Posted on 04/07/2007 6:01:45 PM PDT by Pyro7480
With a sad biretta tip to Nihil obstat:
On FattiSentire there is a report of the placards put up in Genova by those who oppose the Church, atheistic anarchist and homosexual activist types. This one from Il Giornale...
...says, "Thank God I am an atheist". It depicts a photoshoped image of partisans shooting the Pope and some muslim men at prayer. Another poster depicts Benedict XVI shaking hands with Adolf Hitler with the title: "From Hitler’s soldier to God’s soldier".
Christ died and rose for these people too.
Meantime, on the evening of the Easter Vigil in Modena there will be a public concert in the square in front of the cathedral by a manifestly anti-clerical band. In one of their their oft-repeated songs we are entertained by the lyrics
"«Bruceremo le chiese e gli altari (...) con le budella dell’ultimo prete impiccheremo il Papa (...) Rivoluzione sia guerra alla società (...) Il Vaticano brucerà con dentro il Papa e se il governo si opporrà rivoluzione» ... "We will burn the churches and altars … we will hang the Pope with the entrails of the last priest … Let revolution be a war on society… The Vatican will burn with the Pope inside if the government opposes the revolution."
"Crucifige! Crucifige eum!"
In Italy, in small and very subtle ways you will encounter anticlericalism, not usually of this vitriolic nature, but it is deeply entrenched in some strata of society. It could be fanned into a flame with some effort.
At the heart of this business is the concept of the "lay state". The concept of the "lay state" in Europe is based on the same state envision in the French Revolution, which resulted in the Terror. The idea of "separation of Church and state" in the USA is a far cry from this European lay state vision.
In the meantime, here are comments of the aforementioned Nihil Obstat (in Italian):
"Behold the fruits of the ‘lay’ state and the campaign of hatred against the Church … Will there ever come a day when the Bishops grasp that the true enemies of the Church are not after all the supporters of the Tridentine liturgy, but rather those who hate Our Lord and struggle against His Kingdom? Is this the highly extolled laicality? Shouldn’t these be the ventures to boycot rather than dig in the heels against the Motu Proprio?"
We have all seen the wrong people hammered into the floor by authorities of different kinds, whether of the First or the other Estates. N’est-ce pa?
"Know thy enemy" might be as critical as "Know thyself". They often overlap.
As I said, your mileage may vary.
I don’t split hairs categorizing the dark side.
Power is the chief difference.
Principalities control entire nations, while demons pester individuals.
Good to see you, RunningWolf! I agree with your comments.
Don’t have time to chime in at this moment, will get some pinging in later today.
One difference between Christian understanding of Hell and Vedic is this - the Vedas (specifically in the Puranas) it is taught that souls are sent to various Hells (and there are many, specific according to the evil done by each, just as Saint Faustina described) not forever, but for a certain amount of time.
Long times, but they do have an end, and every soul is eventually given another chance to try to fulfill the purpose of life; to surrender in love to God.
No doubt being in Hell for example 80,000 years (and who knows what kind of years) seems like eternity.
This is the very pagan error from which the catholics invented their "purgatory."
And the damned don't get to go there.
Fortunately, the belivers don’t either ;o)
I can easily be convinced if you provide me scriptural support for your statement.
If that is so, then how could Christ declare the Pharisees and scribes to be serpent seed?
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.
This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6 RSV
But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”
Romans 10:8-13
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3: 16-18
Works for me.
Your mileage may vary.
Jesus was born, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead, for the Jews AND the Gentiles; the Gentiles being anyone who was not a Jew.Why do you think the Apostles went out to the entire WORLD to spread His word? Somehow, I don’t think they misunderstood what He wanted. That’s why the Spirit descended upon them, so they would have the Fire of His Love and receive the courage to go out and face the world, and the possible rejection of Jesus’s teachings.
He came for ALL, but some will reject Him, as did the Pharisees.
FYI William Shakespeare had a hand in translating the Very Word Of God As It Was Written In The Queen’s Own English: the King James Bible, and if Shakespeare is good enough for Jesus Christ he’s more than good enough for me! (ducks to avoid the Vulgate)
The passage from Mark agrees perfectly with the aforementioned one from John. Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Yet, His gift carries the requirement of belief: that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. AND, it comes with a very specific warning he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus died exclusively for His believers, not for everyone. The Good News is that everyone has the opportunity to access His mercy and grace.
While man-made logic can seem compelling, it is not Scriptural sound. We should all take heed of Paul's warning in Colossians 2:8, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Two ideas thread through these (and many other scriptures),
(1) All men have access to Christ’s mercy and grace;
and
(2) Salvation comes only through Christ to those who believe/obey Him.
I do concede that 1Tim2:6, taken out of context, could be used (incorrectly) as a sword. I appreciate that you quoted the whole passage, which supports the ideas of “universal access” and “believer-only sacrifice” (to coin phrases).
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