Replies

Initial response.

***PM, I have a long day ahead of me and a number of deadlines to meet.***

I see we work in similar fields! It is unfortunate when work interferes with life. If I have pauses, it is due to similar issues.

*** I’ve been through these arguments quite a few times, and I admit that my patience is wearing thin. ***

I am sorry for that. I admit that I have not read the entire thread - I usually do not. I just follow my subthread.

*** it is usually at about this point that I am told that I am an evil Catholic, and just need to read the Bible,***

Don't feel alone my friend. I've been called an evil and ignorant evangelical many times here on FR. Besides, I love Catholics.

***This after a considerable work of exegesis, as you can see from my previous posts on this thread. I confess, my patience is wearing thin,***

I do not meant to try your patience. I am willing to continue it as long as you are open to the idea. I, like you, do loose patience with stubborn illogic (which I have never seen in your posts BTW) because ultimately it is a wastes of time, leads to strife - and is prohibited by Scripture (2 Tim 2:24).

But consider this - you and I will both spend more eons than there are stars in either heaven or hell. Granted the length of time that awaits us, our taking a week or a month to discuss these matters and clearly understand each others view is of potentially inestimable value to us.

***It is not my intention that his post offend you, and if it does, by all means have the forum moderator delete it***

No offense has been taken my friend, not in the least. Please do not read any animosity in my posts to you. Invariably we clash with ideas, we vent anger at ideas. Often those who hold the ideas mistakenly assume that the anger is directed at them personally rather that at the idea they hold.

Before I address the other issues; are you agreeable to continue this thread? I quite understand if you are not - or if you feel time constraints.

"Don't feel alone my friend. I've been called an evil and ignorant evangelical many times here on FR.

I'm sorry to hear that.

"Besides, I love Catholics."

I know you do, PM.

"I do not meant to try your patience."

You're not trying my patience, PM, it's just that it has been tried, and I've just allowed myself to get short. I have been through the same arguments several times, and after quite a bit of work, it was clear that the questions being asked of me were not serious questions, just distractions from those who would rather not deal with difficulties in doctrine. You can look at the work I did to exegete Matthew 19:16-35, a passage which appears very straightforward to me. I think there were at least six very lengthy posts from my end, in which I tried to be very thorough, and to respond specifically to a person's concerns. The subject was then changed to the Sermon on the Mount (Which I also started to exegete, no small task, since many would consider it a summary of the Christian message.) only to have both those Scriptures and my work to explain them dismissed. I know that you're serious, but at the same time, I recognize that this thread has been going on for well over half a month, and is itself a continuation of a previous thread. At some point, I have to ask if others are wasting their time and mine, and some of that frustration has cropped up in my posts to you.

"But consider this - you and I will both spend more eons than there are stars in either heaven or hell. Granted the length of time that awaits us, our taking a week or a month to discuss these matters and clearly understand each others view is of potentially inestimable value to us."

I agree, PM.

"No offense has been taken my friend, not in the least.

I'm glad to read this.

"Please do not read any animosity in my posts to you. Invariably we clash with ideas, we vent anger at ideas. Often those who hold the ideas mistakenly assume that the anger is directed at them personally rather that at the idea they hold."

I don't read any animosity into your posts, PM, but was preparing myself for the typical frustrated response, which generally takes the form of lashing out at Catholics and/or the Church.

"Before I address the other issues; are you agreeable to continue this thread? I quite understand if you are not - or if you feel time constraints."

I'm most certainly willing to continue, although time will be short in the coming week. I will do my best to respond, given my other responsibilities.