as distinct from "Recovering Baptist" which is something else all together, right? ;-)
I'd bet there are two ways to get the RC Church to carefully and dogmatically define the role of Scripture. (1)Get a bunch of people to say it has NO role whatsover; or (2) have a groundswell of people asking for a particular definition and then have a few miracles associated with the groundswell.
From out here in left field, let me throw this into the soup: Being a Catholic to me is not the most important thing - IF by that you mean identifying particular points of doctrine and nailing down in detail how I (or we) differ from this group or that group on this or that point of theology.
Yeah, I had to do SOME of that in the process of deciding to convert, but most of the points of consideration were about ecclesiology, I suppose, not exactly what to say and what to avoid saying about merit, faith, grace, and so forth. If it weren't for FR and the conversations, and especially what seem to me to be mendacious characterizations and attacks on what we believe and what our beliefs imply, I wouldn't think about it at all, or not very much.
I want to "see God more clearly, follow Him more nearly, love Him more dearly." I don't think even about "being saved", as such.
Some seem to think (And I guess some Catholics encourage this kind of thing) that we are frightenedly dependent on our clergy to mediate God's graces to us. I KIND of get that, but here on the ground, it's not like that. That I can go to mass daily is a blessing, but I don't fearfully tally up my sins to see if I'm worthy (Quick answer: no, I'm not) or struggle to get my priest to say "jump" so that I can ask him "How high?"
Maybe because I'm an ares (there, THAT ought to set the cat among the pigeons ...) I guess I tend to think in military terms. I get a kind of combination of medical care, R&R, resupply, moral support, and campaign plans in the various cultic activities I carry on with at Church, and more of the same in my private daily prayers and readings. Then I go out into the world and make an ass of myself, as usual strive against the world, the flesh, and Old Nick and try to do the odd spot of good one way or another.
Maybe I ought to set aside the apologetic endeavor altogether, but I do so enjoy a friendly, shared enquiry into these matters. But I don't intend to master the entire scope of dogma, doctrine, teaching, opinion, nagging, and friendly advice, and then see how yesterday's deeds or tomorrow's plans stack up against that huge edifice. I talk to God -- Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to Mary, to Anthony, Augustine, Catherine Laboure (who mostly says, "God loves you, shut up and get to work," (which, I think is different from what she says to a lot of people), Michael (a little), Gabriel (a little more) and the poor angel who has me as special assignment, and try to make it to bedtime without messing up.
And by and large, I feel privileged and blessed far beyond my non-existent merit.
I'm trying to give an explanation of the inchoate account that some of us give of the various levels, combinations, and permutations of doctrine. It's just not central to some of us. Jesus is central. Seeing Him is the hope -- "and we shall never hope in vain." (te deum)
One more effort. If you are gazing into your beloved's eyes, and he or she is gazing back, and somebody comes along and asks, "Are you confident that this love will endure forever or, rather, are you living in fear that if you mess up you may lose this love?" what's your answer? Mine is,"Excuse me, we're gazing into each other's eyes now."
That's sort of kind of maybe my personal excuse for not being able to give a systematic account of all the ins and outs.
Be gentle.
Yes, :). I always like how Roger Hedgecock calls himself a "Recovering lawyer".
I'd bet there are two ways to get the RC Church to carefully and dogmatically define the role of Scripture. (1)Get a bunch of people to say it has NO role whatsoever; or (2) have a groundswell of people asking for a particular definition and then have a few miracles associated with the groundswell.
I've never thought about it before but those ideas sound like they could work. :)
I want to "see God more clearly, follow Him more nearly, love Him more dearly." I don't think even about "being saved", as such.
Now you're going all Godspell on me. :)
Maybe I ought to set aside the apologetic endeavor altogether, but I do so enjoy a friendly, shared inquiry into these matters.
Nah, a Christian faith always needs someone who knows what he's talking about, and that's you. I have greatly appreciated my conversations with all the good Catholics here.
Jesus is central. Seeing Him is the hope -- "and we shall never hope in vain." (te deum)
That's always good to hear, from any Christian.
Thanks very much for all of your comments.