copy writ on stone by the finger of God? On the frontspiece does it say "Selected, translated and © Copyright Holy Spirit?

I respect you, Petronius, but you are dodging, here.

3) Is there some way you have of applying scripture without any tradition whatsoever?***
We don't believe in "no tradition". We just dont place it on par with or above Scripture.

So your 'tradition' doesn't interpret and apply scripture different than another tradition? Your church's tradition doesn't override the interpretation of scripture of those of others?

Another dodge. Same questions.

[PetroniusMaximus]

*** I realize that suddently it's your time in the dock.***

It's OK. I have an Advocate!



***The birth of the scientific method; the role of science and reason and spirit? The enlightenment, the age of reason, and the church? A goose? Huh? again.***

The situation under consideration and the rise of theological liberalism in the 1800 have points of comparison. The response of Christian churches to the influence of liberalism was generally the cutting off of fellowship. This, I believe, is the only valid form of Christian discipline. The RCC chose to suppress dissension judicially - sometimes with execution, torture or imprisonment, (I do not recognize the "it was the State's fault" argument). What happened to being "harmless as doves"?

(Now I recognize that it makes it more complex that you were dealing with an Empire and an "Emperor" (the Pope) for where is the disfellowedship person to run if he is expelled from the Church and the Church is the State?)


"Who made me judge or divider over you" was basically a statement that Jesus recognized we are to be busy about God's will and not distracted by other matters.

The Church is not going to make and maintain a Christian society by controlling and suppressing trends, philosophies, politics & science. A Christian society will be made only by the conversion of one heart at a time to love for and obedience to Jesus Christ and his teachings. We must fight evil philosophies with all out might, but we do so with spiritual weapons not with carnal or human weapons.




***Did the scripture you read today appear miraculously in your lap? Do you have a copy writ on stone by the finger of God? On the frontspiece does it say "Selected, translated and © Copyright Holy Spirit?***

No dodge. The Scriptures are ultimately the product of the Holy Spirit. Mary may have given birth to Jesus, but Jesus was still her Lord. The same is true of the Scriptures and the Church.




***So your 'tradition' doesn't interpret and apply scripture different than another tradition? Your church's tradition doesn't override the interpretation of scripture of those of others?***

I'm sorry, I don't get your meaning here.