"Here's my idea - once a comparison is made between the 1st century Pharisees and someone's theology, the discussion is immediately finished - and whoever makes the comparison automatically "loses" whatever debate was in progress, forfeiting all points previously scored.
And since I'm "inventing" this new rule here, I get to name it. And thus, I dub this new rule the "Irving Law"."
I like Irving's Law. Truth be told though, I find myself regularly self condemned as a Pharisee as I with distressing frequency find myself thanking God that I'm not like "those people"! :)
Indeed; the comparisons between obedience to the Church and phariseism are quite common.
Incidentally, Alex, remember another law we seemed to agree on, that Protestants should not be lumped together on the basis of their rejection of Catholicism (and by implication Orthodoxy) alone? What term would you recommend on this thread? While the topics vary: Mary and the saints, role of good works, veneration of icons, the Eucharist, -- they are all Catholic teachings. Even if I wanted to draw distinctions between Methodists, Presbyterians and Baptists (listing the denominations of participants on this thread which I know) I would have no opportunity to do so.